Here Come the HOLIDAYS!

Hello world! It sure has been a long time since I blogged. I just wasn't in the mood to blog, with the recent tropical storms and having to be on standfast- meaning Peace Corps would not let me leave my site for over a week and a half due to risks of mudslides and flooding.


During those days, I mostly just stayed in my house, because it was non-stop raining, and colder than I've ever been in El Salvador, I didn't want to move. Sure I could have gone and done house visits to see my friends I have around town- but it was not appealing to walk in the rain and mud. I didnt want to get my clothes wet because I knew they would never dry. Plus, I knew that if I did go out and talk with people- all we would talk about is the stormy weather and how people were flooded in La Libertad, many in shelters, etc. I knew all of this from the news. So that also was not appealing. So I spent most of those days in my house in my hammock, reading and rewatching every season of Sex and The City for the 5th time. I might be finally sick of that show. And I was also thinking too much, felt like I was going crazy... and I wrote a blog during those days, but I decided it wasn't good for posting. You all really would have thought I was going nuts. And I was. But the details of my craziness were not worth sharing publicy. So it was a long few weeks, but that first day that the sun came out... it was amazing how seeing the sun alone could make me so happy. And the next day we were allowed to leave and I felt back to normal again. And the weather has been gorgeous ever since... it seems to be that Summer is arriving in El Salvador. There might be a few more rains, but the beginning of the dry season is so nice here. Clear skies, cool... Sure is nice to be down here when I know I could be up north having winter.

Sunday my youth group and I put on an excursion. We all got on the bus at 5:30 am... stopped at Pollo Campero, because it would not be an excursion without fried chicken, and made it to the pools by 8:30. I actually had a nice time. They were amazed with how I could swim. Most of them can't really swim at all. But some of them can... and they wanted to race me. Even though I swam competetively for 3 years in highschool, I was always one of the slowest on the team. So we raced... and when I got to the other side of the pool, I looked back and they hadnt even made it half way. They were very impressed. It felt good swimming laps. I would love to get back into that when I'm done here. We also had a mini soccer tournament. I was shocked that I enjoyed soccer... probably because it was on a basketball court instead of a big huge field and I didnt have to run as much. And we went on a walk in the wooded area by the pools. The "forest" this place had advertised turned out to be really lame. We were walking through a muddy path for about 20 minutes getting eaten up by huge mosquitos. I really would not be surprised if I had dengue all of a sudden in a few days. Besides, walking through wooded areas is something these campo kids see every day. Still it was a fun day. And we made a lot money for our activities by charging people for the bus ride and selling food on the bus. We didnt make enough to do anything huge but it was a good start. In a few weeks I have Jamie coming to my site to teach the kids Yoga. It's something new for them to learn. I'm planning on having some movie nights in town to raise more money. I'm gonna play movies on a projector at the school and sell popcorn and other foods. And then I want to plan a field day and make it a color war- teams of kids, big and small- Relay races, tug of war, sack races, etc. Just like we used to have at Camp Young Judaea. That's going to take ALOT of planning... so I'm working on it poco a poco.

So yesterday I slept until 8:30. Almost never do that. My host family must think I am the laziest person ever. Especially because I'll tell them goodnight at 6pm because I'm tired... they don't know that sometimes I stay up really late. They just think I'm sleeping that whole time. Because people here never spend time alone like Americans do. It doesn't make sense to them. When I spend a lot of time alone, they sometimes take it personally like I don't want to hang out with them. That, or they think I am sad or sick. It's neither. It's that I enjoy doing things alone. Like writing, reading, watching movies. They always do everything with their families, so I understand it seems odd to them how anyone could be so content spending so much time alone. I love it. And there's nothing like being able to speak to people on the phone in English at the end of the day.

Yesterday I spent all day walking around giving people reading glasses that I got donated from an organization from the states. I got over 300 pairs sent to me and it's great to see how they are helping people. There are lots of people who were not able to read before who now can. And there is this one lady, the cook at the school, who for years hasn't been able to thread her needles because she cant see well enough. It was such a wonderful moment when she put on those glasses and threaded a needle all by herself. She was all smiles and totally ecstatic.

I was going to invite the entire community to come on one specific day to give out all the glasses... but after selling them to people individually I know that would just be chaos. Everyone takes at least 10-15 minutes to figure out which ones they need and then they pick the style they want. Also, there are some people that just do not understand that these glasses are for reading and not for wearing all the time around town or for looking far away. They will put them on and just look around with this dumbfounded look on their face like, "Oh no, these are not right." And then I tell them again, look at the paper. Which line can you read. LoL... I have to tell some of them 5 times before they get it. And there are still all these people that want to buy them just because they're cute. And I see them walking around with them on, and I'm like... Oh boy... LoL... but what can I do? I've explained it the best I can. And I am seeing tons of people that are really helped out by them. So I can feel good about that.

I found out yesterday they moved the school's 9th grade graduation date from Nov. 17th to Nov. 22nd. The day after I leave for Houston. I am so bummed that I am going to miss it now. I really want to be there, it's the biggest school event of the year. And frankly, if I'm not there it will make me look really bad to the community. Everyone will know that I am in the states instead of being there. It looks like they are not important to me. They moved it because they say they need more time to plan it, that the rains set them back a lot. Like 5 days is really going to make a huge difference. Man, where I am from, graduation is set on a day and it doesnt change. You especially don't change the date 3 weeks ahead of time. Bummer. And it's hard to explain to people what Thanksgiving is and how it is my favorite holiday. How it's a time to be with your family. They don't get that. I was considering changing my ticket dates, but I don't think it's worth spending hundreds of dollars to change my flight dates. Everyone will have to get over it. I can't always be here for everything, I just want them to appreciate what I am here for and what I have done for the community.

I'm not going to be here for Christmas either, I'm going to go spend it in San Sal with Noel and Lina. Last year I was here for Christmas, and there was nothing special going on and I was sad that I wasn't having some kind of celebration. I just ate a sandwich at my neighbors house and was home going to bed at 8 o clock last year. I am not doing that again. The unfortunate thing is that my community's rodeo is on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Another thing that I will look bad for not being at. But man... they keep planning special events on American Holidays. What's up with that? It doesn't help that the Rodeo is in my FRONT YARD. Haha.... Oh man....

Anyway, Noel is still in Rio De Janeiro, Brasil for work. It feels like he's been gone forever, but still a few more weeks til he gets back. We can't even talk on the phone because his hotel's internet is outrageously expensive. Miss him! He'll be home soon though and luckily he gets back the day I have to go in for my mid service medical appointments so I'll get to be there that Wednesday! Hopefully my doctor will tell me I'm as healthy as a horse.

Why do they say that? Are all horses real healthy or something? The horses around here don't look too healthy to me.

Oh joy, Milton is outside screaming "pendejo" at someone. We've talked about saying bad words before... time for me to go!

Happy Halloween everyone!
I am so ready for a vacation :)
 
Paz y Amor.