VOL 1 MAY 2018
T I K L A V I V R SU S G N I M O C N I FOR
S A R U D N O H A S IFM
CONTENTS BASICS 03
WELCOME LETTER
05
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
06
VISA
07
TRANSPORTATION
TRAVEL AND EXPLORE 09
GENERAL
11
LANGUAGE, RELIGION AND SEXUALITY
13
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
14
UNIVERSITIES
OUR CULTURE 16
AND HOW IS THE HONDUREÑO CATRACHO?
17
HONDURAN FLAVORS
19
SOCIAL GATHERINGS
20
RECOMMENDATIONS
CITIES 24 TEGUCIGALPA 25 SAN PEDRO SULA 29 SOME QUICK TIPS ABOUT HONDURAS 30 FAQS
WELCOME LETTER by Kevin Ardon (NEO Out) & Heber Oliva (NEO In)
Dear International Incoming Student:
Our program can also provide a fascinating insight into other cultures and health systems. In an increasingly multicultural and globalized world, these experiences can be enormously enriching, both personally and professionally. Our beloved national committee completes its first year of international activation. It has been a long journey where many people both nationally and internationally have contributed to the achievements of the committee.
On behalf of IFMSA-Honduras Exchange Team we are proud to welcome you to our beautiful country. Honduras, the heart of Central America, offers the best of two worlds. It has the charm of Central America and beauty of the Caribbean. Yes, you can find the best of both worlds in one small country! Perhaps the biggest asset that our country has as a destination is its people. Catrachos, as our neighbors call us, are friendly, hospitable souls that will go out of their way for you. SCOPE Exchange program can be one of the most rewarding parts of the student medical education, giving students a unique opportunity to enhance their medical experience and skills and learn about some of the most challenging global health issues.
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There are multiple key points in the experience of a future doctor who goes on an exchange. To begin with, students face a totally different context from the one they know including its different branches, that is, he is involved in a different academic system, an unknown healthcare system
This experiences generates comparisons between two realities. This allow the student to develop competencies that can be applied in one place or another.
A exchange program undoubtedly contributes to the integral training of the medical student who at some point in his career has mentioned such a famous phrase of Dr. Letamendi "The doctor who only knows medicine, not even medicine knows"
Global health reflects the realities of globalization, including worldwide dissemination of infectious and patterns in non communicable diseases. Global health is complex and a better coordination is needed between multiple organizations. As future physicians we must be aware that both health and illness are not merely biomedical concepts, but but we must rather embody also the psychological and social spheres of each individuals. Our actions as health professionals and advocates can be really effective only after abandoning the biomedical paradigm in favor of a new, holistic approach to medicine.
We are more that grateful that you chose our NMO as your exchange destination. Believe it or not, Honduras has the largest English speaking population in Central America. This means that it will be easier for you to communicate in English when you are in Honduras. Even though we are a new NMO, our national team is highly motivated and we’ve been working together to ensure the best academic quality you can have and integral experience.
Beyond all the advantages in the academic level, students will not only discover our culture, museums and monuments; they also will experience contact with our people and their gastronomy. .
We’ve included in this survival kit basic details that will guide you through your journey and it explains the main topics about your adventure. We hope that you find it useful and and we look forward to be a part of this amazing exchange experience with you!
Blue Honduran Hugs!
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This manual is the result of the hard work of a fantastic team of medical students from our NMO. We want to acknowledge the valuable contributions of Ana Baron, Osman Ayala, Iveth Sebilla, Leydi Varela, Cinthia Benavides, Cristhian Zelaya and SCORA IFMSA-Honduras. We also want to remark Alex Arita's incredible work on the design and Jose A. Moran for the Tegucigalpa’s pictures. Without you, none of this would have been possible. Thank you.
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Visa It's very easy to come to our homeland! Only citizens of some countries must apply for a tourist visa to travel to here. But normally you would only need your passport with at least 6 months of validation and present a ticket for your return trip. Always make sure whether you need or not a visa to come to our country. You can visit your local embassy or go to Henley & partners passport index to find out.
HTTPS://WWW.HENLEYPASSPORTINDEX.COM/PASSPORT
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Transportation The best way to arrive to Honduras is by airplane. Honduras has two main airports, one in the capital, Tegucigalpa, and another one in San Pedro Sula (SPS). For those looking for a getaway during the weekend, there are smaller national airports in other touristic cities. Some of the international airlines are: United Airlines, Avianca, Air Europe, American Airlines, Delta, and many more. Some national airlines are: Aerolineas Sosa, CM airlines, EasySky and Aerocaribe. Once you are here, we offer airport pickup for those arriving at Tegucigalpa. If you arrive in a different airport, your contact person can help you arrange local transportation between cities. Your host family will provide transportation from the host’s house to the hospital and vice versa. For some local social program activities, transportation will be provided as well. For other transportation purposes, we highly recommend a private taxi service. They offer good rates ($4-$8 for most places in the city) and they are safe and reliable, for specific companies please ask your contact person. The city has a public transportation system that offers bus routes and taxis but we do not recommend this mean of transportation. If you want to visit other cities or a neighbor country and want to save some money you could use a bus service. Some national and international bus companies are: Hedman alas, Pullmantur, Transnica, Vianna, Cristina, etc. These companies offer a reliable and affordable service. For more information please visit HTTPS://HONDURAS.TRAVEL/EN/TRANSPORTATION.PHP - 7 -
L E V A R T AND E R O L EXP S A R U D N O H Â
GENERAL INTRODUCTION Honduras is a country in the center of America. Full of nature with diverse beautiful places to visit, it’s a jewel yet to be discovered, waiting for you in the heart of America! Honduras has multiple cultures that greatly vary one from another, for example there are the Mayans hidden in the heart of the forest, or the Garifunas that contribute a real Caribbean experience in the coasts. All the cities have many singular attractions and much more. You must try our local coffee, one of the best in the world, and snorkeling in the second largest coral reef. We hope you learn, see, eat and enjoy the country. Wait no more and try your own Catracho adventure. - 9 -
Weather Honduras has an amazing tropical weather, which can be divided in two stations: a dry one that goes from November to April and a wet one that goes from May to October. Throughout the year, Honduras has high temperatures, humidity and precipitations, the average temperature of Honduras is of 21.5°C. As we move through our coasts, both Atlantic and the Pacific coast have the highest temperatures of our country approx. 30-35°C, with lots of humidity in the tropical climate with abundant raining. On the west side of our country we have high heights with a decrease of the tropical temperatures that can go from 16 to 24°C averagely but in some seasons like winter it can go down to 6-10°C. On the center of the country we find a valley, so we have hot temperatures with some warm breeze during summer, and cold temperatures and lots of rain during winter.
Security Now you may wonder, “Is Honduras safe to visit?”.Yes, but you must travel smart as we encourage all of our incoming to exercise the same level of caution they would have in the main cities or tourist areas around the world. We recommend that you avoid displaying valuable items such as jewelry, large amounts of cash, medical instruments, cell phones or expensive photographic equipment in public places, unless your host recommends doing so. At all times, have your belongings in your line of sight. The level of insecurity increases at night. We recommend that you avoid traveling or walking alone at night, specially on isolated areas, such as uninhabited beaches. If you want to visit a specific area, always remember to check with your host first. Many places can be visited, but always accompanied by your host or a group of people. Do not be discouraged when you visit us, you will fall in love with Honduras. - 1 0 -
LANGUAGE Spanish is the mother and official language in Honduras. However, in the cities, english is mostly spoken by the youth and professionals. Your clerkship will be in spanish so a fluent level is required. In the Bay Islands most of the people speaks english and spanish.
RELIGION Honduras is a Secular state; According to the 2017 stats, nearly a 49% of the people in the country are catholic, 36% claim to be Protestants, 4% claim to be non-religious, the rest is conform from other religions like Fe Baha’i, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Wicca, between others.
SEXUALITY NORMS Honduras is a conservative society, where love demonstrations between people from the LGTBQ’s community are not pretty well seen, so try to avoid it to prevent a cultural shock. But don’t worry! There are some places where you can just be yourself and have fun while being in a safe and gay-friendly environment, like Tipsy bar, Indie Lounge, Dirty Box and Terraza Martini´s in Tegucigalpa, and Dancefloor Club and Heaven Club in San Pedro Sula. If you ever feel uncomfortable please tell your host, LEO-In or NEO-In and they will kindly help you.
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DRUGS The only drugs that are legal for recreational purposes in Honduras are alcohol and tobacco. The legal age for drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco is 18 years old, but there are some places (groceries stores) where only people older than 21 years old can purchase them. There are some restrictions regarding their use. For example, it is forbidden to drink on the street and it is also forbidden to smoke in any public place of collective use. This includes parks, restaurants, cafes, schools and universities. It is only allow to smoke in private residencies (always ask first), open air places with few or no people around and outside some bars and clubs. Drinks in Honduras are not expensive, a national beer in the groceries store costs less than a dollar and in the bars or clubs they usually cost around $2 to $3.
COST OF LIVING Honduras is an inexpensive country compared to most of Latin American and developed countries. However, prices may rise in tourist places or if you look like a foreign with no knowledge of normal cost of things. Some prices around Tegucigalpa are: $2-$5 for a regular meal, 60 cents for a 500 ml Coca-Cola, 50 cents for a water bottle, $1 for a cup of coffee, $4-$8 for a private taxi ride (depends on distance and hour), entrance fees to some parks or museums is $2 to $5 and a round trip bus to La Ceiba for $30-$60. These prices may vary depending on places and time. Please ask your contact person for regular prices on things you may need to buy o activities you want to do during your stay. - 1 2 -
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM Honduras has three health care systems. One is private, which is mostly for people who can afford it or have private insurance plans. Another one is a semi-public, “social security� system, which is for public and private institution workers and their families, but their medical coverage is not always full. The semi-public system is partially subsidized by the government. The third system is public, which aims to provide healthcare to most of the population, and an exchange student you will be working in this system. Your clerkship will take place at the biggest public hospital in the country, which also attends the largest amount of patients. At the hospital, you will have the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of pathologies in different patients. Challenges and problems might show up but you will be able to be part of the solution.
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Universities We have three universities offering Medicine as a career in Honduras. Of those three, we have one public university and two private universities. 1- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Honduras) 2- Universidad Católica de Honduras (Catholic University of Honduras ) 3- Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (Central American Technological University) At present, clerkships will only take place at the Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras and in their associated teaching hospitals: 1- Hospital Escuela Universitario (HEU): It is the main public hospital of Honduras and the largest teaching hospital in the country, also is the biggest hospital ruled by the Ministry of Health. Its history dates back to 1978. It is the hospital where the exchange students will do do their clinical clerkships, except Pediatrics and Gyneco-Obstetrics. 2- Hospital Materno-Infantil: it is a part of HEU where the specialties and clerkships of Pediatrics and Gyneco-Obstetrics take place. - 1 4 -
OUR E R U T CUL
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And how is the Hondureùo catracho? Hondurans are very friendly and easy to get along with. Something that distinguishes us is our warmth and hospitality towards every visitor. We try our best to make everyone feel at home! Personalities can be various, from shy and sweet to bold and party people. So don't stress about fitting in, you'll make a bunch of friends! At any kind of social reunion prepare to laugh and dance, or maybe just sit and have interesting talks with anyone. We would love to hear anything from you.
HOW WE GREET? A handshake is the basic greeting, and people shake hands again when they leave. If we chat a bit longer after the last handshake, we shake hands again just as we leave. Usually, when two women greet or when a man greets a woman, they clasp their right hands and press their cheeks together or they give a light kiss on the cheek (just one). Men sometimes hug each other (quick, and with back slapping), especially if they have not seen each other for a while.
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Honduran flavors Honduras has a variety of gastronomy involved! We have a variety of flavors in all our plates, going from soups to solid food. The use of refried beans, corn, and cheese are predominant in almost all our plates. Our main and most popular breakfast meal amongst travelers is called the Baleada, a flour tortilla with refried beans, mantequilla which is a sour cream, and dried cheese. You can add chicken, avocado, scrambled eggs, or plantain to your baleada and make it even more distinguished and tasty. We guarantee you will love it! Another popular dish is the 'Honduran Taco', which is a fried corn tortilla stuffed with chicken or beef and topped with a special tomato sauce, cheese and cabbage. Everyone just drools after tasting this meal! You can't leave Honduras without trying our 'Pupusas'. They are thick corn tortillas stuffed with ingredients of your choice such as pork, fried beans or an exceptional cheese we call 'quesillo'. You will definitely love its crispy, soft and smooth texture and you can top them with cabbage making the flavor extra special! - 1 7 -
Another one of our main dishes is the 'Plato Tipico', this dish has grilled beef previously marinated with lemon, vinegar, sugar, black pepper and cumin seed. It is served with hot corn tortillas, slices of plantain, fried beans, cheese and avocado. Our favorite soup is called Sopa de Cangrejo, which it is prepared with crab, onions, lemon, spices, and much more! Incredibly delicious!
SO WHAT DO WE DRINK? We typically drink coffee for our breakfast. In our lunch we generally drink natural fruit drinks or sodas, one of our favorite drinks is called the Horchata which is a simple blend of rice, water, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla and milk. When we party we mostly drink beer, vodka, rum, whisky, tequila, and of course wine! You just have to choose whatever you like and be ready to have fun!
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Social Gatherings Honduras is a country that loves the party. We have many celebrations depending on the city but the most famous events are: Suyapa’s Virgin day (Día de la Virgen de Suyapa): February 2 San Pedro Sula: June’s Festival (Feria Juniana): Last week of June Honduras Independence day: September 15 Tegucigalpa’s Anniversary: September 28 All this events are well known among the population, and all of them have 1 thing in common: you party like there is not tomorrow. In every one of the events there is a massive movement of people who comes from every part of the country just to party and celebrate, sounds sweet right? Well, it is. Each celebration has its own charm and immersing in this experience will give you an inside look to our culture.
Communication and Internet Our host families will have Wi-Fi and we will provide you the password so you can stay communicated at all times. Sadly, non our university our hospital have Wi-Fi, so you wouldn’t be communicated while being over there. We have two cell phone companies called Tigo and Claro, they are both pretty affordable. If you want to have internet or call over here you would have to buy a cheap phone (around $40 or even less) and pay around $20 for monthly data and calls services. If you have an unlocked phone with GSM you could just buy a $2 chip from Tigo or Claro, and then buy a $20 monthly plan to have internet and calls services over here. If you are not sure, your host or contact person will help you, just be sure to ask them. Some host families might provide you with an extra cell phone but that will depend with each family and their availability of one. - 1 9 -
Recommendations We recommend to not go out alone, we would prefer if you go out with your host family, your contact person or someone you trust. We do not recommend public transportation. Your host family will provide transportation from the host’s house to the hospital and vice versa. For some local social program activities, transportation will be provided as well. For other transportation purposes, we highly recommend a private taxi service. We do not recommend drink water from the faucet (tap water). We do not recommend you to use expensive jewelry on the streets. You can use them on social gatherings and if you’re using a safe mean of transportation. We do not recommend you to use your cellphone, iPad, iPod or any electronics on public street, you can have your electronics safely with your host family. In the hospital we would recommend to always be aware of your electronics. We recommend you to wear sunscreen and bug repellent. Only alcohol and tobacco are legal in Honduras. Any other drugs are illegal here and you can go to jail if you are caught using them. If you have the opportunity to appreciate our coral reef, please don’t touch them when you are snorkeling or diving because it can lead to its destruction. Be aware of your medical equipment, you can take your equipment to the hospital but we recommend to always have them by your side. - 2 0 -
S E I T I C
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Mayan Ruins of Copán Located close to the Guatemalan border and around 400 kms away from Tegucigalpa. This UN World Heritage Site was one of the greatest cities of the Mayan civilization. Built more than one thousand years ago, it represents one of their most spectacular achievements because of the magnitude of its architectural and sculptural monuments. The city is very traveler-orientated, with plenty of restaurants, bars, national parks and hot springs.
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Lake Yojoa  This is the largest natural lake in Honduras, one of the most popular travel destinations. It is located only three hours away from Tegucigalpa. It lies in a depression formed by volcanoes and it's bordered by national parks, where you can hike and explore its scenic views and world-class biodiversity. Nearby, you can visit Pulhapanzak Waterfall, Los Naranjos Ecological Park, local breweries, coffee shops and plantations.
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Tegucigalpa Is the capital and also the largest city in the Country, located in the southern- central region of the country which is known as department of Francisco Morazán. It’s situated in a valley surrounded by mountains with its sister city, Comayagüela, both cities form the Central District. Tegucigalpa is the nation’s political and administrative center. With a combination of colonial structure with a constantly expanding urban area. A really unique contrast is created from the blend of colonial architecture and a constant expanding urban area, which allows people to travel back a few centuries without leaving the city. With many places to enjoy, it is one of the best places to start your journey in Honduras.
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San Pedro Sula San Pedro Sula is the industrial capital of Honduras, being the second most important city in the country. The city of San Pedro functions as an important hub, with some of the best highways in Honduras. In this city you can find amazing markets. You can buy artisanal pieces like saddlery, textiles and much more. There are many day-trips available at San Pedro Sula. You can hike through Cusuco National Park, visit Taulabé caves, Pulhapanzak Waterfalls, have a boat ride and bird watching at Lake Yojoa or swim in the exotic beaches of Punta Sal National Park. Very close to the hotels around the city you can find the so called “Zona Viva” where you can enjoy of a wide variety of bars and karaokes, all very popular, in which you can have fun according to your taste. And remember not to stay too long, because you could stay forever.
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Bay Islands Located between 15km to 60km off the northern coast of Honduras, it consists of eight wonderful islands and 53 small cays in which the three main islands are: Roatán, Útila and Guanaja. We have the second largest barrier reef in the world consisting of fish, coral, sponges, rays, sea turtles, dolphins, whale sharks and much more! Diving is considered affordable and Utila is considered as the most affordable island here, which is very popular among backpackers, people who love to party, and people who want to dive with whale sharks! Roatan has a beautiful turquoise beach, pristine white sand, and amazing activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, diving, canopy, and swimming with dolphins!
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Festivities JANUARY 1ST This is a day when we can celebrate a brand New Year! Everyone in the country has this day off!
FEBRUARY 3RD “Día de la Virgen de Suyapa’’ As a catholic country we commemorate our Virgin called Suyapa. Every February 3rd, more than 1 million people arrive from all corners of the country to thank for granted miracles and to make new petitions.
MARCH On week of this month we celebrate ‘’Semana Santa’’ also known as our holy week. In Honduras there are catholic celebrations all over the country with parades carrying different saints by volunteers. During Good Friday, the streets are covered with decorative carpets made from a thin pre-painted sawdust. The sawdust is laid out to create beautiful patterns or images showing religious scenes and characters from Catholic tradition. These carpets are true works of art. Public and private sectors get three days off, most of Hondurans take this time to relax and go to our different beaches.
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INDEPENDENCE DAY: SEPTEMBER 15 This day commemorates the independence from Spain of the five states of Central America. Every year, schools from all over the country prepare a parade to celebrate this day. In Tegucigalpa, this parade takes place at the National Stadium. The marching and dancing starts early in the morning and continues with a state fair like atmosphere throughout.This is a day when we can celebrate a brand New Year! Everyone in the country has this day off!
OCTOBER On the 3rd, 4th and 5th we celebrate our “Semana Morazánica” sometimes called the “Second holy week.” This are 3 different national holidays joined together to give us 3 days off on which we don’t attend class and both private and public employees get this time off too. People use this time to do some internal tourism or visit our beautiful beaches.
DECEMBER Christmas! Celebrated the 24th, is both a religious and family festivity. Families get together to eat, dance and exchange gifts. We enjoy our traditional christmas food “ tamales and torrejas” On New Years Eve, you can find many events, such as theme parties or dinners, taking place in the 2 most important cities of our country. Also, it is common for Hondurans to travel to the beach during these holidays. Roatan and Utila are beautiful islands where receiving a brand New Year is truly magical. Comayagua is a colonial city that has adopted the tradition of announcing the New Year, through the countdown of one of the oldest clocks in America. In any case you can enjoy the fireworks at midnight that announce a new year! - 2 8 -
Some quick tips about Honduras Honduras has a large variety of flavors but beware of street shops, they sell cheap and delicious treats but, they don't always respect hygiene standards. Taking a stroll is always a good thing but we recommend you to always consult first with your host or contact person. Going out alone can be dangerous for someone new in the country. People in our country tend to say hi with a kiss on the cheek (woman to woman or man to woman) do don't panic if you're greeted this way, they are being friendly. However, if this situation makes you feel upset or uncomfortable just talk to your contact person about it and they will gladly advice you on how to approach/avoid the situation. Men will only greet each other with a handshake or a quick hug if they are close. Please have in mind these cultural practices when interacting with our local community. Feel free to ask your hosts about this, they will be more than glad to guide you through our cultural background. If you like to party but you tend to take things to wild always talk with your host first so you can party with everything you got without worrying about waking up in another city the next day. Public toilets can be really somewhat nasty so in case you need the restroom ask for advice from your contact person. Ecotourism is one of Honduras charms, so if you like adventures, go for it! Treat yourself with one of the best experiences during your visit. Our people is warm and friendly so try to not fall in love with us, but beware because in the end you'll be falling in love with us. - 2 9 -
FAQs Is Honduras safe? Like in every place in the world if you follow some basic instructions given by your contact person there's nothing to be afraid of. Our people are really warm and cozy so be prepared for the fun and amazing experiences you will have. Is Honduras expensive? We are one of the least expensive countries in the Americas region, so travel here will be easy on your pocket. Do I need a visa to get into Honduras? Many countries do not need a visa to visit for up to six months. You can visit your local embassy or go to Henley & partners passport index to find out. https://www.henleypassportindex.com//passport Are drugs legal in Honduras? Only alcohol and tobacco are legal in Honduras. Any other drugs are illegal here and you can go to jail if you are caught using them.
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E P O H WE E E S TO N O O S U O Y