Greetings from El Salvador!
This will be a short(ish) blog because I just finished a big(ish) blog for the group site, and due to the popular need for blogs, and famous lack of computers to access, there is a line for this keyboard!
I am just writing to say that I am safe and sound and loving El Salvador. Some really painful moments have occured here, things I cannot bring myself to write on this blog just yet. Suffice it to say, while such moments have affected me personally, they have also affected our group as a whole. We have experienced tragedy together, and have persevered together; without these people, I'm not so sure I could still be here.
The tragedy is an exception to our rule of brillance, however. For my part, I am greatly enjoying working with the kids in Altos de Jardienes. It is definitely a community like none I have ever seen; it's dirty, unkempt, so radically not "homey." At the same time, the people are incredible; they care so much about each other and they live their lives with pride. The kids' smiles are heartwarming. They don't get to have the toys the kids I know in the States do, but they seem to have a better time with a soccer ball, a broken bicycle, or even rocks than most kids I know outside of Altos.
I have three new mejor amigos (best friends): Ronaldo, Bryan, and Baltazar. Without much language, we managed to enjoy learning about the envrionment together and making recycled crafts; and, of course, playing soccer. They're my little boys:-)
I miss home, especially in the hard moments, but I know it will be hard to leave this country.
Upcoming, we are working more with Altos and this weekend, going to the beach. We will also be going to Honduras next weekend for our free time. We are traveling as a group (which is great), with our regular driver (Douglas!), who has arranged everything for us -- cheaply! He is so amazing!
Pictures will be coming soon. Keep posted on my Picasa. Otherwise, know that I love ES, and even when it's hard, I can't think about leaving.
Traveling is not meant to be easy. It's not simple or painless, but can be challenging and fraught with obstacles. Still, it is more than rewarding. And, when I travel with the right people, it's like having a worldwide family.
Living, learning, and lovingly,
~MJ
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