That’s right, it’s
blog time. I think it’s been long wait for an update, don’t you? If not, turn
away and go back to eating (fill in the blank of American food) and go back to
searching pinterest photos and facebooking your hundreds and hundreds of
friends.
For those still
reading, the last few weeks have been SUPER busy! Since the trainee came to my
site, I went out East (the farthest you could get from my site) to visit my
fabulous friend Jamie to see Caserio Upire in La Union, super close to the
border of Honduras. It was a blast to see her site, stay with her host family
and load up on the cuajada with a side of skinny thin tortillas. As a part of a
rockin’ grant she wrote for art projects in her school, I came to teach a group
of bichos (kids) how to make small purses out of plastic chip bags (churros)
for the week. I was amazing how well the kids caught onto the process, it can
be long and frustrating, and it is definitely not for everyone. It was a schlep
out there, but worth the 11 hour journey there….and back. Check that off the
list!
handkerchief...strapped around neck is now a baby-seat in the pick up.
After returning to
site for a week, I worked on a agenda-type plan for some upcoming classes and
getting my grant approved for computer classes (yea!) after dealing with a lot
of unnecessary and annoying paperwork with Peace Corps (signatures, scanning,
excel spreadsheets, yuck). There was a funeral in my site from one of the
matriarch families of the community, this funeral I actually knew the guy very
well and I am very close with the family. We visited the house the night he
passed away for several hours after a church service, then for the burial the
next day in the pueblo. Hopefully it will be the last funeral I attend during
my service. L Then I took
two young girls (18 years old) to the beach for Peace Corps HIV/AIDS training
with a few other jovenes (kids) with other PCV’s. We went through a new manual
for sex education with exercises and activities that approach the subject in a
more relaxed environment.
Condon demonstration
Hopefully, I will be
able to bring back some of these techniques back to my site and break some
myths people have about sex (there are MANY) and specifically HIV. Straight
after the training, my friend Maggie arrived from the US! We went straight back
to my site and fortunately made the bus back to my community with her afternoon
flight. She got along so well with my host family and I was amazed how easy
going and adjusted she was in the campo. She even liked the tortillas!
We made
pupusas with my host family one evening which was a highlight for the both of
us and made a few side trips to Ataco with my friend Helen, Parque Nacional El
Imposible for a waterfall and hiking tour.
We even went to the farthest beach
in El Salvador, we could almost see Guatemala from the road (but I did not
cross, therefore NOT breaking Peace Corps rule restricting us from entering the
only two bordering countries to El Salvador). She was such a good sport and I
hope she had a lot of fun! J
Host Mom and I at the beach
Coming off from
traveling, training, a visitor, I was looking forward to a night in San
Salvador to relax and be hosted by an Embassy family for the Passover holiday,
well my “family” turned out to be a young woman around my age hosting the sedar
for the first time. I had never been to a Passover where there was more goyum
(non-Jews) sitting around than members of the tribe.
The service was all in
English, but it was fun hearing people pronounce various Hebrew words to their
best of their ability, definitely get kudos for trying! J It was a treat for some hot showers and
internet time before returning to site. I really missed being Jewish and
cracking the matzah was a treat (brought fresh oranges from my site for the
sedar plate, pretty cool to know where it came from!).
This week is holy
week, or Semana Santa. There’s no school, many have off work, families visit,
food is spread, shared and made in large amounts. My best friend from site is
coming back for the first time from University in San Salvador, so I am looking
forward to some relaxing time and hanging out. J
In other news, I
decided after much encouragement from my nice Jewish mother to submit a article
to the Phoenix Jewish News about my experiences in El Salvador, if you’re
interested,
check it out at: http://www.jewishaz.com/religiouslife/feature/article_7cb3c88e-8c21-11e2-b205-0019bb30f31a.html
Happy Passover, Happy
Easter and Happy Spring! J
Sweetie love the post. I could read it over and over again. So proud of you. Hope last week for Semana Santa was relaxing. Love the pictures of the beach and your host family. Hola a ells por favor!
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