I'm home...though I'm torn now on what the definition of home really is. I miss El Salvador deeply, and wish I could be there for another four months with all of my wonderful classmates/friends/family.
I recently emailed Sor to get an update on Cedro. And I plan on sending my host family something in the mail very soon.
Happy New Year everyone!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Two more weeks
Family weekend is over and there are only a little over two weeks left in the program. I am both excited and nervous to come home. I am super busy with projects, papers, and goodbyes, and it is a little overwhelming. Know that I look forward to seeing you all very soon and celebrating the holidays in the States.
Here are some videos from the past week. The first is of Talticpac, an indigenous band who use prehistoric instruments. And the other video is of a dance competition between the local high schools. It took place in the plaza closest to my casa.
Talticpac
Dance-off
Besitos desde El Sal.
P.S.
I need coffee requests. I'll do my best to bring home at least 10 bags and distribute them.
Here are some videos from the past week. The first is of Talticpac, an indigenous band who use prehistoric instruments. And the other video is of a dance competition between the local high schools. It took place in the plaza closest to my casa.
Talticpac
Dance-off
Besitos desde El Sal.
P.S.
I need coffee requests. I'll do my best to bring home at least 10 bags and distribute them.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Celebration of the Jesuit Martyrs
Vigila video
Martyr Celebration
Last weekend we participated in many activities surrounding the celebration of the death of the Jesuit martyrs: soccer tourney, alfombra, vigila and giant mass service.
*The girls' soccer team won the tourney--trophy and everything :)
Martyr Celebration
Last weekend we participated in many activities surrounding the celebration of the death of the Jesuit martyrs: soccer tourney, alfombra, vigila and giant mass service.
*The girls' soccer team won the tourney--trophy and everything :)
Vacation pt. 1
Our adventure to Guatemala began at 430am with a bus ride to Guatemala City. 5 hours later we arrived, and the quickly boarded another bus to Puerto Barrios, a small port town in Guatemala. There wasn’t much in Puerto Barrios except for some small hostels, and a group of local fisherman hanging around. That night we stayed in Hostel Europa 2, which was actually very nice and comfortable. The hostel owner even drove us to get dinner at a local restaurant that specialized in giant tortillas de harina filled with steak, onion, potato, and a special sauce called chimichurri….so delicious! The following morning we got up and somehow managed to find a boat that would take us for a decent price to Punta Gorda, Belize. Though our captain did mention Belize was on hurricane alert, he claimed he had permission from the PG port that we were allowed to make the trip. An hour and a half later, on a very scary boat ride (the boat had a huge crack down the middle that would spread apart a little every time we hit a wave) we arrived to a very quiet PG. We were then greeted by the dock daddy that Belize was indeed on hurricane alert, and no one was supposed to enter the country (our captain lied), he would though make an exception for our small group. After customs, we walked through a very desolate PG, no one on the streets, all the stores closed, some people boarding up their houses getting ready for the storm. We then found our hotel where we planned to stay, but they quickly turned us away afraid their hostel wouldn’t be safe enough through the storm. About an hour later, and after we’d walked the entire town of Punta Gorda we found another hostel that would take us in the at least the next two nights. Shortly after we’d settled in and hit up the local grocery store for some ramen(easy, cheap dinner) and bottled water, the electricity and water decided to go out…so no ramen for dinner, or cable television to watch Monday night football. That night we ended up playing Bananagrams with a flashlight, told each other riddles, and once the boys left for their room, us girls fell asleep while having girl talk. It really wasn’t so bad, minus the fact that we already hadn’t showered in two, and in some cases, three days.
The next morning we awoke to still no electricity and water, but to a much more lively PG. The hurricane hit Belize City pretty hard, but it didn’t even sprinkle where we were. Everyone was outside walking around enjoying the sun, and another free day of work. Bent on not spending another day indoors, the boys volunteered to go find something for our group to do. A little later they returned with news that they’d met a man under the tree by the Texaco named Jon Usher(Yon Usha) who claimed he could find us a boat that would take us to a private island for the day for a very good price. With no other plans until the next day, as a group we agreed to give Jon Usher, who later asked us to call him Captain Dreads, a go. We lathered up in 50spf, put our bathing suits on, grabbed our towels and some pbj sandwiches for the trip. Shortly after we found Jon Usher waiting for us under the tree by the Texaco with a boat rigged up to the dock. As we approached the dock Jon Usher explained that although everyone called him Captain Dreads he would not be riding with us today, but rather Captain Crunch, Nightlife and Youngster would be our captain and dive instructors. Though still a little hesitant, but pumped about the cheap price, we climbed aboard the small fishing boat, just big enough for our group of ten(this is now sketchy boat ride number two). Not thirty minutes later we pulled up to a dock of the most picturesque island I have every seen. It was covered in palm trees, the whitest sand, and about ten “honeymoon style” huts because of the only hotel on the island, Belize Lodge. We had the entire island to ourselves for the next three hours. We spent the day swimming and collecting shells and attempting to take group pictures because there was no one else to do so. About an hour and a half in, our captains returned and asked if we’d like to join them for some conch diving. Of course we agreed and all hopped in. The next hour consisted of snorkeling in water so clear you could see the bottom that was twelve feet below us, and could make out the line of conch shells, and star fish. We were in heaven. And we all took turns diving for the different creatures.
Our visit in Belize wrapped up that night with some socializing with the other JVs and Lindsay’s Belizean friends she had met over four years ago while on a delegation. We all had a beer and simply enjoyed each other’s company. We were in bed by 10pm because we had to be up to catch our 6am bus to Delmopan, to start our journey to Tikal, Guatemala.
The next morning we awoke to still no electricity and water, but to a much more lively PG. The hurricane hit Belize City pretty hard, but it didn’t even sprinkle where we were. Everyone was outside walking around enjoying the sun, and another free day of work. Bent on not spending another day indoors, the boys volunteered to go find something for our group to do. A little later they returned with news that they’d met a man under the tree by the Texaco named Jon Usher(Yon Usha) who claimed he could find us a boat that would take us to a private island for the day for a very good price. With no other plans until the next day, as a group we agreed to give Jon Usher, who later asked us to call him Captain Dreads, a go. We lathered up in 50spf, put our bathing suits on, grabbed our towels and some pbj sandwiches for the trip. Shortly after we found Jon Usher waiting for us under the tree by the Texaco with a boat rigged up to the dock. As we approached the dock Jon Usher explained that although everyone called him Captain Dreads he would not be riding with us today, but rather Captain Crunch, Nightlife and Youngster would be our captain and dive instructors. Though still a little hesitant, but pumped about the cheap price, we climbed aboard the small fishing boat, just big enough for our group of ten(this is now sketchy boat ride number two). Not thirty minutes later we pulled up to a dock of the most picturesque island I have every seen. It was covered in palm trees, the whitest sand, and about ten “honeymoon style” huts because of the only hotel on the island, Belize Lodge. We had the entire island to ourselves for the next three hours. We spent the day swimming and collecting shells and attempting to take group pictures because there was no one else to do so. About an hour and a half in, our captains returned and asked if we’d like to join them for some conch diving. Of course we agreed and all hopped in. The next hour consisted of snorkeling in water so clear you could see the bottom that was twelve feet below us, and could make out the line of conch shells, and star fish. We were in heaven. And we all took turns diving for the different creatures.
Our visit in Belize wrapped up that night with some socializing with the other JVs and Lindsay’s Belizean friends she had met over four years ago while on a delegation. We all had a beer and simply enjoyed each other’s company. We were in bed by 10pm because we had to be up to catch our 6am bus to Delmopan, to start our journey to Tikal, Guatemala.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Long overdue pt. 2
Some other things I've done recently...
1) Climbed a Volcano called Izalco, that erupted last in 1932.
2) Been to two funerals and a burial.
3) Held many, many, many, new babies.
4) Traveled to San Miguel for a weekend.
5) Mastered pupusa and tortilla making.
6) Also mastered the art of pila showering.
7) Gotten a haircut.
8) Bartered in the artisan market.
9) Caught a lizard.
10) Loved...still loving.
Volcano video
River in Carasque
1) Climbed a Volcano called Izalco, that erupted last in 1932.
2) Been to two funerals and a burial.
3) Held many, many, many, new babies.
4) Traveled to San Miguel for a weekend.
5) Mastered pupusa and tortilla making.
6) Also mastered the art of pila showering.
7) Gotten a haircut.
8) Bartered in the artisan market.
9) Caught a lizard.
10) Loved...still loving.
Volcano video
River in Carasque
Long overdue
I’m so sorry for not writing for so long. If I’m honest I’ve been avoiding the update. Since being here, I’ve felt so overwhelmed by EVERTHING, good and “bad”, though I hesitate to use either of those words. I’m overwhelmed mostly by my lack of alone time, and chance to really process and think…hence my lack of desire and really, just, time, to write on this blog. So much has happened since I last wrote—please see my pictures and videos on facebook if you can, because there is just no way to do any of those experiences justice otherwise.
This past week marks my half-way point of sorts…though I feel like I am more than half-way. Every day since this realization has flown by even faster. Reflecting back on my week, there is just so much that I did and experienced and I haven’t even had time to process it all. Hopefully this upcoming week of vacation in Belize and Guatemala will allow for some good journaling and contemplation. I leave tomorrow morning at 4:45am to catch my first bus to Guatemala City at 6am. From there I have another bus to Puerto Barrios, where I’m staying the night, and then catching a ferry to Punta Gorda in the morning. We have about two and a half days in Belize, which I plan to spend on the beach, or on a boat tour to a private island. From Belize, we are going to back track through Guatemala, and then spend two days in Tichal to see the biggest ruins in all Central America. Then another long bus ride from Tichal to Guatemala City, and then Guatemala City to home next Sunday.
Last week was especially interesting because I did not make it to praxis once. The week before, the last Wednesday we were at the Centro specifically, Cedro experienced a very intentional act of violence. Just an hour after we had left, the only bus that reaches Cedro was hijacked, and three men were shot and killed, and another injured. Though we did not know the men involved, there were mothers of some of the kids from our Centro at the scene. Supposedly the killings were specific in who the shots were directed towards, suggesting it was revenge, drug or perhaps gang related. No one still seems to know. The following Friday was the funeral for the three that died. But, early that morning, another act of violence occurred. Not related, another person shot at a pickup truck carrying multiple passengers in the back. The shots were aimed at the driver(he was taking away business from the bus system?), but of course those injured were three passengers in the back, an old woman and two young boys. No one was killed, but as far as I know, they are all still in the hospital recovering. The older woman is also the mother in law of one of the teachers we work with at the Centro. Because all of this happened at the end of the week, as a praxis group we decided to not go to Cedro on Monday. Even though the mountain was covered in troops and police investigating, we still did not feel completely safe and decided Cedro needed a “normal” day before we could return.
Once Wednesday arrived, we were ready to go. We’d sat with and reflected on the violence, prepared for our classes, and were excited to see our kids and families. However, once again we did not go to praxis. Soeur Rosa, our praxis coordinator called and informed us that her aunt had died, and since neither she not Joaquin would be going to Cedro, either could we. She then invited us to the funeral for her aunt, and of course we accepted. We wanted to be supportive of her as possible. So with a free morning before the funeral, Quentin, Chris and I decided to go visit the church where Arch Bishop Romero(leader in Liberation Theology, supporter of the poor, shot at the beginning of the Civil War) was shot and killed. We thought it was appropriate because of the all the death and violence we’d experienced first hand in the past few days. I found myself really thinking about Romero and his cause, and his desire to truly be apart of the Salvadoran reality…which got him killed. How much can I be apart of the Salvadoran reality as a young gringa from Indiana?
At spirituality night on Thursday we were encouraged to reflect on some words that we’ve been throwing around since being here. My word happened to be solidarity, which I thought was extremely fitting. Can I truly live in solidarity with Salvadorans? What does that look like? Have I been doing that already? How can I continue to do so, and improve on this?
Like I said before…so overwhelmed by thoughts and difficult questions, but I continue to grow and discover and learn so much while I’m here. I honestly never want this experience to end.
I miss you all. I can’t wait to share pictures and stories with you about Belize and Guatemala. ****My family will be here in less than a month. I CANNOT WAIT.
“The first duty of love is to listen.”
Katy
This past week marks my half-way point of sorts…though I feel like I am more than half-way. Every day since this realization has flown by even faster. Reflecting back on my week, there is just so much that I did and experienced and I haven’t even had time to process it all. Hopefully this upcoming week of vacation in Belize and Guatemala will allow for some good journaling and contemplation. I leave tomorrow morning at 4:45am to catch my first bus to Guatemala City at 6am. From there I have another bus to Puerto Barrios, where I’m staying the night, and then catching a ferry to Punta Gorda in the morning. We have about two and a half days in Belize, which I plan to spend on the beach, or on a boat tour to a private island. From Belize, we are going to back track through Guatemala, and then spend two days in Tichal to see the biggest ruins in all Central America. Then another long bus ride from Tichal to Guatemala City, and then Guatemala City to home next Sunday.
Last week was especially interesting because I did not make it to praxis once. The week before, the last Wednesday we were at the Centro specifically, Cedro experienced a very intentional act of violence. Just an hour after we had left, the only bus that reaches Cedro was hijacked, and three men were shot and killed, and another injured. Though we did not know the men involved, there were mothers of some of the kids from our Centro at the scene. Supposedly the killings were specific in who the shots were directed towards, suggesting it was revenge, drug or perhaps gang related. No one still seems to know. The following Friday was the funeral for the three that died. But, early that morning, another act of violence occurred. Not related, another person shot at a pickup truck carrying multiple passengers in the back. The shots were aimed at the driver(he was taking away business from the bus system?), but of course those injured were three passengers in the back, an old woman and two young boys. No one was killed, but as far as I know, they are all still in the hospital recovering. The older woman is also the mother in law of one of the teachers we work with at the Centro. Because all of this happened at the end of the week, as a praxis group we decided to not go to Cedro on Monday. Even though the mountain was covered in troops and police investigating, we still did not feel completely safe and decided Cedro needed a “normal” day before we could return.
Once Wednesday arrived, we were ready to go. We’d sat with and reflected on the violence, prepared for our classes, and were excited to see our kids and families. However, once again we did not go to praxis. Soeur Rosa, our praxis coordinator called and informed us that her aunt had died, and since neither she not Joaquin would be going to Cedro, either could we. She then invited us to the funeral for her aunt, and of course we accepted. We wanted to be supportive of her as possible. So with a free morning before the funeral, Quentin, Chris and I decided to go visit the church where Arch Bishop Romero(leader in Liberation Theology, supporter of the poor, shot at the beginning of the Civil War) was shot and killed. We thought it was appropriate because of the all the death and violence we’d experienced first hand in the past few days. I found myself really thinking about Romero and his cause, and his desire to truly be apart of the Salvadoran reality…which got him killed. How much can I be apart of the Salvadoran reality as a young gringa from Indiana?
At spirituality night on Thursday we were encouraged to reflect on some words that we’ve been throwing around since being here. My word happened to be solidarity, which I thought was extremely fitting. Can I truly live in solidarity with Salvadorans? What does that look like? Have I been doing that already? How can I continue to do so, and improve on this?
Like I said before…so overwhelmed by thoughts and difficult questions, but I continue to grow and discover and learn so much while I’m here. I honestly never want this experience to end.
I miss you all. I can’t wait to share pictures and stories with you about Belize and Guatemala. ****My family will be here in less than a month. I CANNOT WAIT.
“The first duty of love is to listen.”
Katy
Friday, October 8, 2010
campo (kEAM-pOO)
Just got back from a wonderful week in the campo..rural El Salvador. I have so much to tell, but not enough time to do so! Updates sooon, I promise. To sum it up, I survived sleeping with cockroaches, scorpions, mice and other critters. I ate tamales for five meals in a row (does not help digestive system). I went to five "dance parties". I attended four mass services....LOTS of singing. I played soccer. I showered once...:) I got to know a campo family on a whole other level...I learned ALOT about the FMLN and what a "socialist" community looks like.
More to come + pictures + vids.
LOVE YOU ALL.
More to come + pictures + vids.
LOVE YOU ALL.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Oops!
My apologies that this entry is so late! I do have an excuse…and that excuse is that desde Friday hasta Tuesday I did not have internet access, or access to any form of technology for that matter. This past weekend was my best so far. Going into it I felt pretty confident that living in the campo of Cedro wouldn’t be any more rustic than my winter term trip in January, but I was wrong. Delma’s family was made up of seven people—herself, her husband, Anher(13), Gisela(10), Renee(9), Xochil(7) and Avilena(5). She and her family graciously accepted me into their home, which was not bigger than a one-car garage. They had no electricity, running water or a trash/recycling system. They had a grill where Delma made tortillas and warmed beans every morning, and a barrel where rainwater gathered for drinking and washing dishes. Despite their situation, Delma’s family received me into their home with open arms. For two nights I shared a double bed with two of the daughters, covered in sweat and bugs. And I put off bathing until Sunday morning at 6am, where I just couldn’t bear my smell anymore--I “showered” with all the women in my family in the river that ran between the mountains. They could not get over how white my body was…
On top of spending lots of time playing mica(tag) with all of the neighborhood kids, I got in some quality time with my praxis partners who lived close by. Quentin stayed just 100yrds away at Delma’s cousins, and Chris stayed with the center’s gardener just down the mountain by the soccer cancha. We showed the children how to play cards and banagrams and Quentin tried to teach me how to play some songs on the guitar. We also played a lot of soccer…I did not as much as the boys because I did not feel completely comfortable since I was the only female within sight.
Classes have been going well—both my UCA classes and the computer/English classes at Cedro. I’m loving being both a student and a teacher…I really feel I could this for the majority of my life. It is such a blessing to have the opportunity. Some of my students are so bright and eager to learn. This week our theme is body parts…which has been so much fun! Classes have consisted of drawing the body, singing ‘head, shoulders, knees and toes’, side walk chalk, and a new game I learned here called ‘back to back’. I think I get a bigger kick out of all the games than even some of the kids!
In many ways, El Salvador is creating its own little space in my heart…from the people I’m meeting here and quickly loving, to the food, colors, language, simply way of life, and so much more. Combining what I’m learning and teaching here with Liberation Theology and my faith has also been so rewarding and life giving. I see God in everything…good and bad.
Sister Peggy quotes from my last Theology class…
“We have an infinite capacity to love, and to be loved. So when you’re in love, make love!”
“God’s love is ludicrous…it is beautifully impossible to understand.”
“Forgiveness is love. And who isn’t in need of healing?”
“The person who has the why to live, overcomes the how.”
On top of spending lots of time playing mica(tag) with all of the neighborhood kids, I got in some quality time with my praxis partners who lived close by. Quentin stayed just 100yrds away at Delma’s cousins, and Chris stayed with the center’s gardener just down the mountain by the soccer cancha. We showed the children how to play cards and banagrams and Quentin tried to teach me how to play some songs on the guitar. We also played a lot of soccer…I did not as much as the boys because I did not feel completely comfortable since I was the only female within sight.
Classes have been going well—both my UCA classes and the computer/English classes at Cedro. I’m loving being both a student and a teacher…I really feel I could this for the majority of my life. It is such a blessing to have the opportunity. Some of my students are so bright and eager to learn. This week our theme is body parts…which has been so much fun! Classes have consisted of drawing the body, singing ‘head, shoulders, knees and toes’, side walk chalk, and a new game I learned here called ‘back to back’. I think I get a bigger kick out of all the games than even some of the kids!
In many ways, El Salvador is creating its own little space in my heart…from the people I’m meeting here and quickly loving, to the food, colors, language, simply way of life, and so much more. Combining what I’m learning and teaching here with Liberation Theology and my faith has also been so rewarding and life giving. I see God in everything…good and bad.
Sister Peggy quotes from my last Theology class…
“We have an infinite capacity to love, and to be loved. So when you’re in love, make love!”
“God’s love is ludicrous…it is beautifully impossible to understand.”
“Forgiveness is love. And who isn’t in need of healing?”
“The person who has the why to live, overcomes the how.”
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Quick update...
Praxis has been going great…The tally for haircutting is now up to 16 after two days!!! SO MUCH HAIR. My two praxis partners and I can now dance typical Salvadoran folk dances…Quentin and I are especially good at the “baile de los novios” (boyfriend/girlfriend dance). This upcoming weekend we are going to be staying with a family in El Cedro. I am staying with a woman named Delma.
Something interesting that has been happening in El Salvador lately (not sure if it’s made the USA papers or not), is the gang problem. These past two days have been especially hectic and dangerous to drive (I have been worried at times), because the gangs have been issuing threats to the bus system. Last week the Salvadoran government made it illegal to belong to any gang (M13, or 18Salvatruchas), meaning that if they suspect you are simply in a gang, not doing anything illegal such as killing, stealing, etc, you can be put in jail. In reaction to this law, the gangs have “shut down” the bus system, paying off bus drivers, and burning buses. This hasn’t affected us directly in any way, it simply makes driving more difficult, and there is a huge increase in people walking around the city trying to make it to work. It has also canceled classes for children and adults of all ages. Most of our becarios have not had class for the past three days because their professors and classmates cannot make it to school. There is also increased police force and government officials on patrol…makes it interesting walking to get a chocobanana. Again, we are not at risk as long as we stay away from the buses. According to the newspapers and Trena and Kevin, all of the hype will hopefully die down in a few days.
Something interesting that has been happening in El Salvador lately (not sure if it’s made the USA papers or not), is the gang problem. These past two days have been especially hectic and dangerous to drive (I have been worried at times), because the gangs have been issuing threats to the bus system. Last week the Salvadoran government made it illegal to belong to any gang (M13, or 18Salvatruchas), meaning that if they suspect you are simply in a gang, not doing anything illegal such as killing, stealing, etc, you can be put in jail. In reaction to this law, the gangs have “shut down” the bus system, paying off bus drivers, and burning buses. This hasn’t affected us directly in any way, it simply makes driving more difficult, and there is a huge increase in people walking around the city trying to make it to work. It has also canceled classes for children and adults of all ages. Most of our becarios have not had class for the past three days because their professors and classmates cannot make it to school. There is also increased police force and government officials on patrol…makes it interesting walking to get a chocobanana. Again, we are not at risk as long as we stay away from the buses. According to the newspapers and Trena and Kevin, all of the hype will hopefully die down in a few days.
Puchica!
This past weekend was our first real free weekend(though really our third), after what still feels like two weeks of orientation. A few days ago it really hit me that I’m here for four months, and the honeymoon stage of orientation and first week butterflies is almost over. My roommate Michelle said to me Sunday evening, “Wow, this place is starting to feel like home.” I agree with her. But, back to our fun weekend! Friday morning started off as usual with my 8am Theology class with Sister Peggy (what we talked about in those three hours alone could be an entire blog entry in itself). After class we had our weekly community lunch at the Romero House, and then some headed off to History class in the afternoon. I, on the other hand, took advantage of not having class and spent the afternoon watching movies in our room with Michelle, who was running a fever because of a 24hr bug…not good. Everyone in our program but myself has been sick with either stomach issues or some sort of virus. I did have a strange reaction to something in Cedro last week, leaving me with hives for about 5 days, but I’d take that over bacteria and amoebas in my intestines any day!
That night was our first official meeting with all of the becario students (Salvadoran scholarship students). Up until that point I really only knew the two girls who live with us( Suzanna y Reina) and some of the other who live in the two other houses. Before sitting down to a delicious dinner of chicken tamales and fresh fruit, we played some “dinamica” games to get to know each other. I was paired with a boy named Salvador who also spoke a little French and is studying Education…what a small world was all I kept thinking. Following dinamica and dinner, one of the becarios picked up his guitar and began to play typical Salvadoran folk music. The female becarios then each grabbed a partner (me, being one of them) and began dancing. Ten songs later, the party died down and people started to leave. Though I was having a lot of fun, I was tired, sweaty, and wanting to get back to Michelle, who, after dinner wasn’t’ feeling well again. The goodbyes were quick, because all of us knew we’d see each other just hours later, the next morning.
I had no problem waking up early Saturday morning. Michelle thankfully was feeling better, so we both put on our bathing suits and layered ourselves with sunscreen, knowing that the sun here is so much stronger than at home. Outside of Silvia, there were two buses. One bus was quickly filling up with mostly Casa students, and initially I started for its door, but then I decided to sit on the other bus with the becarios. I knew I had made the right decicios when the bus driver BLASTED regaetone the entire way there, and all of the becarios sang and danced along.
Costa del Sol was even more beautiful than I remembered (I was there in January with DePauw). The black sand and hammocks were peacefully familiar and calling my name. The first two hours I spent in the water, though not very deep because the waves were the biggest I had ever seen. I also played three games of volleyball and two games of futbol with the becarios. Both of these left me extra sandy and exhausted. For lunch we all enjoyed grilled chicken, fresh vegetables, and of course rice and beans. Surprisingly we also were given dessert, vanilla icecream, which I haven’t had since I’ve been here. Following lunch, I took a nice long nap in the sun, which sadly at the end of the day left me with a nice sunburn, since I failed to reapply sunscreen.
We returned home to the casas, and all showered, then attempted to devise a plan for the open night we had ahead of us. Finally, we decided to go to a local bar, La Luna and check out the scene there. When we got there, we quickly figured out it was not going to be a typical bar night out in El Salvador, or at least not one we would expect. Going on at La Luna that night was, “Rock Night”. We saw two bands play different covers of The Rolling Stones, ACDC, Led Zepplin, etc. On top of already standing out as a blondeish haired, blue eyed, gringa, I was the only one wearing a color other than black in the bar that night…bright green and pink to be specific. Needless to say, after one Pilsner, and my watch read 11pm, I decided I needed to go home. It was quite the experience…
That night was our first official meeting with all of the becario students (Salvadoran scholarship students). Up until that point I really only knew the two girls who live with us( Suzanna y Reina) and some of the other who live in the two other houses. Before sitting down to a delicious dinner of chicken tamales and fresh fruit, we played some “dinamica” games to get to know each other. I was paired with a boy named Salvador who also spoke a little French and is studying Education…what a small world was all I kept thinking. Following dinamica and dinner, one of the becarios picked up his guitar and began to play typical Salvadoran folk music. The female becarios then each grabbed a partner (me, being one of them) and began dancing. Ten songs later, the party died down and people started to leave. Though I was having a lot of fun, I was tired, sweaty, and wanting to get back to Michelle, who, after dinner wasn’t’ feeling well again. The goodbyes were quick, because all of us knew we’d see each other just hours later, the next morning.
I had no problem waking up early Saturday morning. Michelle thankfully was feeling better, so we both put on our bathing suits and layered ourselves with sunscreen, knowing that the sun here is so much stronger than at home. Outside of Silvia, there were two buses. One bus was quickly filling up with mostly Casa students, and initially I started for its door, but then I decided to sit on the other bus with the becarios. I knew I had made the right decicios when the bus driver BLASTED regaetone the entire way there, and all of the becarios sang and danced along.
Costa del Sol was even more beautiful than I remembered (I was there in January with DePauw). The black sand and hammocks were peacefully familiar and calling my name. The first two hours I spent in the water, though not very deep because the waves were the biggest I had ever seen. I also played three games of volleyball and two games of futbol with the becarios. Both of these left me extra sandy and exhausted. For lunch we all enjoyed grilled chicken, fresh vegetables, and of course rice and beans. Surprisingly we also were given dessert, vanilla icecream, which I haven’t had since I’ve been here. Following lunch, I took a nice long nap in the sun, which sadly at the end of the day left me with a nice sunburn, since I failed to reapply sunscreen.
We returned home to the casas, and all showered, then attempted to devise a plan for the open night we had ahead of us. Finally, we decided to go to a local bar, La Luna and check out the scene there. When we got there, we quickly figured out it was not going to be a typical bar night out in El Salvador, or at least not one we would expect. Going on at La Luna that night was, “Rock Night”. We saw two bands play different covers of The Rolling Stones, ACDC, Led Zepplin, etc. On top of already standing out as a blondeish haired, blue eyed, gringa, I was the only one wearing a color other than black in the bar that night…bright green and pink to be specific. Needless to say, after one Pilsner, and my watch read 11pm, I decided I needed to go home. It was quite the experience…
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Primer dia de praxis
Primer dia de praxis—
This morning I woke up to the smell of chocolate chip pancakes. As I rolled out of bed, Michelle, my roommate, was just returning from the bathroom. “Get up silly! The CCs (community coordinators) made us breakfast!” she practically sings. Like every morning I slip on my flip-flops and head for the kitchen for my (first) cup of coffee of the day. As I enter the dining room, I am greeted by all of the students in the Casa! I feel like everyone has been up for hours, even though it’s only quarter to seven. “Can’t you tell Katy is a morning person,” Drew, one of my housemates, chuckles as he says this. “Haha,” I mumble in return and head straight for the kitchen, el café aromatico calling my name.
After a very enthusiastic breakfast in which the Backstreet Boys were included, we were finally on our way by seven thirty. Because our praxis site is not only the furthest away, but also in the opposite direction of the others, Quentin, Chris and I took a taxi. Salvador, our driver, chatted about his experiences in the war, the role of the United States, and even mentioned Russia. “Have you taken classes about the war?” he asked. “Yes, I am a Latin American History minor,” I respond. “We are all also taking the class here,” Quentin adds. “Que chivo,” says Salvador.
Our taxi ride was short-lived, and we arrived just fifteen minutes later to the convent in San Jacinto where Soeur Rosa, the Cedro director, greeted us with hugs and kisses. “Que maravilloso that you are finally here,” she says. She continued to give us a brief tour of the convent, adding specifically to me, that they can always use knew girls to practice. She continued to hint at this throughout the day.
The trip up the volcano towards Cedro was nothing short of interesting. Crammed into the back of a pickup while it is raining always makes a typically one hour ride feel like three. Not only did the rain make it difficult for our driver Joaquin to see, but also there were lots of mudslides, boulders, people, livestock and other vehicles to avoid on the narrow road.
We finally arrived to El Cedro where a crowd of a little over thirty children greeted us enthusiastically. “Bienvenidos!” they all sang, just as they had on Saturday. Soeur Rosa wasted no time in dismissing the kids to their classes, and taking us to the ‘sala de reuniones’, where the women of the community discuss the use of the center. There, she explained the different opportunities for how we were to spend our time in Cedro. Computer and English classes stood out to me, along with helping in the ‘comedor’. Following of brief meeting with Soeur, she hurried off to work in the kitchen and sent us in the general direction of the computer lab. We found the computer lab with little difficulty because it was the only classroom that had a lock on it. The room was also cooler than the others, with three fans blowing and the air conditioning on low. I went straight to the first desktop and removed the cover, and crushed off the thin layer of dust from the keyboard. I wondered to myself whether the machines had been touched since the last Casa students were there.
I familiarized myself with the dated pc and windows program, and just as I was finishing, a group of five children came in. Sergio was obviously the oldest, leading the timid pack into the room. “Quieren tomar clases de computadora,” I ask. “Si,” they respond simply, showing no obvious excitement. “Bueno, empezamos,” I said as I motioned toward the four working machines.
Computer classes went fairly smoothly. Chris took on a more advanced boy who wanted to learn more about Microsoft Word. Quentin helped two young boys who were just learning to type. I worked with two girls who also needed some typing tips.
By noon, I was starting to get very hungry, but before we could eat, Soeur told us, the children had to eat first. Every spoonful of rice and beans that I served to over one hundred children was painful because it smelled so good. I had to keep reminding myself that for some of these kids this would be their only meal of the day. I could wait another thirty minutes for my meal, which would not simply consist of rice and beans, but also fresh vegetables, coffee and a hard-boiled egg. Lunch was chaotic, but lots of fun. On more than one occasion, one of the little boys and girls came and gave me hugs and gracias for their meal. One girl in particular wanted to know if I could stay in Cedro with her forever.
After lunch most of the children cleared out of the center, many heading home to work, and the most fortunate back to school until quarter to five. Some children however stayed around. As I wrapped up my conversation over dishes with Soeur, I wandered out to the cement slab where I heard lots of laughing. Chris and Quentin had started a game of futbol with some of the local boys. All of them barefoot and having the time of their lives being pushed on the ground and dancing in circles when a teammate scored a goal. I decided to sit down next to Juana, the only girl watching the futbol match and show her pictures of my family. “Que bonita,” she kept saying in reference to my younger sister who is close to her age. As we sat there enjoying each other’s company, three other young girls approached us with as many flowers as they could each carry. One by one they proceeded as timidly to give me their bouquets. I had never seen so many different colors and textures. “Gracias!” I said and gave them all hugs.
Our day ended around three because we have such a long ride home. Not only did it take about an hour to get down the mountain, but also Soeur informed us that we would have some other passengers to stop and drop off on more than one occasion on the way. Two men with swinging machetes, a young male student, and a woman with her son sat in the bed of the truck as we fought the mud and rain once more.
Katy
Best meal I’ve had so far:
Pupusas de chorizo
Sliced avocado and onion
Pilsner
Chocobanana for dessert!!!!!!
“To be human, is to live out our deepest truth.”
This morning I woke up to the smell of chocolate chip pancakes. As I rolled out of bed, Michelle, my roommate, was just returning from the bathroom. “Get up silly! The CCs (community coordinators) made us breakfast!” she practically sings. Like every morning I slip on my flip-flops and head for the kitchen for my (first) cup of coffee of the day. As I enter the dining room, I am greeted by all of the students in the Casa! I feel like everyone has been up for hours, even though it’s only quarter to seven. “Can’t you tell Katy is a morning person,” Drew, one of my housemates, chuckles as he says this. “Haha,” I mumble in return and head straight for the kitchen, el café aromatico calling my name.
After a very enthusiastic breakfast in which the Backstreet Boys were included, we were finally on our way by seven thirty. Because our praxis site is not only the furthest away, but also in the opposite direction of the others, Quentin, Chris and I took a taxi. Salvador, our driver, chatted about his experiences in the war, the role of the United States, and even mentioned Russia. “Have you taken classes about the war?” he asked. “Yes, I am a Latin American History minor,” I respond. “We are all also taking the class here,” Quentin adds. “Que chivo,” says Salvador.
Our taxi ride was short-lived, and we arrived just fifteen minutes later to the convent in San Jacinto where Soeur Rosa, the Cedro director, greeted us with hugs and kisses. “Que maravilloso that you are finally here,” she says. She continued to give us a brief tour of the convent, adding specifically to me, that they can always use knew girls to practice. She continued to hint at this throughout the day.
The trip up the volcano towards Cedro was nothing short of interesting. Crammed into the back of a pickup while it is raining always makes a typically one hour ride feel like three. Not only did the rain make it difficult for our driver Joaquin to see, but also there were lots of mudslides, boulders, people, livestock and other vehicles to avoid on the narrow road.
We finally arrived to El Cedro where a crowd of a little over thirty children greeted us enthusiastically. “Bienvenidos!” they all sang, just as they had on Saturday. Soeur Rosa wasted no time in dismissing the kids to their classes, and taking us to the ‘sala de reuniones’, where the women of the community discuss the use of the center. There, she explained the different opportunities for how we were to spend our time in Cedro. Computer and English classes stood out to me, along with helping in the ‘comedor’. Following of brief meeting with Soeur, she hurried off to work in the kitchen and sent us in the general direction of the computer lab. We found the computer lab with little difficulty because it was the only classroom that had a lock on it. The room was also cooler than the others, with three fans blowing and the air conditioning on low. I went straight to the first desktop and removed the cover, and crushed off the thin layer of dust from the keyboard. I wondered to myself whether the machines had been touched since the last Casa students were there.
I familiarized myself with the dated pc and windows program, and just as I was finishing, a group of five children came in. Sergio was obviously the oldest, leading the timid pack into the room. “Quieren tomar clases de computadora,” I ask. “Si,” they respond simply, showing no obvious excitement. “Bueno, empezamos,” I said as I motioned toward the four working machines.
Computer classes went fairly smoothly. Chris took on a more advanced boy who wanted to learn more about Microsoft Word. Quentin helped two young boys who were just learning to type. I worked with two girls who also needed some typing tips.
By noon, I was starting to get very hungry, but before we could eat, Soeur told us, the children had to eat first. Every spoonful of rice and beans that I served to over one hundred children was painful because it smelled so good. I had to keep reminding myself that for some of these kids this would be their only meal of the day. I could wait another thirty minutes for my meal, which would not simply consist of rice and beans, but also fresh vegetables, coffee and a hard-boiled egg. Lunch was chaotic, but lots of fun. On more than one occasion, one of the little boys and girls came and gave me hugs and gracias for their meal. One girl in particular wanted to know if I could stay in Cedro with her forever.
After lunch most of the children cleared out of the center, many heading home to work, and the most fortunate back to school until quarter to five. Some children however stayed around. As I wrapped up my conversation over dishes with Soeur, I wandered out to the cement slab where I heard lots of laughing. Chris and Quentin had started a game of futbol with some of the local boys. All of them barefoot and having the time of their lives being pushed on the ground and dancing in circles when a teammate scored a goal. I decided to sit down next to Juana, the only girl watching the futbol match and show her pictures of my family. “Que bonita,” she kept saying in reference to my younger sister who is close to her age. As we sat there enjoying each other’s company, three other young girls approached us with as many flowers as they could each carry. One by one they proceeded as timidly to give me their bouquets. I had never seen so many different colors and textures. “Gracias!” I said and gave them all hugs.
Our day ended around three because we have such a long ride home. Not only did it take about an hour to get down the mountain, but also Soeur informed us that we would have some other passengers to stop and drop off on more than one occasion on the way. Two men with swinging machetes, a young male student, and a woman with her son sat in the bed of the truck as we fought the mud and rain once more.
Katy
Best meal I’ve had so far:
Pupusas de chorizo
Sliced avocado and onion
Pilsner
Chocobanana for dessert!!!!!!
“To be human, is to live out our deepest truth.”
Friday, August 27, 2010
Que chivo.
Buenas! Que emocionado comunicar con vos por la primera vez con el miraculo mundo de la red!
Hello everyone back home en los Estados Unidos! I’m sorry it has taken me so long to update my blog. It is amazing to think that I have been here for just over a week! I have seen so much, met so many people, tried lots of new things, and already experienced an abundance of growth. All that to say, I have had limited access to internet, as my parents can attest to (I’ve skyped with them twice now!), and my ‘binge’ facebook and email activity probably implies. However, that has changed in the last two days. I will now have consistent wifi access on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, because those are the days I have class at the Universidad CentroAmericana Jose Simeon Canas, which is about a 15 minute walk from Casa Silvia, where I live.
Well…where to start?
The Casa de la Solidaridad (solidarity) program has been wonderful so far. Kevin and Trena, the codirectors have really taken the time to allow us as a group to slowly get accustomed to El Salvador. Our first week we had an orientation of sorts…we played typical get-to-know-you games, shared meals together, and most importantly we traveled all over the country to the different praxis sites where each of us will be working two days per week. But, of course we have yet to see mine, which is actually happening tomorrow! I’m very excited about this because of all the amazing people we have met at the other sites. All of the sites are very different, some rural and others urban. Many of them have opportunities for working with children, and one specifically is for Salvadorans with special needs. I, along with two boys, both from Santa Clara, will be working in Canton El Cedro! I’ll know more about what we’re doing after tomorrow.
Besides the praxis site visits, we have just been spending time as a community. Already I feel very close to my roommate Michelle (Loyola Maryland), my 6 other housemates, and 18 other students in the Casa program. We’ve had lots of reflection as to why we are each here, and discussion of our hopes and dreams for the program. We’ve eaten lots of pupusas (corn tortilla stuffed with beans and cheese), journaled, prayed, hiked and many other things together. We are definitely becoming a close-knit and intimate community very quickly.
Some of the things I have learned in El Salvador thus far:
1. Cold showers are now something I look forward to every night.
2. Less is more in El Salvador…I have yet to wear makeup or fix my hair.
3. There are so many varieties of pupusas(cheese, bean, chicarron, revuelta, loroco)…I hope to never get sick of them.
4. Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way here…though my blonde-ish hair helps stop traffic.
5. “Bicho” is not a curseword, but actually means “dude” in Salvadoran slang. I still feel weird saying it.
6. There are so many fruits that I never knew existed...jocotes are my new favorite.
7. The range in income here is ridiculous…some people live off of less than $1 per day, others have what feels like infinite amounts and don’t share.
8. Although the Catholic Church definitely still has a strong presence here, Jehova’s Witnesses, Pentacostals, and Evangelist communities are growing. Very few “simply Christian” communities exist.
9. When it rains here…people worry for their lives and the lives of their children. I have already witnessed a mudslide and flood that destroyed three houses!
10. Salvadorans are so welcoming. They use their best ingredients to make the best meals for us when we visit. They also think I don’t eat enough. I need to be “more round for when you want to have babies someday” many of the women have said to me!
11. Bowel movements and “toilet talk” is typical for Casa students. Thankfully no one has yet to be sick!
12. Machismo is something Salvador men struggle with on a daily basis
13. The bus system does not have any sort of route or map…it runs on word of mouth.
14. Comfortable walking/hiking shoes are a must for Gringos, but Salvadorans seem to get by with flipflops.
15. Solidarity is an extremely common word here. I wonder why…?
Love and miss you all!!! More updates soon.
Katy
My schedule:
Monday 730am-5pm Praxis Site- Canton El Cedro
Tuesday 7am-10am Political Science, 2pm-5pm Sociology, 7pm Cleaning Party, 8pm Spirituality Night
Wednesday 730am-5pm Praxis Site- Canton El Cedro
Thursday 10am Avisos, 11am Seminar, 230pm-530pm Salvadoran Literature, 630pm Community dinner, 8pm Community night
Friday 8am-11am Theology, 1230pm Community lunch
“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time…but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
Lilla Watson
Hello everyone back home en los Estados Unidos! I’m sorry it has taken me so long to update my blog. It is amazing to think that I have been here for just over a week! I have seen so much, met so many people, tried lots of new things, and already experienced an abundance of growth. All that to say, I have had limited access to internet, as my parents can attest to (I’ve skyped with them twice now!), and my ‘binge’ facebook and email activity probably implies. However, that has changed in the last two days. I will now have consistent wifi access on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, because those are the days I have class at the Universidad CentroAmericana Jose Simeon Canas, which is about a 15 minute walk from Casa Silvia, where I live.
Well…where to start?
The Casa de la Solidaridad (solidarity) program has been wonderful so far. Kevin and Trena, the codirectors have really taken the time to allow us as a group to slowly get accustomed to El Salvador. Our first week we had an orientation of sorts…we played typical get-to-know-you games, shared meals together, and most importantly we traveled all over the country to the different praxis sites where each of us will be working two days per week. But, of course we have yet to see mine, which is actually happening tomorrow! I’m very excited about this because of all the amazing people we have met at the other sites. All of the sites are very different, some rural and others urban. Many of them have opportunities for working with children, and one specifically is for Salvadorans with special needs. I, along with two boys, both from Santa Clara, will be working in Canton El Cedro! I’ll know more about what we’re doing after tomorrow.
Besides the praxis site visits, we have just been spending time as a community. Already I feel very close to my roommate Michelle (Loyola Maryland), my 6 other housemates, and 18 other students in the Casa program. We’ve had lots of reflection as to why we are each here, and discussion of our hopes and dreams for the program. We’ve eaten lots of pupusas (corn tortilla stuffed with beans and cheese), journaled, prayed, hiked and many other things together. We are definitely becoming a close-knit and intimate community very quickly.
Some of the things I have learned in El Salvador thus far:
1. Cold showers are now something I look forward to every night.
2. Less is more in El Salvador…I have yet to wear makeup or fix my hair.
3. There are so many varieties of pupusas(cheese, bean, chicarron, revuelta, loroco)…I hope to never get sick of them.
4. Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way here…though my blonde-ish hair helps stop traffic.
5. “Bicho” is not a curseword, but actually means “dude” in Salvadoran slang. I still feel weird saying it.
6. There are so many fruits that I never knew existed...jocotes are my new favorite.
7. The range in income here is ridiculous…some people live off of less than $1 per day, others have what feels like infinite amounts and don’t share.
8. Although the Catholic Church definitely still has a strong presence here, Jehova’s Witnesses, Pentacostals, and Evangelist communities are growing. Very few “simply Christian” communities exist.
9. When it rains here…people worry for their lives and the lives of their children. I have already witnessed a mudslide and flood that destroyed three houses!
10. Salvadorans are so welcoming. They use their best ingredients to make the best meals for us when we visit. They also think I don’t eat enough. I need to be “more round for when you want to have babies someday” many of the women have said to me!
11. Bowel movements and “toilet talk” is typical for Casa students. Thankfully no one has yet to be sick!
12. Machismo is something Salvador men struggle with on a daily basis
13. The bus system does not have any sort of route or map…it runs on word of mouth.
14. Comfortable walking/hiking shoes are a must for Gringos, but Salvadorans seem to get by with flipflops.
15. Solidarity is an extremely common word here. I wonder why…?
Love and miss you all!!! More updates soon.
Katy
My schedule:
Monday 730am-5pm Praxis Site- Canton El Cedro
Tuesday 7am-10am Political Science, 2pm-5pm Sociology, 7pm Cleaning Party, 8pm Spirituality Night
Wednesday 730am-5pm Praxis Site- Canton El Cedro
Thursday 10am Avisos, 11am Seminar, 230pm-530pm Salvadoran Literature, 630pm Community dinner, 8pm Community night
Friday 8am-11am Theology, 1230pm Community lunch
“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time…but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
Lilla Watson
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Let the countdown begin
At this exact time, a week from today, I will be buckling my seat belt on an American Airlines jet, ready to take off for Miami, FL. The first leg of my trip is the shortest of the two, on which I plan on enjoying my last hours above American soil while sipping ginger ale, and munching on salty peanuts. The second flies directly into San Salvador, where I will be picked up by my program director, Trena Yonkers-Talz. According to our group's itinerary, three other girls from our group of nineteen will be on my same flight from Miami to San Salvador. I'll be sure to look for them, most likely carrying full backpacks, and biting with my same anticipation.
As my departure date has quickly approached, I've had many questions from the different people in my life. The most common one is of course, "are you excited?". In most cases I've been honest and responded with, "yes, I am excited, but at the same time nervous." Those who know me well sympathize, understanding that I am nervous about leaving my family for such a long time, and others even empathize, sharing their abroad experiences, all of which turned out to be, "the time of their lives". "You will never want to come home," some have even said.
Although I want my four months in El Salvador to in a sense be "the time of my life", I hope that I'm not necessarily saying, "I never want to come home." I know I'm going to LOVE the culture, the language, the food, the people...I did the first time I was there, but I also know that traveling and living in another place without my family and closest friends, there will be a void. Learning to be independent is extremely valuable, and I'm excited to learn more about myself, but I will not forget the community in which I am apart of here in the States.
I love and care about all of you, and I thank you all for your prayers and thoughts while I am away! I am nervous, but even more EXCITED knowing I have support.
I hope this blog finds all of you well. And that while I am away "having the time of my life", these entries will give you a glimpse of the other communities that I will be apart of for the time-being.
Katy
"Los únicos goces puros y sin mezcla de tristeza que le han sido dados sobre la tierra al hombre, son los goces de familia."
As my departure date has quickly approached, I've had many questions from the different people in my life. The most common one is of course, "are you excited?". In most cases I've been honest and responded with, "yes, I am excited, but at the same time nervous." Those who know me well sympathize, understanding that I am nervous about leaving my family for such a long time, and others even empathize, sharing their abroad experiences, all of which turned out to be, "the time of their lives". "You will never want to come home," some have even said.
Although I want my four months in El Salvador to in a sense be "the time of my life", I hope that I'm not necessarily saying, "I never want to come home." I know I'm going to LOVE the culture, the language, the food, the people...I did the first time I was there, but I also know that traveling and living in another place without my family and closest friends, there will be a void. Learning to be independent is extremely valuable, and I'm excited to learn more about myself, but I will not forget the community in which I am apart of here in the States.
I love and care about all of you, and I thank you all for your prayers and thoughts while I am away! I am nervous, but even more EXCITED knowing I have support.
I hope this blog finds all of you well. And that while I am away "having the time of my life", these entries will give you a glimpse of the other communities that I will be apart of for the time-being.
Katy
"Los únicos goces puros y sin mezcla de tristeza que le han sido dados sobre la tierra al hombre, son los goces de familia."
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