Yesterday there was this volunteer festival in an artesany town named Suchitoto. My Country Director and Peace Corps Response Coordinator took me and two other volunteers to the festival in order to represent Peace Corps. We had a booth set up where we offered information about the PC to other volunteers organizations in the country as well as to the local/tourist population that were there. It was a great day overall. I got to meet the JICA sub-director and I invited him to my site. JICA is basically like PC, but it's a Japanese organization and they have TONS of money...hehehe. I've had the chnce to work with a JICA volunteer/nurse this past week at the Table Fair and I found her to be very chispita!
So back to the festival...there was music (which probably caused me irreversible hearing loss), pretty awesome dancing by the National Academy of Dance, and food from Louisiana (the jambalaya was terrible, but the gumbo was great!). I met some really cool Israelis and we discussed many things, wwe spoke alot about keeping the Sabbath and travelling. I would love to go to Israel one day.
Right now I'm in my hotel room in San Sal with a terrible cold. I have to go back to my site in a few hours, but I really don't have the strength to get out of bed. I feel just terrible. But mentally and spiritually I'm doing just fine. I feel so blessed today and I thank God for His constant protection.
Love and live life!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Loving Life
Hey All!
It's been a while since my last update, so here I am! First and foremost I'd like to say that I'm extremely excited about going home to Chicago for Christmas. I can't wait to spend some time with my Mom and my crazy sisters. Hopefully I can catch up with some friends, but vamos a ver que pasa.
As very few of you know, I applied for a VAST grant to do an HIV workshop in my community and I got it!! So the day before Thanksgiving I will be having an 8-hour workshop in my pueblo to train community leaders on HIV awareness and prevention. I'm really excited about it...but also a little bit stressed out. I've never planned anything like this before and I just hope that things go well. Also, my committee members have been showing up to the meetings that I've been holding. I just hope that this will continue because it'd make things a lot less stressful if my commuunity could actually get organized...primero Dios verdad?
Recently I've been in great spirits! I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my chest and now I can breathe a little bit easier. It seems like certain things that I was afligida over are now falling into place quite nicely. I feel stronger today than I did last month, hell even last week.
My God is good and He has given me the strength to leave behind the things that are not good for me. What a wonderful God I serve.
I'm loving life! I love my job! I think that I might just extend my service in 2012.
Love you all,
Salú
It's been a while since my last update, so here I am! First and foremost I'd like to say that I'm extremely excited about going home to Chicago for Christmas. I can't wait to spend some time with my Mom and my crazy sisters. Hopefully I can catch up with some friends, but vamos a ver que pasa.
As very few of you know, I applied for a VAST grant to do an HIV workshop in my community and I got it!! So the day before Thanksgiving I will be having an 8-hour workshop in my pueblo to train community leaders on HIV awareness and prevention. I'm really excited about it...but also a little bit stressed out. I've never planned anything like this before and I just hope that things go well. Also, my committee members have been showing up to the meetings that I've been holding. I just hope that this will continue because it'd make things a lot less stressful if my commuunity could actually get organized...primero Dios verdad?
Recently I've been in great spirits! I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my chest and now I can breathe a little bit easier. It seems like certain things that I was afligida over are now falling into place quite nicely. I feel stronger today than I did last month, hell even last week.
My God is good and He has given me the strength to leave behind the things that are not good for me. What a wonderful God I serve.
I'm loving life! I love my job! I think that I might just extend my service in 2012.
Love you all,
Salú
Monday, October 11, 2010
GLOW Camp
Hey all,
This past weekend myself and 10 others PCVs from the eastern region of the country took 25 girls to a 3 day leadership camp on the beach. In this culture it is uncommon for kids to spend the night away from the home, so this was a great accomplishment for me (being the youngest volunteer amongst the other camp leaders) because my neighbors trusted me enough to send their daughter with me. The camp was awesome! The girls were between the ages of 12 and 16 and most of them had never been to the beach or even outside of their village . Just to see how excited they were to see the ocean was amazing. At the camp we talked about many important things such as leadership, effective communication, domestic violence/healthy relationships, the importance of higher education, etc. We also did many activites with the girls such as: self defense workshops, nutrition workshops, bonfire w/smores (definitely a hit!), bracelet making worshops and journaling. I can't even begin to explain how beneficial this workshop was for them (and for myself). Most of the girls come from VERY small towns and had never travelled anywhere alone. To be in a position to teach these girls something new and valuable is a great feeling. In the future I plan to do another camp and invite different girls.
I feel good here in El Salvador. Good times are ahead and I'm looking forward to them. Difficult times are also ahead, but I feel stronger to deal with them. I love and miss you all.
Stay encouraged!
Salu
This past weekend myself and 10 others PCVs from the eastern region of the country took 25 girls to a 3 day leadership camp on the beach. In this culture it is uncommon for kids to spend the night away from the home, so this was a great accomplishment for me (being the youngest volunteer amongst the other camp leaders) because my neighbors trusted me enough to send their daughter with me. The camp was awesome! The girls were between the ages of 12 and 16 and most of them had never been to the beach or even outside of their village . Just to see how excited they were to see the ocean was amazing. At the camp we talked about many important things such as leadership, effective communication, domestic violence/healthy relationships, the importance of higher education, etc. We also did many activites with the girls such as: self defense workshops, nutrition workshops, bonfire w/smores (definitely a hit!), bracelet making worshops and journaling. I can't even begin to explain how beneficial this workshop was for them (and for myself). Most of the girls come from VERY small towns and had never travelled anywhere alone. To be in a position to teach these girls something new and valuable is a great feeling. In the future I plan to do another camp and invite different girls.
I feel good here in El Salvador. Good times are ahead and I'm looking forward to them. Difficult times are also ahead, but I feel stronger to deal with them. I love and miss you all.
Stay encouraged!
Salu
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Homegoing
I went home last Monday for the homegoing of my Aunt Nikki. Her death was/is a shock to the entire family. She was always the life of the party and will always hold a special place in my heart. I will always remember her unconditional support of all the decisions that I made. She never made fun of my dreams and she always celebrated my accomplishments with me. My cheerleader will be deeply missed. The pain seems to get stronger everyday, but I know that God will heal it in due time. Now I feel like I have to try even harder to be a good example for the kids (my cousins) that Nikki left behind.
Now I'm back in El Salvador and it wasn't hard coming back like I had previously imagined, so I guess I will make it until 2012 (God willing).
Now I'm back in El Salvador and it wasn't hard coming back like I had previously imagined, so I guess I will make it until 2012 (God willing).
Saturday, August 14, 2010
My New Boyfriend
Ok...so i know that I said that I didn't want to be in a relationship for these two years, but this relationship is NECCESARY! His name is Aaron, he's 25, and he's a fellow PCV. He lives in the west (I live in the east) and we don't get to see each other very much, but I really value our relationship. I think we might actually defy the odds and make this thing work...I think we're in it for the long haul.
LOL...in all seriousness Aaron does not exist. I made him up so that men (and women) and my community would stop telling me that I need a man to move in with me in order to protect me and provide other "services" (some people will say just about anything!). Also, I don't want anyone to think that I'm available.
Here it's really uncommon for a woman to live alone. When a girl leaves her parents house she moves in with her husband and his family. My neighbors always ask me if I'm afraid to live alone (NO!)and then they begin to mention all of the men that are available for me. When I tell them that I can take care of myself and that I don't want to date anyone in my community they feel that, as a woman, I am too strong. In their eyes I should desire to have a man in my house to take care of. PUH-LEEZE! I barely like cooking for myself...I don't want someone in my house that EXPECTS me to wait on them hand and foot (this is the culture here).
So here's an example of what I deal with on a daily basis:
Since the ocean is trying to reclaim the land where my house and other houses are situated a lot of damage has been done. Coconut trees have been uprooted by the ocean and my muro, protective wall, has been severely damaged. The construction crew arrived this week to repair the damage because the tide is expected to rise even higher within the next month. I woke up yesterday at 6am to men knocking down rocks...o sea mucha bulla...and I thought it'd be a good idea to get up, make breakfast, and leave because I didnt want to be the only woman around 10 macho men (just in case they expected ME to cook for them!). As I was preparing breakfast one worker comes into the kitchen to ask for a cup. After i gave him the cup he stayed there and began talking to me. Now let me paint a picture for you guys...it's 6am, I haven't showered (the water comes on at about 7), I have bed hair, and I'm still in my "pajamas" (shorts and a cami). Basically, I'm not looking very attractive and I'm in no mood to talk to ANYONE. He didn't get the hint and I couldn't be rude...mainly because he was closer to the door and was basically blocking it.
Anyway...we start to talk and he asks me the usual questions: where are you from? how old are you? what are you doing here? bla bla bla...
He then goes on to ask if I'm afraid to live alone and if I ever get lonely at night (yuck!). I told him that I'm not afraid to be alone and that I actually prefer la soledad and if someone tries to mess with me at night I have a weapon to protect myself (if those at PC Washington are reading this rest assured that I do NOT have a weapon). So, I finish cooking and exit the kitchen....he follows me to the patio...we continue to talk. Long story short he offers to be the one to take care of me at night so that I wouldn't be lonely, he also offers to cook for me (I told him that I don't cook...hoping that that would turn him off...didn't work). So this is where Aaron comes into existence. I HAD to tell this man that I was already taken and that Aaron and I are very much in love y que él me cuida bastante bien jaja. He then told me that I was being unappreciative....THE NERVE OF THIS MAN! This is my life...I deal with men like this everyday. In a culture where women are expected to be totally submissive to men, a woman like myself must somehow find a way to fit in/live here without going absolutely crazy.
Love you all,
Mya
LOL...in all seriousness Aaron does not exist. I made him up so that men (and women) and my community would stop telling me that I need a man to move in with me in order to protect me and provide other "services" (some people will say just about anything!). Also, I don't want anyone to think that I'm available.
Here it's really uncommon for a woman to live alone. When a girl leaves her parents house she moves in with her husband and his family. My neighbors always ask me if I'm afraid to live alone (NO!)and then they begin to mention all of the men that are available for me. When I tell them that I can take care of myself and that I don't want to date anyone in my community they feel that, as a woman, I am too strong. In their eyes I should desire to have a man in my house to take care of. PUH-LEEZE! I barely like cooking for myself...I don't want someone in my house that EXPECTS me to wait on them hand and foot (this is the culture here).
So here's an example of what I deal with on a daily basis:
Since the ocean is trying to reclaim the land where my house and other houses are situated a lot of damage has been done. Coconut trees have been uprooted by the ocean and my muro, protective wall, has been severely damaged. The construction crew arrived this week to repair the damage because the tide is expected to rise even higher within the next month. I woke up yesterday at 6am to men knocking down rocks...o sea mucha bulla...and I thought it'd be a good idea to get up, make breakfast, and leave because I didnt want to be the only woman around 10 macho men (just in case they expected ME to cook for them!). As I was preparing breakfast one worker comes into the kitchen to ask for a cup. After i gave him the cup he stayed there and began talking to me. Now let me paint a picture for you guys...it's 6am, I haven't showered (the water comes on at about 7), I have bed hair, and I'm still in my "pajamas" (shorts and a cami). Basically, I'm not looking very attractive and I'm in no mood to talk to ANYONE. He didn't get the hint and I couldn't be rude...mainly because he was closer to the door and was basically blocking it.
Anyway...we start to talk and he asks me the usual questions: where are you from? how old are you? what are you doing here? bla bla bla...
He then goes on to ask if I'm afraid to live alone and if I ever get lonely at night (yuck!). I told him that I'm not afraid to be alone and that I actually prefer la soledad and if someone tries to mess with me at night I have a weapon to protect myself (if those at PC Washington are reading this rest assured that I do NOT have a weapon). So, I finish cooking and exit the kitchen....he follows me to the patio...we continue to talk. Long story short he offers to be the one to take care of me at night so that I wouldn't be lonely, he also offers to cook for me (I told him that I don't cook...hoping that that would turn him off...didn't work). So this is where Aaron comes into existence. I HAD to tell this man that I was already taken and that Aaron and I are very much in love y que él me cuida bastante bien jaja. He then told me that I was being unappreciative....THE NERVE OF THIS MAN! This is my life...I deal with men like this everyday. In a culture where women are expected to be totally submissive to men, a woman like myself must somehow find a way to fit in/live here without going absolutely crazy.
Love you all,
Mya
Monday, July 26, 2010
Today I Met An Angel
Today I had to go to the airport to get a package that Daisy, Kez, and Yem had sent me via FedEx (never send via FedEx) and I was in a great mood because 1)I didn't get lost on the bus, 2)the weather was really nice, and 3) I just had a really nice weekend. I got to the airport and headed straight to customs. There they sent me back to the main entrance of the airport for a pass. At the information desk the attendant tells me that I have to go to the cargo terminal because that's where the FedEx office is. When he asked me anda carrito? (are you driving?) I knew that putting on 3" platform shoes this morning was a bad idea (hey sometimes I need to dress it up a little bit). The cargo terminal was really far from where I was and of course me tocó caminar, I had to walk. I arrived at the FedEx office and they asked me for the tracking number. OOOPS! I forgot to get that number from Daisy. So, I texted Daisy and she sends the number. The FedEx guy put the number in and then he started shaking his head. Oh NO! He explains that some information is missing and that the form that is needed to correct the mistake is in San Salvador! What??!! He told me that I would either have to go to San Sal (which is about an hour away on the bus), get the form, and then return to the airport OR I could wait until noon when they receive their deliveries from the San Sal office (it was already 10:30). Have you guys ever heard of a fax machine?! So I waited. And I knew that noon would in fact not be noon. The form arrived at 1 (dont you just love Salvo time?). So what did I do for those 2.5 hours? I sat in a chair pissed off at the world.
So I got the form. I then had to take it over to the customs office and handle all the paper work. Then I had to wait for them to locate the package, while filling out tons of paper work. While they were locating the package I started asking the other people that were waiting how long they'd been there. On average I'd be waiting for three hours. It was already 1:45 and being on the bus to San Sal in the evening is not recommended. I started to panic. Where would I stay if I had to wait for more than three hours? How can I afford a hotel near the airport on a volunteer's stipend (especially since I had spent $$$ in San Sal over the weekend)? As these things were running through my head i got even angrier. This is where the angel comes in. When I first arrived at the customs terminal there was this man (Rafael) that helped me with the paper work. He was also picking up a package . He was there with me throughout the entire process, telling me not to look so mean and that everything would work out in the end. He knew EVERYONE that worked in the administrative offices and in the warehouse where the packages were stored. He talked to the officer there and had him go and get my package right away. The officer moved me up in the line and I didn't wait for more that 20 minutes!! I could NOT believe that things were moving so fast until I remembered the prayer that I had sent up to my Father. I prayed, "Father, please show me favor so that I am not here all day long". Did He deliver or did He deliver? Rafael was the person that turned my day around for the better. He took time out of his schedule to help me and he made everything so much easier. I'm so grateful for the blessings that He throws my way...even when I don't deserve them.
THE PACKAGE
Once I was called into the warehouse to open the package I was so nervous that something bad would happen and they wouldn't allow me to take it home. We did the necessary paperwork and then the official opened the package to review the contents. I burst into tears as he took everything out of the box! I was so touched that my friends sent me a box full of goodies...noodles, mac n cheese, PEANUT BUTTER, shampoo, candy, cheetos and tons of other things. At that point I really began missing my friends and the tears wouldn't stop falling. I kept repeating las extraño tanto, I miss them so much. The official looked at me and in order to make me feel better, he pulled out a tampon from the box and asked me if it was a jumbo size Qtip. From tears to laughter in a matter of seconds! So long story short, after about another hour of paperwork, I left the airport with my 12 lb LOVE PACKAGE in my hand...thinking about what to eat first (I just finished a bag cheetos).
Today, inspite of the blisters that are now forming on my feet, was a really good day. I am truly blessed to have friends that care so much about me and a Father that knows EXACTLY what I need and when I need it. Rafael was a true blessing today.
Love you all,
Mya
So I got the form. I then had to take it over to the customs office and handle all the paper work. Then I had to wait for them to locate the package, while filling out tons of paper work. While they were locating the package I started asking the other people that were waiting how long they'd been there. On average I'd be waiting for three hours. It was already 1:45 and being on the bus to San Sal in the evening is not recommended. I started to panic. Where would I stay if I had to wait for more than three hours? How can I afford a hotel near the airport on a volunteer's stipend (especially since I had spent $$$ in San Sal over the weekend)? As these things were running through my head i got even angrier. This is where the angel comes in. When I first arrived at the customs terminal there was this man (Rafael) that helped me with the paper work. He was also picking up a package . He was there with me throughout the entire process, telling me not to look so mean and that everything would work out in the end. He knew EVERYONE that worked in the administrative offices and in the warehouse where the packages were stored. He talked to the officer there and had him go and get my package right away. The officer moved me up in the line and I didn't wait for more that 20 minutes!! I could NOT believe that things were moving so fast until I remembered the prayer that I had sent up to my Father. I prayed, "Father, please show me favor so that I am not here all day long". Did He deliver or did He deliver? Rafael was the person that turned my day around for the better. He took time out of his schedule to help me and he made everything so much easier. I'm so grateful for the blessings that He throws my way...even when I don't deserve them.
THE PACKAGE
Once I was called into the warehouse to open the package I was so nervous that something bad would happen and they wouldn't allow me to take it home. We did the necessary paperwork and then the official opened the package to review the contents. I burst into tears as he took everything out of the box! I was so touched that my friends sent me a box full of goodies...noodles, mac n cheese, PEANUT BUTTER, shampoo, candy, cheetos and tons of other things. At that point I really began missing my friends and the tears wouldn't stop falling. I kept repeating las extraño tanto, I miss them so much. The official looked at me and in order to make me feel better, he pulled out a tampon from the box and asked me if it was a jumbo size Qtip. From tears to laughter in a matter of seconds! So long story short, after about another hour of paperwork, I left the airport with my 12 lb LOVE PACKAGE in my hand...thinking about what to eat first (I just finished a bag cheetos).
Today, inspite of the blisters that are now forming on my feet, was a really good day. I am truly blessed to have friends that care so much about me and a Father that knows EXACTLY what I need and when I need it. Rafael was a true blessing today.
Love you all,
Mya
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Package from Mommy and Kim
I'm so happy to have received a care package from my Mommy and sister Kim. Thank you guys for the lovely underwear (washing your panties on a concrete rock causes a lot of stretching), the shaving cream (now my legs will be nice and smoothe), the febreeze (now when my clothes can't dry because of the rain, they'll atleast smell good) and the clothes!! I love you guys!!
Salu,
Mya
Salu,
Mya
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