From Firecrackers to Engineers

When it comes to New Years Eve, I have really NEVER been a big fan. Every single year for as long as I can remember, well at least after my mom threw a fantastic 2000 New Year’s Eve party (gosh I can’t believe that was over ten years ago), I have never really remembered having a great New Years. I feel a lot of people build up the holiday for no reason, what your plans are, where you are going to dinner or what bar you plan on stopping by. For me in the past if I was dating someone at the time, they always seemed to never be in the same location as I was in or in the same time zone, let alone on the same continent. So, I was more than happy to celebrate and embrace a Salvadoran New Years for a change instead of the “Who-are-you-kissing-at-midnight routine”. I think it’s a good sign when you return to your site in the back of a pickup truck with your friend’s brother (who drove by and saw you waiting for the bus on the highway) and everyone is waving at you as you bump along the VERY unpaved rock filled road. It reminds me how much I love my site, even in the low times, I pretty much ALWAYS look forward to the waves and the smiles of La Loma as I head back to my house.

There was a baile (dance) in my site, but it did not start till much later and I decided since my normal bedtime is around 8:30/9 pm, I wanted to be in bed very soon after midnight. I checked out the dance early and helped cook, then stopped by church for a little bit, but then I realized I was getting hungrier and hungrier and decided it was time for me to eat. Fortunately (and maybe unfortunately) many of you know; I am not one of those girls who do not eat. I enjoy eating. I like food. Plain and simple. I do get to a point during the day where it may have been 4, 5, 6, or more hours since my last meal…and let me tell ya, it ain’t pretty (pronounce it in your head puuuurrr-teeee). Therefore, I leave church after of course the Pastor points me out in front of everyone in the middle of the service thanking god for sending La Loma this volunteer, Karita to help the children and people of La Loma; in response I turn bright red without fail and awkwardly stand there attempting to hide…in church. I always wonder if this announcement takes place when I attend or if it happens every time…one will never know. Anyways, I head to Nina Lydia’s house and we eat panes de rellenos which is now my new favorite Salvadoran food. To be honest, it’s really not that fancy, but it’s NOT fried, there is very little oil, and there are lots of veggies!!!

(panes de rellenos and coke)
Everyone has their own version, but it is basically french bread with chicken, usually including thin slices of radish, cucumber, tomato, chopped green beans and a cabbage or potato mixture with a yummy mysterious gravy type sauce. I of course, ate two. Yummmmy! We hung out (literally) in the hammock, some cousins with their Aunt and I…all piled up together. We then lite firecrackers as well as some fireworks, just a tad bit illegal in the US, but SUPER fun here.
At midnight, there were more fireworks in the pueblo and everyone gave hugs and called their families. It was perfect. I was full, tired and happy. It was one of the best New Year’s I have had in a very long time. There was no confetti, no champagne, no crazy glasses formed into 2012 or even a kiss, but I was not in the least disappointed; in fact, I cannot wait till next year.

The Pastor´s wife and I (not) hitching a ride together to Ahuachapan.
After New Years, I went to visit another volunteer who lives in Santa Ana (a department north of me) in a Canton called Santa Rosa Senca. He has five people from Engineers Without Borders visiting his site to help fix a water pump for his community. There was one mentor (adult) and four students who all attended Minnesota State University at Mankato. It was an absolute blast hanging out with them and translating some of the conversations for the students, since only one knew some Spanish. I was able to realize how much Spanish I actually know (though most of the time I feel so lost and overwhelmed).

The women and us helping prepare dinner...
The community was beyond welcoming to these Americans and at the end of the visit there was a dance which crowned three “princesses” for the community and three of the engineers were their escorts, it was unforgettable. It was also fun just to see how adapted I have become to living here, the things they were experiencing for the first time, such as the copious amounts of food given to you and mostly corn products. The cultural norms of kissing someone on the cheek if greeting a woman, and shaking hands with a man were new for them, when you enter a house or are meeting them for the first time.

Working on the water pump.
Watching them go through the market and seeing all the things they sell here and their reactions was just a blast. I mainly visited to see how the organization worked and how I could possibly bring them to my community because there is a potential for a water project, but I need to find out more before I apply.

The water committee, some ninos, and the Engineers.
I think they all had a really good experience here, and as they were talking about eating a big mac when they get home, it was nice to feel I did not want to go with them (then again it is Minnesota where it’s freezing, even though they assured me they have had one of the warmest winters this year) but was excited to get back to my community in Ahuachapan.

I do feel a lot better now than I did two or three months ago. Still no updates on security stuff in case you were wondering, my guess we will find out in February, but my thoughts are positive and trying to stay that way. Of course, I will keep you updated. It is nice that I look forward to going home whenever I leave my community, which I think is an overall good thing. ;-)

Playing some ball in the street together!