On the way back from my early morning walk with Nicole, a volunteer and friend that lives ten minutes away from me, I realized that I am really going to miss this place. It hit me when we were passing by one of Nicole’s neighbors and he greeted and then que les vaya bien’ed us. It made me remember just how warm, sweet, and friendly Salvadorans can be. Now I’ve done (and still do) my fair share of complaining about how things haven’t gone as I originally planned and how Salvadorans can sometimes be really annoying/difficult to work and live with, but I can truly appreciate how much I’ve learned from them. As my time winds down as a volunteer I hope that when I leave I take the good things about this place with me. I hope that when someone asks me how I spent the last two years of my life I will tell them that I spent it with some of the best people on this earth.

Ugh! I’m going to miss this place! How’d that happen? ;)

In other news…my father will be visiting me in January!! It will be the best birthday present ever! He’ll be arriving when this country is at its ugliest (dry season turns everything brown), but I will make sure that he enjoys his stay. I can’t wait for him to step off that plane in Comalapa!!!! I plan on showing him my community and the work that I’ve been doing here. Maybe I’ll put him on a chicken bus so that he can get a real sense of what my life here is like. Hit up one of the beaches, maybe the war museum, get some pupusas!!! It’s gonna be great! Hopefully we won’t butt heads too much during his visit…lol. I. CAN’T. WAIT.

Well, I have a pile of laundry that’s been calling my name since Friday, so I guess it’s time to wash it. Does anyone know how to get marshmallow out of cotton?


I hope that everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving holiday. Please eat some delicious food in my honor. I love you all!

Mya

Much Needed Advice

This past week I went to Perquin to translate for members of an NGO based out of New York. It was a great experience because I got some much needed advice about the future and ways to prepare for it...now that I have less than five months left as a volunteer. I've realized that it's ok not to be 100% sure (read: not to have any idea) about what I want to do with the rest of my life. I think trying to figure that out at the age of 24 is an unrealistic expectation. Many of the doctors and nurses that I spoke with told me that when they were my age they thought that they had everything figured out and they were wrong. I was advised to make mistakes, try a bunch of things, find my passion, and to ultimately do what I love/what makes me happy. That's all for now. When I figure out my next step you guys'll be the firsts to know.

Cuidense,
Mya