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!