On the road...

As you can see by all of my pictures, I've been getting around alot here in El Salvador!!! Alot of it has to do with taking care of myself in the city. I'm not crazy about life in San Salvador, so I try and take every opportunity I can get to get out of the city! There is so much to see here in El Salvador, and San Salvador is NOT the place to do it (many Volunteers call it "little America"...sad, but true...)

My work has also been keeping me extremely busy. Angela and I started doing psychosocial workshops in a community outside of San Salvador, and so far its going extremely well. People are really interested, and its been a fun experience as well. Since Angela is a Social Worker, with lots of group therapy experience, its been a great learning opportunity for me as well. She's full of positive energy and good ideas, and I couldn't have hoped for a better work partner! We've also been going out to another community with one of our Salvadoran counterparts to help with disaster preparedness workshops. Its another eye opening experience in that many communities have worked with NGOs before, and have worked on emergency action plans...you'd think that the organizations would get together and work together. THIS is one of the most frustrating experiences with development--trying to get organizations to share information and work together. Not that REDES, my organization isn't trying to do it, but there just seems to be so much overlap in what people do...yet the people who need the help are still staying in the same situation. It is infurating at times, but I'd be worried if it didn't make me angry. The best that I can do, for now, is bring this to the table and try to communicate MYSELF as much as I can...

So, while my work is going extremely well, its also drawing to a close. I officially end my work with REDES on October 20...But that doesn't mean that I'm going to end my relationship with REDES. I will be here in El Salvador at least for another year working with Peace Corps (YEAH!) My heart is here, for now, and I am anxious to learn more about El Salvador, the people, the land, the history, and most importantly about life itself.

Guazapa

My horse, princessa, and Michelle with our guide, Luis.

Last weekend another Crisis Corps Volunteer and I, Michelle, went on a tour of Mount/Volcano Guazapa. It is just outside of Suchitoto where I used to live, and I've been meaning to take the tour for months now. This area saw much destruction during the war--burned houses, craters where bombs were dropped can still be seen, foxholes, and trenches. The tour is given by an ex-combatant--extremely interesting, but also beautiful and peaceful at the same time. In addition to showing us the historical war-related sites, our guide also showed us waterfalls, plants that centuries ago were used to make indigo, and he even dug up some ginger root for me to take home. This country is so full of opportunities to discover history and beauty, and I feel good about contributing to the "eco-tourism" that is trying to progress here in El Salvador. (Can anyone tell I want visitors?!)


These pictures were part of what I saw on the tour. I believe that the first is a former school that was used as a camp during the war. The other is a small cemetary erected for a few men that died in combat. ("In Remembrance of the heroes fallen in combat")

Crisis Corps Beach Getaway

A few weekends ago my program manager and fellow Crisis Corps Volunteers (we're about 10 total in El Salvador now) went to La Libertad beach outside of San Salvador (about an hour and a half by bus). You'd think I'd get to the coast more often, but there is so much to do and so much to see here in El Salvador, spending time at the beach is not high on the priority list...although it is very beautiful and relaxing!! The first picture is of playa El Tunco where we hung out, and the second picture is Lavinia (my Program Manager) and I at the hostal we stayed at with the cutest little puppies!

Perquin

The town of Perquin is located in the eastern part of El Salvador near the Honduran border. It was the FMLN headquarters during the war...it is also extremely beautiful!

Picture1: Me on our hike from Perquin to El Mozote.

Picture 2: Angela with some of the kids we walked home from school in El Mozote.

Picture 3: Angela and I on top of Mount Perquin. On clear days you can see Honduras, the town of Perquin, and even all the way to San Salvador. Helicopter landing and trenches are also here as reminders that Perquin was the FMLN headquarters.

Picture 4: Outside of the war museum in Perquin. Radio Venceremos was the radio operated by the FMLN during the war.

Picture 5: Mural found in Perquin with pictures of Che Guevera, Romero, Schafik, and Farabundo Marti (historical Revolutionary figure after who the FMLN is named).

El Mozote

Angela and I went to El Mozote a few weeks ago. December 11, 1981 over 900 people were massacred here and in the surrounding areas. Why did this happen? Its a historical example of terrorism to silence the opposition and inspire fear (the FMLN headquarters was around this area). But still, why did this happen?

Picture 1: El Mozote memorial including the names of family members killed

Picture 2: "They have not died, they are with us, with you, and all of humanity"

Picture 3: "In this place the remains of 132 persons were found in 1992--121 minors less than 12 years old. All of them have been interred in this monument. El Mozote never again!"

Picture 4: A new memorial/mural through the work of (I believe) a British nun. The memorial is for the 132 children that were found in 1992.

Picture 5: Mural on the side of the church in El Mozote, also completed through the work of a British nun.