The other day my friend Claudia invited me to go to the Carrera de Cinta in the canton above where I live. I was told its this horse race sort of thing. I agree to go and am kinda excited to see what this is all about. When Claudia and I get to her house there are all this high school girls from my town all dressed up and done up. Like lots of eyeshadow and by dress up I mean like 7-8th grade kinda cheesy/little bit trashy, usually a little too tight, sparkly/bling bling clothes. Claudia and Rosanna go and get all done up to and after about an hour of prepping, hair-doing, make up and all that we are finally ready to go. We walk to the field and when we get there there are people sitting around talking, ranchera music playing (spanish country music), a guy selling burgers, beer and soda, and then this row of chairs with 50 girls sitting there all prim and proper with gifts.
Then these men ranging from 18 years old to 75 come riding in on horses. I'm talking good looking horses with nice leather saddles, decorated face things for the horses, and I say good looking horses because some of the horses here are so frail, boney and just unhealthy looking and even worse when someone is riding them. So the horsemen go to one side of the field, and in the middle there are these two big poles with a string between them. On the string there are these rings with numbers on them. The horsemen all have a little sick (miniture josting sorta thing) and they have to get the stick through the hole as they gallop through. It was a process of about an hour until they got all these rings. Some guys were great at it others missed it almost everytime. But it was such a weird setting to have this like medieval sorta horse game in front of me and then behind me people cooking like greasy, giant burgers. Then, at the end, each guy reads all the numbers of the rings he has. Each number corresponds to a girl. When their number is called the girls usually shyly walk up to the guy present their gift to him and give him a hug. But there were some guys and some girls who were bold and went in for the kiss on the cheek! After all the girls had been called, the event was over until the dance.
The dance was like a 7-8th grade dance except with bollos (drunks). All the girls against one wall of the plaza sitting, the guys on the other side and the bollos on another side. The guys were creep over to the girls and ask them to dance, and the girls would either say yes or lie and say their feet hurt. It was all like partner dancing which was kinda awkward. I danced with a few guys because I wanted to dance and it was fun. You dance like arms length apart and some of the guys could not dance and then other times they'd ask me a question and loose the rhythm so we'd end up stepping on each others feet or something. Also, there were the creepers who asked me to dance and I got all flustered to think up an excuse. So instead of saying my feet hurt I accidently said my bones hurt..oops. It was kinda funny and after i said it all the middle age women who were just watching died laughing.
So I've been only telling my fun stories and non of what I'm working on and stuff. Right now I'm trying to form a town council, but its been and is going to continue to be a battle due to the politics here and each side thinking the other side is out to get them and the inability of both to come together. I mean to me I think its kinda silly because they are all poor and all want the same thing but refuse to kinda unite. Hopefully I can get more people to come...righ now we have like 30 solid people and another 50 who come to the meetings occasionally. I did successfully teach them how to make shampoo, and sold most of it! We will see though what kinda profit we have from it.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thanksgiving and Carnival
When I think of thanksgiving I think of well obviously lots of delicious food, family, seeing friends I haven't since the summer, lounging around watching tv, and coldness.
Other than the good food thing, thanksgiving in El Salvador was very different, but fun! First, Rebecca, Catie (2 volunteers in my group) and I stayed with this wonderful embassy family in San Salvador. Thanksgiving morning we went to the beach! We went to this beach called El Tunco. It is pebble beach made from volcanic rocks that have been smoothed out over the years, and has these two giant boulders with tide pools around it. On one side of the beach there are the good surfers and on the other side there are the beginners. There are surfers and travelers from all over the world! We met a lot of Canadians. The downtown area has coffee shops with paintings and Polaroids all over the walls, open air restaurants and bars that overlook the beach. Basically, it was my type of scene and I'm going back there for new years eve. Hopefully to see the bonfires and fame throwers they have at night and maybe learn to surf?
When we came back from the beach, we went to the embassy to swim, hang out,and watch the peace corps guys play flag football against the embassy guys. Then after this day in the sun we came back to Kathy and Ron's house to have Thanksgiving dinner all ready for us...we were so spoiled. We ate all the normal thanksgiving food and enjoyed all of it!
The next day we had a field day with all the peace corps volunteer after our embassy family brought us to get Starbucks..I have such a love/hate relationship with Starbucks but it was wonderful to have actually good coffee and not gross instant coffee that you have to put sugar in to be able to drink it ehh. Afterwards, I attempted to play soccer and basketball, but neither one are really my forte but hey! That night we had our swearing in party at this club Four...lots of dancing, more dancing.
The next day was a little tough after coming home at like 4am...oohhh I forgot to mention my friend Carrie who is in the Peace Corps in Guatemala was in El Salvador and we got to hang out and dance! It was so cool to see her and hang out with her here. Anyways, the morning was awful because I had to go to centro to get supplies to make shampoo. Centro is crowded, dirty, weird funky smells, lots of piropos (cat calls) and not so safe. Also, on the bus ride there this fucking weirdo was begging us for money and ended up being a sketch ball and cut my friend on the arm with a paperclip and hit my legs as I was getting off the bus. It was a miserable few hours running around in the hot sun, and I wasn't looking forward to getting on the 3 hour bus ride to San Miguel. But I made it and got to San M to go to Carnaval!
So Carnaval...the first event of the night a parade with floats of everything from ronald mcDonald to girls in tiny shorts shaking their asses. Meanwhile they were setting up stages throughout the city for all the bands that were going to play. After the parade finished and the crowd kinda cleared we started walking, and dancing to the music. We kinda hopped around to the different stages, stopped and ate papas fritas and pupusas, and then went to the main stage that had some group from Mexico. (For better details of carnaval because it was pretty crazy asked me..I think you are probably getting bored reading this) Afterwards, we wondered more to this gas station and there were all these like 15 year old kids sooo drunk and getting sick. At that point we were so tired from the night before and called it quits and went back.
Other than the good food thing, thanksgiving in El Salvador was very different, but fun! First, Rebecca, Catie (2 volunteers in my group) and I stayed with this wonderful embassy family in San Salvador. Thanksgiving morning we went to the beach! We went to this beach called El Tunco. It is pebble beach made from volcanic rocks that have been smoothed out over the years, and has these two giant boulders with tide pools around it. On one side of the beach there are the good surfers and on the other side there are the beginners. There are surfers and travelers from all over the world! We met a lot of Canadians. The downtown area has coffee shops with paintings and Polaroids all over the walls, open air restaurants and bars that overlook the beach. Basically, it was my type of scene and I'm going back there for new years eve. Hopefully to see the bonfires and fame throwers they have at night and maybe learn to surf?
When we came back from the beach, we went to the embassy to swim, hang out,and watch the peace corps guys play flag football against the embassy guys. Then after this day in the sun we came back to Kathy and Ron's house to have Thanksgiving dinner all ready for us...we were so spoiled. We ate all the normal thanksgiving food and enjoyed all of it!
The next day we had a field day with all the peace corps volunteer after our embassy family brought us to get Starbucks..I have such a love/hate relationship with Starbucks but it was wonderful to have actually good coffee and not gross instant coffee that you have to put sugar in to be able to drink it ehh. Afterwards, I attempted to play soccer and basketball, but neither one are really my forte but hey! That night we had our swearing in party at this club Four...lots of dancing, more dancing.
The next day was a little tough after coming home at like 4am...oohhh I forgot to mention my friend Carrie who is in the Peace Corps in Guatemala was in El Salvador and we got to hang out and dance! It was so cool to see her and hang out with her here. Anyways, the morning was awful because I had to go to centro to get supplies to make shampoo. Centro is crowded, dirty, weird funky smells, lots of piropos (cat calls) and not so safe. Also, on the bus ride there this fucking weirdo was begging us for money and ended up being a sketch ball and cut my friend on the arm with a paperclip and hit my legs as I was getting off the bus. It was a miserable few hours running around in the hot sun, and I wasn't looking forward to getting on the 3 hour bus ride to San Miguel. But I made it and got to San M to go to Carnaval!
So Carnaval...the first event of the night a parade with floats of everything from ronald mcDonald to girls in tiny shorts shaking their asses. Meanwhile they were setting up stages throughout the city for all the bands that were going to play. After the parade finished and the crowd kinda cleared we started walking, and dancing to the music. We kinda hopped around to the different stages, stopped and ate papas fritas and pupusas, and then went to the main stage that had some group from Mexico. (For better details of carnaval because it was pretty crazy asked me..I think you are probably getting bored reading this) Afterwards, we wondered more to this gas station and there were all these like 15 year old kids sooo drunk and getting sick. At that point we were so tired from the night before and called it quits and went back.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Beginning of Training
Following the beach weekend I was in my site for like a day before going to training. During that time I went with the promotores de salud (health promoters) and the doctor to this canton above mine called Centeno. Its like a 4 km beautiful walk through corn fields, yucca fields, rolling hills, cow pastures and lush vegetation. The promotores and the doctor weren’t too impressed by the view but were more tired and sweat from the walk up. Yeah, it was a bit strenuous, but it was a nice walk. Anyways, Centeno is a cute little canton on top of a hill that overlooks all the other parts of the municipality. It also is a lot richer, and all the houses are pretty big, and made out of cement. There are ton of rememsas to this community and one house was this huge mansion with balconies, 2 floors, and a two car garage. Other houses were empty or only had the wife or daughter living there until who was ever in the states would come back…..my question is are they actually coming back, why build a beautiful house where no one lives, but whatever there is this clinging hope and faith to those who have gone to the US.
The reason I went to Centeno was to “abatezar” the houses or give this tiny bags of pesticide that you throw in pilas or large open containers of water in order to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs and hatching. It was cool because we got to see a ton of different houses and people, who like always were very friendly, loved to talk and then give us bananas, papaya or other treats. We spent all morning doing this and then had lunch at the promotora’s house from Centeno. She is so spunky and happy. I love it. She turned on reggaeton and started dancing and then started talking to me about her boyfriend (whos in Maryland). Her and her family are not only very friendly but educated and easy to talk to which is nice. Also, the doctor is cool as shit. He studied medicine in Cuba and has traveled to Paraguay, Argentina, Nicaragua, and various other places throughout the world. He wants to next go to the Congo and work with HIV/AIDS and general health there. We talked about development and basic problems. Also, we discussed doing a garden and showing people how to do organic farming and improve their basic health with food, water, and exercise.
Training
Training was interesting. It was two weeks of learning some stuff, hanging out with those from my training group..overall it was pretty good. I spent a week back with my first host family, and they seemed to like me mas this time. However I didn’t spend much time there and there were the fiestas patronales ( patron saint parties) which consisted of 2 nights of going to a disco. They bring a mobile disco and shut down the street and blast music, throw glow sticks, sell food, drink and be merry basically. The first dance consisted of me dancing with my two friends sam and duffy, a transvestite who was most likely a skinny 18 year old boy once who was very popular and had some crazyyyyyy moves and what seemed to be most likely a large old lesbian not wearing a bra. It was an experience and quiet funny. The second dance was a bit more tame. Nicole, Duffy, Broc, and I went to the second dance and kinda just danced with each other.
Also, one weekend we went to Santa Ana, and stayed at this chill hostel. We got a bit lost walking there and walked through the like red light district…I would not pay a cent for one of them except maybe to put some clothes on or something. But anyways Santa Ana is one of the few places that has an old beautiful cathedral that wasn’t destroyed by the war. It also has people our age! Mostly cool latino hippies, which are some of my favorite types who were hanging out in the park and were at this reggae bar we went to. This place was one of my favorite places we’ve been to. They had cool music, not so creepy people hitting on you, flame throwers and bombbb pizza.
Well other than the fun stuff, we did do and learn some cool stuff during training. For example, we went to this organic diversified farm that had every type of delicious fruit and it was all organic! Also, they were trying to be sustainable and only used water from a spring near by to bathe, eat and use only what they grew or what was on their land. It was awesome because they convereted their land from a coffee farm to try an organic fruit farm. And it was working and they were making a profit and wonderful food! We learned how to make bags, wallets from chip bags, flowers from 2L soda bottles, little change holders/ ash trays or lo que sea from aluminum soda cans. Hopefully, I can get a group of jovenes (youth) or mujeres (women) or any group for that matter that will want to do these projects!
The reason I went to Centeno was to “abatezar” the houses or give this tiny bags of pesticide that you throw in pilas or large open containers of water in order to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs and hatching. It was cool because we got to see a ton of different houses and people, who like always were very friendly, loved to talk and then give us bananas, papaya or other treats. We spent all morning doing this and then had lunch at the promotora’s house from Centeno. She is so spunky and happy. I love it. She turned on reggaeton and started dancing and then started talking to me about her boyfriend (whos in Maryland). Her and her family are not only very friendly but educated and easy to talk to which is nice. Also, the doctor is cool as shit. He studied medicine in Cuba and has traveled to Paraguay, Argentina, Nicaragua, and various other places throughout the world. He wants to next go to the Congo and work with HIV/AIDS and general health there. We talked about development and basic problems. Also, we discussed doing a garden and showing people how to do organic farming and improve their basic health with food, water, and exercise.
Training
Training was interesting. It was two weeks of learning some stuff, hanging out with those from my training group..overall it was pretty good. I spent a week back with my first host family, and they seemed to like me mas this time. However I didn’t spend much time there and there were the fiestas patronales ( patron saint parties) which consisted of 2 nights of going to a disco. They bring a mobile disco and shut down the street and blast music, throw glow sticks, sell food, drink and be merry basically. The first dance consisted of me dancing with my two friends sam and duffy, a transvestite who was most likely a skinny 18 year old boy once who was very popular and had some crazyyyyyy moves and what seemed to be most likely a large old lesbian not wearing a bra. It was an experience and quiet funny. The second dance was a bit more tame. Nicole, Duffy, Broc, and I went to the second dance and kinda just danced with each other.
Also, one weekend we went to Santa Ana, and stayed at this chill hostel. We got a bit lost walking there and walked through the like red light district…I would not pay a cent for one of them except maybe to put some clothes on or something. But anyways Santa Ana is one of the few places that has an old beautiful cathedral that wasn’t destroyed by the war. It also has people our age! Mostly cool latino hippies, which are some of my favorite types who were hanging out in the park and were at this reggae bar we went to. This place was one of my favorite places we’ve been to. They had cool music, not so creepy people hitting on you, flame throwers and bombbb pizza.
Well other than the fun stuff, we did do and learn some cool stuff during training. For example, we went to this organic diversified farm that had every type of delicious fruit and it was all organic! Also, they were trying to be sustainable and only used water from a spring near by to bathe, eat and use only what they grew or what was on their land. It was awesome because they convereted their land from a coffee farm to try an organic fruit farm. And it was working and they were making a profit and wonderful food! We learned how to make bags, wallets from chip bags, flowers from 2L soda bottles, little change holders/ ash trays or lo que sea from aluminum soda cans. Hopefully, I can get a group of jovenes (youth) or mujeres (women) or any group for that matter that will want to do these projects!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Halloween
Halloween in El Salvador was a good time probably because a bunch of us volunteers rented the beach house en la costa del sol, dressed up and partied for 2 nights. The first night everyone dressed up there were lady gagas, power rangers, campesinos el sal style, broccoli, the three little pigs, a witch, a mermaid, the ciguanaba- who is this fugly ghost woman from an el Salvadorian legend with huge breasts that lives in rivers, trees, and other areas and taunts and tricks men (usually unfaithful men. Catie, Mariel and I were greek goddesses!
The second night consisted of hanging out in the pool, going into the ocean, and a lot of dancing. Also, at one point in the night all the boys sat around the kitchen table and picked up an object and started playing various beats. It was like stompish or something and it was awesome! We all were jammin and dancin to the beats of coolers, spoons, pots, pans, cheese graters, bottles, cups and more. There were like 10 of them who performed 2 songs. The music continued with latin music and us trying to dancing salsa, meringue, reggaeton and various other latin songs with our gringo akwardness haha. Later, some of the guys started to free style rap about el salvador and our lives here.
It was a great weekend and I got to know some of the older volunteers and hear their stories, ideas, and lives since being in El Salvador. I was a bit sad that by the time I got back to my site I had missed all the events here around the dia de los muertos. Theres next year!
The second night consisted of hanging out in the pool, going into the ocean, and a lot of dancing. Also, at one point in the night all the boys sat around the kitchen table and picked up an object and started playing various beats. It was like stompish or something and it was awesome! We all were jammin and dancin to the beats of coolers, spoons, pots, pans, cheese graters, bottles, cups and more. There were like 10 of them who performed 2 songs. The music continued with latin music and us trying to dancing salsa, meringue, reggaeton and various other latin songs with our gringo akwardness haha. Later, some of the guys started to free style rap about el salvador and our lives here.
It was a great weekend and I got to know some of the older volunteers and hear their stories, ideas, and lives since being in El Salvador. I was a bit sad that by the time I got back to my site I had missed all the events here around the dia de los muertos. Theres next year!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Last Weekend
Last weekend was pretty busy which was nice. On Saturday, I went with my friend, Ana to where she works in La Union. She works at a Tuna canning factory called Calvo...next time you are in the supermarket look for this brand and think of me and El Sal. Anyways, they had a celebration for dia de los ninos (Kid's day) even though it was October 1st. Well, we were running late so we literally ran as the bus was pulling away and got onto a bus PACKED with moms and kids. Along the way, more and more kids pile in. When we get to Calvo, there are clowns, a dancing minney, a dancing sponge bob square pants and some other random characters. It was pretty amusing because they were like breaking it down to reggaeton music for the entertainment of little kids. They also had little rides- marry go rounds and such.
I hung out with Ana and my other friend Norma who went too, and all was fine, a bit boring and a few too many kids for my taste until they had like left over soda and food. Holy shit it was a mad house. We formed like a human barrier around the drinks, while like people started rushing, pushing, grabbing, and yelling for free sodas. THe security guy told them to make a line and then they'd get soda, but no. 20 minutes went by of trying to be a bodyguard for soda until they finally gave in and started giving out the sodas. It was like people fighting for the last toy in a toystore at christmas time. A little stressful for my taste especially for a free soda.
When we got back, Ana, her family and I went to a birthday party...lots of kids, pinatas, breastfeeding and candy. Afterwards though I had a meeting with farmers who want to form an association. It was like there second meeting, and so they are basically starting from scratch. Anyways, I'm really excited to work with them and hopefully, we can get this group to form, be a legal entity, and actually do things! As, I mentioned earlier I was a bit down about my counterparts, but hopefully, I can work with this group and focus some of my energy into this instead.
Sunday....I milked a cow. Actually, I helped milk two cows. I got up at 4am and these two women, Esmeralda and Rosanna brought me to the field where they milk the cows and showed me how to milk them. Its like tugging and sweezing and aiming all at the same time. I have to say they made it look so easy, and I probably only got like 2 cups of milk. Afterwards, we fed the cows and brought them to the pasture. They gave me some milk to bring home, which was very nice of them considering how little I probably contributed. So, I came home with the milk and put it into the fridge because that seemed like the normal thing to do, right? Wrong. You have to boil the milk here first to pasteurize it which I totally forgot about. Good thing Floria told me. But once it was boiled and cooled it was pretty tasty.
Also, watched Bring it on with my friend Norma in the afternoon. It was awesome chillen in the hammack and watching a crappy but great teenage american movie that I love. hahah
I miss everyone! I got internet and have skype so if you want to talk let me know!
I hung out with Ana and my other friend Norma who went too, and all was fine, a bit boring and a few too many kids for my taste until they had like left over soda and food. Holy shit it was a mad house. We formed like a human barrier around the drinks, while like people started rushing, pushing, grabbing, and yelling for free sodas. THe security guy told them to make a line and then they'd get soda, but no. 20 minutes went by of trying to be a bodyguard for soda until they finally gave in and started giving out the sodas. It was like people fighting for the last toy in a toystore at christmas time. A little stressful for my taste especially for a free soda.
When we got back, Ana, her family and I went to a birthday party...lots of kids, pinatas, breastfeeding and candy. Afterwards though I had a meeting with farmers who want to form an association. It was like there second meeting, and so they are basically starting from scratch. Anyways, I'm really excited to work with them and hopefully, we can get this group to form, be a legal entity, and actually do things! As, I mentioned earlier I was a bit down about my counterparts, but hopefully, I can work with this group and focus some of my energy into this instead.
Sunday....I milked a cow. Actually, I helped milk two cows. I got up at 4am and these two women, Esmeralda and Rosanna brought me to the field where they milk the cows and showed me how to milk them. Its like tugging and sweezing and aiming all at the same time. I have to say they made it look so easy, and I probably only got like 2 cups of milk. Afterwards, we fed the cows and brought them to the pasture. They gave me some milk to bring home, which was very nice of them considering how little I probably contributed. So, I came home with the milk and put it into the fridge because that seemed like the normal thing to do, right? Wrong. You have to boil the milk here first to pasteurize it which I totally forgot about. Good thing Floria told me. But once it was boiled and cooled it was pretty tasty.
Also, watched Bring it on with my friend Norma in the afternoon. It was awesome chillen in the hammack and watching a crappy but great teenage american movie that I love. hahah
I miss everyone! I got internet and have skype so if you want to talk let me know!
Asamblea General
Last Wednesday the 20th of October I had my asamblea general. Basically, I had to present to my boss and my community who I am, what is peace corps, and what are the areas people have asked me to work in/ areas I see I could work in for the next two years.
So I invited all the kids at the school parents some 300 kids and then I gave out invitations to all the "community leaders"- the priest, pastor, tienda owners (store owners), the mayor, and then I invited a few of the families I like. Anyways like 50-60 people showed up, but neither one of my counterparts did....
I was frustrated with this and upset but there are plenty of areas and hopefully people to work with here!
Good news was that I got like 16 people interested in forming an ADESCO which is like a town council ish thing but is a body that is apolitic and is suppose to represent and respond to the needs of the community. Also, I got like another 15 women interested into making a softball team!! Oh yeah, so I'm not very good at softball nor did I ever have any desire to play it before but its the only sport really women/girls will play here so softball it is!
So I invited all the kids at the school parents some 300 kids and then I gave out invitations to all the "community leaders"- the priest, pastor, tienda owners (store owners), the mayor, and then I invited a few of the families I like. Anyways like 50-60 people showed up, but neither one of my counterparts did....
I was frustrated with this and upset but there are plenty of areas and hopefully people to work with here!
Good news was that I got like 16 people interested in forming an ADESCO which is like a town council ish thing but is a body that is apolitic and is suppose to represent and respond to the needs of the community. Also, I got like another 15 women interested into making a softball team!! Oh yeah, so I'm not very good at softball nor did I ever have any desire to play it before but its the only sport really women/girls will play here so softball it is!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
9 de Octubre
Salvadorian food…is mas o menos bien (pretty good for the most part). Refried beans, eggs, tortillas, pupusas, chicken, rice (eh) and vegetables and fruit here and there. However, the pairings of food here just is well a bit interesting especially breakfast. Yesterday, my host mom asked me if I wanted eggs and beans and I said sure, but when I got my plate it had wings and beans. Yes, wings that you eat on Sunday to watch football or whatnot for breakfast next to a big pile of refried beans with a side of tortilla. I like wings and I like beans separately. The combo was a new one.
Ademas de the new comida, laundry is as a chore has also a new meaning because I wash everything by hand. It literally takes me about 2 hours to wash my clothes from the week. This week when I was doing it I felt like a housewife from some era because I spent my whole morning doing it.
Oh, so I was on the bus the other day, and I hear the song the entertainer, like the music from an ice cream truck. And it was the ice cream truck! Yes, there is an ice cream truck in my town that plays the same music as in the US and sells ice cream for like 25 and 50. So weird.
Speaking of music…I bought a guitar, a bright yellow acoustic guitar. The cords or whatever I play is well pretty basic haha. I’m so excited to have one, and I found this kid Juan Antonio who plays for the Evangelical Church to teach me in exchange for some English! But yeah, I’ve wanted to learn to play guitar for like ever, but I was forced as a child to play piano instead by her (aka my mother). Yeah, I’m glad I played piano some, and now I figure I got 2 years to learn!
So, I don’t know if I should admit this, but since every time I hear Lady Gaga here I get really excited. In the US, I wasn’t such a fan, but I find myself having a new love for her. Also, for those of you who knew me back in like 7th grade and those GIANT ASS hoops I would wear. Well, girls wear those here, and I got given a medium size pair from this really sweet family…the ones that let me walk their cows with them from the pasture to their house…anyways, I kinda like them hahaha. But don’t worry it’s nothing like it was in middle school hahaha.
I hope everyone is doing well and I miss and love you all
oh yeah I hope someone has done some apple picking/ apple crisp making this fall for me hahah
Ademas de the new comida, laundry is as a chore has also a new meaning because I wash everything by hand. It literally takes me about 2 hours to wash my clothes from the week. This week when I was doing it I felt like a housewife from some era because I spent my whole morning doing it.
Oh, so I was on the bus the other day, and I hear the song the entertainer, like the music from an ice cream truck. And it was the ice cream truck! Yes, there is an ice cream truck in my town that plays the same music as in the US and sells ice cream for like 25 and 50. So weird.
Speaking of music…I bought a guitar, a bright yellow acoustic guitar. The cords or whatever I play is well pretty basic haha. I’m so excited to have one, and I found this kid Juan Antonio who plays for the Evangelical Church to teach me in exchange for some English! But yeah, I’ve wanted to learn to play guitar for like ever, but I was forced as a child to play piano instead by her (aka my mother). Yeah, I’m glad I played piano some, and now I figure I got 2 years to learn!
So, I don’t know if I should admit this, but since every time I hear Lady Gaga here I get really excited. In the US, I wasn’t such a fan, but I find myself having a new love for her. Also, for those of you who knew me back in like 7th grade and those GIANT ASS hoops I would wear. Well, girls wear those here, and I got given a medium size pair from this really sweet family…the ones that let me walk their cows with them from the pasture to their house…anyways, I kinda like them hahaha. But don’t worry it’s nothing like it was in middle school hahaha.
I hope everyone is doing well and I miss and love you all
oh yeah I hope someone has done some apple picking/ apple crisp making this fall for me hahah
Monday, October 4, 2010
4 de octubre
Holas!
So heres a picture of my park in my town to show you guys a picture of something and to make my blog a little more exciting!
This weekend I spent it in San Miguel with a bunch of peace corps volunteers from my group! We all meet up to celebrate sams birthday, go out in San M and then some went to the soccer game! It was awesome to see everyone, speak english, and have normal conversations and hang out but unfortunately I wasn't feeling so great and apparently have ameobas :P but its okay cause since I was in San M i got some medicine! Tomorrow I got my first science class I'm teaching...wish me luck love and miss everyone lots and lots!
Monday, September 27, 2010
My Site!
So I haven’t written in a while and there has been a lot that has changed. Oh yeah im going to apologize for my typos because my computer has decided to not let me use some of the letters like g,b,v, r and various others or it does funky thins when I type those letters.
Right now I’m at my site and it’s a small pueblo or town in the department called La Union, which is the eastern most department in El Salvador. My town is called Yayantique and is about 2,000 people. I have to say that it’s so much prettier than istepeque and cleaner! The first or second night I got there I walked up the hill to visit someone and the sun was setting behind the Volcano San Miguel. Hopefully, I will climb this volcano one day or at least that’s my goal.
I have to say I miss everyone and sorry I have been bad at writing and calling and stuff but I promise to get better! I “do” have internet at my house but to load a pae it takes like 5minutes and its so slow that I get frustrated and pissed off. Also, it uses a ton of electricity. So for the mean time and currently I’m at the metro center or like mall in San Miguel using their internet.
Anyways, since I got to my site 10 or so days ago, I have gone to Las ruinas or ruins of San Andres and Joya de Ceren which are these two sites of Mayan ruins. They were good to see and I’m lad to see interest and some preservation of the indigenous culture here. However, only 2% of these sites have been uncovered and it could e possible that these two sites which are in a few kilometers of each other are all part of the same city. Like it is all covered with layers of grass and ash from the volcanic eruptions (its preserved like Pompeii!) We also visited Lago Coatepeque which was gorgeous! Duffy in my group lives on this lake. I’m jealous.
Since this excursion, I have been in my site getting to know the town! I have been going to the school which has around 300+ students, going to the alcadia or mayors office, the unidad de salud (the health center), and to the church. Also, I have started doing house visits. House visits consist of me oin to people’s houses saying hola and getting invited in to explain who I am, why im in the town and to learn abut them, the community and what ways could I possible help the town. I have to say ery time I am awkward and feel a bit rude and a little intrusive but they don’t seem to mind. People have been so welcoming! Like yesterday I planned to do 5 visits in the morning but I only did 2 because at the first house the woman invited me in and we started talking. She showed me all her house and told me she made cheese and if I wanted to learn how to make it. Hell yeah! First we skimmed off the cream, added this pill that like made it harden?, and then I stuck my hands in this milk/cheese goo and mixed it around until all the watery stuff was one. Let it sit some and then squished some more watery stuff out. Sounds gross but it was really cool and soooo good. Way better than the cheese in San v (lo siento).
But yeah I miss you all and I will try to e better abut uploading stuff..oh yeah I put pictures up on faceook! Email me and write me please or text me too I appreciate any communication! Love
Right now I’m at my site and it’s a small pueblo or town in the department called La Union, which is the eastern most department in El Salvador. My town is called Yayantique and is about 2,000 people. I have to say that it’s so much prettier than istepeque and cleaner! The first or second night I got there I walked up the hill to visit someone and the sun was setting behind the Volcano San Miguel. Hopefully, I will climb this volcano one day or at least that’s my goal.
I have to say I miss everyone and sorry I have been bad at writing and calling and stuff but I promise to get better! I “do” have internet at my house but to load a pae it takes like 5minutes and its so slow that I get frustrated and pissed off. Also, it uses a ton of electricity. So for the mean time and currently I’m at the metro center or like mall in San Miguel using their internet.
Anyways, since I got to my site 10 or so days ago, I have gone to Las ruinas or ruins of San Andres and Joya de Ceren which are these two sites of Mayan ruins. They were good to see and I’m lad to see interest and some preservation of the indigenous culture here. However, only 2% of these sites have been uncovered and it could e possible that these two sites which are in a few kilometers of each other are all part of the same city. Like it is all covered with layers of grass and ash from the volcanic eruptions (its preserved like Pompeii!) We also visited Lago Coatepeque which was gorgeous! Duffy in my group lives on this lake. I’m jealous.
Since this excursion, I have been in my site getting to know the town! I have been going to the school which has around 300+ students, going to the alcadia or mayors office, the unidad de salud (the health center), and to the church. Also, I have started doing house visits. House visits consist of me oin to people’s houses saying hola and getting invited in to explain who I am, why im in the town and to learn abut them, the community and what ways could I possible help the town. I have to say ery time I am awkward and feel a bit rude and a little intrusive but they don’t seem to mind. People have been so welcoming! Like yesterday I planned to do 5 visits in the morning but I only did 2 because at the first house the woman invited me in and we started talking. She showed me all her house and told me she made cheese and if I wanted to learn how to make it. Hell yeah! First we skimmed off the cream, added this pill that like made it harden?, and then I stuck my hands in this milk/cheese goo and mixed it around until all the watery stuff was one. Let it sit some and then squished some more watery stuff out. Sounds gross but it was really cool and soooo good. Way better than the cheese in San v (lo siento).
But yeah I miss you all and I will try to e better abut uploading stuff..oh yeah I put pictures up on faceook! Email me and write me please or text me too I appreciate any communication! Love
Sunday, August 15, 2010
15 de agosto
Sorry I havent been good at updating this but my chanes for internet havent been that great. but so lets see this week so much has happened because we went to san salvador for two days and were in san vincente the rest of the days.
so yesterday i felt so productive. Duffy, Nicole and I made a jardin or a garden in Duffys backyard. First, we hoed the earth all up and also a foset, some trash, a big fucking spider that we thought was dead but wasnt. I also say we hoed but its really hard to hoe and duffy broke the first hoe (hahaha i had to sorry and its true he did..the wood split) so he did most of it but I tried. Afterwards we walked around and found sticks or cut sticks using a machete..yes everyone like around here uses machetes which is kinda scary but also kinda cool to use I cant lie. We like made a pretty good looking fence and then we made beds for the seeds and finally planted cucumber, radish and green beans. Yeah. It took us most of the afternoon and hopefully something grows! None of us really knew how to plant them so we will see though but it can be an experiment so when I get to my site I can hopefully have a little jarden or huerto as them call them in El Sal¡
Today, Nicole and her host bro Alex invited me to make bread at these peoples houses named ferre and lidia and david. They were awesome, not only for having patience to teach me to make french bread but to talk with. They are basically vegetarians because the chickens they eat that they raise..vegetarians in el salvador are like very rare. Also they were very environmentally aware and are kinda like the first hippies Ive meet. Outside their house they had lots of beautiful vegetation outside such as tall coconut trees, jacotes which are this delicious small oval fruit, bleed heart flowers (like nana dee use to have at the farm), and more. We also saw this iguana with like blueish green spikes and a cameleon which i had never seen in the wild before¡
Ahh so much to write about. I will be brief because this is probably getting boring to read. But okay so last week we went to San Salvador for two days and went to various museums to learn about both sides of the civil war..the military museum and the museum of words and imagines. I liked the second musuem more and was much more real to me with the fotos, drawings, phrases and domuntary we watched there. However, in the military musuem they had stuff from iraq because apparently there were el salvadoreans who were in iraq? who knew. umm we also went to the embassy which is beautiful and we got to talk to the guy that is filling in as embassor right now. He actually sat down next to me and let us ask questions about the foreign service and his life which was I found interesting and has got me questioning and thinkin about being a foreign service officer.
I have to say that things like walking down the street and hearing Kid Cudi at one house, then salsa then some dr. dre makes me really happy and smile. Also, another aspirante in the town next to mine and i have been running in the morning..like 530..I think this is the earlies I have willingly gotten up but its really refreshing and lets me release some energy so Im not so figity when I have to sit all day in class.
I miss everyone a lot and hope everyone is doing well. I have a phone now so ask me for my number. Also I want to start writing letters so if you want one tell me¡
so yesterday i felt so productive. Duffy, Nicole and I made a jardin or a garden in Duffys backyard. First, we hoed the earth all up and also a foset, some trash, a big fucking spider that we thought was dead but wasnt. I also say we hoed but its really hard to hoe and duffy broke the first hoe (hahaha i had to sorry and its true he did..the wood split) so he did most of it but I tried. Afterwards we walked around and found sticks or cut sticks using a machete..yes everyone like around here uses machetes which is kinda scary but also kinda cool to use I cant lie. We like made a pretty good looking fence and then we made beds for the seeds and finally planted cucumber, radish and green beans. Yeah. It took us most of the afternoon and hopefully something grows! None of us really knew how to plant them so we will see though but it can be an experiment so when I get to my site I can hopefully have a little jarden or huerto as them call them in El Sal¡
Today, Nicole and her host bro Alex invited me to make bread at these peoples houses named ferre and lidia and david. They were awesome, not only for having patience to teach me to make french bread but to talk with. They are basically vegetarians because the chickens they eat that they raise..vegetarians in el salvador are like very rare. Also they were very environmentally aware and are kinda like the first hippies Ive meet. Outside their house they had lots of beautiful vegetation outside such as tall coconut trees, jacotes which are this delicious small oval fruit, bleed heart flowers (like nana dee use to have at the farm), and more. We also saw this iguana with like blueish green spikes and a cameleon which i had never seen in the wild before¡
Ahh so much to write about. I will be brief because this is probably getting boring to read. But okay so last week we went to San Salvador for two days and went to various museums to learn about both sides of the civil war..the military museum and the museum of words and imagines. I liked the second musuem more and was much more real to me with the fotos, drawings, phrases and domuntary we watched there. However, in the military musuem they had stuff from iraq because apparently there were el salvadoreans who were in iraq? who knew. umm we also went to the embassy which is beautiful and we got to talk to the guy that is filling in as embassor right now. He actually sat down next to me and let us ask questions about the foreign service and his life which was I found interesting and has got me questioning and thinkin about being a foreign service officer.
I have to say that things like walking down the street and hearing Kid Cudi at one house, then salsa then some dr. dre makes me really happy and smile. Also, another aspirante in the town next to mine and i have been running in the morning..like 530..I think this is the earlies I have willingly gotten up but its really refreshing and lets me release some energy so Im not so figity when I have to sit all day in class.
I miss everyone a lot and hope everyone is doing well. I have a phone now so ask me for my number. Also I want to start writing letters so if you want one tell me¡
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
July 27, 2010
Holas everyone
So i dont have much time to write much but i wanted to give you some highlights of things that have happened:
-made tortillas and pupusas...make things round out of dough is really an art and mine were definately the ugliest by far but manybe by the end mine will be nice and round
-ran from some bulls..we were walking back from la chanca or the field and i turn around and see cows walking and think eh no big deal. then this kid is like ehhh run so we start running and they started chasing us until we could duck into this path
-i have a latrine and take bucket baths..which arent to bad and actually refreshing
-some girls invited us to play softball...which im horrible at but i didnt strike out which was great
-i have chickens, ducks, and a cat all roaming around my house
but yeah its been a lot of ups and downs and i miss you all a lot besos
So i dont have much time to write much but i wanted to give you some highlights of things that have happened:
-made tortillas and pupusas...make things round out of dough is really an art and mine were definately the ugliest by far but manybe by the end mine will be nice and round
-ran from some bulls..we were walking back from la chanca or the field and i turn around and see cows walking and think eh no big deal. then this kid is like ehhh run so we start running and they started chasing us until we could duck into this path
-i have a latrine and take bucket baths..which arent to bad and actually refreshing
-some girls invited us to play softball...which im horrible at but i didnt strike out which was great
-i have chickens, ducks, and a cat all roaming around my house
but yeah its been a lot of ups and downs and i miss you all a lot besos
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Texting me in El Salvador
Found and modified by Emily's Boland's blog
Text Message Me For Free
Want to know how to send text messages to anyone in El Salvador (who has a Tigo phone, like me) for free, using the internet? Well here you go.
1. Go to this website: http://www.tigo.com.sv/seccion/mundo-tigo, and click on the box that says empresas tigo and then click envio de mensajes
2. A pop-up will open, with the name Messenger Tigo. Where it says "nombre a mostrar en el chat" type your name and click aceptar.
3. Next the page will display "lista de destinatarios." Where is says telefono, type in my 8 digit phone number (If you need my number, e-mail me) and click aceptar. A message goes to my phone saying that you want to start a conversation with me.
4. In the next window, a box will say "Escribe aqui el texto que quieres enviar (clic aqui para iniciar)" which means "Write here the text you want to send (click here to start)" So, click there and type your message, then click Enviar to send it to me. A codigo verificador (verification code) will pop up, type it into the little box and click enviar. It will show up on my phone.
5. I answer the text from my phone, and it shows up in the text box on your screen.
Text Message Me For Free
Want to know how to send text messages to anyone in El Salvador (who has a Tigo phone, like me) for free, using the internet? Well here you go.
1. Go to this website: http://www.tigo.com.sv/seccion/mundo-tigo, and click on the box that says empresas tigo and then click envio de mensajes
2. A pop-up will open, with the name Messenger Tigo. Where it says "nombre a mostrar en el chat" type your name and click aceptar.
3. Next the page will display "lista de destinatarios." Where is says telefono, type in my 8 digit phone number (If you need my number, e-mail me) and click aceptar. A message goes to my phone saying that you want to start a conversation with me.
4. In the next window, a box will say "Escribe aqui el texto que quieres enviar (clic aqui para iniciar)" which means "Write here the text you want to send (click here to start)" So, click there and type your message, then click Enviar to send it to me. A codigo verificador (verification code) will pop up, type it into the little box and click enviar. It will show up on my phone.
5. I answer the text from my phone, and it shows up in the text box on your screen.
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