It is so hot here. My thermometer registered 102 degrees yesterday, I don't know how correct it is, but the point is that it is really hot! My daily Schedule looks like this:
6:30-7:00am Wake-up, eat breakfast
8:00 Go for a run on the cancha (soccer field)
9:00 Shower
9:30 Sit in the hammock and read, or go to the “restaurant” and read
12:00ish Eat lunch
1:00ish Go visit houses and introduce myself
4:00ish Return to hammock and book
7:00ish Eat dinner, chat with family
10:00 Crawl inside my “Fort” (Mosquito net) and read until I fall asleep.
As you can see I read a lot, finishing 3 books in 9 days: “3 Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson, “A Thousand Splendid Suns” Khalil Husseini (sp?), and “The Road to Perdition”. I just started “Water for Elephants.” The point of all of this being, if you want to send me something, send me a book or two.
The youth from my community have dropped by my house to tell me they want to start a softball team. I went to play with them, and they are actually pretty good. They have a bat and a ball, but no gloves. Apparently an NGO was working with them to start a team, but there wasn't enough interest at the time. So, it looks like I will start figuring out how to go about organizing this women's softball team as my first project.
At the same time, I have been attending meetings put on by “FoMilenio.” This organization is part of the Millennium Challenge Corporation of the United States. Together they are building an interstate highway through the northern, poorest, regions of El Salvador. The idea is to stimulate economic activity in the northern region and create a market for small business income generation. There is a large debate right now as to the costs and benefits of this program. Much of the northern region has been isolated from the violence and trafficking that is present in the Capital and along the PanAmerican highway, but the people living in the north have also been kept in extreme poverty according to a poverty map released by the El Salvadoran Government.
I have a new address:
PCV Chelsea Willett
Alcaldía Municipal
5a AV Sur Barrio. El Centro, Frente a Plaza de Toros
San Luis del Carmen, Chalatenango, El Salvador
Va Pues.
Chels
3 comments:
You probably read the Peace Corps memoir, "Living Poor", But if you haven't it's a good read.
Sounds like you're getting situated nicely; The reading in the hammock and running in the mornings sounds so romantic!
Chelsea, I finally had some time to myself so I read all your blogs. You are truly an Angel from God for El Salvador. I see your address and I hear that you want some books mailed. What books have you been anxious to read? I would be happy to mail you a few. May God Continue to Bless and Keep You. Love to you!
No I have not read that book Chris. That sounds like a good one to add to my list. Maryann-I am putting together an amazon wishlist and I will post a link to it very soon. You are wonderful. Thankyou.
Chels
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