some pictures from our "field trip" during training to one of the more beautiful parts of the country, la ruta de las flores. It's in Western El Salvador and is known for the pretty volcanoes, artisan crafts and cool climate.
Monday, July 28, 2008
la ruta de las flores
some pictures from our "field trip" during training to one of the more beautiful parts of the country, la ruta de las flores. It's in Western El Salvador and is known for the pretty volcanoes, artisan crafts and cool climate.
back in site
so i'm sweating from the heat, i have my own computer with fast internet and i'm feeling a little nervous and lost, it can only mean one thing - i'm back in my site! :)
After spending yesterday at the Sheraton in San Salvador (b/c of some wonderful oversight, Peace Corps volunteers are allowed to use the gorgeous pool and gym there because we're considered part of the "US embassy" which has a special deal with them), then going to one of the PC staff's apartment to play "guitar hero" (nana, that's a video game), and then pedicures at a salon in one of the giant malls followed by Chinese food for dinner with the whole Peace Corps crew, it's no wonder that it's a little strange to be back here. San Salvador is really a different world...
I was really worried about coming back to my site yesterday. The other volunteers I was with and I were trying to figure out exactly what scared us, and one of my friends said it succinctly, "I've had a great two weeks and I'm worried about going back to my site and feeling isolated again." One of the hard things is that since we've only had two months in site, which is really is so little, it's still not "home" for me. Coming back here is nice and it's good to see people, but it's not completely relaxing and welcoming. That doesn't mean that I don't think it will ever get that way - I'm confident that after two years here, I will feel very at peace in this community - it just means that it'll take time and work to get there.
In the end, I think training was pretty interesting and useful. True, there were definitely many useless sessions that I used mainly as time to fill the wonderful sketchbook that Barbara got me. Yet at the same time, many sessions were interesting and inspiring. Some of the best were given by the coordinator for the youth program, who was once a Muni volunteer (like me), and has lots of great advice. She worked a lot outside of the mayor's office with the youth and organizing the ADESCOs (which are community development organizations), which is something I would love to do. Other projects that I am interested in doing included getting computers for the schools in the countryside, teaching values and sex-ed classes in the schools, painting a world map, organizing mock elections with the students to educate them on the upcoming ones in January and March, making a website for my mayor's office, and the list goes on.
I had grand plans about sitting down and organizing a work schedule, but I think that may be getting a head of myself a little, but I am going to try hard this week to not get back into my old routine and start being more proactive. I know I feel best when I am working towards something and feeling productive, so I think once I start getting the ball rolling I will be happier. Though at the same time, it's quite intimidating to take charge of a new project on my own!
After spending yesterday at the Sheraton in San Salvador (b/c of some wonderful oversight, Peace Corps volunteers are allowed to use the gorgeous pool and gym there because we're considered part of the "US embassy" which has a special deal with them), then going to one of the PC staff's apartment to play "guitar hero" (nana, that's a video game), and then pedicures at a salon in one of the giant malls followed by Chinese food for dinner with the whole Peace Corps crew, it's no wonder that it's a little strange to be back here. San Salvador is really a different world...
I was really worried about coming back to my site yesterday. The other volunteers I was with and I were trying to figure out exactly what scared us, and one of my friends said it succinctly, "I've had a great two weeks and I'm worried about going back to my site and feeling isolated again." One of the hard things is that since we've only had two months in site, which is really is so little, it's still not "home" for me. Coming back here is nice and it's good to see people, but it's not completely relaxing and welcoming. That doesn't mean that I don't think it will ever get that way - I'm confident that after two years here, I will feel very at peace in this community - it just means that it'll take time and work to get there.
In the end, I think training was pretty interesting and useful. True, there were definitely many useless sessions that I used mainly as time to fill the wonderful sketchbook that Barbara got me. Yet at the same time, many sessions were interesting and inspiring. Some of the best were given by the coordinator for the youth program, who was once a Muni volunteer (like me), and has lots of great advice. She worked a lot outside of the mayor's office with the youth and organizing the ADESCOs (which are community development organizations), which is something I would love to do. Other projects that I am interested in doing included getting computers for the schools in the countryside, teaching values and sex-ed classes in the schools, painting a world map, organizing mock elections with the students to educate them on the upcoming ones in January and March, making a website for my mayor's office, and the list goes on.
I had grand plans about sitting down and organizing a work schedule, but I think that may be getting a head of myself a little, but I am going to try hard this week to not get back into my old routine and start being more proactive. I know I feel best when I am working towards something and feeling productive, so I think once I start getting the ball rolling I will be happier. Though at the same time, it's quite intimidating to take charge of a new project on my own!
Friday, July 25, 2008
the salvadoran circus comes to town
last night the circus was in my small training community. the volunteers in my town and a gaggle of children and muchachos (young men with too much time on their hands) went to go see what it was about. I figured it would be the closest I ever got to the traveling carnivals of old. It was a family run affair and was quite ridiculous and at times disturbing. Hope you enjoy the pictures of the outside of the tent, one of the young clowns, stephanie and the kids, and the concession stand.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
back to square one
Sorry it's been so long since my last posting! It's been a slow couple weeks and I have been mostly working in the same things (computer classes, teaching english, doing the census with the health clinic) so haven't had too much news to report. But now I do! :)
I'm writing this from the small internet cafe in my training community, where i am back for the two weeks of technical training. My whole training group has come back and we are once again living with our host families. It's so strange, and nice, to come back here. In most important news, my friend stephanie's host aunt had a baby and named her Estefani Eliana, yes after the two of us! The babe is adorable and I will post pictures soon.
Coming back has been really nice in some ways. One of my friends compared it to coming home from college, all of a sudden you really appreciate someone cooking for you and taking care of you and being back in a familiar environment. I love waking up in the morning with coffee in my mug and food on my plate, Niña Juanita knows how to take care of me.
I was also really looking forward to spending time with the whole group again and hearing about everyone´s sites. Those of you who know me, know how much I love hanging out with people and spending time with friends. But to be honest, this part of training has been less than I had hoped for. It's interesting, everyone's two months in sites have had really different effects, and it has really changed the dynamic of the group. With my good friends who I've met up with several times already in San Salvador things are really great, but with some people it just seems awkward and different. I think some people are having a hard time being around gringos again and being in a large group after the two months in such a different environment. It's a bit of a culture shock and you can definitely feel the difference in the group.
We spent the first two days pretty much discussing our sites and going over our experiences as a group. This actually made me kind of depressed as it seemed like a lot of my fellow munis have much better situations so far (positive, involved relationships with their counterparts, people begging them to work on projects with them) and made me feel frustrated with my site, which still does not feel like home to me.
Today was more interesting, we had a great talk from the director of the youth program about suggestions for work with youth, which is really relative to my work since there is a lot of demand and opportunity to work with the kids (as opposed to the mayor's office) so I am hoping to get more involved in some of the projects suggested. Tomorrow should also be interesting, we're going into San Salvador and will have a day workshop with USAID. Hopefully by the end of the two weeks I will have plenty of ideas and be ready to head back to my site with a positive attitude! I'll let you know.
I'm writing this from the small internet cafe in my training community, where i am back for the two weeks of technical training. My whole training group has come back and we are once again living with our host families. It's so strange, and nice, to come back here. In most important news, my friend stephanie's host aunt had a baby and named her Estefani Eliana, yes after the two of us! The babe is adorable and I will post pictures soon.
Coming back has been really nice in some ways. One of my friends compared it to coming home from college, all of a sudden you really appreciate someone cooking for you and taking care of you and being back in a familiar environment. I love waking up in the morning with coffee in my mug and food on my plate, Niña Juanita knows how to take care of me.
I was also really looking forward to spending time with the whole group again and hearing about everyone´s sites. Those of you who know me, know how much I love hanging out with people and spending time with friends. But to be honest, this part of training has been less than I had hoped for. It's interesting, everyone's two months in sites have had really different effects, and it has really changed the dynamic of the group. With my good friends who I've met up with several times already in San Salvador things are really great, but with some people it just seems awkward and different. I think some people are having a hard time being around gringos again and being in a large group after the two months in such a different environment. It's a bit of a culture shock and you can definitely feel the difference in the group.
We spent the first two days pretty much discussing our sites and going over our experiences as a group. This actually made me kind of depressed as it seemed like a lot of my fellow munis have much better situations so far (positive, involved relationships with their counterparts, people begging them to work on projects with them) and made me feel frustrated with my site, which still does not feel like home to me.
Today was more interesting, we had a great talk from the director of the youth program about suggestions for work with youth, which is really relative to my work since there is a lot of demand and opportunity to work with the kids (as opposed to the mayor's office) so I am hoping to get more involved in some of the projects suggested. Tomorrow should also be interesting, we're going into San Salvador and will have a day workshop with USAID. Hopefully by the end of the two weeks I will have plenty of ideas and be ready to head back to my site with a positive attitude! I'll let you know.
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