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.