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!
Friday, December 3, 2010
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
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