Day 1: For the birds

Join our Sultan of Sketch as he shares the daily comings and goings of the week preceding the Tegu Investor Summit in Honduras.

Miami from the plane

4:59a Bienvenidos a Miami. After 4+ hours in seat 9F, I’ve arrived in Miami for my four hour layover to Tegucigalpa, which I’ve decided to refer to as “The Goose” from now on. I think the sleeping pills did the trick, as I was out for most of the movie (The Blindside). I would’ve loved to have spent more time in the marshmallow cream cloud playing with the unicorns while wearing shamrock glasses, but if you must be awakened from a dream, it’s nice to know you’re almost at your destination. I woke up just in time to shove everything under the seat in front of me, and then was jolted awake again when the plane touched down. Sleep is sleep, even if not the most restful sleep. Time to begin the long trek from Concourse D to Concourse E.

It’s kind of pretty, ’til you realize it’s stuffed fish…

5:32a Found out I’m just one frequent flyer level away from access to American Airline’s Admiral’s Club. Drat. The nice lady behind the counter asks me if I have an Amex Platinum card. HA! Do I look like I would have an Amex Platinum card? I did grab a handful of candy from the bowl on my way out though, so I can’t say my ascent to the 5th floor was entirely unfruitful.

5:55a Waiting patiently at gate E7. There are a few birds who are also apparently waiting for the same flight. And by “birds” I mean actual birds, not some sort of Miami slang for “chicks.” No free WiFi at MIA either, in case you were wondering, but they do have avian life for your viewing pleasure.

He had friends too.

6:06a Ha ha ha. The mother next to me is trying to get her daughter to stop jumping by attempting the tried and true parenting trick of counting to three. Except she’s counting in Spanish. Is it weird that after she said: “Uno, Dos, Tres” I immediately thought “catorce?” Thanks U2. (Then, I thought “cuatro cinco cinco seis”… Thanks Offspring.)

6:47a I love that the Samsung mobile charging stations look like IV stands. I love that the guy sitting across from me looks like he’s getting an IV after a long day of travel. I hate that airport seats are connected and when a plus-sized gent sits down four seats away, you find out exactly how wobbly the legs are.

7:33a I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep in these chairs, so I might as well get on the internet. As I pull out my credit card to pay, I realize that tucked in behind it is my never used backup card- an Amex Platinum. HA!

7:35a Almost two hours after hour first interaction, the nice lady behind the counter at the Admiral’s Club informs me that an Amex Platinum issued by BofA does not count. Then, to further cement the fact that I don’t belong, she shows me a picture of the two Amex cards that would work: Platinum, and Black. Drat. Drat. I noticed they moved the candy bowl to the other side of the counter. Back down to the common folk I guess.

8:02a Hello pay internet. Time to post up what I wrote a few hours ago.

9:44a They’re calling my number, time to pack this baby up and head down the jetway. So long Miami, I’ll be seeing you again in a week. Well, the airport at least.

Rainy days and mondays always get me down.

10:52a Welcome to Honduras. Got a cool video clip from my window seat of the 180º banked turn into the airport, unfortunately it’s too large to be uploaded here. The flight was a couple hours, but we’re back in the Mountain time zone. Pacific to Eastern to Mountain.

11:21a Why is it that immigration lines don’t adopt the “one line, separate windows” process that banks and DMVs have? Is there anything more frustrating than choosing the wrong line and watching everyone else on your plane get through before you? Note: If you ever travel with me (say, to London perhaps, on a date?), do not get in the same immigration line as me. I always manage to choose the 405 FWY of immigration lines. Thankfully Chris and Brandon find me. They’re not holding a sign. I’m slightly disappointed.

12:01p On the way out of the airport, we stop to get some some supplies for the factory. For some reason the rent-a-cops in Honduras are more intimidating than they are in the US.

Honduran guards mean srs bsns.

12:53p Lunch. The food court at the mall we stopped features a Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, Subway, Little Caesars, Burger King, and Church’s Chicken. It also features free WiFi. Hard to believe, but it’s easier to get work done at a food court in Honduras than it is in the seventh busiest airport in the world. I ordered the Chicharron de carne plate (which to my best understanding is fried salted pork), replete with the smallest soda in the world. Not that I’m complaining, that’s the most soda I’ve drank in a month.

More lunch, with my 10 oz soda.

2:10p After a harrowing journey at high speeds, we’ve reached the Tegu factory. It’s a little overwhelming- the last time I was here back in July, this place was nothing more than a shell of a warehouse, complete with wasps, foul smells, and a layer of dust covering everything. And here we are now, up and running. I’m looking forward to getting the full tour from Chris.

Boxes of blockses.

Boxes of blockses in boxes!

2:20p Aside from the factory workings inside, there is quite a difference outside as well. When I was here in July, it was the rainy season. Now in March, we’re smack in the middle of the dry season. I took a picture of a tree outside the factory then, and look at it now. What a difference 8 months makes.

Dry season (now)

Rainy season (then)

2:33p During our tour, we discover a dead bird. It looks fancy. Poor little guy flew straight into the wall. Lisa? What kind of bird is it?

Poor little guy…

3:08p Following the short tour, Brandon and I are working at our makeshift desk in a spare room in the factory. He’s sending emails to me while I sit under a meter away. That’s okay, because I’m typing about him behind his back. Take that Brandon! Now time to tackle some emails.

4:32p Conference call time. Brandon, Chris, and myself are huddled around our VOIP phone in our makeshift office, while we conference in Will from Eastern command. We go over the agenda for the rest of the week. Oh, and for those of you who are wondering why Will is still in Connecticut and not here with the rest of us, the simple answer is: He has a “beginners arts and crafts” class on Wednesdays that he can’t miss. I hear they’re making potholders out of yarn and popsicle sticks.

7:03p About to pack it up for the day and head back to the Haughey residence for dinner. It’s been a long day, and I’m looking forward to sitting on something that is not: An airplane, an airport seat, or a hard plastic folding chair. I’m signing off for now, thanks for reading! More tomorrow.

-SoS