Binge Eating, Lluvia, and My lil Army of Joy

I remembered this week that I am a stress eater. That means that I eat when I am stressed out. Yesterday I ate Pancakes with peanut butter and fried platanos, which, while delicious, is not super healthy. I followed it up last night with an entire pot of pasta. I couldn't stop. 

But the good thing is that I was so full that I forgot about the looming GRE, community projects that are anything but easy right now, and dios bendito.... for a minute, I forgot about the rain.

It won't stop. It has been 5 days, and 4 days on official Peace Corps lock down. When it rains, rivers flood, roads get slippery, hillsides fall down, and life basically stops in El Salvador.  So I have been sitting in my house, mostly under the covers in bed for the last 4 days. Today I thought I might go crazy... so, when it stopped raining for a few hours, I left my house.

This stage of Peace Corps is like this. I know everyone in town, their history, how they are related to everyone else, and most of the chambre (gossip) about them. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I don't have weekly meetings anymore, all of those projects are done. I see people everyday at my house like usual when they come to grind the corn. I am pretty much just a member of this community now, pretty normal. I like it. We co-exist well. I don't get too frustrated anymore. I think I did my time and came out on the other side. 

Now we are just waiting on big projects. Stoves being delivered, road being paved, light poles being installed, and softball games being won.

I realized today, when I left my house, that some things bring me pure joy. like this kid

Johnny is like liquid joy, if I could bottle him and sell him there would be no more unhappiness in the world. Every time he opens his mouth I find myself grinning from ear to ear. He is funny and smart, and plus, he likes me (not all children do). He told me he is too small to go to the states with me though, he said that the cows in the United States would probably eat him as well, so he won't go. (What imagination).

And Andrea, another bundle of joy, pictured below.

I asked her today why she wanted us to pave the way to her house and she told me with wide eyes and amazement that, "Well, once, my cousin was walking to our house and she fell down. She fell in the mud and she had mud in her shoe, in her socks and up to her thigh. She was so muddy, so that is why I think you should fix our road." I swear to you, if you would have heard her, you too would want to pave that road. You would probably stop everything to go buy the cement. She is that convincing and joy just emits from her being.

Henry is almost 4. He is in his first year of kindergarten. He has the deepest voice for a lil kid. It makes me laugh everytime I hear him talk. One day a fellow Peace Corps friend came to visit. He and I walked past the school, where Henry happened to be playing outside. Later, when I went to Henry's house to visit, he was super bravo (like mad). I asked his mom why and she said that he came home from school and told her that "Mami, Chelsea ya se acompaño." "En serio, La vi con su esposo." Chelsea is married now, i saw her today with her boyfriend. He was jealous. But I assured him that the boy he saw was just a friend, and we have been cool ever since. 

Helen. She sits outside my room in the morning with her grandma waiting to grind the corn. She always comes in her pajamas, yesterday it was disney princesses. She ran for princess during the fiestas, and I tried my best to make her win. Everytime I see her, her eyes light up like this picture below, and she smiles. My heart melts. 

So I wondered, is it something about that age. From ages 4-5. Little people of Joy. Its the eyes, its the smile, its the laugh. 

I am going to build an army of little people of joy. They will go around the world smiling and laughing at all the serious people. All the war-wongering politicians, all of the dictators and greedy corporate CEOs. They will show up to their offices barefoot and dirty and smile at them. Then they will tell them fabulously imaginative stories about ordinary life. My little army of joy will make everyone smile and remember their humanity. These little people of joy will shine a light into dark places of people's hearts. 

Yes, I think it could work.

I think Johnny, Andrea, Henry, and Helen will lead the way.

Wall Street, Al Qaeda, and Muammar Gaddafi don't stand a chance.

...Keep Spreading the Love Around...

Also... If you would like to help me and Andrea pave the road to her house, we will be holding a fundraiser at Granite Bay High School on November 8th from 6-8pm. I will be there to share about my experience in El Salvador and describe our current community development projects and how you can help. See you there¡

HOPE for El Salvador

November 8th from 6-8pm

Bring family and friends to participate in this great cause! 

Buy your tickets in advance for $5. Tickets will also be sold at the 

door for $7. For any questions or to offer assistance, please 

contact gbhsapspanishclub@hotmail.com.