Bottle Schools and Homemade Hot Air Balloons

Oh, the wonderful world of Peace Corps. This month seems to just be flying by here in El Salvador, though perhaps it is just me. May has been beyond BUSY. Last week we had our IST (In-Service Training) and because Peace Corps Washington combined the program, it ended up involving the majority of the volunteers left in country. Of course the staff decided to have it at a hotel on the beach.

 I think it’s become one of my new favorite places here (Called Bahia del Sol in the beach Costa del Sol). Besides the close to Katrina-storm attack (too soon?) of mosquito’s…being BEYOND attractived to my delicious sweet blood...it was nice to spend time with who is still here in country, I was able to get to know people I had not had the chance to before. The beach was beautiful; I will try to upload a few photos for ya’ll to check out of course as well.

We learned all kinds of different project ideas, grant information, presentations on everything from a Salvadoran Game of Life board game for camps (sounds like Camp Swift, right?) to building stoves. My favorite part was the 2 hour session on arts and crafts. We ended up making beads out of magazine paper (SUPER easy), dream catchers and... (Big drum roll)…mini hot air balloons!

We glued the sides of thick tissue paper after cutting them to look like a lantern. Then on our last day we all waited until it grew dark, and then headed to the beach to let’em rip! I think I was texting with my sister at the time and every once in a while she texts me asks what I am up to at that very moment. No matter what she always gets a good response…killing a cockroach and watching Tigre eat it, trenching through mud with like 15 kids along with me, or in this case lighting candles on the beach with a bunch of gringos and setting our homemade hot air balloons afloat. Can you get more hippy/Peace Corps than that?

 The other highlight of the week was we had a bonfire and had multiple colored marshmallows to roast, needless to say I lost count of exactly how many disappeared from my hand into my stomach. I believe they are in a better place. Gracias a Dios.

Our Training Group...minus Tyler, with El Salvador Country Director, Jaime!

Oh, plus I was passed on all the new episodes of Glee, SOMEONE tell me what is going on with that show. Crazy. Back in La Loma, I have been working on getting the stove project started, writing up a few grants and hanging with my host family. Before IST a few other volunteers, PC staff and myself attended Sarah Sterling’s inauguration for the Bottle School classroom. It was built through an idea of using plastic soda bottles filled with trash to the brim instead of blocks, both lowering the cost immensely AND being environmentally friendly. Sarah spent most of her service on this project and it was incredible to see it finished. The organization is called Hug It Forward, which was started by a Peace Corps Volunteer. I know, you are not THAT surprised. ;-)

On Sunday I had a truly unique opportunity to meet up with a RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, we gov’t jobs love shortening things) who served in Benin. After going to Boulder, I had met several RPCV’s who had served. We applied alongside a bunch of friends, some who are still serving, decided it was not for them…or like Honduras…were unable to complete their service. Rich and his friend Rachel (also an avid traveler) were absolutely wonderful people. It was so amazing to meet someone, see photos of his experience and know that one day I will be looking back at my time here in El Salvador in the same way. I felt both of us had vomit of the mouth…in a good way. I have officially decided with another PCV, you can really NEVER run out of things to talk about. Stories, situations, people, communities, work, food, religion, politics, culture, and so many more topics; I felt my time was cut off in a way.

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Rich and I eating Penches (chocolate covered fruit!)

In some ways, to be completely honest, for me it was intimating. He had started a non-profit, built a garden, working with an orphanage, did a rabbit project to say a few. It reminded me that my service will be different than his, simply because I live in a community of 350 people, he had over 10,000. But at the same time meeting Rich did help motivate and remind me why I am here. Even though it’s unlikely to be replaced where I live because of the security restrictions (he received a replacement…) I want to do AS MUCH as possible while living here.

After meeting up with them, we visited Jardin de Celeste for lunch where I had taken my Mom when she came. Also wandered around Ataco talking about the differences between Benin and El Salvador (there are MANY as you can assume). I realized how much I loved meeting people and not just Americans but people who came to visit. I was able to expose them to apart of the culture, the people and what life is like here. Throughout my Peace Corps service, I believe this will definitely be a unique and special part of my two years. Hopefully more people will visit, there is still so much time I have here, which I am more than happy for; because honestly I can say now more confidently than any time before…I am by far not ready to leave this beautiful place. It has become my second home.

On a last note, as many of you saw I attended the WYD camp (Women and Youth in Development) end of April that helps youth attend high school and college with scholarships. If most students make it to the 9^th grade and have the motivation to attend High School, the majority cannot because of cost to travel to the nearest city every week. This program gives scholarships to incredibly intelligent students from rural communities in order to continue their education.

Remarkably, the cost of education in El Salvador is relatively low.  High school tuition is free, but the cost of school uniforms and public transportation prevents some of El Salvador’s brightest students from realizing their potential.  With $250, a student can complete an entire year of high school, and $450 covers most of the expenses for a student who studies for one year in the national university.

Please consider reading more about our program by checking out our website: http://sites.google.com/site/becasforstudents/what-i-wyd-elsalvador

Please also consider supporting our program with a tax deductible donation through the Peace Corps Website: https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=519-175

Please consider giving a donation to help this program continue giving opportunities to young people who have the motivation and desire to keep learning. Thank you!!

Tigre...some how scaled my mosquito net and made his own hammock. Don't let Salvadoran youth hang in their hammock all day, give them the chance to go to school! ;-)