August 27: Final Post

I truly intended to make several posts before concluding this blog, but things couldn't be helped. I made the most of my last few days in El Salvador, finding myself far too busy to relay the experience via blog. Furthermore, as soon as I returned to the United States, I found myself overwhelmed by my duties as a Student Ambassador for my university, assisting in the Freshmen Orientation. That has all concluded successfully, and with my first day of classes out of the way, now seems like the perfect time to close the last chapter of my life as I open a new one.

On August 16th, Connie's family invited Gerardo's family and me to a farewell dinner/party, one of the most enjoyable events I have ever been to out of social courtesy. I discovered that I really like the taste of rum and Coca Cola together, but much to the collective group's disappointment, I understand my body well enough to avoid getting drunk. Ernesto made quite the primo bartender! Connie and her mother prepared a delicious dinner for everyone, and I got to meet Connie's half-brother and sister, both of whom were attending university in France but also spoke English pretty well. The night ended around 1 am after many toasts, speeches, and pictures.

August 17th was the last full day I spent in El Salvador, and I made the most of it. I went out for ice cream with Gaby for an hour (she had family obligations which limited our last date together) and then we said our goodbyes. Shortly after she left, Mr. Worldwide came to Gerardo's house and joined the family and Connie in a final evening together. We all played Uno together for a while, eating pupusas and tamales, until everyone went to bed, giving myself a chance to finally pack while Gerardo spent his last waking hours in El Salvador conversing with his best friend. That is how the night ended.

August 18th, our departure date, was full of heartbreaking and teary goodbyes, particularly from Andrea. Since coming to college, I have traveled to Italy, Belice, and El Salvador without reservations or hesitations; I have many people that I care about, but no one that could possibly quell my desire to broaden my horizons. Gerardo's burden is completely alien to me. What must it be like to repeatedly reassure your eight-year-old sister who is bawling into your chest that you will see each other in no time? To look your girlfriend in the eyes at every spare second and not have it be awkward at all because they will be the last for many months? To leave behind such a young family in a culture that is so interdependent and connected? I was excited and melancholic at the thought of returning home, but my heart was heavy for the people that had taken such good care of me and become my family so easily. Just as my journey began, it ultimately ended with Gerardo and me joining up with Mario and Adri at the layover airport before we finally landed in Little Rock. Our bags all went missing, but they were recovered later the same day. My English advisor and Gerardo's boss Dr. Strain came and picked us up at the airport, treating us to a delicious dinner at an Americanized Chinese restaurant before we finally returned to the university. Things are now once again normal.

Question: I had one question in regards to El Salvador from the lovely Kim Cook: How does El Salvador compare to the US in regards to environmental issues; such as the push to conserve resources, recycle, the government offering incentives etc.?

Answer: In my experience, it is far less noteworthy. Pollution isn't really a notable issue in a place like Santa Tecla, but in the more impoverished areas, trash is littered all over the place. Both my high school and college have recycling programs to save paper, aluminum, and glass. In the nearly two months I was in El Salvador and with all of the places I travelled, I did not see a single instance of a push to recycle. A few programs exist in the country of course, but while the US has the luxury of being the producer of the dollar and one of the world's superpowers, El Salvador is primarily concerned with improving the economy and it is difficult to make recycling profitable. I believe littering is more heavily penalized, but that is all that is really done to discourage wastefulness.

Goals: In my first post, I listed what I hoped to accomplish during my stay in El Salvador. As a refresher, I have posted them below. I am happy to say that I succeeded in most of my goals as well.

Proficiency with the Spanish language - I have gained confidence in my Spanish, and although I am still limited to present and past tense verbs, I have grown better at speaking. Connie and Gerardo's parents both acknowledged as much.

Greater empathy for Central Americans - Obviously I have become more familiar with the dangers and issues that Central Americans have to cope with, but what surprised me is how much I was able to empathize with them in regards to the painful past they had at the hands of the United States' actions.

Experiencing the real El Salvador that citizens of the United States can never know just from reading a book or watching a movie - I went all over the country. I undoubtedly saw the real El Salvador.

Community service or volunteer work - This is the one goal I did not accomplish, much to my sadness. Without technology, connections, locational knowledge, etc., my actions were very limited.

Appreciation for the culture and customs of Salvadorian residents - Culture-wise, I actually prefer El Salvador to the United States. They actually have a sense of identity that the US, as a mixing pot of diversity and culture, lacks. If I had actually been born and raised in El Salvador though, there is no telling how the culture and customs would affect me. Would I still like it, or would I feel like it limits me? With my complex mindset, there's no telling.

Making memories that will last a lifetime - This was the most obvious perk of the trip. The people I met, the places I saw, the things I experienced, they will stick with me forever. This blog is a testament to what I saw, but only I will retain how intense the experience was.

Shedding a few pounds - I was extremely and pleasantly surprised at the success of this goal. When summer started, I weighed 223 lb, the most I have ever weighed in my life. I worked out every day during the month that Gerardo was in summer school, and managed to bring myself down to 216 by June 10. I didn't exercise that much in El Salvador, but the food was so much healthier and natural that I lost a ton of weight. Weighing myself today, I am at 201 lb for the first time since high school. Maintaining and lowering that weight will be an important goal for me this semester.

The Good and the Ugly: I experienced a lot of great things in El Salvador, but there were a few unpleasant things that I kept on the down-low so I wouldn't freak people out until I was safely back in the States. Here are the memorable things about El Salvador.

• Gaby: What guy doesn't dream of a summer romance with a gorgeous girl in a foreign country? Doesn't look like things will work out between us now that I'm back in the States, but we made some great memories together.
• Millionaire: I completely forgot to mention this, but we were invited to a dinner party by Karla's aunt. As it turned out, she had inherited somewhere between three and four million dollars a long time ago, so she was the first millionaire's home I had ever been inside. It wasn't really much different than any other house in El Salvador; she keeps things pretty humble, but the area that it was located in was one of the safest.
• Primera Pupuseria: I already mentioned this in one of my earlier posts, but in retrospect, this was the first solid dive I took into Salvadorian culture. If spaghetti is representative of Italians, Hamburgers for the US, and Tacos for Mexico, then pupusas represent El Salvador. Sounds stereotypical when I put it that way, but it really is an important part of Salvadorian culture and I was really happy to experience it.
• Earthquake: On July 7th, I experienced my first earthquake. That might be a little bit of an exaggeration; there wasn't any damage and it was really low scale, but it was my first time actually feeling one. I wasn't even afraid, but in retrospect, it was fortunate that things worked out in the end.
•  Kidnapping: Just one day after the earthquake, a nearby neighbor was kidnapped, presumably by a Salvadorian gang. We heard screaming from Gerardo's house and a loud commotion, and the cops were investigating all night. It's pretty scary to think that happened so close.

Back in the States: Now that I have been back in the States for eight days, I can reflect a little bit over what I took with me from El Salvador and how my perception has changed. The very first thing that startled me after returning was how wide the roads are. I was staring down the Interstate the entire ride back to campus, marveling at how there were only a few cars in sight with tons of room in between us. The straight roads with trees lining up the sides...it greatly contrasted with the rough Salvadorian roads that were constantly overcrowded with dangerously reckless drivers. Even though I never drove while I was down there, I still find myself tempted to push a stop light when I see it about to change green, even though it is more common here to wait for the lights to change. Got a reckless mindset in a spacious area...

Furthermore, I still have a few Spanish words that come out of my mouth more frequently than the English counterparts. "Gracias," "lo siento," and "hola" are a few of the common ones. It doesn't sound big, but I actually have to stop and think now before I speak English for the little and more common phrases, a phenomenon I honestly am surprised by. Words of social courtesy ended up being more important than I expected in El Salvador, particularly when I didn't know what else to say, so I fell back on them a lot.

As far as food goes, I have somehow managed to adjust back into the Americanized food that I was originally accustomed to. I have some healthier quirks now, primarily out of my desire to avoid gaining back all the weight I lost, but also thanks to El Salvador's influence. For example, I try to frequently eat a salad...wait for it...WITHOUT salad dressing! Not exactly delectable to me, but it's an effort that I will maintain for as long as possible. And although I have had Arby's three times since coming back, I am doing surprisingly well by my standards. The first time was as soon as I came back and the last time was just because a midday nap caused me to miss dinner. My logic leads me to conclude that only one of those visits was unjustified...and I have made the effort to break these unhealthy habits, so all that's left is to see where it all takes me.

Probably the biggest shock for me is simply having social obligations again. I haven't even finished getting my room organized...and we already have homework assignments starting to stack up. Finishing this post will end this blog which will be one less item from my to-do list, but at the same time, closure brings with it a sense of nostalgia and melancholy. Gerardo made the observation the other day that this blog focused a lot on the physical aspects of my trip, but it lacked the depth of my own personal thoughts and feelings. I think that in the end, this blog was more for my sake than for the readers'. If I can remember the places that I have been, the people that I have met, and the things I have experienced, I won't forget how I felt about them, and that is enough for me.

Final Analysis: June 22 - August 18. I spent 58 days total in El Salvador, a great act of faith as well as a stupidly reckless decision. I learned so much about myself as I saw the world through different eyes. My desires to learn Spanish and experience other cultures has only been intensified, and I am redoubling my efforts this semester to broaden my horizons. I'm not particularly religious, but I know God has big plans for me, and when stacking this summer against all that have preceded it, this was definitely one of the best. I believe that in time, I will look back on my adventures as a stepping stone that will lead me to even greater things, but for now, I look at it as another experience of someone who wanted to feel alive and found it by getting swept up by the lifestyle of another group of people. It has been a pleasure writing this blog, and I hope to dedicate myself to another in the near future.  Many thanks to all my readers and, of course, to all the people I met in El Salvador that kept me fed, watered, sheltered, and happy. And now, I shall end this final post with my typical farewell signature, but this time, for the benefit of those of another mindset, I will top this post off with two words rather than one. Pay attention now. This little phrase has become my greatest philosophy in life and it would be a shame to have read this entire blog and not understand what "one" refers to.

One Love.

August 14, Day 54: Food Overview Pt. 2

I have been in El Salvador for nearly two months, so I am going to reflect on both the foods and the drinks that I will miss the most. As I will tell anyone who asks, I have never eaten healthier, though I have also never drank more unhealthily (primarily because water and skim milk are much more expensive here than in the States), so check out my favorites! I'm not claiming that any of these foods are specifically Salvadorian, but they are my favorites I have experienced here.

Foods (Comidas)

10. Mangos - Gerardo's house - They are bigger, sweeter, and juicier than those I have tried in the States, though that might just be because Arkansas is nowhere near an area that grows mangos...

9. Pancakes with condensed milk - Gaby's house - Instead of syrup, we ate pancakes with nothing but condensed milk. I had never had this before, but it sure made for a delicious snack. Going to keep it in mind when I return to the States.

8. Salvadorian Chinese food - Various restaurants - Salvadorian Chinese food is drastically different from American Chinese food. It mostly consists of rice, along with three or four types of meat, which have been cooked wonderfully with vegetables. Personally, I take points off for the onions (my worst enemy) and the mushrooms (which were occasionally disguised as beef), but the food was of excellent quality at every Chinese restaurant we went to, and I will miss it. Then again, I personally prefer the Americanized Chinese food, so it isn't a terrible loss, though it is probably far more unhealthy in the States.

7. Pupusa revuelta - The pupuseria on el Boquerón - Revueltas are hands-down my favorite pupusas, containing melted cheese, creamy beans, and mouth-watering pork. I have not been unsatisfied at any pupuseria I have been to, but the one I went to with Gaby the day after going with Mario, Connie, and Gerardo's family prepares them the best. I am going to miss pupusas so much!

6. Caviar - Gerardo's house - After years of wondering what the fuss was all about, I finally got to try caviar, courtesy of Gerardo's uncle Armando, a marine biologist. To my unrefined mouth, it tasted like really salty tuna with the texture of blue berries. Slap a cracker underneath and call it delicious!

5. Pork chops and mashed potatoes - Gerardo's house - Still the best pork chops and mashed potatoes I have ever had, and I have been lucky enough to have them several times since that magical first encounter.

4. Stroodle - Gerardo's house - The exact same day Armando brought caviar to the house, his daughter Diana, Connie, and Karla were making stroodles! I had never tried them before, but they were absolutely divine. They tasted like a hot pocket apple pie to me, homemade and fresh. Apparently they took hours to make too...damn.

3. Crêpe - Crêpe Love - My sweet tooth has been somewhat tame lately, so crêpes have dropped to number 3 on the list. Despite that, I still love them with a burning passion, and lo and behold, Gerardo knows how to make them! Wonder if I can convince him to whip up a batch in the States...

2. Pasta with fish, lobster, and shrimp - I haven't had it since my first day in El Salvador, but only now do I reflect on how absolutely superb that meal was. It was filling, fresh, and the epitome of my favorite types of healthier foods.

1. Pizza - "La Tarteleta" - And the pizza from my favorite restauraunt in all of El Salvador has taken the lead at number 1! Going there the other day on our way back from Perquin only reinforced how much I loved it!

Drinks (Bebidas)

5. Pilsener - Since I won't be drinking in the States, and since Pilsener is a Salvadorian beer in the first place, I imagine that I will miss the beer that I have grown most accustomed to drinking here. That said, it is mostly the nostalgia I will miss; drinking alcohol hasn't really been as appealing to me as simply drinking a glass of milk, Sunny D, or water in the States.

4. Mirinda - A carbonated drink that is orange flavor, I have grown attached to Mirinda and Fanta, neither of which I have ever found in the States, despite one of them being owned by Coca Cola.

3. Hot Chocolate - I had the best hot chocolate of my life when I was out with Mario and friends the other day. Chocolate con leche, which sounds just like any other hot chocolate I have had in the states, but it was thick, sweet, and creamy. Truly delicious, but the hot chocolate at U of O can satisfy me.

2. Fanta - Fanta has become my typical drink of choice at restaurants, solely because they tend to have it more often than Mirinda. Just as with the Pilsener though, I prefer water and milk to soda, so I can live without it.

1. Frozen de Fresa - Frozen de Fresa will be the sole drink that I will truly miss and crave from El Salvador. I was hooked on Sonic's strawberry slushy drinks in the States, but the more natural and fruity frozen de fresa of El Salvador has it surpassed in every way.

And with that final addictive drink, I am done thinking about Salvadorian food and drink. I will really miss how natural it all is, and how the meat and vegetables are prepared better than in the States, but nonetheless, I'm excited to get back to eating what I am used to. Hopefully, I will retain some of what I have learned in El Salvador and incorporate more vegetables into my diet, but only time will tell.

One.

August 13, Day 53: Perquin, El Museo de la Revolucion, & El Boquerón

Lately, I have been mentally exhausted, regardless of how many activities I have stuffed into my day (or not). Perhaps it is for that reason that my last few posts have been looking ahead, rather than looking back, on my experiences here. My soon-to-be "past" in El Salvador is the entire point of this blog, so I'm going to get my thoughts straight and go over the last few events worthy of mention that I should have done several days ago.


My slacking off with the blog began after Gerardo's fam and I went to Perquin on the 5th and the 6th, just a few days after returning from our vacation in Apaneca and Ataco. Gabriel and Andrea were still on break from school, and to my great surprise, Ernesto and Karla had planned to take us and go camping, an activity that I despise with a passion in the States. I was curious how El Salvador stacks up, but I never found out due to the fact that the original place they were going to take us had no spaces available (since everyone else in El Salvador had similar plans). Unwilling to waste the last few days that their children were off school, we instead headed to Perquin in the Morazan department, a mountainous area an hour or two away from San Miguel.

Of all the places I have been to in El Salvador, Perquin was the area that reminded me the most of Arkansas, and perhaps for that reason, it was the only place in El Salvador that has given my allergies trouble.  Nonetheless, it had incredible views, being so high up. You can really see the limits of cameras when confronted with those kinds of sights and you can only capture a tiny portion of the magic...but it wasn't all sunshine and lollipops. On the 6th, we went to a major museum for the Civil War. There were tons of excellent artifacts: guns, radios, cars, exploded remains of airplanes, pictures and newspaper clippings, flags and awards, and much more. As a museum, I think its greatest strength was the fact that it was located on one of the very battlegrounds that the rebel forces had made one of their most important command centers. There were craters in multiple areas from where bombs had been dropped (as seen in the picture on the right), collapsed bridges that had been replaced for the benefit of tourists, and underground tunnels called "tatus" where the rebels took refuge when the government was bombing them. The stereotype for a museum in the States is "boring" and "slow" because usually the curators are somehow able to cram the history of ten or twenty artifacts into an entire exhibit. That doesn't deter me when the subject is of interest to me, but this museum was so much more than that, a fact that haunted me the entire time we were looking around. For a long time, the US was responsible for funding the Salvadorian government during the war. The war ended shortly after the US withdrew its support, meaning that the Salvadorian government was only sustained by the US fear that the rebels were looking to spread communism, resulting in the prolonging of a dictatorship. Though I have no say in what the majority decided and what happened in history, as an American that feels empathy for the innocent, the weight of history was particularly heavy for me at this museum.

Despite this, I was blown away by the ingenious tactics of the rebels. Rather than transmitting radio waves through an antenna, they used the wire of fences to transmit information throughout the camp, an underground radio network known as Radio Venceremos, or "We Shall Overcome" Radio. Since fences are so common in El Salvador, the military had no reason to be suspicious of it. Because the military could not figure out how the rebels were broadcasting, capturing this link was an important priority for them, a fact that the rebels exploited. Lieutenant Colonel Domingo Monterrosa Barrios, a military commander and major antagonist to the rebels, was particularly known for his obsession with Radio Venceremos and when he received word in 1984 that the transmitter had been discovered, he rushed to retrieve it, taking numerous pictures of his greatest triumph before hauling it off in his helicopter as a victory trophy. But this particular transmitter was a fake, a booby trap by one of the rebel groups, Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). It blew up in midflight, killing the commander and dealing a heavy blow to the military. Remnants of his helicopter were at the museum as well. For anyone interested in an accurate history of the Civil War that I have been learning about in El Salvador, here is a great link that can elaborate on what I have already referenced in several of my posts: http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/evans/his135/Events/ElSalvador80/Salvador80.html


After we left the museum, we went swimming in a beautiful area that Gerardo called the "Frog River." Not sure why; there wasn't a single frog, toad, tadpole, or polliwog in the entire area! The swimming was wonderful, but the walk there was torture; I still have blisters from it! An hour later, we started off for home, stopping in San Miguel at "La Tarteleta" for dinner. Words cannot describe how happy I was to eat that pizza one last time. So concludes the end of our experiences in Perquin.

On the 10th, Mario and another friend that I knew from U of O decided to come and hang out with Gerardo, Connie, and me. We enjoyed lunch, a snack at the mall (I finally got to eat another sweet crêpe!), and dinner together. Though the entire experience was enjoyable, what stands out the most in my mind was dinner at the pupuseria on the Boquerón volcano, which is part of the San Salvador Volcano. The entire city of San Salvador could be seen below us. It was an awe-inspiring sight, seeing millions of lights flashing about and waving below us. The pupusas were also some of the best I have ever had. The following day, I went up there once again, but with Gaby and her family for lunch, and got to see the enormous city by day. Both day and night views were pretty amazing, though as with Perquin, pictures just don't do it justice.

I believe I am all caught up now. There are five days left until I return to the States, plus I will include a few more days for reflection over the whole experience. I have received a very good question that I will answer in a post sometime over the next few days, but if there are any more questions about any aspect of El Salvador, please message me, email me, or comment on this post so that I can address them together. A lot can happen in five days! Also, today was Karla's birthday. Funny to think that in less than two months of being here, I have gone through four birthdays of Gerardo's family of five.

One.

August 8, Day 48: The Little Things Pt. 3

This is my final installment of The Little Things. I am both anticipating and dreading my return to the States; there is so much I miss from the States and so much I will miss from here. Here are the final things that I have been meaning to talk about, the last alien sensations in this great country that have struck me as unique.

Stars - I have seen no stars in El Salvador. Gabriel always excitedly points out when a few lonely stars are blinking out to us, which seems pathetic to me since I have been spoiled on beautiful starry skies. Stargazing used to be one of my favorite time killers, though it's been a long time since I've truly enjoyed it. That needs to change.

Allergies - In the 48 days I have been in El Salvador, I have only had to deal with allergies one day. Anyone who knows my track record in the States can testify what a glorious relief that has been for me. The only day I had allergies was when we were up in the mountains in an area that greatly resembled Arkansas to me. From that, Gerardo deduced that my allergies come from dirt, contrary to my belief that I was allergic to pollen, since El Salvador has more flowers than Arkansas, but far less dust floating around.

Air - There is no getting around it: most of El Salvador's air is probably toxic. There is always a strange smell in the air that although I have gotten used to, I expect the fresh air of small-town Arkansas will be a blast of unexpected relief. Still, toxic air feels like a welcome tradeoff from the crap that sets off my allergies so badly that most people believe I've contracted the flu.

Children - When I first came here, I pointed out that Gabriel and Andrea were more well-behaved than most children in the States. I stand by that statement and also apply it to Lore, Gaby's sister. However, the fact that they are children automatically seems to point towards a universal truth that they can be annoying. Unnecessary noises, constantly repeating the same word over and over, making stupid sounds, etc. Nonetheless, they have already established boundaries and know how to act like a family which is more than I can say about most siblings in the States.

Gas - I don't see a lot of regular gas being sold; most of it is Plus or Premium, and sells for around $4.40 per gallon. I think that is about a dollar more expensive than in the States, but nonetheless, I was expecting it to be far more expensive. Maybe I was thinking of Europe...

Fruity Drinks - The closest equivalent I can find in the States are the Real Fruit Smoothies at Sonic. The problem is they completely pale in comparison to the fresa frozen (frozen strawberry) drink that nearly every Salvadorian restaurant offers. If that fails, I turn to Miranda and Fanta, orange-flavored carbonated drinks that I have also grown especially attached to, though they are many times unhealthier.

I'm not sure how many people actually read this blog, though I know I have almost touched a thousand views since starting, which makes me pretty happy. If anyone has any questions at all about something I have forgotten to mention or that I did not consider noteworthy, send me a message or comment so I can address your concerns and provide even more insight over El Salvador from the perspective of a gringo.

One.

August 4, Day 44: Two Weeks Left

The title says it all; I am scheduled to return to the States in exactly two weeks. I honestly don't know how I feel about that...before this trip, I had been to two countries (not counting the layovers in Germany): Italy and Belice. Italy was a study abroad trip that was meant to supplement the Italian history class I had taken the previous semester and Belice was a mission trip with a religious student organization called Alpha & Omega. When the trip in Italy was finished, I was exhausted because of the amount of traveling and historical information I was taking in. I was pretty happy to be returning home, though I always miss the grandeur. As for Belice, my friend Glenn and I discovered our plane tickets had been pushed back a day and engine trouble in our plane caused us to be pushed back another day. By the time I returned to the States, I had gone over 48 hours without so much as a bite of food to eat, so I was even happier to be back in the States in the case. But El Salvador is different in that I have been here long enough to get emotionally attached to certain things.

I am curious to discover if I will retain any quirks I have built up in El Salvador that will serve to distinguish me from many of my peers in the States. For instance, I have gotten so used to kissing women on the cheek in greeting, I imagine I will have to train myself out of that behavior. Ladies reading this: I'm sorry in advance. Additionally, Ernesto almost always greets me in extremely enthusiastic English, to which I respond in extremely enthusiastic Spanish. It is just one of many running jokes between us. I might weird a few people out with how happy I appear to see them, not to mention confuse them. There are probably other traits I will exhibit that slip my mind as unimportant right now.

What I will miss the most here are the people. Even though I have only had continuous contact with a few people, it has been incredibly easy to befriend people here, regardless of whether I am speaking English or Spanish. Humans in general get attached to routine; they don't need to be afraid when they are caught up in a cycle of normality. I have grown fond of uprooting myself from my comfort zone, but familiar faces and characters of every day life are a part of that cycle too. It is going to feel very strange not going to the gym here and seeing the workers and a few of the frequent fitness junkies. I have even grown accustomed to random family members coming in and out without so much as a call. Even though I have only seen most of Gerardo's friends a few times, I could see myself being very good friends with most of them with more frequent contact. Mr. Worldwide, Sara, Diana, and Raul are a few. Gerardo's family has a few frequent faces as well that, although I am not especially close with, I enjoy their company nonetheless. His uncle Armando and his grandfather Armando, his cousin Diana and her mother, great-uncle Remberto...family is pretty close-knit here!

Of all the people I will miss here, Connie and Gaby are at the top of the list. Connie and I were friends long before I ever came here; we talked frequently on Facebook and Skype for the first two years I was in college before finally meeting, and I will miss that company, though I know Gerardo feels that weight many times more heavily than I do. As for Gaby, I had only ever talked to her once before coming here, but she quickly became the best thing about El Salvador to me. Even though I'm just a gringo temporarily living in El Salvador, both of their families also accepted me instantly. It's amazing, and somehow, surprising to me since I have known a lot of people in the States that are incredibly weary about people that appear "different."

I think I most look forward to returning to a cycle of normality and routine. Next semester is going to be extremely busy for me, and I am eagerly anticipating every minute. That said, El Salvador has made a strong enough impact on me that I will definitely return in the future, maybe even as early as Christmas break! I am trying not to think that far into the future though; there are still 14 days left to enjoy what I am experiencing here, and I plan to make the most of that time.

One.

August 1, Day 40: Apaneca & Ataco

Gabriel and Andrea finished their semesters of school on the 29th and 30th respectively.  Ernesto had a few days off as well, meaning that for once, everyone was free for a few days. With that in mind, we all went on a two-day vacation to Apaneca and Ataco.

Apaneca is where we stayed at and my immediate first reaction was if the Garden of Eden existed, it would look just like Apaneca, or more specifically, Jardines de Eloisa, the hotel we stayed at. The pictures I took don't do it justice, but at least you get a clue of what it was like.

There were beautiful plants and flowers everywhere, and because Apaneca is up in the mountains, it was too cold for mosquitos to thrive but perfect conditions for a gringo. The weather alternated strangely between misty and moist with sunny and cool. It was truly paradise.

 Our "hotel" was incredibly interesting as well because it had been carefully structured to resemble a house from the 1800s (so I was told). Other than the bathroom, both the cabin's interior and exterior truly fit the pop culture portrayal of an old fashioned house. There wasn't anything on the inside except three beds and a dresser, but the wooden window covers and old fashioned light bulbs were a nice touch. Not sure if hammocks existed long ago...but I certainly wasn't complaining!


Though our place of residence was amazing, we really didn't spend a ton of time there. After we arrived yesterday around 6 pm, we left almost immediately to explore Ataco, the nearby city with an architectural layout that reminded me of an interesting cross between Santa Tecla and Florence. Supposedly, it had some of the cheapest goods in El Salvador, so we went shopping for clothes and shoes (for my benefit since I've been wearing the same shoes since I was a junior in high school). Didn't find anything yesterday, but we only got to explore one store before it started pouring on us. I have had to deal with rain nearly every day I have been in El Salvador, but this was borderline flooding. Still, the rain left nearly as quickly as it came and by the time we were done eating at a pizzeria, it had completely subsided. From there, we befriended a really lovable and injured stray dog that we dubbed "Champion" who followed us into a café and stayed by our sides until we had to return to the hotel and call it a night.


Even though we went to bed around 10, which is INCREDIBLY early by my standards, I can't remember having a more enjoyable sleep in a very long time. The fresh mountain air still circulated around the room and the leather blanket was the most comfortable blanket I have ever slept under. Despite waking up at 7 am, I was able to fall asleep again until today really began.

Breakfast was the first thing on the agenda today, but afterwards, we headed to "Las Cascadas de Don Juan," a beautiful area at the bottom of two waterfalls. We swam around for a while, got underneath the waterfalls, and took lots of pictures. Even though Santa Ana was extremely beautiful, I would have to say that the trips we made to Apaneca and Ataco easily have "The Heaven's Capital" beat.

After swimming for a while, we headed back to the hotel, packed, and left for Ataco once more. This time, it was bright and sunny, so we were able to explore several more shops than yesterday, even passing by Champion at one point! Unfortunately, none of the shoe shops carry any sizes larger than an 11, a coincidental inconvenience for me. The few bigger shoes they did carry were pretty ugly, so I settled for a pair of $4 Quiva Scuffs which I had become taken with after noticing a lot of my Central American friends wore. Plus, when I looked online, Scuffs are normally $19...so I guess I still got a fantastic deal even if I wasn't able to find a normal pair of shoes to wear. We also went to a shop in which clothes were made and sold by indigenous people. I got a shirt and pants that look about as traditional as anything I could find on the market, so I will be able to express a bit of the culture once I return to the States. That was also the first experience I had with haggling; Gerardo and Ernesto are pretty good at it!

With all our shopping done, we were finally on our way home, but first, we had to stop for lunch/dinner! The place: Paso del Alaska. I had a very satisfying fill of meat as we were served a delicious barbeque consisting of steak, pork, chicken, and vegetables. I ate so much that I got a stomach ache, which is bothering me even as I write this blog. Though the meal was delicious, what really caught my eye was the amazing view. From our table, we could see just about everything. It's only when faced with such a grand sight that I truly understand the limits of cameras. A pity...there was so much to see that a photo just doesn't capture effectively.

After eating, we hung around for a while, playing foosball for about an hour or so. Gerardo ended up beating me which made him very happy, saying that it was the first time he had beaten me at anything. It really surprised me to hear him say that because it was never something I had thought about. In my mind, I aim to surpass him academically, so it never occurred to me that he was chasing after me in games or competitions. It's a flattering thought, and it's cool having someone or something to shoot for. Just another reason we make good roommates...

One.

 

July 27, Day 35: The Worst Things About El Salvador

I have been in El Salvador for over a month now and I have about half a month to go. Granted, the best days I have spent here have been some of the best days of my life, but the same applies for the worst and most boring days. Here are the top five things I have disliked about my time here in El Salvador.

5. Mosquitos: Odds are, if I die in El Salvador, it will be from a mosquito bite. That isn't a joke either; I've been bitten by dozens of these jerks, maybe even hundreds, regardless of whether I am using repellent or not. The layout of Salvadorian houses always has an open space that bugs and even birds can get in through. I have no clue why; a tree is able to grow there, but for someone from the States, it is both unnecessary and often times annoying. I've stopped seeing the point of even attempting to defend myself; if one of these bugs is carrying a deadly disease, I'm going to be screwed, and my apathy won't even allow me to put up a fight.

4. Tortillas, vegetables, beans, and soup: If you eat three meals a day in El Salvador, you can expect to be offered most of these foods, as well as rice and plantains. I have stopped eating tortillas altogether (which are offered every meal) because although I like flour tortillas in the States, I haven't enjoyed any tortillas I have had here. I try to eat the others because my pickiness is unreasonable, but the simple fact is I am used to a far different diet than the people here. I don't crave fast food or sweets near as much now as when I first came here, but I miss meat so badly it isn't even funny. I devour every last bit at every chance I get because in the US, meat is always the "main course" for lunch and dinner, sometimes even breakfast, and now I'm lucky just to be able to eat it during one meal a day.

3. Noise: I expect this is more the result of being in a city than being in a foreign country, but the amount of noise here drives me insane. Everyone unnecessarily honks their horns in traffic, cars rev up loudly past Gerardo's house, jerks are always ringing bells and screaming in public, trying to push their wares on local civilians (and it works often enough too). Even my headphones can't block out these irritating sounds, and God knows I've tried.

2. Traffic: For someone who can drive, there is always something to potentially do. Even though I hated driving in the States, I never failed to recognize that joyous fact. Even a bicycle leaves me with options. Without a car and the ability to drive in this ridiculous traffic, my options are completely limited to the whims and schedules of Gerardo, Gaby, Connie, and their family members. Even when they are up for something, I still feel sure that the trip will result in a wreck because everyone on the road is a reckless driver.

1. Heat/Humidity: Summers in the States are bad enough, usually reaching temperatures in the 90s or even 100s, but at least there are air conditioners, ceiling fans, nearby places to swim for free, etc. On a boring day in the States, I sit by an air conditioner and watch television. On a boring day here, I sit in front of my laptop wishing it to be night time so I can shower and fall asleep. If it wasn't for my friend Stephanie Tillman (whom I promised an honorable mention in this blog post), that's exactly what I would be doing right now. Gerardo has a television, but I can't even watch it right now, not because it's in Spanish or because there are so few channels, but because the process of doing that in this kind of heat literally makes me feel like throwing up. Same goes with reading books or attempting to play games online. My mind is dead, physical activities are limited both indoors and outdoors, and my very existence is as slow as it's ever been.

This blog post was probably unpleasant to read, but I know that for me personally, it will be a great reminder when I am back home at how much there actually is to do when I say "There's nothing to do today." Even though I wrote this post solely because of the bitterness I feel in experiencing all of these nuisances, there have still been some really amazing times here that I look forward to writing more about. For now, I have to be patient and wait...a royal pain.

One.

July 25, Day 33: Las cervezas, los vinos, y el ron

Like many people in the US, Salvadorians like to kick back and enjoy an alcoholic beverage every now and then. Unlike in the US, however, I have not seen many instances of substance abuse here (which led me to question the age of drinking and consent in the US a few posts back). I have never had a problem with the idea of drinking, but I have had a problem with alcoholism. People that party constantly, people that drink a case a day when they have a family to support, and people who are bumming around on the streets but still able to afford alcohol are the kind of people that infuriate me. Perhaps it is because I have seen so many of these people in the States that I have never even been tempted to drink there.

Nah, my reason isn't so noble; I simply have an overinflated ego and am in the middle of a game. The objective: to see how many countries I can drink in before I drink in the States. Last summer in Italy was the first time I ever tried alcohol: an Italian liquor while I was in Sorrento called Limoncello. It was truly disgusting to me, like extremely carbonated lemonade. Still, my motto when it comes to food and drink is "I will try anything at least once." I like to believe that mantra of mine justifies my pickiness. So when I was offered the Brazilian beer Brahva after a day or so here, I jumped right into the Salvadorian culture. The main drinks I have had since I have been here are the Salvadorian beers Pilsener and Golden  (and they seem to be the most popular as well). It is probably because my tastes are unrefined, but they all taste very similar to me, though not necessarily in a bad way. That also goes for the Mexican beer Corona Extra which I tried despite being teased that it was a drink for women and children (it was something new that I always hear about). I was disappointed to discover that vino tinto (red whine) tasted even worse to me than the beer did, but I actually found a few beverages that I enjoy. White wine (vino blanco) and an unknown type of rum I had at Gerardo's surprise party with Gaby both tasted really good despite the familiar aftertaste I have come to associate with alcohol.


It is interesting how cracking a bottle open here projects a completely different vibe than in Arkansas. Here, when the bottles come out, there is immediately the promise of an enjoyable long meal with laughter and chatter. It will end with proper disposal of the bottles and some new memories. There, drinking usually leads to a lot of disgusting cans polluting the "Natural State," forgotten memories as the result of inebriated minds, and irresponsible decisions. Granted, these are all stereotypes, but they are stereotypes that my mind has created based on the type of people and environment I have witnessed. When I return to Arkansas, I will continue to abstain from drinking alcohol, not only to prolong my egotistical game, nor because I give a damn about the drinking laws, but because I am happy without it and cannot imagine finding there what I find here. There's just something about drinking in the company of friendship that a gang of reckless underage college students eager to stick it to the man cannot replicate, and with that said, I won't even try. Too many other things that I would much rather do and devote my time to, but I sincerely hope that I can return to El Salvador in the near future and relive this nostalgia.

One.

July 23, Day 31: La Gallina India

Today promised to be a slow day so Gerardo and I went to the gym for the first time in a while to work out. It turned out that Mr. Worldwide also goes there and was working out as we arrived, much to all of our surprise. After we finished biceps and triceps, we went out to eat at a restaurant called "La Gallina India de Doña Marta" or "The Indian Hen of Madam Marta." Gerardo's food suggestions have never steered me wrong before so at his and Rodrigo's prodding, I ordered the chicken which was supposedly the restaurant's specialty. It most definitely was. Each bone was scraped clean and the tender meat was consumed in its entirety. Apparently, the chickens raised by the restaurant only consumed natural food (for example, worms rather than genetically modified food) so they possessed a better and more natural taste. I could definitely tell; it tasted well-seasoned to me but apparently nothing was added except salt. The soup wasn't too bad either, but because I am not a huge fan of vegetables, it was just so-so to me.

Even though I really enjoyed the food, that wasn't really the reason for today's post. What really got to me is I think I finally saw part of impoverished El Salvador. The people I have met and enjoyed hanging out with have been largely well off, so although I have come into contact with many different people, my perspective is still narrowed down to middle class and higher. There was a little boy at the restaurant who I could not understand that I was later told was a child beggar. He hung around us for most of the meal and tried to go with us when we left. I wasn't sure if he was serious or just being mischievous; perhaps he was the kid of one of the people in the area, but my eyes have been opened several ways today. On the way to the gym earlier, we passed by a filthy old man taking a nap in the middle of the sidewalk. I know there are homeless people in the States, but I have never come across someone who did not at least attempt to get money or food from sympathetic pedestrians. I think many fortunate people find it awkward trying to dodge the advances of beggars, but I honestly think I found his apathy even more disturbing. The experiences of today also bring back memories of passing by children and adults alike that were missing limbs. In this tiny country, there is so many people with so many different stories and circumstances. I don't think I could put myself in the shoes of a crippled or homeless child anymore than my friends can know what it is like to lose a family. I don't consider today a bad experience; it was simply eye-opening.

After lunch, we went back to Gerardo's house and just hung out for a while. I was able to rekindle Gerardo's interest in chess and we played about six or seven games tonight. I haven't abandoned my goal of defeating Ernesto; on the contrary, I've been playing with him, Gaby, and now Gerardo quite a bit. There have been a few close games that dwindled down to nothing but our pawns and our kings, but somehow, he always finds a way to come back. I'll get him soon, and when I do, it'll be a blog post, guaranteed!

One.

 

 

July 21, Day 29: Fiestas Julias

I've been spending a lot of time with Gaby lately and last night, her family invited me to join them to a festival in Santa Ana. I am only now figuring out what the festival was about. Gerardo didn't really have a name for it, but a convenient web page refers to it as "Fiestas Julias," or "July Parties." The month of July is devoted to honoring Anne, the patron saint of Santa Ana. There are parades, parties, masses, street events, community events, and other forms of cultural entertainment that stirs up the tourism industry. Though I had noticed long ago that most (if not all) of the cities within El Salvador had San or Santa in the name, my superior intellect did not make the connection with saints. Furthermore, I could not have imagined that anything was done annually to honor said saints. Next month is supposed to be "Festival de El Salvador," also known as "Fiestas Agostinas." I hope to be able to experience that as well...but there's no telling.


Besides myself, our group today consisted of Gaby, two of her older brothers, her younger sister, her parents, and a former karate mentor. We ultimately all met up at her brother's house after her parents came to help us jump start the vehicle we were in (yes, MORE car problems). From there, we went to what I assume was downtown Santa Ana. There were hundreds of people out and about, arguing with merchants and greedily eyeing food purveyors. The gathering point was at a beautiful cathedral, which can be seen on the left. Despite the back being "unfinished," the entire building was pretty remarkable...

We walked around the cathedral for a little while, noticing tourists darting in and out of the mass. Very few people in the building came off feeling like regulars, though there were quite a few devout Christians of admirable faith, lighting candles and praying before statues of Anne and Jesus. We paid a moment of respect before leaving and walking around town for a bit. It was only after witnessing the religious activity indoors that I noticed how much religious paraphernalia was being sold outdoors. There was food and clothes of a less pious nature of course, but the majority of the merchandise was focused on the religious celebration at hand. Pretty interesting stuff...

After we left the cathedral, we drove to what a gringo can only describe as a fairground. It largely felt like a farmers' showcasing, and I was instantly reminded of Arkansas fairs as we petted our way through horses, cows, and bulls. Gaby's brother Alejandro seemed particularly enthusiastic with this, and went after every horse that had not secluded itself in a corner to munch on straw. There was also a horse named James Blond...turns out Salvadorians have a sense of humor that even gringos can appreciate!


The petting zoo (if you want to call it that) was not all that reminded me of Arkansas. There were grills with meat smoking on top, beer advertisements everywhere, and a potential rodeo that ended up getting cancelled due to the later rain we experienced. We sought protection from the hot sun in a very red tent; that was probably a bad idea, but everyone was psyched to watch El Salvador play football against the United States (lost 5-1). The entire tent was enthusiastic, echoing with the beloved sense of Salvadorian hospitality and nationalism that I have come to enjoy. Strangers were swapping cigarettes and eagerly discussing the game in which everyone simultaneously cheered on a good play by El Salvador and groaned on the States' success (and being the sir I am, I dissented).

In actuality, I guess not a lot happened today, but I had another slice of this culture I have thrown myself into, and I always consider that a good thing. After eating, we went to check out the rodeo, but when it began thundering, we got stepping pretty quickly. I got to spend time with Gaby and the people who influenced her, which was pretty cool. Juan (the karate mentor) reminds me a lot of Mario; both have a certain charisma and project a feeling of hospitality that is fun to be around. Alejandro was a very surprising character; he spent most of his life in the States (Reno and somewhere in Georgia) so he spoke even better English than many of the internationals, contrary to my expectations of being able to communicate solely with Gaby today. He wants to hang out more while I am around, so hopefully we will get to play tennis or basketball in the near future. I am making every effort to avoid wasting my time, and I like to think that Gaby is doing a pretty good job with that. Next time I go to her house, I think Juan wants to take me and her to downtown San Salvador which has a notorious reputation but he claims is quite tame. Regardless of what holds true, I am looking forward to it!

One.

 

 

July 17, Day 25: The Little Things Pt. 2

It's time for another segment of The Little Things! More differences between my culture and Gerardo's have become evident to me, so here's what I've learned (or remembered).

• Seasons - In the US, there is a winter, spring, summer, and fall. In Spanish, the exact translations for these would be invierno, primavera, verano, and otoño. I had been under the impression that all four of these seasons existed in El Salvador, but I was mistaken. Here, there is only invierno and verano, and rather than translating to winter and summer, it is more accurate to say that they translate to "rainy season" and "dry season." Right now, we are in the middle of the "rainy season" and we have been experiencing intense tropical storms nearly every day, fortunately usually during the night. That means that the summer I left behind in the US has been replaced by what is normally translated in Spanish as winter!
• Music - Obviously, in a Spanish speaking country, there is a much greater popularity with Spanish music. What surprised me, however, is how frequently English songs are played. Particularly rap songs. I have heard quite a few of my favorite rap songs played and memorized by many. Macklemore, Pitbull, and Eminem are a few, and Gerardo's little brother Gabriel even sings to Bob Marley with me!
• Money - Both countries make use of the US dollar, which extends to so many countries around the world that it has become the world's principal reserve currency (economics fun fact). However, in El Salvador, I don't recall having seen someone pay with a debit or credit card yet. Most people pay with physical dollars and coins. Additionally, I have seen a ton of $1 coins here in El Salvador, which was a pretty rare sight for me in the US. I'm trying to collect as many as I can; if the dollar crashes, I have more faith in the value of coins than paper.
• Police - In the US, cops only ever seem to be around when you are driving five miles over the speed limit...not that I have had any issues with them yet. In El Salvador though, they are everywhere. Literally, I encounter at least three or four just walking to the local track for a run. Furthermore, they are packing heat, strapping machine guns in broad daylight. It would be intimidating, but somehow, I doubt I have ever felt safer. On the other hand, I know that militaristic force was used against civilians during the Civil War in El Salvador, so I'm scared to try imagining the advantage the cops would have if history ever repeated itself...
• Ages of consent and drinking - Yup, I'm going there. In the US, the drinking age is 21 and the age of consent is 18. In El Salvador, the drinking age is 18 and the age of consent is 16. Why does this matter? Perhaps it does not; I have not and will not be in El Salvador long enough to get a true grasp of how this difference in legal acceptability affects people, but here's the blunt truth of what I know about the US: Sex and getting wasted are what high school students find cool. Would lowering the ages have a positive psychological effect on people or would it just make it worse?
• Goods and Services - I would say that many of the goods I have seen in El Salvador are more expensive than in the US, probably because many of these goods are imported from the US to begin with! Who would have imagined that? On the other hand, I have never seen such a cheap service industry! It's fantastic! Let's compare a few! These are the prices I have experienced, so don't have a hissy fit if what I am used to doesn't match what you are used to.

      Service                                                    United States                              El Salvador
Movie Theater (Night)                                    $9                                                $3
Haircut                                                          $12                                              $2.5
Dentist Cleaning (no insurance)                      $120                                            $10
Gym Membership (1 month)                           $25                                              $10

I know there are a ton of other services I'm forgetting about; medical expenses alone are all cheaper, so I will probably take full advantage of that while I'm here. Anyway, that's all I've got for today!

One.

July 14, Day 22: The Curse of World War Z & Fiesta Sorpresa

I have been so exasperated lately that I did not bother with a blog update, thinking that surely I was just being pessimistic. However, it would appear that my hunch was correct: World War Z is cursed. I don't consider myself very superstitious, but when car trouble arises three consecutive days in a row, preventing us from watching a movie about a zombie apocalypse, that is a bad sign in my book. I wasn't even particularly enthused about watching the movie; I've read the book (which was fantastic), but there is no way it should have been made into a movie because it is a fictitious collection of historical testaments about World War Z from many different characters of many different walks of life. There was no one character that could be the primary protagonist that Brad Pitt plays, meaning that they would have drastically altered the plot for the cinematic release. Regardless, I really want to see it now after three botched attempts. The first attempt was a group outing with Gerardo, Connie, Mario, Mario's brother, and myself. Tickets were sold out so we were going to wait until a later showing, but we ended up rescuing Connie's mother from the middle of Salvadorian traffic after her car broke down. That took about an hour and a half, and from there, we ate Chinese food and called it a night. The next day, Gerardo's car wouldn't start up (there weren't any problems until an hour before we were leaving). The day after that, despite having been repaired and successfully driven that day already, it once again did not start up when we were getting ready to leave. When I finally see World War Z, it had better be one hell of a movie...

Friday (July 12) was the last attempt we made to see the movie because yesterday, we went to a birthday party Connie and her mother had planned for Gerardo. Gerardo's actual birthday was a little while ago, but Connie was sick that day, no doubt due to the stress of finals, so it had been moved. On top of being my first international party, it was also the first surprise party I have ever been to and it was a blast. There were about twenty or thirty people at Connie's house, all friends to Gerardo, dancing and partying. I am by no means a good dancer, but even I cut loose on the floor with Gaby for about three hours. There was karaoke and food as well; Gerardo, Mr. Worldwide and I attempted "Temperature" by Sean Paul, but Gerardo was the only one that made a serious attempt at that. I think he probably holds a grudge against me for that...sorry, buddy!

It was really interesting mingling with the different people at the party. One of their friends is on the El Salvador football team (soccer for the US). He was a pretty quiet guy, but it was interesting to learn a "celebrity" was in the house. Several friends taught English lessons during the weekend to children living under poor circumstances. Even though the party itself was really informal, all of the guys were wearing pants and dress shirts and most of the girls were wearing dresses. Not at all different than a party in the States, except there were a lot more Spanish songs than "La Macarena."

And that's it! The failed World War Z attempts and Gerardo's surprise party were the only thing worth talking about from the last few days. Reading, working out, writing, and music have been the other activities occupying my time lately. I have also watched a few documentaries about the Crusades and F. Scott Fitzgerald in preparation for next semester. Pretty interesting stuff actually. If you are going to watch something to be entertained, documentaries are definitely the way to go. Hopefully things will kick up now that I'm down to my last month and four days here.

One.

July 9, Day 17: Homesick

For all of the good stuff I've experienced in El Salvador, I have to admit at this point that I am beginning to feel a little homesick. It is not homesick in the way that I would have expected though; while I miss my physical possessions and the people, there are some things I long for that surprise even me. So here it is: the top five things I currently miss the most about my life in the US.

5. Hot showers: Apparently cold water is good for your skin, keeps you looking youthful, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if that is true, and I've gotten used to it enough that I can tolerate the cold water pouring over me, but really, sometimes I just want a refreshing hot shower. First world problems...

4. Commitments: Sad as it is to say, I really need some sort of commitment in my life to keep me occupied. School, sports, a job, whatever it may be, I like it when something keeps me focused. That doesn't equate to me wanting to be tied down; I genuinely love traveling. However, I need a sense of purpose, and excluding blogging, my activity here has been all over the place. I would say it expands my views and is necessary, but I'd love to find something to do that is genuinely meaningful. Summers are a pretty purposeless time for me anyway, so that might not be because I'm in El Salvador, but still, it is easier to find something to commit to when you are familiar with the people, places, and general occupations of an area.

3. Locational knowledge: I love exploring new places, but without a phone, car, or GPS, I can only travel in the company of someone who knows the area. The gym is literally the only place I can walk to by myself; I don't know enough Spanish to successfully communicate my destination desires to a taxi or bus driver, and being alone in El Salvador is potentially hazardous for gringos and women.

2. Arby's: It is beyond tragic that Arby's made it to #2 on my list, but I've been craving it since the day I arrived. I practically lived on Arby's during the first month and a half of summer I spent in the States. The employees recognized me and knew what I wanted the instant I arrived. A Jamocha Shake. Mozzarella Sticks. A Reuben Sandwich. Unhealthy, I know. I pray to the sweet lord that my cravings will be gone by the time I am back in the States; if two months without it doesn't cure me of this food lust, I don't know what will.

1. English: I knew what I was getting into the moment I came here, but it only just now occurs to me how badly I miss English. I can still usually understand the intent of what is being spoken to me, but it is intolerable when I have to give choppy or single-worded responses. There have been many opportunities to bond with friendly strangers, in basketball, at Connie's university, etc. and the limits of my Spanish have essentially blocked each and every potential friendship. Even last night when I was hanging out with a girl I was interested in named Gaby, the fact that we were hanging out in Gerardo's home meant that she was free to pursue conversations with others in Spanish and I could only attempt to comprehend what they were saying, a mentally exhausting feat. That chance might have flown out the window...I've GOT to learn some damn Spanish.

One.

July 6, Day 14: Santa Ana

Today unexpectedly resulted in a trip to a province near Santa Ana, one of El Salvador's most populous cities and one that I had been eager to visit ever since I began learning more about El Salvador. Gerardo and I joined Connie and her family on a trip to visit an aquatic park, but we really didn't do anything in the park. We merely looked around and relaxed nearby. Connie told me that Santa Ana is also know as capital del cielo, or "The Heaven's Capital," and it was clear why. The entire place was gorgeous and as exotic as I have seen El Salvador. There were coconut trees, a small labyrinth comprised of grassy hedges and even a parrot whose favorite phrases included "hola!" and "que cuero!"

Since we didn't go to the aquatic park, we mainly just hung around with the other guests. A decent amount of people were invited to attend an event, and that event kicked off at lunch during 12:30 pm (despite what the invitation said, we didn't arrive 30 minutes after midnight). Regrettably, with my low level of Spanish, it was a bit of a jumble for me. What I was able to discern was that there were a couple of people who wanted to give testimonies involving their relationship with God and their fathers. Gerardo filled me in afterwards that the speakers were from a fraternity of Christian businessmen who wanted to connect their testimonies to Father's Day (despite that having passed several weeks ago). No doubt I would have thoroughly enjoyed it had I been able to understand everything due to my poor relationship with my father and the constant struggle I endure with my faith, but as I couldn't, I mostly preoccupied myself trapping the incredibly annoying bugs trying to eat me (and my food) alive. Afterwards, we just relaxed on hammocks for a few hours until we finally returned home.

One.