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
Friday, October 22, 2010
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
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