Rain, Rain

Rain, Rain Go AWAY!! and don't come back!

In case you couldn't tell, it's been raining here like crazy for a week straight. Two tropical storms have come through and have decided to let open the flood gates on El Salvador.

PCVs, we have been on stand fast since Wednesday meaning that we can not leave or travel anywhere. This wonderful weather has not only brought down tons of rain, turning streets into rivers, turning soil to mud, destroyed homes, flooding, and more.

Yesterday, I decided to go for a walk in the rain and I walked up my street as far as a could. A small river had emerged and stopped me from continuing. It was more than 5 feet wide and was carrying water, trash, mud and god only knows what else. On the other side of where the street normally is there is a yard where kids play soccer and behind that an adobe (hard clay) house. This river was running right through this yard and through this person's house. They had put wood and plastic outside their doors to try to stop the water but I imagine they still had a few inches of water and mud on their floor. But I could see someone swinging in a hammack. And just kinda accepting there's nothing he can do just relax and wait it out.

It's so interesting how here people are just like yep its raining staying inside and try not to get wet. They aren't really upset that they can't do anything nor are they panicing. Yet, when we have like a baby storm in the US people freak..the world is going to end, buy all the food you can and batteries you can before anyone else. Watch the news 24X7 and increase the panic and fear and doomsday like theather. Yet most people are fine in their well (or at least not clay) constructed houses with cars, blankets and food. Maybe we need to learn a lesson or two on how to just chill, accept and wait that the storm will pass because it always does. We should just be thankful that we pass it safely and dry.

Since my walk, I haven't really left my house. No one wants to travel anywhere or step foot outside their house (myself included), but I am going a little stir crazy.This lovely weather has given me a cold :( and has made everything mold and damp.

So here are two links one is in Spanish but ya can see the pictures amd the other in english.
The towns below me on the hill are some of those most effected in the eastern part of the country! I'm very happy to be living in the pueblo on the hill!

http://www.laprensagrafica.com/el-salvador/social/224152-lluvia-afecta-a-oriente-este-fin-de-semana-en-el-salvador.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/14/ap/latinamerica/main20120357.shtml

2 de octubre

I’m back in El Salvador after going to the states for a few weeks for Beth’s wedding! I’m sorry for those people I didn’t get to see or call.

But yes, since being back I’ve been working on trying to get the Adesco legalized, which is a community development association (kinda like a town association). I have been super impressed with them because while I was gone they had various meetings, recruited more people and have gotten serious about it! Hopefully, in the next few weeks they will be sworn in as an official legalized!

In the school, I have been trying to get this environmental mural done. Unfortunately, the school is going to be going under reconstruction and many walls are going to be destroyed and so where we had originally planned to do it we can’t. But the other day I was like damnit I want to get this doneee so I went out and bought the base coat and tomorrow hopefully we will start!

Last week, Nicole and I started a vivero (a nursery). We planted like more than 50 tree seeds, which we hope can turn into something big poco a poco that the community can take over! Another environmental/ green thing I’m working on is a community garden! This woman Emerita and her husband approached me about making an exemplary community garden in the church to teach and motivate others to grown. The past few days we have cleared the land and started to till it. The land is fertile but holy it was filled with weeds, grass, trees, plants, bean vines all at least up to my waist. On top of it, for the past who know how many years people have thrown random junk there or burned plastics. And the nice little creatures we have come upon…. Biting ants, termites, poisionious spiders, millipedes and other things. But I have a feeling that Emerita and Santiago are going to work with me and we are going to have an awesome garden!

Speaking of creatures…the other night I came home from Ana’s house. I turn on the lights, get some water and am putting stuff away to go to bed. And holy shit right near my water/ kitchen area a GIANT tarantula. I jump onto a chair and think what am I going to do. I wanted to like drop a cup on it and capture it because I didn’t want to get close to it to like attempt to kill it. However, all my cups are ceramic so I couldn’t do that. Eventually, me moving my chair scared it and it ran away but I’m a little bit scared of where I may find it next.

So Julie the kids asked for pictures…so while I was on top of the chair I got my camera and took a picture of the tarantula.