Hello Everyone!
I have arrived safely in San Salvador, El Salvador and its quite gorgeous!!! The first couple of days were amazingly, and exuberantly, hot....however, it has been raining for the past 3 days straight and theres word on the "forecast" news that there's a huricane on its way over here. Hopefully it won't hit too hard as I've never really experienced one of those.
So in general El Salvador is a beautiful and friendly country. For the past 18 years, since the end of a 12 year civil war, El Salvador has progressing and evolving towards a more peaceful and understanding future. However, the pain of the past is very prevalent in the lives of each Salvadorian and the resilience to survive is reflected in the struggle for survival of those horrific years. The work I started doing this past week has been mostly in picking out details from the devastating war and exposing them to Salvadorian English students. Some of them know too well the pain of those years, but for others it has been like awakening a sleeping giant in their heart. The patterns of violence, repression, discrimination, and persecution are all too prevalent in the dire situation of the country today. For this reason I am highly honored and scared to begin English classes that are based on providing some tools for Salvadorians to be the writers and ambassadors of their own future.
I decided to start talking about the war and its consequences because the culture of El Salvador in many ways is highly related to it. However, it has been a roller coaster to place its culture under one single banner. The country proudly thrives on its famous pupusas....they are tortillas with lots of goodies inside....I have been eating them for lunch for the past week, they are quite delicious. I am Colombian and very proud that Salvadorians adore Colombian Cumbia. This has allowed me to feel closer to my second home and more comfortable with what surrounds me.
to be continued....;)
