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? ;) It's been my home for the past two years and my heart is here.
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
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Plan of Action
Hello Folks!
Here's the rundown of the past few weeks...
I had minor surgery after Thanksgiving and I was in the hospital for five days. Overall, I had a great experience. No one ever really wants to be in the hospital (especially in a third world country), but my time there was about as pleasant as one could ever hope for. The staff was very professional and the food was delicious! After my stay there I had to spend seven more days in the capital because I wasn't allowed to travel back to my site, which is four hours away. I stayed with the country director at his lovely, comfortable house. I couldn't have asked for a better host and I am very grateful that he opened the doors of his beautiful home when I needed it the most.
After twelve days in the capital I was more than ready to get back to my community. Even though all but one project have come to an end I really enjoy being in my site. It's probably because I know that my days here are numbered and I feel the need to spend as much time with the people in my site that I love the most. At times I don't like to leave my house because everyone in my community feels the need to remind that I only have a short amount of time left and they go on and on about how I'm never gonna come back to visit them or that I'll forget all about my amistades. Oh how I love them!
Now that I officially have 2.5 months left as a PCV I've been thinking a lot about what's next. To be quite honest the thought of going back to the States is daunting, but I know that I have to start the next chapter in this book we call "Life". In preparation for my future I have registered to take the GRE in February. That gives me about two months to prepare for the test. Also, we have our CLose of Service conference next month and PC will provide us with valuable resources for securing a job and applying to grad schools. All of this is a bit overwhelming right now, but I have to come up with a "Plan of Action" (my Dad's words) asap! Trying to find a job while having to deal with reversed cultural shock should be loads of fun!!!
Travel Plans:
My trip to Honduras was cancelled due to my unexpected surgery, so I will postpone that until after I finish my service in March. In a couple of weeks I will be heading to Guate for NYE! I can't wait! I've never been to Guatemala, but everyone that has gone rave about it. Also, I've been thinking about taking a trip to Argentina in March simply because I've never been and I've been dying to go for years. Also, I know that once I return home life will get crazy busy and I won't have any time or money to travel. Hay que aprovechar YA!
Well that's all for now folks! I love you guys so much and we'll be seeing each other soon (if not in March, April for sure).
XOXO
Mya
Here's the rundown of the past few weeks...
I had minor surgery after Thanksgiving and I was in the hospital for five days. Overall, I had a great experience. No one ever really wants to be in the hospital (especially in a third world country), but my time there was about as pleasant as one could ever hope for. The staff was very professional and the food was delicious! After my stay there I had to spend seven more days in the capital because I wasn't allowed to travel back to my site, which is four hours away. I stayed with the country director at his lovely, comfortable house. I couldn't have asked for a better host and I am very grateful that he opened the doors of his beautiful home when I needed it the most.
After twelve days in the capital I was more than ready to get back to my community. Even though all but one project have come to an end I really enjoy being in my site. It's probably because I know that my days here are numbered and I feel the need to spend as much time with the people in my site that I love the most. At times I don't like to leave my house because everyone in my community feels the need to remind that I only have a short amount of time left and they go on and on about how I'm never gonna come back to visit them or that I'll forget all about my amistades. Oh how I love them!
Now that I officially have 2.5 months left as a PCV I've been thinking a lot about what's next. To be quite honest the thought of going back to the States is daunting, but I know that I have to start the next chapter in this book we call "Life". In preparation for my future I have registered to take the GRE in February. That gives me about two months to prepare for the test. Also, we have our CLose of Service conference next month and PC will provide us with valuable resources for securing a job and applying to grad schools. All of this is a bit overwhelming right now, but I have to come up with a "Plan of Action" (my Dad's words) asap! Trying to find a job while having to deal with reversed cultural shock should be loads of fun!!!
Travel Plans:
My trip to Honduras was cancelled due to my unexpected surgery, so I will postpone that until after I finish my service in March. In a couple of weeks I will be heading to Guate for NYE! I can't wait! I've never been to Guatemala, but everyone that has gone rave about it. Also, I've been thinking about taking a trip to Argentina in March simply because I've never been and I've been dying to go for years. Also, I know that once I return home life will get crazy busy and I won't have any time or money to travel. Hay que aprovechar YA!
Well that's all for now folks! I love you guys so much and we'll be seeing each other soon (if not in March, April for sure).
XOXO
Mya
Monday, November 21, 2011
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
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
Sunday, November 13, 2011
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
Cuidense,
Mya
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
When It Rains, it Pours
Since my last blog a lot has happened. There were tropical depressions/ storms that affected hundreds of thousands of people here in El Salvador. It rained ten days straight and the sun was nowhere to be found. Bridges and roads were washed out and many people lost their homes and, unfortunately, about 3 dozen people died. The President issued a national emergency warning and PC put us on “stand fast” as a safety measure, which means that we were not allowed to leave our communities.
A river runs through my community at three locations and many families live really close to it. The river had already flooded by day 3 and many people weren’t able to SAFELY leave their homes. My host Dad tied a rope from one side of the river to his store so that people could hold on to it when they braved the rains and left their homes for shopping. On day four of the stand fast I went to my neighbor’s house to make food packages for people that couldn’t leave their homes to go shopping. Each package contained 1lb. bags of rice, beans, sugar, and salt and a small bag of cooking oil. We made about 200 packages and then delivered them throughout my community. It was a good day and I felt great being able to help out my community. Some communities were hit really hard and it’ll take some time before they’re up and running again.
After ten days of rain and no sunshine, my furniture, house, shoes, and clothes were covered in mold and everything smelled gross. I really believe that my house was making me sick. I woke up with terrible headaches and swollen eyelids. I couldn’t stand being in my house, but I didn’t dare to leave out of fear that a tree or boulder would fall on me (landslides are very common) or that the river would wash me away. Finally the rains stopped and the sun showed its beautiful face, gracias a DIOS! The battle of Mya vs. Mold could finally begin! I took an entire bottle of bleach to everything that could be bleached. I soaked all of my clothes in soap (and more bleach) and threw a lot of stuff away. I am really glad that this is my last rainy season in El Salvador. Mold makes me gag and I just hate seeing it.
In other news, I will be home 4 or five months!!! I am so excited to be done here. Overall, I’ve enjoyed my time here, but I am anxious to start the next chapter in my life. I’m curious to see what God has in store for me.
Take care,
Mya
A river runs through my community at three locations and many families live really close to it. The river had already flooded by day 3 and many people weren’t able to SAFELY leave their homes. My host Dad tied a rope from one side of the river to his store so that people could hold on to it when they braved the rains and left their homes for shopping. On day four of the stand fast I went to my neighbor’s house to make food packages for people that couldn’t leave their homes to go shopping. Each package contained 1lb. bags of rice, beans, sugar, and salt and a small bag of cooking oil. We made about 200 packages and then delivered them throughout my community. It was a good day and I felt great being able to help out my community. Some communities were hit really hard and it’ll take some time before they’re up and running again.
After ten days of rain and no sunshine, my furniture, house, shoes, and clothes were covered in mold and everything smelled gross. I really believe that my house was making me sick. I woke up with terrible headaches and swollen eyelids. I couldn’t stand being in my house, but I didn’t dare to leave out of fear that a tree or boulder would fall on me (landslides are very common) or that the river would wash me away. Finally the rains stopped and the sun showed its beautiful face, gracias a DIOS! The battle of Mya vs. Mold could finally begin! I took an entire bottle of bleach to everything that could be bleached. I soaked all of my clothes in soap (and more bleach) and threw a lot of stuff away. I am really glad that this is my last rainy season in El Salvador. Mold makes me gag and I just hate seeing it.
In other news, I will be home 4 or five months!!! I am so excited to be done here. Overall, I’ve enjoyed my time here, but I am anxious to start the next chapter in my life. I’m curious to see what God has in store for me.
Take care,
Mya
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Update
So I guess it’s been a while since I’ve updated this thing. A lot has happened over these past few months, but I’ll keep this short.
July-
I went home to meet my paternal grandmother for the first time. She is an amazing, funny, caring, loving, and inspiring woman. I cherished my time with her and I can’t wait to go to Nigeria.
My peaceful home stay with my Salvadoran host family came to an end when I came back from vacation. While away my host family decided that fourth and fifth grade students could have class in our living room until construction on the school is over. It was a very chaotic environment everyday with children running around screaming and staring at me while doing regular, daily tasks. I think they were out of class more than they were actually in class.
August-
I dealt with them (the kids) for a month, but then it became too much. I was stressed out and started to hate them and my host family for allowing them to be there. Long story short, I looked for another house and, after a terrible experience filled with lots of drama and horrible gossip, now finally have my on house for the next six months. The house is absolutely perfect and I am much happier. My host family has been acting a little strange with me, but over time I’m sure they’ll get over it.
Present Day-
I have about five months left down here in El Salvador and I still have not had a visitor. At this point I’m over it. Instead of begging friends and family members to come down here, I will travel to Honduras and Guatemala for vacation. Honduras next month and hopefully Guatemala for New Year’s (if we ever get that ban lifted). No hard feelings people…I know that if you truly wanted to visit you would have.
That’s all for now,
Mya
July-
I went home to meet my paternal grandmother for the first time. She is an amazing, funny, caring, loving, and inspiring woman. I cherished my time with her and I can’t wait to go to Nigeria.
My peaceful home stay with my Salvadoran host family came to an end when I came back from vacation. While away my host family decided that fourth and fifth grade students could have class in our living room until construction on the school is over. It was a very chaotic environment everyday with children running around screaming and staring at me while doing regular, daily tasks. I think they were out of class more than they were actually in class.
August-
I dealt with them (the kids) for a month, but then it became too much. I was stressed out and started to hate them and my host family for allowing them to be there. Long story short, I looked for another house and, after a terrible experience filled with lots of drama and horrible gossip, now finally have my on house for the next six months. The house is absolutely perfect and I am much happier. My host family has been acting a little strange with me, but over time I’m sure they’ll get over it.
Present Day-
I have about five months left down here in El Salvador and I still have not had a visitor. At this point I’m over it. Instead of begging friends and family members to come down here, I will travel to Honduras and Guatemala for vacation. Honduras next month and hopefully Guatemala for New Year’s (if we ever get that ban lifted). No hard feelings people…I know that if you truly wanted to visit you would have.
That’s all for now,
Mya
Friday, June 10, 2011
This PCV Loves to Get Down and Dirty
This morning at 3:30 the school committee killed a cow in order to raise money for construction. I even helped take off the skin! It was a very tiring job and I still can't get the smell of blood off of my hands, but I love how my community members were gathered around watching the morena get down and dirty. It made me feel a lot closer to them. Isn't this what it's all about? I still can't get the smell of blood off of my hands, but I really love my job!
Take good care and I love you all,
Mya
Take good care and I love you all,
Mya
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