Bienvenido!

Hello again. Well, it's official. I'm in El Salvador. After a very nice check in agent (my luggage was just a touch over the limit), a run-in with security (I didn't take the laptop out of my bag) and a short wait in Salt Lake and no wait in Texas, I got into El Salvador without any delays and only a little bit of a detour because of a rain storm (It was cool to watch as we were getting ready to land). I had the opportunity to sit by a man with the name of Milton from Santa Ana. He was kind, and generous, and a gentleman. He and I spoke of the weather of El Salvdor, the people, the economy, and OF COURSE futbol! He is a Fasista and I told him of the great game I had attended 2 years earlier. He was excited that I said I was a Tigarillo. We both excitedly craned our necks to see San Salvador as we flew over and talked about how excited we both were to be back. What a wonderful people that live here. What a wonderful place.
As I got off the plane a wave of emotion hit me. I remembered how nervous I was the first time I came. I remember getting off the plane and thinking over and over again "what am I doing here...what on EARTH am I doing"...and while that memory came over me, the feeling did not. I felt complete excitement as I was walking through a familiar airport...the heat and humidity hitting me as soon as they opened the doors of the airplane, chatting with the guy at customs, knowing what to say and understanding what he said in response (what a relief that was), feeling calm as I talked with a different group of volunteers from the US...none of them ever having visited El Salvador. I felt so seaoned, being able to tell them how wonderful it is here, what to watch for, what to be careful of, and what an amazing time they were going to have. I felt relief going through the baggage check and getting the "green light" (if you get the red light you're selected for a random baggage check where they go through one or all of your bags if they want). I walked outside, being hit with a new wave of humidity. It is so humid here that the air actually feels different. It's heavier to breath, it's heavier around you, and breezes are that much more heavenly.
President Lopez and his son Omar were there waiting for us. They loaded our bags into the back of their tiny mini van (I know, it's redundant...but it's smaller than a regular mini van) and Gregan got into the mini van with President Lopez and I climbed in the car with Omar and we followed. We passed sites on the freeway that I remembered seemed strange to me the first time, and so familiar to me now. Roadside stands with tarps as roofs, people standing in the backs of trucks, busses with amazing paint jobs and lights fit for a dance club. We drove to a pupusaria of course where we were greeted with the typical "Buenas" and an old woman selling sweet cakes. Back in the car, with the pupusas "para llevar" and on to President Lopez's house. I remembered the place where, two years ago, we were driving in our taxi the very first day and a truck had gone off the road and tipped on its side. Before anyone could even think to call a roadside service, there were suddenly 15 men pushing the truck back over onto its wheels. When we rounded the final bend to come down into the city and I saw the lights it finally started to hit me that I was actually back in El Salvador, to be with some of the people I love so much. We passed the "White House" and Emiliani and La Ceiba. The excitement washed over me again and again as I realized how near to me they are, and this time, not only in my heart, but physically as well.
After a good dinner and some talk, I went to prepare for bed. The sounds of the crickets, the neighbor playing the guitar, a few car alarms going off here and there, my skin sticky from the humidity, it was all so wonderful.
Waking up to the birds, some singing sweetly, some sounding like a young girl yelling and the heat of the new day (who am I kidding...it never really cooled off too much during the night). I quickly remembered one part of El Salvador that I honestly do NOT care for. Getting ready to shower, I relized there was only one knob...which means only one water temperature...COLD. I guess it's great for the length of the showers I take while I'm here (and if anyone in the states is conspiring to get me to take shorter showers when I return...this would NOT be a viable option ;) We went to church and suddenly I felt that I had never left. The ward members were so welcoming and inviting. The opportunity to see friends from 2 years ago that were just as friendly as if you had seen them every week since. Gregan and I were invited to a celebration for the Young Single Adults on Tuesday (an international holiday) and many ward members offered to help us find a home for all the volunteers. It's so wonderful to be back. I have officially received my first mosquito bite, but it was during the night so I know it's not the Dengue ;) I'm so thrilled to have the opportunity and I hope that I am able to instill this love and this excitement into each of the volunteers as they arrive.
I am sorry about the length. I possibly will make them shorter, but I can't make any promises. there is just so much to share.

Getting Ready

So, after a busy week, it's finally here. It's now 6:30 in the morning on the day I leave for El Salvador for the summer. After being up all night doing some cleaning, enjoying some good conversation with good friends, and, OF COURSE, packing I think I'm just about ready to go...think has to be the operative word. It's always a little nerve-wracking to go on a trip because personally, I always feel like I'm forgetting something or forgetting to do something. At this point, because I'm going to be gone for so long, forgetting to do something is pretty critical. The nice thing is now I know that going to El Salvador isn't falling off the end of the earth. I will have phone access, internet access, and pretty much the ability to buy anything that I have forgotten...so that should be fine.
I have to admit I have had a flurry of emotions in the past few days. Everything from EXTREME excitement to go back and see friends and loved ones that I was honestly a little skeptical that I would ever see again...absolute TERROR about the idea that I'm going to be in charge of a bunch of volunteers and have a lot to do with whether or not their volunteer opportunity was something they felt was worthwhile...to everything in between. With a lot of work, saying goodbyes, and not a whole lot of sleep, I get ready to jump into this next phase of my life. While I know it's only going to be a little over 4 months, I do know it will be a significant phase.


Thursday and yesterday I had the opportunity to graduate...and I know, it's about time. I guess I just like to take my sweet time to get things done huh? But, here we are. BS in Recreation Management with an emphasis in Youth Leadership. It's a good major, not sure if I'll work in that field or not, but I enjoyed the major.