A few days ago, I think it was on Saturday, I was invited by a family that lives farther down my road to go to “El Rio” or known as the river in Spanish. I was not really sure where it was exactly, what I needed or how long we would be there, so I managed to bring the essentials, you know…hand sanitizer, a cliff bar, chapstick (which melted), phone, camera, quick dry towel, PC ID card, a few dollars, and well forgetting toilet paper (I survived).
In our River group we had a little girl, Nisellie who draws pictures for me on a weekly basis (and recently accidentally pulled out one of my feathers in my hair the other day:-( ), her cousin Karen who is 12 and lives in San Salvador but is in La Loma for the holidays. Also in our pack included their cousin Serbian, who is 13 and a complete jokester, plus their Aunt who was the adult chaperone so to say. She is under 30 and not married, which in this society (thank god not in the US, I will probably be one of those...cough cough anyway) is a rarity. Anyways, we walked awhile and after passing some houses that I had visited earlier with my health promoter in October, we found a large gate with a sign saying “Piscinas y Las Cascadas”. We paid the $1.00 to enter and walked from the top of the mountain (where I live) to the valley where the river is located.
The water was freezing, but I eventually jumped in (Salvadorans in the campo swim in full clothes…no bathing suits). Their Aunt brought food and we had a little camp out, just right there near the waterfall. It was such a fun day. Do not worry Auntie Diane, I wore my sunhat and surprisingly did not get sunburn (a miracle if you’ve been how gringa my skin looks). It felt like I was in the United States, sort of, a weekend trip for a swim, it was a blast.
The good news is that I actually have a lot going on this week and I feel December is no longer lagging on but going by a little faster. I am no longer as homesick as I was earlier in the month, which makes everything easier. There is something I have been avoiding talking about because I try to write about my positive experiences. But, my host family is driving me crazy. I live with one woman, she is nice person, BUT over 50 and as most women over 50 (no offense to all of you out there) you tend to go a little crazy and like certain things a certain way. I think she is more controlling of me (for example re-teaching me how to wash my clothes by hand every other day gets REALLY old) because she has never had children and has basically been living alone for the last 5-10 years. I am still planning on building a small one roomed casitas on another family’s land, hopefully starting in January. But, until then I am here.
(salsa!)
Fortunately, I do have electricity now and been cooking almost all my own meals, which makes it easier. I posted a bunch of photos of some the recipes I have tried out in the campo without a fridge, microwave, toaster oven, and one cutting board. Someone mentioned there have not been as many food photos as usual, so here you go! But, I spend most of my day out of the house to avoid her so I do not get too frustrated. On one side of things, it gets me out in the community and visible. The people here truly are amazing and are beyond welcoming to me. I came home yesterday and today with bags full of oranges, mandarins, bananas, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggs, plantains, AND even a avocado.
People show their love through the food they give you. I would not have it any other way, less market shopping for me too, on a Peace Corps budget that is definitely a HUGE plus!
garlic carrots with curry seasoning.
**Hiking Volcano Santa Ana this Friday with two other volunteers, photos and updates from that to be up soon hopefully! Wish me luck not to fall in the lava!
Salvadoran seesaw made by bamboo!
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