Thursday, December 6, 2007

New Zealand Story

Well, I had the opportunity to travel to New Zealand and to Samoa. It was so much fun! I went to New Zealand on the 31st of October and was there until the 8th of November and then went over to Samoa. While I was there (it was the 7th of November) I went up to the Bay of Islands on the north part of the North Island. It was really cool. I got to take a boat tour and go around Hole in the Rock as well as a bunch of different islands. We started out and it was raining and gloomy and didn't seem to promise too exciting a trip. After a little bit of rain and water and cool island and rock formations one of the crew members made an announcement that we should look out the port(?) side of the boat. And what did we happen to see? There were all these dolphins that were playing around our boat. We were going to have the chance to swim with them, but they weren't in an area that would've been safe to swim in and it was WAY cold too...but then I was wet already, so maybe it wouldn't have been as bad huh? And no, I wasn't just being whimpy...everyone was cold...even the Poles that were on the boat with me asked the captain if we could go back early because they were cold. But, these dolphins were swimming close to our boat, under our boat...jumping in and out of the water (try to catch a picture of that...obviously I wasn't able to). It was so cool. I have never been so close to a dolphin before (well, maybe I have been, but there was always a really big piece of glass between me and said dolphin. It was so fun to watch them. Dolphins amaze me. I didn't bring a coat to New Zealand, foolishly thinking "it's spring there...I can get by with a few sweatshirts..." Yes, I know, I see the folly of my thinking now...I was cold a LOT of the time while i was there. While it was about 65 degrees on a good day, when it was rainy and there was no sun, it got to feel like a lot colder. Add to that the fact that we were on the ocean in a moving boat...I started out with two sweatshirts on...but the first one got all wet...so I took that one off when it stopped raining thinking that I would be warm enough with one dry sweatshirt. We were moving along the ocean...it seems calm enough until BAM...all of a sudden this HUGE wave crashes over the front edge of the boat where we were sitting and all of a sudden, we were all wet. Not fun. Well, actually, it was at the moment...but then, later on when i stopped being able to feel my toes and finger tips...the novelty of it all wore off. I was actually sitting on the front for a little while after we all got wet, but it got a little too crazy, so I started to head back in...just as I let go of the railing at one point and tried to grab the railing at another point the boat lurched nd I found myself sprawled on the floor of the wet deck...it was pretty funny because I don't even remember the falling process...one second I was standing, the next I was definitely not standing...But, when we were at the Hole in the Rock, there were all these fish feeding around it. It was crazy because the water was mostly calm , but this one patch, it almost seemed like it was boiling...there were little fins and tails flipping everywhere and the water was just churning. The crew on the boat thought it would be perfect for lunch and started fishing right then and there. We consequently got to spend a little more time by Hole in the Rock which turned out cool for those whose camera batteries died and were able to change them (and no, it wasn't me...just another girl on the boat). We went past all these different and cool islands. There was this one with a light house and a home for the person who used to operate the light house. It is the only thing on the island. The people used to have to take a boat in and out of the bay in order to get food or water or anything like that. With the island being on the outside edge of the bay I bet it would be a pretty lonesome place to live...there weren't even sheep on the island...which is odd because there seem to be sheep on every other part of New Zealand. I think it would be cool to spend a day or two on an island all by myself or just with my family...but I don't think you could pay me enough to be a light house operator back in the day when there wasn't even electricity. Now the house is rented out to vacationers that want to "get away from it all" and the light house is run by an electrical wire that was buried in the bay...which is better...but I think I would've gone crazy back in the day when it was run by kerosene and a person was responsible for keeping it lit. I kept thinking of the Pete's Dragon song "Candle on the Water" while we were going past the island though. It make one think a lot about the importance of light and direction, especially when out in the expanse of a sea. After that island we went back into the bay again and stopped at another island (I don't remember the name right now, but I will find it out and edit this later) and had lunch and got to do a little exploring. It was beautiful. We hiked to the top of a hill and got to see islands all around the bay. It was starting to clear up a little and we could see for quite a distance. It was really cool. BUT, I will end this post for now. New Zealand is a beautiful place and the weather didn't make it feel "gloomy" to me...it just seemed...I don't know, it may be cheesy to describe it this way, but it seemed to be a "moody" country. But then, what can you expect from Middle Earth? ;)

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Talofa and Hello

Well, it's official, I made it all the way through New Zealand and into Samoa and didn't die...so now, if something happens to me, someone will notice that I'm missing. I found that that was one thing about New Zealand that made me nervous...no one would know I was missing until I didn't get off the plane here in Samoa. I found that made me a little more hesitant to do a few things that might be considered a little more "risky" like cave exploration. It is late and I have a few things to do before I go to sleep so this won't be a long post and I won't go into all the New Zealand information just now...but I will say it's great to be here in Samoa. We landed before I even realized it because there aren't many lights in Samoa...there's no real City if you will. So, all of a sudden our wheels were hitting the tarmac...it was kinda crazy. Then I actually got to get off the plane on one of those roll up stair-cases that people would always use in the old days...or that famous people use so they don't have to go through regular airport rigamarole...I went through customs and forgot that had left a New Zealand kiwi in my carry on and got a quick lecture about what foreign bugs can do to an island environment and was told, like a second grader that was chewing gum in class, to go and place it in the garbage. I was greeted at the airport by Brother and Sister Harker with a lei made of beautiful white pua flowers. The flowers were so beautiful and smelled so good it made me realize how not good I smelled :S but then we got to drive the "long way" to the house... It is amazing how much it is like El Salvador. The humidity and heat are the same, the people walking along the sides of the street are the same, the owner-less dogs all over the place, the bright blue painted houses, the smells, the Catholic churches, the plants, etc...they all remind me so much of El Salvador. It's amazing how similar they are in just the general environment. Even now as I sit here, i can hear through the slatted windows that the bugs sound the same, there are the dogs barking in the distance, and there are the same chattering birds that used to wake me up in El Salvador. I am excited to get to know more of the island, of the people... It is going to be quite the adventure. On a side note, we got to drive by the temple, it is BEAUTIFUL. We also got to drive by my first house. I was imagining it in my mind with the mini-moke out in front of it or the little kiddie swimming pool on the side with Lissa lecturing Jared because he knocked her off her feet. It will be fun to see all the places that I've seen in videos growing up. I have to admit I am really excited to find the ferns that curl up when you touch them...
Well, that is all I should post for now. I will make this a regular thing where I post a little bit every couple of nights or so. I won't be doing pictures now because it costs extra to do uploads, but I will do it when I get home.
Talofa!!!!
P.S. Even my feet and hands are swelling like they did in El Salvador...gotta love hot dog fingers and toes huh?

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Kia Ora

Hello hello! I am sorry for the long absense. I did get home from El Salvador safely and I miss it terribly! But, I am planning to go back, hopefully in the new year.

Other news. I am back working part time at the HELP International office as a Recruiting Specialist and have applied and interviewed for the Executive Director position. We'll see what happens around the 19th.

And, at this time I am in New Zealand. Some good family friends are living in Samoa and head home (to Canada) in December so I decided now was a good time to go to visit when I would have guides that know the area and family to stay with! But I couldn't go all the way to the South Pacific without visiting New Zealand right? So, for the next few days I will be exploring New Zealand and then heading over to Samoa on the 7th. Internet is expensive and I'm not sure where I am going to be each night, so I don't know if I will update my blog much until I go to Samoa (free internet in the house! How wonderful!!) but I will make sure to update it and put in information about my time in New Zealand. Talk to you all soon and Kia Ora (which means Welcome, I think, in Maori!)

Rachel

PS I will be driving on the left side of the road and we are only 4 hours different in Utah than Samoa...well, that and a day...so right now it is Friday the 2nd of November here and the 1st in Utah. TTFN!

Monday, July 9, 2007

Birthdays and 4th of July...

This is a picture of me and some of my "little brothers" Eduardo, Diego, and Henri. They are brothers and are living at CISNA. I adore them.

Well, another year older and another year wiser is the saying right? I'm not sure if the another year wiser part applies, but I think I'm accepting another year older. ;) July 2nd was my 28th birthday. I can't believe I'm 28. No complaints, it's just kinda crazy to think about. I have a LOVELY birthday though. I wish I could've shared it with all of my loved ones too. It started on Sunday night when I got a call from the US that I couldn't hear anyone talking on the other end...SO, I did what anyone would do, I called my family so they could sing Happy Birthday to me :D It was so much fun to talk with them and hear what's going on at home. It's hard because I miss everyone of course, but it was good to talk to everyone too. I was told that my 2 year old niece, who helped out with the singing, asked "where's the cake?" afterwards. We'll just have to make some when I come home so she doesn't feel like she was cheated out of any birthday cake this year ;)
The next morning was an early to rise morning. We had an English class in Habitat Comfien that I had told it was my birthday and that I was going to bring special treats for it...but you know how weekends happen...Before you know it, it's Sunday and you haven't done any of the shopping you should've done on Friday or Saturday. SO, in order to get to the class by 9, we have to leave our house by 7:30...which means normally about 45 minutes to get up, to convince myself that the water in the shower really isn't THAT cold and then to get ready by finding time and space at the kitchen sink (yes, we still haven't gotten the sink in the bathroom fixed...it's an ongoing project that I'm working on...oh, add a broken pila to the list of things the plumber can work on by the way) and balancing a mirror on my lap in a dimly lit bedroom while I try to put on makeup. I wonder what I actually look like when I get out into the light of day...hmm, maybe that's a question that is better left unanswered. Well, I needed at least 15 minutes to get the treats that I was going to bring (for about half a second I had thought about actually MAKING cookies or something like that...and then I laughed at myself for being so silly because to BUY cookies it is MUCH MUCH less expensive and less of a hassel than to cook cookies...so I decided to try to keep my sanity in-tact and just buy them) and then my sweet roommate, Laurel, asked me if I would be willing to get up a little earlier so she could take me down to Biggest (a fast food resturant) so she could buy me some pancakes and sausages. Who am I to fight against pancakes? Even though it meant an hour LESS of sleep. SO, I know, it's crazy, but Rachel Perkins, who LOVES her sleep, opted for an hour less of sleep for pancakes! They were GREAT pancakes by the way.
SO, I woke up and got ready for the day, and while I was getting ready, another roommate, Kirtley was so cute and decorated things for me for my birthday. I had confetti all in front of my door (which i have yet to sweep up :S It's now kinda confetti around certain areas of the house...) Balloons with happy birthday written on it, magnet letters on the fridge saying Happy Birthday Rachel, a poster on the wall with Happy Birthday on it, even bananas with Happy Birthday Rachel scratched into the peels. Talk about Birthday wishes!!!
Down to Biggest and then off to the store to buy cookies and candy. When I was on the bus, I got a phone call from the US again...again, I couldn't hear what was going on on the other end, but this time it wasn't because of the connection, but because of the reggatone BLASTING on the bus. I told who-ever it was that I couldn't hear them, and could they please call back. Off the bus, to the store, then back on another bus and another phone call...this time I could hear the person on the other end a little better...but still not good enough to warrent the cost of a phone call from the US. Again, I asked if they could call back, but at least this time, I knew who I was asking to call back (sorry Nathan). To get to Habitat Comfien you need to walk up a hill for about 15 minutes and part way through that walk, I got a third call (thanks for the persistence!!) and got to enjoy a Happy Birthday duet! It was so much fun. I then got to have a conversation about Birthdays and traditions, all the while having people from the community where we teach classes coming up to me and wishing me Happy Birthday and congratulations. Most of them I knew, but there were a fair share of people that I didn't know. Gotta love small communities eh? Classes went well and we had a lot of fun. Laurel was teaching that day and she taught the kids how to sing Happy Birthday in English. It was so cute to hear them sing "appi birday to joo" They had brought soda and a piñata and a special hat for me. I was the only one that got to hit the piñata...they kept telling me "hit it again, it's not broken yet, hit it again" I was laughing and had my eyes closed and they kept moving the piñata and the kids kept laughing and screaming when I would hit it hard...or almost hit it hard...it was really fun. We got to play freeze tag during recess (it was my game of choice and we had tried "missionary tag" the week before and that didn't go over too well) and had cookies and candy afterwards. I had a whole bunch of the students come up and give me bracelets and earrings and necklaces and notes and chips and penguinos (they're basically those Hostess Cupcake things...and divine!) I got to do a little business during lunch, but came back for the afternoon class of the same. I got birthday wishes and notes and presents...I had ANOTHER piñata (how spoiled am I?) and more cookies and soda and candy (I'm glad we had a real lunch that day with the amount of junk food I ate it might've made me a little sick ;). It was such a fun day. Everyone was so generous and so excited to share the day with me. It was really fun to be able to celebrate with them. There's no better way to spend a birthday than with people that seem to be just as excited as you to celebrate it! It was FUN!
We went to English class after that and we had more candy...a birthday cake from a Sister in our ward and read Reader's Digest stories about miracles. It was really fun. Lots of birthday wishes...lots of hugs...I love how affectionate the people are here!
After English class I got to spend some time with friends, chatting and going to the internet cafe. It was really fun because I got some cards and emails from people I hadn't heard from for a while. I also got a GREAT card from my mom with a little French Poodle talking about making cakes..she said it was in honor of the French cafe. :D
After going to the internet cafe I went back to the house for dinner and was chatting away and not noticing a few of my housemates were watching where I was going pretty intently. I eventually made my way to my room and found, much to my surprise, flowers on my bed with a note implying they had come a LONG way just for my birthday. It seems that SOMEONE had made a deal with some of my housemates to arrange it so I would receive BEAUTIFUL gerbera daisies for my birthday. It was something TOTALLY unexpected and something that I was COMPLETELY ecstatic about. Some would describe it as "giddily jumping up and down while exclaiming 'I got flowers...he sent me flowers' " or something along those lines. Everyone agreed they were beautiful, but even more than that, that the thought and effort and idea was INCREDIBLE! I loved them and they sat on the table so I got to see them every day as I came and went from the house. I found out later that the flowers had created an interesting situation. One person had been given the charge of buying the flowers but wasn't sure where to go...so another of my housemates helped with finding the flowers and then the first person forgot something where we had our English classes. He turned the flowers over to the second person who was standing at the bus stop watching for me to come down the street. When she saw me and a bus hadn't come yet, she just jumped onto the next bus that was going CLOSE to home and dragged everyone else on with her. Unknowingly, I was then invovled in a race to see who would get home first. I made it easy on her though when I went straight to the internet cafe. They just sat on the edges of their seats waiting for me to come home so they could see my reaction. It was fun to find out that part of the story a few days later.
After dinner we went to the French Cafe in the Multiplaza. Those of you that have been here to El Salvador with me KNOW about the French Cafe and what a treat that is. I mean, imagine the most rich and delicious desserts besides mom's home cooking and that's the French Cafe. It's really yummy. And everyone from the team went too! It was fun to have everyone there. I got this crepe with chocolate, bananas, strawberries AND ice cream on top of it.
YAY for BIRTHDAYS! I had so much fun! Thank you EVERYONE that participated in making it such a WONDERFUL DAY!!!!
Well, the cafe is closing and since it's a few weeks after my birthday already, I should post this and I'll write about the 4th one day soon. Let's just say the 4th is exciting when you add fireworks into the mix!!!

Monday, June 25, 2007

Adoption information

OK...those of you that I have owed emails to...I'm sorry it has been a long time coming. It is something that I'm definitely working on. And there definitely is a need.

I spoke with a woman by the name of Licensiada Geraldine Figueroa who is the coordinator of the National Adoptions office in El Salvador and she gave me a web site. The web site she gave me is www.pgr.gob.sv and then she told me to go to servicios and then to opa. I have tried that and my mom has tried that and that site doesn't work. I did a google search and it pulled up www.pgr.gob.sv/opa.htm and that also didn't work. I do have her email address and have emailed her to ask her if the site has changed. I will also work on the regulations and translate them into English. BUT, the basic thing that needs to be done is to get a lawyer (here in El Salvador is preferable), meet the basic criteria (which I'm working on) and the government doesn't charge anything for adoptions nor the paperwork...just the lawyers do. I am in the process of contacting friends that I have here that have lawyer friends or connections to talk with them about finding a lawyer that specializes in adoptions. I will keep people updated on the information that I find. I will keep looking for the site too.

Also, if anyone wants, you can call the adoptions office directly at 011 503 2231 9300. Geraldine is working there for the next few weeks and then will be transferred to another branch of the government, but I plan to go back in to meet the new director so I can keep close with them and know what needs to be done so these little ones can get a loving home! I will be dedicated! I promise. I will also work on getting other pictures up of other little babies. Anyone that knows anyone that wants to adopt, refer them to me, I'll help gladly!

Also, I just found this site. http://www.coraenlared.org/fichapaises/docs/EL_SALVADOR.pdf
Try getting it translated by going to www.altavist.com and then putting the website in the field that says "translate this web-site" I just found it and haven't been able to look at it and the cafe is closing so I'm not sure what it has...hope it helps. I'll look at it too.

Latest update on diseases and the like

So, I'm trying to decide if this is all information that everyone is going to want to hear...and I'm also wondering if I should call mom first and tell her all this information so she doesn't just happen across it when she's reading the blog.
OK...so an update on the diseases...we've had a few in the house, mostly because of the area we are living in, so many people being together and some of the places we get to work. I won't share everyone's diseases because I guess that's their own personal business... but are you ready for the list that I got today? I'll try not to be TOO graphic, but if you don't want to know, go ahead and skip down to the next break.

Well, first and most embarrassing...and yet not my fault, is scabies. "What is scabies exactly?" some may be asking, and basically it's a microscopic parasite, bug, mite thing (when you look it up to read about it, it's in the same category of lice...insert a blush here) that burrows into your skin, lays eggs and your body has an allergic reaction to the eggs and the toxins that are released with those. You get a bunch of raised bumps that are red and TERRIBLY itchy. But, scratching them can break open the skin and cause infection and possibly spreading of the disease (which I'm sure NO ONE in the house is interested in having). Someone gets it because of unsanitary living conditions or from being in contact with someone that is infected (say a little kid that has been living on the streets up to that point...possible culprit). SO, I'm on allergy medication, got some "kill all parasites" pill that is making my stomach a little queasy and the demand to wash ALL my clothes, towels, bedding, etc that I have used or have come in contact with since a week before I started itching, so...it's been a little more than a week of itching...so yeah, that's a lot of stuff to wash. I was trying to decide if I should spoil myself and bring some of my clothing to a laundromat for a good washing and drying for my birthday and was going back and forth because it was a little expensive, but I guess this made my decision for me.
The most concerning disease that I have is anemia. My hematocrit is 33 (for you med people) which is quite low. So, I'm on iron and multi-vitamin and the command to eat meat at least one time a day. I've had low iron for a long time, but it's official now. But I was told to keep a better eye on what I eat (mom, you've got someone else plugging with you, even down here) and that I need to eat lots of beans (remind me to tell you about our Chef situation and how that is a hinderment at this point) and rest a lot. That sounds exactly what I do every day already doesn't it? ;) I know, I need to do better.
The next one is a bacterial infection. Nothing to be too concerned about, I'm going back into the doctor tomorrow for the results of some additional tests she took so we can be sure of what bacteria it is exactly and what we should do to resolve the issue.
The last is an interesting one, but my doctor thinks I had dengue. I had an infection and she could tell by my white blood cell count that it was a "big one" that my body fought off. I told her my symptoms and she's like "you had dengue" but I don't remember my body aching other than just Saturday night and a headache for a couple of days, but nothing like the intensity I've heard dengue described as, just being tired. SO, I'm going to say I didn't have the dengue so we can keep with our goal of "no dengue in 2007!"
SO, that's my diagnoses. The interesting thing is that I feel fine. I'm tired, but that's in the nature of what we're doing here...

OK, those of you that didn't want to know about the diseases...no more talk of them. Things are going well here. We've got a new group of volunteers and the dynamic has definitely changed. Instead of one boy to 11 girls, we have 5 boys and 7 girls. I don't know if Gregan likes that a lot more or a lot less ;) Actually, I'm pretty sure he likes having guys he can spend time with. You know, burping and grunting and stuff like that ;)
Well, the Chef situation. Gregan and I actually have an on-going argument about this. The country directors from last year found this guy in the neighborhood that is a trained chef and has gotten awards and has even had the board of health of New York give him a "passing grade" which is HUGE here in El Salvador. He cooks really good food, the only problem is that there is so little of it...and it's pretty expensive compared to the rest of the country of El Salvador. I'm always hungry after dinner and with it being the principle meal...so I keep talking about "walking" and Gregan is so hesitant because the group from last year had such a good relationship with him and the food is good and he insists that he's not that hungry at night...as I sit and watch him eat 2...3...4...bowls of cereal. SO, that's what makes having a lot of beans hard. We've compromised though and have come to the conclusion that we're just going to ask for a big container of extra rice and beans so people are full at night. It's just funny now because it was a long standing/running argument between Gregan and I. I will say that if nothing else, I am DEFINITELY learning a lot about my communication habits, abilities, struggles, strengths, weaknesses etc while I'm here. I'm learning it's a lot better/easier to address things when they're small issues, rather than venting to someone else...or blowing up about it one day. We're working on it. It's sometimes hard to approach the issues, but I'm sure it will help me, not only here, but for the rest of my life.
It's really interesting, because I love being here, and I love the work that we do here, but it is also DIFFICULT every day. Living life here is just more difficult period. Everything takes more time to get accomplished and all those types of issues, but it's just harder. Also, in the role that I'm in, I find that a lot of my weaknesses are brought GLARINGLY to light...

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

It's been a little while



Monday, May 7th, 2007
Our girls sure are troopers. Getting them up relatively early in the morning…cold, rotating showers…trying to find their own personal space…all that fun and excitement. Gregan and I had the chance to get to know the girls better through learning about and understanding the goals they have for themselves over the summer. I’m really excited to help encourage the realization of these goals for the girls. So often goals are a burden that we “have” to carry. I’m really excited to see what can be done to encourage the girls to basically make the most of their time and experiences that they’re going to have here…and how they can feel that they are becoming more of the individual they want to be. It helped me understand more about the motives of the girls and why they’re here. It helped me get to know them better in general.
We got everyone out the door relatively easily and mostly on time. A brief walk down the hill with a cacophony of whistles and honks and kissy noises following my brood of 10 new girls…but 12 gringos in all.

So, the whole journal idea isn’t working so well. I obviously haven’t been keeping up with it seeing that it’s a month later. Let’s try this a new way.
On Saturday I had the opportunity to do more laundry by hand. Well, let’s start from the beginning. We move into the house that has, much to my joy, a washing machine…and then much to my sadness, one that doesn’t work…but then, much to my joy, I find that there’s only a broken belt underneath the washing machine and that, quite possibly, was an easily fixable problem. So, a few days later, and a friend making a few different runs to a few different repair places (the first time we didn’t have the make/model of the washing machine, the second time they gave us the wrong belt size, and the third time was the charm right?) we had a washing machine that was working much to my joy. After two and a half loads among everyone in the house, I smelled hot rubber and found, much to my sadness that the belt had broken again, meaning that there was probably something wrong with the washing machine that makes the belt break. SO, it’s back to washing clothing by hand…after not doing it for a long time because I was hoping against hope that maybe that washing machine WOULD one day decide to work. So…on Saturday, after procrastinating it for way too long, I decide it’s the perfect time to do some laundry because there were only 4 of us in the house and consequently more clothesline space. Lovely El Salvador and the fact that clothesline space under a covered space is a hot commodity. There’s nothing worse than spending a LOT of time washing clothes and going out to the line a few days later to check and see if they’re dry (yes, it does take a few days here because of the humidity) and thinking that they’re ALMOST dry but that if you take them off the line that morning then they’re going to be just damp enough to sour after you fold them and put them in the closet. So, you think to yourself, I’m just going to leave them up while I’m working today and will come home and put them all away…then you’re at a project and you hear the distant sound of thunder and know that all your work has suddenly been set at naught. The clothes will not only be totally wet again, but they will be wet with rain water which, consequently, make them dirty and smelly. SO, then you have the choice to wear either smelly clothes or wash them all over again…Yeah, that’s not a fun choice to make. (I did bring Febreeze down for that specific reason though…) Yes, clothesline in a covered area is definitely coveted. You know you’re really getting into your laundry when the clothes you’re wearing while washing the dirty clothes are just as wet as the clothes hanging on the line. Let’s explain the clothes washing experience. First of all you sit there and regret letting it go as long as you did and thinking that you shouldn’t use a grocery bag as a laundry bag because it’s too big. Then you go out and fill up part of the pila with water. For those of you that don’t know, a pila is a big concrete box that has a drain in the bottom and a faucet at top. It’s a little higher than waist high and the size varies, but ours is about the size of a refrigerator laying down on its side. Then, over the top and off to the side of the pila there is a “shelf” of sorts that is about 3 inches deep and has it’s own drainage system. So, the idea is that you have this big holding container of water and then you have this little area that you can do your work (laundry, dishes, or whatever) and you just grab little bowl fulls of water from the big storage area and splash it up on the work area. You use a little water and get the clothes wet, you use detergent that is in a round can shape and roll it over the top of the clothing, you scrub and get some friction worked up and some foam and bubbles…and after about 10 items of clothing you’re finding that the tops of your knuckles are rubbed pretty raw and you’re finding new creative ways to hold your clothing to create the friction but spare your knuckles a little more. Then you spread out the clothing, you splash more water on it, squeeze and ring it out, more water, more squeezing and ringing to try to get out more soap…and you keep doing this until either the water comes out pretty clear or you get so tired of the stinkin soap bubbles that you just figure “soap is clean right? That means even if the clothes have soap in them, they’re clean…right?” Just if you’re wondering, no, that’s not right…BUT, in El Salvador, it works…it flies. So, your forearms are tired (they actually ache the next day, now when’s the last time you got sore from doing laundry? It’s been a while for me) your shoulders are tired and you try to find space that is covered that you can hang your clothing on. It’s quite the interesting experience. There are two things that you dread though…dropping wet laundry on the tiled ground. The tiled ground is NEVER clean…and it seems that the white shirts are usually the clothes that just happen to fall…or if you haven’t tied a secure knot and before you know the whole line has gone down. There is nothing quite as heavy as a clothesline full of wet clothing when you HAVE to keep it up to try to keep the clothes off the dirty ground as much as possible. I have a good friend that was over on Saturday who was teasing me about my clothes washing skills. I told him that he should show me how it’s done. He was very specific about when to turn it inside out or rightside out….and how much soap you should use and how much water etc. I think I’ll stick with my method…it’s a little bit de lost Estados Unidos and a little bit de El Salvador and it works for me and I get clean smelling clothing. I hope it really sis clean, but at least it smells clean…which is something I’m a fan of. So, that is the process of doing laundry here.
So, I’ve got a great embarrassing moment to share now. Well, I’ve got two. First of all, let’s create the setting. We’re at a home for boys. We’re working with a group of boys that are around the ages of 14 or so…and I’ve got a newspaper and a mind blank. I’m talking about the “newspaper”…or so I think. The word is periodico right? Well, for some reason I keep saying periodo…which is NOT newspaper. I’ll give you all a chance to guess what it really means…and can I tell you, the boys thought it was the funniest thing on the face of the earth. Boy, I felt dumb after I finally clued in as to why they were all laughing at me each time I talked about the “newspaper”.
Embarrassing moment number two…flip flops, smooth surfaces and rain do NOT mix. Let’s paint another picture. There’s a road called the Pan American Highway. It runs through almost all the countries of Central America, including El Salvador. It’s a very busy road, especially at the stop outside of La Ceiba because it’s the edge of the city and a good place to change bus routes. Because it’s so busy they’ve built these “pasarelas” or bridges that span the road and are made out of metal and have chain link fencing on the sides of it. Enter the rain and Rachel walking across it. She is “smart” enough to know that she’s wearing flip flops that have no traction on a surface like smooth metal to know that she has to walk carefully. Up the stairs, across the pasarela, back down the stairs…almost all the way down, when she gets careless. Honestly, I didn’t even have time to notice the falling sensation…I just realized that my bum was wet and sore, my bags that I had in my hands were no longer in my hands, there were a few areas on my arms and my back that hurt a little and there were quite a few people looking at me…muddy and on the ground. That was definitely a fun experience. Thank goodness I wasn’t further up on the pasarela because that could really be dangerous. I only slid down a couple of steps this time. I got up and walked away with only a bruised hand, a bruised arm, a bruised ankle, a bruised behind…and the most severely bruised ego. It got even more bruised when I was at Emiliani today and one of the boys told me that he saw me on Saturday and then asked me if I was ok. I was a little confused for a moment until I remembered the fall and then asked him if he saw me fall and he said yes…enter embarrassment stage left…full speed. Lesson learned though, I will make sure to tread more carefully next time.
I’ve found that my moral references are definitely changing some. At one of the schools that we work at, there are about 80 boys and all of them have homework each night…and two care takers to help them with it. Needless to say there are quite a few that are more than just a little behind on their homework. We’ve decided that we’re going to take extra time at night to help them specifically with their homework. Well, they boys are working on their English homework and they are AWFUL. The instructions are all written in English and are completely vague. There are many times when I’m not even sure what the assignment is and yes, I’d like to think I’m fluent in English. Then, add on top of it all the fact that they have ridiculous amounts of homework to do each day. Not a good combination, and needless to say, they are more than just a little behind. Well, so then enter in the idea of copying. The boys find a workbook that was done last year from one of the older boys…who had found a workbook the year before that had been done by one of the older boys etc. and they all copy off of it. Well, it kinda defeats the purpose of learning the language…and it is obviously morally wrong…BUT when I talk with the boys and I listen to their English skills and then I look at the workbooks and find out how completely awful they are, and then also notice the extensive volumes of home work they’re required to do each night and, well, I almost don’t blame them. One did loan me his workbook over the weekend. I was able to correct it and then took notes on what kinds of errors they’re consistently making and have planned a few English lessons off of it. Hopefully we’ll make some headway.
I find myself wondering, as I sit in the dark typing so my roommates can sleep, why are bugs attracted to light? Is it the heat? Is it the actual light? And then, why do they walk in circles? I find myself trying to “type” around them and not be TOO distracted by them…but they’re really curious animals. Oh…that reminds me. I was talking to another boy from Emiliani today (his name is Josh) and he came into the home from school and told us that he was crying for a long time today and we asked why and he told us “a little animal came to me and went “pfhh” in my eye” and I was thinking a little animal…what is he talking about? And then I thought OH a bug. We found it still in his eye. Yuck. But after that he stopped crying. I guess mission accomplished? One thing that I find really interesting is that when Í'm places like Emiliani or CIPI or CISNA I go between feelings of being a friend, to being entertainment, to being a foreigner, to being a mom, to being an advocate, to being a referee...talk about hats. It's such a wonderful opportunity though because no matter what I am...I feel it's what they need me to be. Sometimes they just need a mom to get out a sliver or put on a bandaid...sometimes they need someone to joke around with...sometimes they need someone to keep them from fighting. It's a great time, no matter what.
I have a new little friend at CIPI. His name is Diego and he is the most serious two year old I think I’ve ever met. He came in with a bunch of bruises and sores and I don’t know much of his background other than he’s been abandoned and has seen some abuse. He is absolutely precious though. He will never really instigate hugs or cuddles, but when you go and grab him and hug him and cuddle with him, he doesn’t want to be put down. I make sure to smother him in kisses when-ever I’m there. Because there are so few workers to the number of kids there at nap time, generally speaking, the kids are just put into cribs. The other day he was crying and crying…obviously tired, but just wanting a little bit of love and hugs. I picked him up and he snuggled in right away and stopped crying. He would fall asleep quickly but would whimper any time I went to put him down. We cuddled for a while until I just HAD to leave and so I put him in his crib even though he was crying a little and I rubbed his back until he finally fell asleep. I left when he was asleep and was so nervous that I was going to give him separation anxiety or something because I wasn’t going to be there when he woke up…and quite possibly he was going to be transferred over the weekend. Well, much to my joy, he was still there and I had the chance to hug and kiss him and snuggle with him again…AND, the thing that makes me most excited…I finally got him to smile and giggle a little. It’s such a sweet happy sound. I’ve included a picture of us. He’s so much fun and he’s such a good boy. He got transferred from CIPI yesterday, so I'm glad I got pictures of him on Monday.
These are some of the mom's that live at CIPI...and yes, they ARE young. 13 and 14

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Google Earth




































































So, I've found my home on Google Earth (there's another plug...I've got to start receiving these compensation checks soon!). Those of you that have it, if you want to see what the area looks like, go to: 13°40'41.72"N 89°14'26.52"W

We've got a bush out front and a garden within the walls of the home. Gotta love how all the houses are sharing walls huh? There's a house with a red roof across the street and down one home. Ours has a little shiny box on our roof. I don't know what that is, but I'll go home and look at it.


The pictures are of Sadie Keith and I hanging out at the National Palace.

Xiochilt (pronouned so'chee) who is 8 days old and was abandoned by her mother and brought into a center called CIPI that will take care of her. She weighs less than 5 pounds.

The next is of Carlos who lives at Padre Vito. He doesn't speak, but is very patient as you work with him to understand his sign language. He is having us write a letter to Real Madrid to tell them that they are his favorite team and to ask if he could maybe get a jersey. He's so much fun.

There's a picture of the Cathedral Metropolina from the National Palace.

The last picture is the view of the city from the Mirador at Los Planes.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Just a few photos...







So, things have been wonderful and busy and great and tiring and everything all wrapped up in one. I love it here, but every day is hard at the same time. We started working at a new place. It's a lot like CISNA, the school for boys except it's for girls. They have a bunch of girls that have had kids that are there, and a bunch of abandoned kids. I've fallen in love with the kids in the pre-school. BUT, I'm making a call to arms. Anyone that can think of ANY activity for 12 pre-schoolers that are OUT OF CONTROL, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send them my way. Coloring books will only keep them occupied for so long.
So...we have the group at the falls of Juayua, then there's me and Daniel, the little boy whose family we helped build on their house with Habitat...and then there are my little adorable deamons who crave love and attention...and ACTIVITIES!! I'll send more later! Love you all!

Thursday, May 17, 2007

New Journal entries

**Finding Peace

So, thankfully, so far there hasn’t been too much need for peace…well, there hasn’t been too much chaos I guess I should say since there’s always need for peace. I find though, that as I go through the day and encounter people from all walks of life that the issue that I have the hardest time with is the unequal distribution of money. And I know I’m included in this unequal distribution…and it’s to my favor…but I see old women that are still out on the streets working because they don’t have social security and don’t have an option for retirement. I see people that have amputated limbs that are begging because that is the only way they are able to eat. I know a girl who lives at a home for mentally handicapped people only because she is in a wheelchair and that is the only other option for someone with physical limitations. I see the little boys running around, begging for food or for money…and I think “how can it be that there are people that have so much and people that have so little.” I know a lot of my capitalistic friends feel that it makes for a good system and everything, but personally I don’t like it. I struggle each day with finding a balance between “giving” and “keeping”…I keep thinking that I should do more, I should give more, I can give more. People that have so much less are sharing with me and being so generous…I need to do more. Each day I am frustrated with the dichotomy between self-preservation and making sure I have “enough” to eat dinner each night and the idea of giving to people that I KNOW have MUCH LESS than I do…who are more worried about IF they’re going to eat that night. It’s a hard balance to find…I’m not really sure how to do it well…and to do it so I’m acknowledging the fact that I have been given and have been blessed with so much. It’s hard to do…It’s hard to find the balance…it’s even harder to find the people that you will help and then there will always be people that you can’t help because of limited resources. Do I give a little bit each day to the woman that sits on the steps for the overpass of the freeway? How about to that little boy that I walk by every few days. Do I support the people that are on the buses selling the cheap pens or postcards that I don’t need but are actively pursuing options…or do I go to the mother with the young kids that sits outside of the mall?...or do I just give less to all of them? It’s hard to buy a bag of fried platanos for $.25 and then walk past someone begging for something to eat. I’m not sure how I can find a balance. This is the peace I’m looking for right now. To feel that I’m giving enough…

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Well, it’s been a couple of days, but what busy days they’ve been. Gregan and I have had the opportunity to get to know El Salvador a little better. We’ve ridden buses to see where the routes go to (no, there was no luck in finding a book with them all listed). We’ve gotten lost a few times and have had to take a few extra buses…and a couple of times, taxis.

Saturday May 5th, 2007

We received our first wave of volunteers last Saturday. Gregan and I were doing a last ditch effort to get to know more of the bus routes so he would feel comfortable with the general layout of the city. Well, we headed out to Ciudad Delgado and Habitat Confien and I showed him the general area. We then went ahead and started back home, but rather than be patient and get a bus that went through Metro Centro we just jumped on a bus that went to Centro…no problem though, we know how to get out of the Centro. We rode it for a while and then got off in an area that we knew...after walking for a little while we found a 42 which goes to our house right? Wrong…it was heading in the other direction. Thankfully we had only gone a block and they let us off without having to pay. So, we walked around a little more…trying to find another way to get a bus to take us home. After wandering a little while (something that should NOT be done in the Centro…it’s too dangerous for foreigners to not look like they know where they’re going…which honestly at this point we didn’t) we FINALLY found a 101 that is supposed to take us to La Ceiba…a church that is close to our house. Well…little did we realize that there is a BIG difference between a 101 and a 101 D…and the 101D takes us to our neighborhood…but the 101 doesn’t. All this while, my phone is ringing because President Lopez told me that he would be willing to help us pick up the volunteers at the airport with his minivan…but I didn’t want to tell him that Gregan and I were lost in the Centro…well, that and I didn’t want to whip out a cell phone in the Centro. Not to make everyone nervous about anything, but just so you know, the Centro is not the most secure place on the face of the earth. We have to travel through there to get to a few of our projects but when we do it, we do it with a start and an end goal…there’s no lolly-gaggin (or, as they say in Chile, according to Gregan who served his mission there, “pintando monos”…which is literally “painting monkeys”) or wandering around. We go from one bus stop to the next with our eyes and ears open…this night was not quite the case so I was a little nervous…so I didn’t want to add something like a cell phone on top of the wandering. When we finally did get on a bus the music was so loud that there would be no way that I was going to be able to hear President Lopez talking anyway. Well, so we’re on the 101 and we’re finding that it’s turning off the main road that takes us home…”don’t worry” I tell Gregan “it will come back from behind the mall…remember when we picked it up over there. It will take us to the Ceiba…no problems”…so, we’re behind the mall and I’m getting ready for it to turn towards our house…no such luck. It heads in the opposite direction. Gregan keeps asking if we should get off since we’re getting close to the time when the cab is supposed to be meeting us to go to the airport…and President Lopez is wondering about us. “No…it will be coming back. It’s fine…I promise” Further and further away we’re going until I see a sign that is welcoming us to Colonia Merliot…which is something that I have seen on the map…but on the very edge. I’m starting to realize that I am wrong (yes, everyone can make note of the fact that I’m actually admitting it) but not saying anything to Gregan just yet. Once the bus starts to get away from the main strip where there are lots of busses and taxis, I finally decide to admit it to Gregan. We get off…walk a few blocks…try to wave down a taxi, stress about time, finally get a taxi, call President Lopez who tells me he will wait at our house, and then get a call from the other taxi driver. Gregan starts to apologize about not being at the house just yet, but thankfully he was calling to tell us that he was running just a little behind schedule. We get to the house just as the other taxi driver pulls up. President Lopez is waiting, I jump out and take off with him, Gregan pays for one taxi and then gets in the other and we run to the airport. I have a wonderful ride with President Lopez and thank him so many times for being so generous and, the wonderful man that he is told me that it’s his pleasure to help us and that he knows that he receives blessings for it and he knows that he wants all the blessings that he can get. He’s so wonderful and so helpful.

We get to the airport and I start to realize all of a sudden how nervous I really am. I’m worried about the fact that it’s going to be 10 new girls…I’m worried about them liking the house. I’m worried about traveling around with them; I’m worried about whether they’ll like the experience…I’m worried about being a good leader…I’m worried about being too obsessive and worried (how ironic)…I’m worried about finding the right balance between strict and permissive…of encouraging experiences and allowing people to discover things on their own. I was sitting there thinking about all of this, wondering if I would recognize them, wondering if they would all come out together, wondering if we would forget anyone, wondering if I remember the names of people that I’ve met and how long it will take me to remember the names of the people that I haven’t met yet…how would I get along with the girls…how culture shocked would they be…etc etc etc. Needless to say there was a lot going on in my mind. Gregan was waiting a little further back with the taxi driver and President Lopez was waiting back by his car. I remembered when I first arrived how nervous and overwhelmed I was…so I wanted to make sure that there was a friendly face. The girls walked out of the airport, were met by a wall of humidity and all looked a little overwhelmed, a little travel weary and just a touch unsure of what’s going to happen next. Moving to the cars, I was VERY glad that I had convinced Gregan that we needed President Lopez’s help and car. He has a mini van that is used for transporting goods, so it has a driver’s seat and a passenger seat but nothing in the back. 10 girls bring a LOT of luggage. We got his mini-van full, all the girls in the other van and still had to use a few seats for the rest of the luggage. We got them all to the house, moved them in and conquered my first fear. The house…with it’s makeshift room and dim lighting and pila…and cots for beds and very little closet space and one bathroom for all the girls…it definitely is VERY different from all the homes that the girls come from and even from all the apartments most of the girls have come from. The girls took it all in stride…each choosing a room without argument or complaint. We got their stuff into the house and then went on a shopping trip so we would all have food for Sunday. The looks that we got when 12 gringos walked into the store at such a late hour…that was priceless. There were workers that were hesitantly following us to see if they could help us but not quite sure how they should approach the topic. There were bag boys that were literally hiding around the edges of the aisles, and peaking around every once in a while at the group of gringos. We were the last ones in the store and were very well attended. Home again and to sleep.

Sunday May 6, 2007

The first Sunday in the ward was an interesting one. I was a little nervous (it is a trend for the next few days) because Gregan and I had never ridden the bus route to church. We knew which ones we were supposed to take…but, yeah, I was still nervous. We made it though, and on time. We were greeted by the Bishopric as we came in. Bishop Funes welcomed us at the pulpit, told us that the ward was glad that we were here again (something else that I’ve been worried about because of experiences with past years) and made a comment about “Rachel and her pollitos” or “little chickens” because we all filed in like a hen and her chickens. At times I really feel like that. I’ve been counting since the volunteers got here. How many are getting on the bus, how many are getting off…is everyone there, are we safe, so we have our stuff…etc etc. The ward is so wonderful and helpful. So many people came to us and introduced themselves, gave us phone numbers and told us that if we ever needed anything that they would be happy to help…there are so many helpful people, it’s wonderful. We had people that work at the embassy translate during Sunday School and Relief Society for the less fluent girls. It’s such a wonderful ward and I am so happy to be involved with them again. I’m very grateful for the directors from last year for rebuilding so many of the bridges that had been burned in the past. The church-house is very different from churches in the United States. They are smaller, number one. They have their basketball/soccer courts outside as part of the parking lot. Inside everything is tiled. The chapel is air conditioned, but after being used to no only no air-conditioning, but even more than that, working and running and moving without air conditioning…we walk in and it’s actually quite cold…and no, I’m not the only one that thinks that. The ward is MUCH smaller…along the lines of maybe 100 people on a full day. Our little addition ends up to be quite a big addition in our Barrio Campestre en la Estaca los Heores. It’s a great ward to be a part of though. That afternoon, our girls had their first experience with a Salvadoreno rain storm. It poured and poured and poured. Because of the heat though, it was welcomed. We had a lazy Sunday afternoon of naps and organizing our lives. Gregan and I had an opportunity to work on our communication skills. No, that’s not just a nice way to say “had an argument”…we just really got to talk to each other and work on really understanding where the other person comes from and basically understand their vantage point. I was really grateful for the opportunity because it helped me work on my own communication skills, but it also helped me with knowing and understanding Gregan which will be essential for us to have a positive effect on the team and the team dynamic.

Sitting here, freezing

Yes, you read that correctly. I´m sitting in an internet cafe and freezing. There are very few times in El Salvador that you'll find yourself cold...internet cafe, church, and taking a shower. Yes, I STILL hate the cold showers...
I'm finding that I really didn't explain to a lot of people what I'm doing here. Here's just a brief explanation. I lived here in El Salvador two years ago to work with an organization called HELP International. We work with partner organizations within the third world countries our volunteers are living in (ie El Salvador, Guatemala, Uganda) to fight against the causes of poverty and the effects of poverty. We work in a variety of different areas focusing on teaching English as a second language, business (especially micro-enterprises), square foot gardening, and working in orphanages and schools. I love it here. It's amazing. This year I'm back as a director of a group of volunteers and Gregan is my co-director. We're responsible for setting everything up while in country and making sure it all runs smoothly.
SO that's the gist of what I'm doing here. You can also look at the website for HELP International at www.help-international.org
Things are going really well. They're SUPER busy though...but in a good way. I love being here. I am falling into "bed" exhausted every night and I still hate my alarm in the morning, but I am less hesistant to get out of bed...I feel the work that'm doing is so important and so worthwhile. It's been a great learning experience for me...I've been working on my leadership skills which I feel fairly comfortable with saying needs the work. I really enjoy it though. We've got such an interesting dynamic on our team. Well, we're all girls except my co-country director Gregan...poor guy. BUT, he gets his own room and his own bathroom for the time being. We've been working on getting a schedule nailed down and finalized. We're working with 12 different organizations going from Habitat for Humanity to teaching English in the LDS Business Center to working with handicapped kids to working with boys on the streets and girls in detention centers. We have been working with health departments and with education and business programs. It's amazing. There's a little bit of everything here. Our girls are between the ages of 18 to 22 (then there's me and Gregan, but we don't have to go into ages right?? ;) and they come from all backgrounds. Most of them have not ever traveled out of the US before and those that have, it's usually been for something like a family vacation to the Mexican Riviera...not really the same kind of living conditions that we're living in now. I have posted a picture of my house previously and also a picture of a little boy named Benjamin who I got quite close to when I was here last time. I was so super excited to see him again. He lives in a home for the disabled called Padre Vito Guarato. I'm not sure what handicap he has. He's constrained to a wheel-chair and has very little movement of his arms and none of his legs. He doesn't really talk, but is wonderful at communicating with his arm movements, his eyes, his smiles, and the direction he moves his head. I adore the sweet boy. I was so happy to see him again.
SO, our house has 3 rooms and on makeshift room. We have 3 to 4 girls in each room and not a whole lot of closet space, but it's all right. It's home.
We have set it up so that each girl is responsible for a different project but we all get to try different things and going to different places. One other place that I love is the project I was responsible for before. It's called CISNA. It's a home for boys that have lived on the streets or have been involved in a crime or a gang or drugs or are under state custody. So, it's everything from a prison to a foster home to an orphanage. It's a place where young boys are old in mind and spirit because they have been dealt with so roughly by life. They fight and have quite the pecking order, but all crave love and attention and hugs. I love being there but unfortunately haven't been able to go as often as I like.
Let's think, what else...it's wonderful here. I absolutely love it. I do miss having an internet connection in the home and having to go to a cafe, but asi es la vida no?
I was going to try to upload some pictures of my recent adventure to el Centro, but my camera batteries died, so we'll have to try later. I've also got some stuff that I've written before, so I'll add that too.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Just a little more info

If anyone ever wants to reach me while I'm in El Salvador, my cell phone number is 011 503 7272 2250. You would probably want a calling card because it's really expensive to call from a cell phone. Also, I'm going to post more soon, and you can check out pictures that I'm going to put up on mediamax.com My account is "rachie_lelei" and my password is "el.salvador". You can check things out there! I haven't put anything up JUST yet, but in the next few days.
Talk to you soon!!!

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Just a few photos and the like




























I've gotten to go to CISNA and Padre Vito and Emiliani and there are so many friends that I have gotten to see! I'm so very happy about that!



Rach

The longest one ever...I'm learning to break it down.

I sit here and wonder how I should attempt to make these shorter…I don’t want people to become bored because I “talk” a lot…but at the same time there’s so much to tell! I guess I could break it down into sections…ie: Journal, Culture, Travel, Cucarachas and other living creatures found in the home, embarrassing moments (probably spurred on by communication barriers), illnesses of third world countries (now doesn’t that sound like a fun category???), things that I take for granted when I’m in the US, how I find peace in a world of chaos, and was I crazy to have brought ANY clothing that is white?…things like that. A person can then pick a category that interests them and read that.

Journal
Thursday May 3, 2007:
It’s about 11:30 on Thursday night and I’m sitting and roasting in our new home…I sit with all the lights out so I don’t attract mosquitoes to my room, but even still there is a small bug walking in circles on the computer screen. It’s been a long journey to this point, but it has been a good one. When we first got to El Salvador, President Lopez and his wife told us that there was a house in their neighborhood that was available for rent. Hermana Lopez called the owner and convinced him to allow us to have it for only 4 months (most people want to rent their houses for at least a year) and for a good price too. President Lopez proudly claimed that his wife was a real sales woman. He said that she could convince you needed to buy your own bread again and pay HER for it too. Her approach is definitely a sweet, honey approach. No-one doesn’t like Hermana Lopez. She’s amazing and kind and fun. She is a pleasure to spend time with. We waited patiently for the gentleman to come to show us the house and when he didn’t come for a while we decided to stop by the bank that is just down the street. The Lopez family lives literally 2 blocks from the US Embassy and while we were walking towards the bank we couldn’t help but notice the parade of people with flags, red shirts, hats, bandanas, loud speakers etc marching towards the embassy. Before anyone gets nervous, don’t worry, it was peaceful. A large group of people were just marching to the US Embassy the day before Labor Day to protest the United States offering so few visas to the people of El Salvador. As all the people in red were marching past, I looked down and noticed that I happened to be wearing a red shirt that day too. SO, I guess on Monday I was for the FMLN cause. The first bank’s ATM didn’t work (in the US, that would be something that could possibly make a person mad, at the very least annoyed…in El Salvador you smile and nod to the guard that told you and walk another block down and go to another bank. With so many moving around on foot, they have businesses separated by mere blocks. Back to the neighborhood to find out that the gentleman had been waiting for us and we had actually walked past him on our way out of the neighborhood…oops :-S He showed us the house and it was nice. The rooms were clean, the garden was well maintained, it even had a pomegranate tree in the yard which would be a fun treat. We told him that we liked the house, but that it was a little small. We then set out to start looking. This begun 2 days of walking. And I’m serious, we were walking straight from 10 in the morning until 7 at night. I know so much more of the neighborhoods and the lay-out of the city. It’s amazing how you can find where things are just by walking…it was literally “Hey, I didn’t know that this Colonia was right next to that other one” or “Wow, there’s the Anthropological museum…I had always wondered”. I also found myself remembering when I first went to a place and how strange and foreign it felt and how familiar it felt to me now, “Oh, I remember when we came here for…” We looked for houses in all of the nicest neighborhoods…San Benito, Colonia Escalon, San Francisco, Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan. We walked up hills and down hills…back and forth across streets. We saw houses for rent that we wouldn’t want to touch with a 10 foot pole, we saw houses for rent that were BEAUTIFUL inside and out…and ended up being $2800 per month…just a TOUCH out of the budget. We found dead ends and mango trees that were public domain (yum!). We got sun-burned and scolded at dinner for having skin that was too sensitive, too gringo and not wearing “bloqeador” (10 points for anyone who knows what that means ;-) We happened across another protest march on the 1st of May…international Labor Day. They were protesting the fact that they were paying social security and not receiving anything for it, they protested the idea of the privatization of medicine, of the working conditions, of the country’s dependence on the US, they supported Panamanian workers we were on strike or something like that. The microphones were blaring, the people yelling and cheering…carrying flags and banners and handouts for their appropriate cause. People joining in the march as they found a cause they supported. Police walking along side to make sure that the protest remained peaceful. There were vendors walking up and down selling ice cream and minutas (snow cones) and water to the protestors. A few pictures and a couple of flags and handouts later Gregan and I were back on our way. We were walking up the street and little boy saw some gringos and knew that he was going to get his next meal. His feet were black, his pants too small, his shirt too big, his hair in disarray, his face grimy, his hands worse. He came straight over to us and asked for “una qwuata…gringa, una qwuata”. After knowing too many of the CISNA boys and the availability of drugs I preferred to give him food instead of money. (for those of you who don’t know, CISNA is a government run home/school for boys that are either street kids, abandoned by their family or run aways, kids that are addicted to drugs, victims of child prostitution, in trouble with the law for a relatively minor crime, or under protection by the government because of previous gang involvement. I had the opportunity to work with those boys in 2005 and the new volunteers and I have the opportunity to work with them again.) Usually there are women making pupusas all along all of the streets. A full meal for 25 cents is something that I could spare. My smart little friend insisted that everyone is going to be marching and there are no pupusarias open right now, but followed me faithfully until I decided that I was ready to believe him. We talked about CISNA (he had never heard of it) and about his family (he doesn’t remember them too much). After crossing a street and watching him curl his toes up because the road was too hot, I decided he was right and there weren’t any available pupusarias. I gave him a little money that could buy some food, but not much more and hoped that he would really use it to eat as he ran away.
MANY miles and a few blisters later (and yet blisters seem so minimal now, don’t they) we went back to Antiguo Cuscatlan. One of the members of the ward knew of another member of the ward that had a house right next door that they weren’t doing anything with. Hermana Lopez, bless her heart, made a few phone calls and…lo and behold, not only did we want to buy our own bread again but we found that we had a house for a fraction of the price that it’s worth! The extras that it comes with are a stove, a kitchen sink, a dinner table and chairs, a bed, a refrigerator, AND…drum roll please…a washing machine!!! One of the things I miss most about my life in the US is a lovely washing machine that gets clothes clean…and even works when I’m not there!! I was the happiest person alive. Gregan was ecstatic that the refrigerator worked and had a full size, functioning freezer. I found a fellow ice chewer who was excited that he wasn’t going to have to give up his habit for the summer.
Our new address is:
Colonia La Sultana
Avenida Los Laureles #12-A
Antiguo Cuscatlan
La Libertad, El Salvador.

We started moving our stuff into the house that night. We stopped by Emiliani (a home for boys that are either orphans or under the charity of the church because of an “at risk” family situation such as only one parent, one parent involved in crime, or living in an especially hard area.) The boys are sweet, well-behaved and disciplined (might there be a correlation between these traits? Possibly) and their living situation is a little more permanent (they are able to stay there until they graduate from high school) and I had the VERY HAPPY occasion to see some of my good friends again. The boys are all two years older and bigger, but when I walked around the corner their faces were familiar to me, and I know, by the number of hugs and boys holding my hands, and calls of “Raquel” and “tsssst” that I was familiar to them as well. They asked me how I’ve been, how my family is, how long I’m going to be here, when the rest of the volunteers are going to come. They showed me their English homework, the mouse they caught earlier that day, their new soccer ball, their new scrapes…they offered to help carry the items that we had in storage there to the waiting car…they asked repeatedly when we were coming back and where we were going to live (the volunteers last year lived within walking distance which meant activities could last beyond the time the busses stopped running…and happily our new house is 5 houses CLOSER to the school so we can spend plenty of time with our dear friends). We spoke of things that the school needed and of how our volunteers could help. The room where they cook their meals has a damaged roof and each time it rains (which it does OFTEN here) it either drips on the food or the fires and makes the cooking extremely difficult if not impossible. We also noticed that the fires were free standing and consequently the smoke was being breathed in by the women that were cooking. A new chimney would probably be in order to go along with a new roof.
Once back into the house Gregan and I started to clean…and clean…and clean…and clean. Seriously, anyone that leaves a house and leaves it dirty should be hung in a dungeon by their fingernails! It is NOT acceptable! Cleaning up dirt is not that much fun…cleaning up unknown dirt from who knows how long ago is even less fun. I had the HAPPY experience of finding a dead cucaracha in the room that I had already determined to be a good room to live in…And you know what they say about a dead cucaracha. Gregan spent the next hour trying to convince me that there aren’t any more in the house and that we would be fine…I was starting to feel relaxed when I heard “whoa” and some quick movement from the other side of the house. Gregan had found another :-S and he was bigger and ALIVE! Anyone that knows me knows that this is close to the worst news that could be received. The WORST news that we received came a moment later. I had already started to put the washing machine to good use, cleaning old sheets and rags so they would be available for when the volunteers came. Then I found out…the washing machine was not, what we would call, working. Dun-dun dun. It would fill of water and would drain the water but there was no spinnage going on. SADDEST! Sounds like it might need a new transmission huh mom? So, I guess it’s a summer of hand washed clothing again…and looking out for cucarachas. I happily gloated to Gregan that I had insisted on these little pez looking things that they sold in the store that were non-toxic but kept the cucarachas away. They are now all over my room, my bathroom, the kitchen…and yes, I granted a few to Gregan. So, now, the laundry is done (by hand), the rooms are cleaned and sterilized (gotta love Lysol spray…do you think I could get an endorsement for that?) and the one other living cockroach that was encountered had its head ceremoniously chopped off by Gregan with a machete we found in the garage. Ah…El Salvador. No shortage of exciting times. We took the opportunity to go and visit a few of the partner organizations. We went out to CISNA and there are many new boys, but the receptionist, the art teacher, and a few of the boys gave surprised looks of “I know you” and “what are you doing here?” and lots of hugs. We went to the LDS Employment Center and Brother Hernandez’s jaw dropped as I walked through the door and gave me a hug and welcomed me back warmly. It’s been fun walking into the places that I have been away from for so long. It’s been fun seeing old friends and getting the ‘great abrazos’ that they share with me.
Oh, while Gregan and I were looking for houses, we would find busses to travel to another area or to get home at night. When we were told to get directions from more than one person, it was very sage advice. Gregan has had the opportunity to see MANY parts of the city that we haven’t been targeting just because of wrong busses. One night we were trying to get home…we were at one stop that we thought the bus would come to, a kind gentleman informed us that our bus wouldn’t pass by there (which is true) and where we could find our 44 to take us home (which was false). We followed his advice and sure enough, at this new stop, after waiting for only 3 minutes a 44 came by. We jumped on and drove…but away from where we wanted to end up. Well, maybe the bus driver will turn around soon….no luck. Well, maybe we can just go back through the whole route again and get to the house at the “beginning”…no luck. Finally after much time and a lot of confusion we found ourselves in Colonia Trinidad…out in the middle of NO WHERE (after we came home I tried to find where Colonia Trinidad was on our map, I couldn’t even find it there). The bus was on a dirt road…the dogs would wait until the very last minute possible to get out of the little ditches in the middle of the road that they were sleeping in so the bus wouldn’t hit them…finally we noticed we were the only ones on the bus and the driver asked us where we had wanted to go. We told him Santa Elena like it said in the front of his bus and he told us that this isn’t the bus we wanted to take and he’s on his way home and so we needed to get off. Again, remember that this is literally in the middle of nowhere, but it’s not like we could argue. We decided the best thing to do would be to walk back towards civilization. We walked for a while and encountered a few houses…a little further a regular road…a little further a few stores. We were discussing safety, at what point should we probably get a taxi, how exciting that futbol game we just passed looked. We enjoyed the brick streets, the humidity, the trees, the sound of a soap opera coming from a few houses, the sound of reggatone music coming from the stores…people out sitting, smoking, reading, talking or heading to the futbol game. Eventually, we heard some honking. We turned around, expecting a taxi, but no, there was our bus driver telling us that he could take us a little closer to a point where a taxi would pick us up. I thought that was sure nice. We then took a taxi cab home and I STILL don’t know where we were. We came from a complete opposite side of the city from where I thought we were and from where we wanted to go. I’m glad I didn’t bargain more on the taxi ride because of how far we were. We got home, safe and sound and without too much of a hassle.
Gregan and I have a few more days to finish getting things into order before the rest of the volunteers come. I’m excited for there to be more people in the house and more excitement. Gregan has been fun, but the house sure is quiet at night. Each time I hear a car pulling up to the house next door I keep thinking “are we going to have a visitor?” and then I remember, no…most of the people that know we’re here don’t have cars…so I just tend to find something else to clean…pretty pathetic huh?

Culture
It’s always interesting to travel to a new place. The culture is always distinct. The difference even between California and Utah is dramatic… The culture of El Salvador is so difficult to explain. One can obviously see influences of the United States: in the use of the dollar, in the popularity of Tommy Hilfiger clothing, and even in the words they use (to park a car is usually written “parkear”…now if that isn’t Spanglish, I don’t know what is). The people here are so interesting. I know that I get a little bit different treatment being a gringa wandering around the city, but it‘s more than that. Take, for example, the experience we had yesterday at the internet café. We had done our searching and emailing and what-not and when we were leaving we remembered that we had forgotten to look on-line for SOMETHING that might give us a hint as to the bus routes. So, I asked the cashier and he told me he didn’t know and went and found his boss. His boss told us that we might be able to find something in a bookstore or online. I asked for any suggestions of places online that we could look (we had already tried the bookstore approach) with a pen in hand to write them down for the next time I was online. Well, he pulls up an internet page on his own computer and spent seriously the next 20 minutes searching and surfing to try to find something for us. The next man in line over-heard our search and told us that he has a friend that works in the department of transportation that he could ask. He pulls out his phone and starts calling people to get his friends number, the cashier was making suggestions to the boss of where he could look…all to help us not get lost. The friend at the department of transportation said that yes, that is something they usually have but they are out of them at this time. Jose Roberto (the guy at the café helping us) told us that he will keep calling his friend to get one of them for us. He asked for our number and then gave us his so we could “check up” on him. The boss then told us that he couldn’t find anything online but gave us the website, phone number and address for the Tourism department. Talk about going above and beyond the call of service. We then walked a few stores down to eat a much anticipated meal (Pollo Campero…kind of like KFC but even better!) We decided to stay at this fast food restaurant to eat instead of taking it out (para llevar). We were seated but a hostess, another woman brought us sliver ware, napkins and real plates, another asked us what kind of drink we wanted and brought that to us…and this is all a fast food restaurant! When our “waitress” was taking our order she told us all about the different meals and even told us that maybe we should try another item because it’s a better deal. She told us we could choose 2 types of dip for our chicken just to make sure we had something that we really liked and wanted to eat…free of charge! After service like that we felt that we should leave a tip but weren’t sure if that was customary. We asked a couple sitting right next to us and they said “If you want to leave a tip you can, but you don’t have to, and if you don’t want to, then don’t.” Makes sense huh? We decided that we should. We were then walking towards the bus stop to head back home. When we were doing that a car pulled up next to us and it was our new friend Jose Roberto. He was heading in the direction opposite our home and asked us where we were going. We told him “La Ceiba” (a big, beautiful, and well known church that we live only a few blocks from) and he told us to get in and he’ll give us a ride. Don’t worry…all of you that are reading this, this is not something I practice when I’m in the US, let alone El Salvador when I am traveling alone (which I’m not in El Salvador) but since Gregan was with me, we decided it would be fine. We talked with him about how he’s applying to become a pilot for a local airline company (Taca) and how he’s nervous but hopes he got the job (he finds out in 10 days…so feel free to pray that our kind friend gets the job he is hoping for). We talked about El Salvador, why we are here (for those of you that I haven’t explained this to already, I’m working with a non-profit organization called HELP International. We send volunteers to third world countries to fight the causes and effects of poverty, all while offering a life changing experience to the volunteers to encourage them to accept a life of learning and service. I came here in 2005 as a volunteer and fell in love with El Salvador. This year I am back as one of two directors for our group of volunteers), we talked about how Gregan and I learned Spanish. It was a nice ride with good conversation. He dropped us off a few blocks from our home reminding us that he’ll get the bus routes for us and with a honk and a wave was off.
Another cultural thing is vendors come to you. If you’re on a bus, vendors selling anything from chocolates to apples to coconut milk to super glue will come on and tell you all about how incredible their product is. Some will tell of their life of crime and of being lost before they found religion and “Gracias a Dios” their lives are improved and they have given up their past of sinning and would you please support them in their quest for a new life. They also come to the neighborhoods. Drinkable water comes in these 5 gallon jugs…and remember, while grocery stores are close, 5 gallons gets heavy really quickly when you’re walking…up hill…both ways ;) So, there’s a water truck…they come and trade you your empty “bombas” for new ones full of water for only a few dollars. Women selling fruit and bread, men telling you that they can repair your shoes…all walking up and down the streets yelling out the wares they have available. You just have to go to your gate and buy.

Travel
Well, what can I say about travel within the country. It’s insane and I love it. If you didn’t read the journal part, we’ve had quite the experiences with buses and getting lost and found again. There is one bus line that I’ve decided I will NEVER ride again in my life. The 34. Every time we have gotten on it, it doesn’t go to where it’s supposed to go and it will take us to the opposite end of the city and then, instead of continuing it’s route, they’ll say “I’m going to the repair shop, go get that bus” or “I’m not going to go back that way, you need to take a different bus”…SO, buh-bye number 34. Another wonderful thing about the travel here is that the rules are so different. You know those dashed lines that are supposed to separate lanes? Here I think they’re only a suggestion…and a loose suggestion at that. Speed-bumps are no longer a deterrent, rather a challenge to see if you can get more than 3 people to hit their heads on the ceiling as you cross over them.

Embarrassing Moments
I don’t know if this positively falls into this category or not…it could be “culture”, but I definitely get embarrassed by it…I don’t know why, but EVERY time I try to open a door the first time, I always push or pull the wrong way. I’ve been thinking about this a lot and I’ve come to two potential conclusions…#1 They’re opposite the way they are in the US. When we walk into a building in the US I think we always pull the door open and here we push the door open…and so, consequently when we leave a building we push the door open and here we pull it open. I’m not sure that that’s it…I’m going to have to pay more attention to it. #2 There are so many guards here that open doors for customers walking into stores that I’ve just become out of practice…I’ve gotten lazy that when it comes time for me to open a door on my own I’ve forgotten how to do it right ;) Whatever it is, it still doesn’t detract from my embarrassment of continually running into a door when it’s supposed to be opening…or appearing like the Farside cartoon that has a little boy pushing with all his might on a door that says “Pull” across it at “Midvale School for the Gifted”

Living creatures found in the home
Well, lets just attempt to keep a running list. Cucarachas is #1…but I find that even they aren’t as scary any more…I still don’t like them just because their dirty. I know they’re dirty and that means they bring dirt in with them… Animals #2 mosquitoes…and, knock on wood they haven’t been bothering me too much. I guess I have bitter blood. We have had June bugs and spiders and ants of course. We encountered a lizard the other day, a cat running across the roof chasing birds woke us this morning and a little bird has been flying underneath the eaves of the roof and hopping along…technically inside our house, but then he just hops right out.

Illnesses
Well, so far we’ve been mostly ok. Gregan had a “bad stomach” for a few days which possibly came from the coleslaw that he had at a restaurant one day…but a little bit of Coke, a little bit of apple juice and he’s as good as new. The biggest point of this section is a reminder of things that we should make sure to avoid. Coleslaw…check.

Things that I take for granted while in the US.
Well, I’ve got to start with shallow things of course…so as to not be anti-climatic. Number one, my body pillow. It makes sleeping so comfortable. While we’re at it, why not just add the bed in general. I’ve been waking up each morning just a little sore. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been more active and walking around and doing things that I’m not totally used to…or if it’s because I’ve been sleeping in a mat that is about 2 to 3 inches thick on a tile floor…or, maybe a little from column A…a little bit from column B…and voila! Sore! While I’m trying to keep up on my laundry, I have to admit waking up a little early each morning to wash the outfit that I wore the day before…and then hoping I rung it out well enough that it will dry before it sours… After doing laundry then I go and jump into a cold shower. That’s always a little bit of a disappointment each morning. Carpet. No one here has any carpets. There’s something about taking off your shoes and walking on a carpet… Driving myself. When you have to plan different bus routes and different time frames to make sure you get to a place and that you get there on time…I just miss my car. My friends. It’s fun to have a place to hang out and play and things to do. Here, we’ve got friends and they’re fun, but I miss all my other friends and the fact that we can hang out without having specific plans and making sure there’s enough room in cars and all that fun stuff. I miss my family. I miss the fact that I’ve got a new niece and nephew and I can’t see them. I miss Sunday dinners. I miss being able to talk and laugh and hang out with my family. I miss just a general feeling of safety. I mean, it’s not horrible here, but it’s definitely a third world country that definitely has different standards of safety and different issues with gangs. We need to plan to come home from places early enough to make sure to make all the buses before they stop for the night…and to make sure we’re not in certain areas of the city especially when it’s dark…To be traveling around with a bunch of obviously foreign girls is a little unnerving…to be responsible for them makes me extra cautious. General status of life is just so different here. You can just tell that life is hard by looking at the faces of the people. Mothers getting onto buses with their children are always looking around them, always making sure their children are close, always crossing roads quickly and cautiously while dragging the children along. I’ve seen 12 year olds holding their parents hands still. Not because of endearment but because of safety. I miss having some sort of rule and regulation for pedestrians. I’m not a huge fan of the “pedestrians always have the right of way” attitude, but I also am not a fan of “pedestrians never have the right of way because cars and buses and even motorcycles are bigger”.

I'll do more of a break down later...and I realize there are a few categories I haven't touched yet...I'll get to them...I promise ;)