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

 

 

awesomesauce

Welcome back Hansel! 

you charming charmer you


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

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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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.

*

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

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 2^nd 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

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!

$1 a day

Not sure why... but this has intrigued me. I can add this to the list of things I will try when I get back to the states since I don't think my pueblo has coupons but we do have haggling in full force. 


Who knew the power of coupons!?
Jeffery spells it out on his blog. Less than a $1 a day and he has food to spare, which he donates to his local food bank. 





Current Status: impressed and have a hankering for clippin me some coupons.. or here it would be coupon.es

soulshine on a monday

good conversation over breakfast combined with a funny face making session over skype with Dusty and Familia provides some much needed soulshine during this dreary rainy season


current status: my clothes from friday is still wet 

work in a nutshell

The day started around the usual time (7am).
The water-pressure in our house has magically and mysteriously become strong enough to shower in. Well, I'm sure Hinkle would disagree as he has been taking showers at the house since we moved in, but he also doesn't have gloriously tangled locks of curls to contend with.

So once we arrived back from PST-2 the water-pressure came full force, first only at night and now it seems all day. With this increased pressure comes a very substantial leak from the pipe behind the toilet. Our landlord has been advised of this problem but because that water finds its way into the shower area instead of our living area, we have allowed our landlord to get away with blowing us off for over a week.


I digress.


After a very cold shower which had me whimpering with each limb I slowly put under the ice cold water, I was off to a meeting with the tourism association I work with. First stopping off at the hotel for some fruit and granola for breakfast. :)


The meeting was great but as usual we only covered three out of five points on the agenda before we decided to break for the 12pm Mundial game. 
(Arg. V. Mex.) 
...or more appropriately (Messi V. Mexico).
Mexico lost 3-1. 
That loss combined with one single brew and overcast skies, hinkle says is due to a storm named Alex,  has me super tired and ready for a nap.


But before I run off I was asked by my grandma to blog about what the heck it IS exactly that I do here, for work that is. . .


So this is kinda like describing what my schedule is like....it's really hard. But the short version is that I'm part of the COED group here in PC El Salvador. This stands for Community Organization and Economic Development. I am working specifically with Economic Development in the form of Tourism. I am the one Peace Corps volunteer in all of El Salvador that is NOT assigned to a community but rather a ZONE, La Ruta De Paz. And more specifically, an Association of Businesses which work in the areas of tourism, ASETURP
Their Logo:

ASETURP is an organization composed of hostel, hotel and restaurant owners, along with artisans from a women's cooperative, a local carpenter who makes beautiful furniture, a microbus guy, others who have their own small businesses (like my host mom's bomb pupusaria), municipal government representative, a few doctors, a  technical advisor and me! 

I'm really encouraged by the vision of this group and that I'll have the privilege to work with them for the next 2 years. 

This area of Morazan is the heart of the civil war's Guerrilla movement. This place is full of living history because each person you encounter can tell you their story and the story of the earth beneath your feet.  Its beautiful to see the resilience and perseverance in the people. 1992 was not that long ago and to sit in a meeting where they are talking about putting together a festival, organizing dues, and planning for next week's SWOT analysis meeting I can't help but be impressed and proud to be invited to join this group. Not only do they want to grow tourism for their own financial gain but major topics in their base document deal with becoming eco-friendly, buying and hiring locally, social responsibility with the communities and preserving, for future generations, the history through the creation of a research library and the continued support of the Revolutionary Museum. 

So in the end I would say that I'm working with a grassroots organization who's aim is to further the development of the area through tourism.  

What this translates to is first meeting everyone, getting to know them and gaining their trust. 

Then seeing what each one is working on and assessing where they need help. Administration, Marketing, Searching out and writing Grant proposals, Business Plan writing this includes Mission and Vision statements, works plans etc... 

Hope that helps Grams! :)

Here are some photos from the Food Festival that ASETURP puts on each Sunday. 

And a piñata!

current status: the clouds are clearing and so is my urge for slumber

A day in the life…

our shanty porch in the sunshine

All too often I am asked, by caring friends and family, what a typical day looks like and I reply with the same “well… there is no such thing as a typical day in Peace Corps”. This of course leaves the person asking the question very unsatisfied and so here is not so much a typical day but rather my day today:

5:30-6am (typical): Wake up to the sound of cars, roosters, and passers-by 

7am-ish (M-W-F): Trash guy honks his horn really super loud – but today did not… which leaves Pato and I having to defend our trash from dogs and rain until Monday when he will hopefully honk his horn so we can run him out the goods.  

Roll around in bed for at least 2 hours (today I had that luxury as my agenda was open this morning) agenda in Spanish is pronounced: uh.hen.duh

8-ish am - El Pato makes yummy French press coffee (pretty typical behavior on mornings we are free) but this morning a special treat, FLAVORED POWDERED CREAMER! Big thanks to his lovely family for sending it in the care package.  Also, Pato utilized the juicer we were gifted. FRESH SQUEEZED O.J. – a bit pulpy but dang who can complain when both the juicer AND the oranges were gifts.

10am ish – we realize the force is strong today and so is the sun so we gather a heap of laundry and go at it. Meaning hand washing our clothes in the pila. We discuss or rather dispute best practices regarding hand washing. Success is found in the end along with our OCD/neurotic tendencies. The clothes are hung on the line with care by 11ish. I’m a faster washer than Hinkle or perhaps I washed less but while he finishes with his clothes I sweep the house a bit then lay on our SUPER RAD blue suede fold out couch and read about Mayan Ruins in Honduras that we plan to visit in Aug when Sarah Hinkle graces us with a visit. (both the laundry and planning for future trips is VERY typical behavior although we try not to do it EVERYDAY).

11am- In the Hotel office. Do some emailing, news reading, a little work

12am – think “Man I’m kinda hungry” Hinkle says “well its lunch time” So we finish up an email and head down for lunch. TWO Taco Salads with Grilled Chicken please. Yummy yummy happy tummy.

1 pm – head back up to office

2:40pm – starts to sprinkle. Pato and I walk then Jog then full out Trot back to the house to save our half dried clothes from being completely soaked. In the middle of the trot we realize neither of us has the house key. Ugh.

2:42pm – clothes is handing under our shanty porch covered clothesline. It begins to pour and we are stuck sans phone, umbrella, or keys. Lantis, the Hotel dog is with us while we wait out the storm for 45 minutes.

3:30pm – the downpour turns to sprinkles and we make a break for the hotel

3:32pm – Back safe and blogging.

Future plans for the day: rearrange my room so that my clothes are not in the darkest and most damp corner of my room growing mold.

current status: almost dry

VOT

Sending big monster hugs to my two lovely lady friends Haley and Katie. 
From our time together in Jerusalem and Denver the forces brought us together just long enough to forge a substantial and very special bond before we again went our separate ways onto exciting new adventures. 
Haley is heading out to Vietnam and Katie to India. I want to wish you both good luck and much success and love (Insha'Allah). As they say here in El Salvador. Squeeze the Jugo out of the experience. I love you both very much. xoxo

"Good. Good. Things are good. Things ARE GOING to be good."

                                

                               - Tobias Funke, Arrested Development

Padre

Cheers to you Daddio on a day that makes me think of the time when...


you took me to buy my ballet shoes


you taught me to drive a stick 


you dressed up as a punk rocker and took me trick or treating


you didn't get mad at me when I backed your car into the lake while trying to drop in the jet ski 


you came to OUR college town, Iowa City, on my 21st birthday and bought me a shot 


you taught me that helping a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or a stranger when its within our power to do so is an obligation 


you taught me how to be Punny


you taught me the beauty of acoustic guitar


We rocked the beer tours by day and the live music and shuffle board by night in the Mile High

and most of all you taught me that you're never too old to follow your heart's desire, even if it's as simple as hopping a bike and cruising around downtown after a scrumptious dinner.


Love you dad.  

The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.

                          - Herbert Spencer, English philosopher 

the return

 photo taken from inside the office (Perquin Morazan)

I arrived back in my site Sunday afternoon. After a long winding stop and go 5-hour multi leg bus ride home from the capitol I fell into my bed and slept, and slept and slept. I finally woke up around 6pm and realized the day had escaped me. I did some unpacking, snacked on crackers and peanut butter then snuggled up with some episodes of deadwood, my newest distraction at night when I can’t fall asleep.

The next day I was up with the roosters (5:30am). I decided today I would tackle the many issues that had arisen in my absences. First, the mildew was growing everywhere. Ev.Re.Where. yuk. Mold on my clean clothes, on my dirty clothes, sandals, earrings, toothbrush, shelves, hairbrush, and probably other places I have yet to discover.

After the mold, were the cobwebs…some sizeable beastly critter had been caught in the webs, which for a moment tempted me to leave them for protection. This temptation was quickly gone as I walked directly in one while searching for the broom. That’s it, no more webs. I attacked all webs within my broomstick’s reach.

I washed the moldy clothes & shoes. The heavens smiled down on me with half a day of sunshine yesterday and today. One must be vigilant when drying clothes in the rainy season. Wash early, hang early and then watch the sky starting early to mid afternoon.

I’ve also done the other Peace Corps work such as meeting with my association, showing my face around the place, letting people know I didn’t leave for good, or go on some extended vacation. Peace Corps warned us that our community would think we left because we were unhappy or they would think we went back to the states for vacation or some other crazy thing. I thought it would be different with me. It wasn’t. Now that we are all straight I’m back in the office blogging, catching up on email, and sifting through the mountain of information, contacts and tools given to us during our training. 

So much information, limitless projects, countless resources to tap, various members with a range of strengths to channel and I have no idea where to start. Current status is intimidated. Not because I think I can't do it, but rather because I think I can do it ALL or at least try it all and see how it goes down. Which is overwhelming since I know I only have 2 yrs and doing it “ALL” is impossible.  Not to mention, from what I’ve been told, projects fail and then you have to reevaluate, and either start again or decided to move in a different direction to fry other fish.

Bah. Regardless, I’m really happy to be back in my home. Be it moldy, rainy and without enough water pressure, its mine and I love it. Photos to come and updates on my interesting info from training as I review it again and file it away in a more useful fashion. Currently its all jam packed into my backpack or in my Trader Joe’s bag which makes me homesick for my beltway home. But I won’t go there. For now I’m enjoying the hum of rain hitting the broad banana leaves… hmmm maybe it’s more of a bacon in a frying pan sound. 

Mmm bacon.

Without further ado

PHOTOS taken in San Vicente during training. J

The clock tower in the square with the volcano in the background.

pretty church in the square by night.

The volcano and mountain in the background, with the military base just off the main square. 

Jarro Cafe. The Scene after training. cold brews and decent food.