30 July 2010

Festival Time

The area is buzzing with anticipation of the annual Festival de Invierno/ August vacation lets head to the mountains and celebrate with food festivals, battle of the bands, art exhibits, artisans, musicians, festival of corn, soccer tournaments, street dance, etc. etc.

With this exciting time comes many visitors. 

Glancing at my iCalendar (which I could not live w/out)

First up to bat we have Embo a fellow DU alum and E.S. PC volunteer is going to make her way to our mountain home. Then we have the lovely Jessica Hindleson who lives on the other side of this little country... she will be here to boogie down at the big dance along with the rest of the volunteers in the region who will be in Perquin for our monthly Morazan Mafia meetings. Aside from volunteers I will also have the pleasure of seeing old friends such as my two friends Victor and Cameron from DC and... their friends who will be joining them on Salvadorian adventures. Theeeen Daniel's sista Sarah w/her amiga Alex will leave the beautiful Montana summer to stir up trouble here for a few weeks. Then fellow volunteer Juan Miguelito will be here with a frenchman amgio all culminating with In Service Training at the end of the month. Lowdy its gonna be busy.

I can't wait!


"Beyond any technique, relationships are what heal."

 - Lewis Mehl-Madrona


 
 

14 July 2010

awesomesauce

Welcome back Hansel! 
you charming charmer you


*if you are lost, see May 18th entry*

13 July 2010

White lights part 2




Fast-forward: a little before 5pm I learn the power is out in our little house.

Conversation:
Daniel: They cut our power
Me: Oh no… are you sure? How do you know? (with a chuckle)
Daniel: Because a significant chunk of our power line is missing. And all our neighbors have light.
Me: Oh CUSS! This is crazy (laughing still) Ok I’ll be home soon do you want me to bring you something for dinner?
Daniel: sure whatever you think sounds good.
Aaaand Scene.

Christmas lights or no Christmas lights once the sun goes down, home is a dark place. … we turn to the Virgin Mary candle for illumination.  We purchased her at the grocery store along with other long stemmed candles, which were propped up in empty wine bottles. (This was Daniel’s engineering.) He also found a way to use a prior night’s Prego jar, filled it with concrete remnants from our backyard to give it some weight then positioned a skinny candle. I arrived home and it looked like a vigil. It has been one of “those” days…not to mention I spilled some of the salsa from our dinner plates all along the left side of my white linen shirt 


“por mi culpa, por mi culpa, por mi gran culpa”

My balancing act of holding umbrella with right hand/arm/neck combo and the left hand spinning twirling chicken dinner plates. OK FINE not so much twirling or spinning but that is the writer’s privilege my friend Nancy asked for. Regardless… salsa on my WHITE shirt. Cuss.  
Note to self: buy bleach at store.
V.M. 
(at time of publication VM candle has been broken and now resides near the weeping wall)
Repurposed – reengineered Prego Jar

Cut back to the vigil scene at home: Daniel had “one of those” days also. After we ate our chicken/rice/veggie dinner by candlelight I decided to try and cheer up my glum roommie and possibly myself with some little gems I had tucked for a raining day.  Some very funny letters from one Ms. Stendlund’s 2nd grade class. Ms. Stendlund just so happens to be my cousin and took the opportunity to teach her class about different countries, travel, cultures, and I even noticed topography and animals was a theme throughout the letters. It is incredible how bright and funny 2nd graders are now days and with an awesome teacher BAM you get gold. 

I’ve compiled a few that really produced some hefty hearty belly laughs resulting in knee slaps and loss of breath …

tip * click on photo to enlarge *

to kick things off we have Ms. Payne going above and beyond with a 3-pager... 
 and to answer one of your questions Ms. Payne... yes there are many Guerrillas but not ONE single Gorilla. ask Ms. Stenlund... 

Next we have Macy with a very artistic letter in beautiful pink and purple... 
And Macy... i would say at this very moment the weather is just right with a hint of crisp breeze. 

Maggie, I really really love 1. your attempt at spanish, you vedy smaht grasshoppa 2. your info on China and Ireland 3. I really can't tell you much about N.Z. either. 

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Exhibit A ....
Peering Princess is now Daniel Hinkle's alter Ego... I must say I was very surprised at the number of inquires regarding peering princess... Ms Stenlund? 

BELOW: Exhibit B regarding Peering Princess 
Moving on from Peering Princess 

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Adison... I will be reading your letter each time I have a 'down' day... 

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Might be the funniest one ... Howdy Partner! ... Love me some Jacob H.


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Not sure why... but this 2nd grader REALLY wants me to come back 

last but not least... 
we have TYLER with a fab. 4 pager including some Rad self-portraits. 



Current Status: still laughing from Jacob H's letter

07 July 2010

white lights part 1


White Christmas lights along with other effects such as scarves, shells, candles, incense, music, mint green tea, wine bottles filled with flowers, my jewelry on display alongside photos of friends and family, books stacked, lined and leaned on each other in just the right feng shui to create the harmony in the room. These are the simple things that have made my vagabond life feel like I’m home no matter where that may be. Now, here in El Salvador, I just received some goodies from home. Among them was Christmas lights and yummy incense. I light up a stick and proceeded to carefully tape up the string of lights around my room jamming hard to some Blue King Brown. Once complete I fall back on my bed to enjoy the soft light illuminating the room giving me that old familiar comfort. I breathe deeply knowing I’m home.

Here is a photo of the other Rad Swag I recently received all.in.the.same.day. I was so overwhelmed with joy that I borrowed a page out of my roomie Daniel’s book and took a photo to give a super shout out to all those lovely people who have not only supported me emotionally but now via mail with super sweet goodies!
I already knew I had the best friends and family but right now 

I’m not only feelin’ the love but: 

eating, sipping, snugglin up in, smelling, listening, reading, washing, sweetening, freshening, managing curls...
with the love!

Special Thanks go to: 
Mom, G’ma, Nancy & Jr., James N. Esq., Katie VOT member, Joanna and her 2nd grade class (blog on this to come), D-train and the freakshow with lil’ Bodhi over at the Gonzo Farm. 
I love you all and I’m send you a big bear hug right now. 
Do you feel it? 

current status: writing part 2 of white lights

01 July 2010

walk with me

Warning: 
This is my first time ever making a video using iMovie, uploading to YouTube, and posting for all to see. 
Also, this is not the MOST exciting video BUT 
  • those who love me mucho 
  • are related to me
  • have an extreme interest in Peace Corps E.S. 
  • AND if your name is Daniel Hinkle 
 you will think this is super RAD and enjoy it to the MAX. 








Current Status: kinda proud of my video making skillz and wishing I was with my mom today. Feliz Cumpleaños!

Agave in full bloom



Photo I took from the Smithsonian Nat'l Zoo website 
(along with all the info below)


An agave plant blooms once in its lifetime, usually between ten and 25 years of age. 
Agave plants originate in Mexico but can be found throughout the southern region of the United States.


Standing an impressive 12 feet tall with vibrant yellow flowers at its tip, the agave plant is in bloom at the National Zoo. THAT BE IN D.C. for all the fine folks who live or will be in the area. Visitors to the Zoo can view the plant in the cactus garden, located between the Small Mammal House and the Great Ape House.


The nectar from agave plants, a sweet sticky juice similar to honey, is sometimes used as a sweetener. And my lovely and generous friend Nancy who  coincidentally now lives in the D.C. area has sent some of this sweet nectar via my Peace Corp E.S. friend, Clayton, who is now back from knee surgery in D.C. 




fun fact: Blue agave plant nectar, when fermented, makes tequila.

Vuvuzelas for BP

I support THIS. You should too!