Why is there mud everywhere and chickens outside my window? Welcome to Campo Life.

I have officially survived one week living in La Loma. It has been a little bit of an emotional roller coaster but as of right now, I can honestly say I am happy where I am. Let us start with the highlights, shall we? First off the bus came today. I have to hike (not walk) uphill for 45 minutes to get to the highway stop which a bus passes by to get…just about anywhere. I am currently in Ataco, a small touristy town in an adorable café…with internet. I almost feel like I am in the U.S. It’s glorious. I am even drinking a mochachino. My regional group leader, Bri called me yesterday afternoon to check up on me and also invited me to share some good coffee with her and another volunteer Sarah (the one who set up my site). I would not have been more excited to get out (even just for the day). My caserio is great. It is definitely in the mountains, there is green everywhere (which includes LOTS of mud). I get to see a waterfall on my way to the school every day. Most of the houses are on a long road, which takes about an hour to hike (not walk) the entire thing.

The people are truly absolutely wonderful. I have been offered several times to come to someone’s house if I am ever hungry, want lunch, coffee, or even just a snack. There is one woman, Mercedes who I am completely in love with. She has a little store and lives right next to the school. She feed me the most beautiful little salad with fresh tomatoes, shredded carrots, cheese, a Fanta, and little baby tortillas to go with it. She made me pupusas for breakfast one early morning as well, when she found out my mom had only given me French bread and coffee that morning. I adore her. The school I will be working with is awesome. I have visited it every day this week, getting to know the kids and teachers.

(my principal)
The principal Senora Rocio, who is also a teacher, is a completely powerhouse. She also is less than 5 feet tall. She has a recycling program with the kids and just got new desk and chairs for the school. She does not live in La Loma, none of the teachers do actually, but has invited me to visit her at her house with her family for a weekend. She was a big reason I am here and I know I am super lucky to have her. She wakes up at 4 am to come here every day and has two adorable daughters. My school has only three classrooms and three teachers, so it’s pretty small. All of the older kids go to Jujutla (the nearest town) for the higher grades.

(the chef at the school on the left, her two daughters, then Veronica second to the right, and the health promoter, Mari Cruz on the farthest right after we went orange picking at a house nearby)
Another teacher is named Veronica, she is tall and strong. I can already tell we are going to work well together. She has a son who is 5 years old and she lives in Sonsonate (a larger city an hour or two away). Then there’s Juan Carlos, who has two girls as well and is a completely jokester. All of them get along really well (as far as I can tell) and seem happy to have me here. I cannot wait to start working with them. My community guides are great. One woman is named Julia Ramos who I have actually barely seen, but has an adorable daughter named Emily. The other is Don Alfredo. He is a funny looking guy (here’s a photo), but will walk me anywhere I need to go and everyone in town knows him, which makes my job easier. There is also Mari Cruz, who came with Don Alfredo to San Salvador for our Counterpart Day, she is the health promoter in my Canton (Los Amates) and is a complete rock star. I have all awesome people helping me. My community truly is beautiful.

(My guide Don Alfredo)
I only have a few complaints…definitely the good outweigh the bad. I live about a 20 minute hike (not walk at all) from the school (uphill in mud). I really would prefer to live a lot closer. I am looking to move. I like my house now, my host mom is very sweet and I have my own room, which is great. But, I still do not feel comfortable. I still do not have electricity, which is supposedly going to be turned on next week (so frustrating so see light switches, plugs, wiring, and know they do not work). Candlelight is not so bad, my new bedtime is 8:00 or 8:30 pm and I wake up at 5:30/6 am when the sun is up or I am woken up by our rooster. I live with just one woman; she is sweet but VERY overbearing. I also can barely understand her. I do not have a copy of the house key yet, so whenever I return to the house and she is not there, I just have basically wait until she returns. I have been charging my phone at houses that have electricity, they have been super generous.

My house.

My room (it's a lot smaller than it looks)

Front view of the house.
Spanish in general is frustrating. I study an hour everyday now but I do not feel myself improving at all. I know it will get better, but I just wish I would fast forward just a tad. Thursday, I am leaving my house at 5 am to hike and then catch a bus to San Salvador for Rosh Hashana. A guy from USAID is hosting two other PCV’s for the holidays. I am excited to speak another language I am more familiar with than the current one I have been trying to learn. Hopefully I will have internet there and I can update then as well. Hopefully I will also stop at Super Selectos and stock up on much needed…Nutella and snacks.

(after orange picking)
Just when I get frustrated or annoyed something great happens. Yesterday I was feeling sad I could not be at Amanda’s Family weekend in Tucson, when a family invited me over for dinner. It was a lovely dinner, we talked all about Salvadoran culture, history, Cuerpo de Paz (Peace Corps in Spanish), all their family members. They showed me El Salvador’s official flower and their backyard full of orange trees. It was so much fun. Once they found out I like pupusas, they told me I had to come back when they make them. The five kids, two whom are married, and the wives both being pregnant, truly made such a warm family. I left with dinner for my mom and a HUGE bag of fresh bananas. On my way home, I said good evening to Don Manuel who gave me my mattress and I hear “Kara, quiere naranjas?, Do you want some oranges? I said yes, of course I would. So I trudge home with my huge shopping bag of oranges, bananas, and sandwiches. I had already received tomatoes, whiskie (a vegetable here), and ten limes earlier that day from house visits. I felt like a king. :-)

The powder room. Walk in mud to get to the powder room.

My lovely letrine.
I am really happy with my community; the kids are absolutely amazing, sweet and welcoming. When I walk down the street, they seem to all pop out and say “hola! Buenas tardes!” I tried to introduce myself as Kara Leta here, just as something different, which the kids turned into Ka-rita. So everywhere I go, little kids say “Hola Karita! Hola!” I absolutely love it and it makes me feel great. My new Salvadorean name seems to fit perfectly.

carrying lots of oranges home! :-)