Love, Hate, Part Dos.

"A weird guy from PC-G was stalking my blog and drew attention to the fact that my view of el sal has changed once again..." 

My blog entry, "Love, Hate, & Chambre" from April 26, 2010 is a little out-dated. So now that my time is winding down, I think it is only fair to rearrange some things on this list:

My house sits upon a lake. It feels like home. When I flew in over ES last January, returning from a trip to the US for Christmas, I truly felt as if I were coming home. I come home to a family, 3 dogs, 3 birds, my hammock, and a breathtaking view of the lake.

Things I love:

El Salvadoran Breakfast- "El Típico" Beans, scrambled eggs, platanos and cheese.

Pupusas

My ridiculous 40min hike to the pueblo, and my boat ride to the capital.

The three young adults in my town who are attending the university (Technological Institute)- **update.... they are all about to graduate, including my host sister.**

Our new cell phone plan that allows us to talk to other PCV's for free.

The hospitality of Salvadorans

The sound of the rain on my aluminum roof'

Cold showers on a hot day (every day)

My mosquito net

Hanging in my hammock

Playing my guitar and singing really loud during a torrential downpour.

Things I can live with:

Chickens (everywhere)

The heat

Dirty feet 

Crowded Buses and a lack of public personal space

Salt, Oil

Things I hate:

Flies, Ants, Jejenas, coloradillas, zancudos (mosquitos). All bugs that bite, and that itch like crazy for weeks.

Manteca (Lard)

Instant Coffee

Selfishness driven by decades of actual and psychological poverty

The divide and hostility between the evangelical and catholic churches

The lack of competant health care for my community members

Being so far away from my best friends and family

The unreliability of my counterparts

Thoughts on the exercise: I realized that the "love" list could really go on and on. Whereas, before, I remember having difficulties thinking of things. I also realized that things I could "live with" have all just become the usual, the norm. I don't even notice most of them. It is indesputable that ES has changed me, as far as I can see, for the better. 

In other news, we just returned from a 3-Day All Volunteer Conference to celebrate Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary. Over a hundred Peace Corps people convened in the mountains of Chalatenango, ES. I had an amazing time with my fellow PCVs, some of the best clean fun I have had in a long time. Epic dance circle, thrilling dodgeball tournament, and an entertaining talent show displaying hidden and not-so-hidden talents. With the help of Jaime and other friends encouraging me, I played and sang a song that I wrote. I have never experienced such overwhelming nervousness. But I did it. And no one boo'ed, in fact, to my surprise, people applauded.... a lot.  I don't know if I have overcome my fear, but atleast I faced it. 

Here in ES we face many fears, both personal and physical. We take risks emotionally and spiritually. There is a word in spanish "aprovechar." It literally means "to take advantage." But it can be used in so many different ways. I think whether or not Peace Corps is a good experience depends upon this concept. How much you take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. How you turn disadvantages into advantages. Peace Corps success also depends upon one's ability to go with the flow. To chilax. Not to sweat the small stuff. 

Stop forcing a square into a circle. It will never work. Instead, try to become a circle. Or atleast soften your edges. Because adventures await those willing to be flexible and able to "aprovechar" the opportunities. 

...keep spreading the love around...

A shout out to PCV Javi Carpenter (not wierd or a stalker), for the blog inspiration, and to the PCVs in Guatemala (including my girl Kathy Lee). It has gotten pretty rough in the 'Northern Triangle,' keep up the good work despite the gangs, the drug-wars, and the bureaucracy. There is still so much good work to be done.