...the south pole! It seems like our world is now covered in a two inch thick blanket of ice. That's a far cry from El Salvador, even though we've got a fire in the fireplace. Pecas is taking it well, what with prancing around in the ice-encrusted back yard and trying to dig her way back to El Sal. Wedding planning is coming along, although it still seems like we have a long way to go. Even if parts of Iowa City lost electricity today, the ice hanging off all the trees is gorgeous. I should be out taking pictures! But the only reason I go out walking is to let the dog drag me around (I can't get her to heal for some reason!) across the icy sidewalks of the neighbors who are too lazy (or perhaps busy, I suppose) to shovel the ice and snow in front of their houses. Speaking of neighbors, ours came over last night to say that the new dog was barking at her dogs, who in turn were keeping her baby awake, and could we please keep the dog inside. Really? Maybe, Matt's mom later said, she should consider getting rid of her dogs, since they were the ones keeping the baby awake. Maybe, I said, she should just get rid of the baby.
Our Christmas tree is up with the start of our ornament collection and the holiday beer is in the fridge. Hope everyone is warm and happy! Cheers...
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Homebound Impressions
Homebound Impressions:
Boarding the plane in San Salvador, everyone had a ton of luggage. And everyone had Pollo Campero (like KFC I guess. No Salvadoran leaves home without it. – What’s more, I’m now in LAX awaiting my connecting flight to San Diego, and a man just sat down across from me with a large box of it.) There was so much luggage, not all the carryons would even fit. So we took off. The food on American Airlines, by the way, was pretty tasty. It was pretty weird hearing stewardesses speak English again.
So we get to LAX. And I’m super worried about my puppy. I book it through customs (welcome home, Melanie, always sounds good). Exiting customs, I go to get my bags to recheck them, and Pecas is sitting by herself (in her kennel) in the “oversize bags” section. Poor thing. I said hi to her and then took off to get a cart and she started whining and cry. After 15 minutes or so, I collected my black, unidentified bags (not sure what I was thinking there) and headed to the customs baggage thing. They asked me one question: “Do you have any dog food?” And when I said yes (I thought they wanted it to give it to her…I had literally a handful, along with some dog treats), then sent me around the x-ray machine (hence they neither x-rayed nor searched my bags. I’m such a rebel.) and someone else asked to see the dog food. When I showed her, she said “I’m really sorry, but since it’s not in a sealed bag, we’re going to have to ask you to get rid of it.” Uh, ok. Throw it away, I don’t care! After 15 more minutes of waiting for some guy to enter something in the computer about me bringing a dog (he didn’t ask to see her papers or anything though), they sent me off. The baggage guys were like, “Whoa dude, a dog. I dunno where that goes, man.” I said, “oh yeah, and how long have you worked here?” “Uh a while, but I jus’ deal with bags, never seen a dog.” Finally after asking a few other people, they agreed I had to take her upstairs to the “oversize bags” room. There, they told me to take her out of her kennel so they could inspect it or something, and then asked me to put her back in. She did not agree with this, and resisted with all her effort. I felt pretty bad about shoving her back in there.
And so now I’m waiting for my flight. It’s supposed to board in about 15 minutes.
As for being back in the states….it’s super weird. I have replied to every official person I’ve spoken to in Spanish, I felt like such a dork. It wasn’t intentional, I just got so used to having to explain and defend myself in Spanish that it just comes out. It’s kind of funny though, because it really seems to confuse people. Also the fact that I was speaking to my dog in Spanish, hehe.
I’m half ashamed to say that, seeking immediate holiday flavor upon arrival, I purchased a Starbucks Pumpkin Pie Frapuccino. For $4.22. That would buy more than a meal in El Salvador. I don’t think I’ll be doing it again. And it’s sooo weird to see all these white people again. I feel like I stand out, even though when I think about it, I know I don’t.
It’s so weird. I miss El Salvador, even though I was ready to leave, maybe just because it felt normal. Hm. Well, at least it’s the holiday season, so I have family and festivities to look forward to. And my dog, who completes our happy trio of a family in her own quirky way.
It’s good to be back.
Boarding the plane in San Salvador, everyone had a ton of luggage. And everyone had Pollo Campero (like KFC I guess. No Salvadoran leaves home without it. – What’s more, I’m now in LAX awaiting my connecting flight to San Diego, and a man just sat down across from me with a large box of it.) There was so much luggage, not all the carryons would even fit. So we took off. The food on American Airlines, by the way, was pretty tasty. It was pretty weird hearing stewardesses speak English again.
So we get to LAX. And I’m super worried about my puppy. I book it through customs (welcome home, Melanie, always sounds good). Exiting customs, I go to get my bags to recheck them, and Pecas is sitting by herself (in her kennel) in the “oversize bags” section. Poor thing. I said hi to her and then took off to get a cart and she started whining and cry. After 15 minutes or so, I collected my black, unidentified bags (not sure what I was thinking there) and headed to the customs baggage thing. They asked me one question: “Do you have any dog food?” And when I said yes (I thought they wanted it to give it to her…I had literally a handful, along with some dog treats), then sent me around the x-ray machine (hence they neither x-rayed nor searched my bags. I’m such a rebel.) and someone else asked to see the dog food. When I showed her, she said “I’m really sorry, but since it’s not in a sealed bag, we’re going to have to ask you to get rid of it.” Uh, ok. Throw it away, I don’t care! After 15 more minutes of waiting for some guy to enter something in the computer about me bringing a dog (he didn’t ask to see her papers or anything though), they sent me off. The baggage guys were like, “Whoa dude, a dog. I dunno where that goes, man.” I said, “oh yeah, and how long have you worked here?” “Uh a while, but I jus’ deal with bags, never seen a dog.” Finally after asking a few other people, they agreed I had to take her upstairs to the “oversize bags” room. There, they told me to take her out of her kennel so they could inspect it or something, and then asked me to put her back in. She did not agree with this, and resisted with all her effort. I felt pretty bad about shoving her back in there.
And so now I’m waiting for my flight. It’s supposed to board in about 15 minutes.
As for being back in the states….it’s super weird. I have replied to every official person I’ve spoken to in Spanish, I felt like such a dork. It wasn’t intentional, I just got so used to having to explain and defend myself in Spanish that it just comes out. It’s kind of funny though, because it really seems to confuse people. Also the fact that I was speaking to my dog in Spanish, hehe.
I’m half ashamed to say that, seeking immediate holiday flavor upon arrival, I purchased a Starbucks Pumpkin Pie Frapuccino. For $4.22. That would buy more than a meal in El Salvador. I don’t think I’ll be doing it again. And it’s sooo weird to see all these white people again. I feel like I stand out, even though when I think about it, I know I don’t.
It’s so weird. I miss El Salvador, even though I was ready to leave, maybe just because it felt normal. Hm. Well, at least it’s the holiday season, so I have family and festivities to look forward to. And my dog, who completes our happy trio of a family in her own quirky way.
It’s good to be back.
it's official!
Water was too cold to swim....but Lake Atitlan was still gorgeous! Check out www.lacasadelmundo.com
Pecas is in a box right now about to board a plane. I bet she's still cute though.
Host Sis Yulissa just turned 8
Ok so I had to leave really early and we'd just woken up. We don't look our best. She's my best Salvo friend though (Aracely).
View during a hike up to some active lava in Guatemala. I was scared to death, but it was fun in retrospect.
Hm. Not sure how to turn this photo the right way. Matt was mad I made this supposedly touristy photo too artsy.
Melanie/Matthew.
It's official! I'm coming home. As in, I'm currently sitting in the San Salvador airport, hoping my dog isn't too scared in her kennel in whatever holding room they have her in before we fly. So, this past Tuesday, I quit Peace Corps. Matt had been visiting for a while (we visited gorgeous Guatemala), and after one last HIV/AIDS charla (chat) in the middle of the countryside, to mostly women (which Matt helped out with, along with Health Promoter extraordinaire, Misael), I told Misael I was leaving. He wasn't too happy...and I think he burned a hole through Matt's head with the look he gave him. My boss happened to be in my area that day as well, so I was able to officially quit in person. She later talked to Misael and assured him she'd try to get him another volunteer come April. She also told me he wasn't mad at me, just confused.
Why am I coming home? In a nutshell, I'd say because I joined Peace Corps looking for sort of an escape from American culture, and from all the things my liberal education have taught me to dislike. El Salvador is incredibly American, and it seems like everything I dislike about the states is worshiped here. So I became sort of disillusioned about Peace Corps. I still think PC does amazing things and allows people to make connections that will forever remain a part of their hearts. It just wasn't for me anymore.
Leaving wasn't easy. My host mom and sisters had tears in their eyes (as, of course, did I) as Matt and I walked to catch the bus. My boss ended up taking our luggage to the capital for us, which saved us $100 we would have had to pay a driver, so we went in bus first. When the dog arrived, she was disgusting. Thanks to "the crazy roads" and Bri's (my boss) driving, she puked all over her cage. Then she rolled around in it. So the bath that my neighbors gave her before her departure didn't do much good, and I had to take her to the shower immediately to get the stink off. Needless to say, she didn't get food before today's flight. Hopefully she's ok when I see her in like 10 hours.
So Matt, the dog, and I spent three days in the capital so I could get cleared up of all my PC stuff. This included about 7 medical appointments, checking everything from teeth to .... well everything. And I'm clear. No parasites! This was a true Christmas miracle...I really thought I'd have at least something...but no, I'm good to go. (thus have no stories to gross you out with).
In other news, I'm getting married soon....so that's exciting too.
For now, off to San Diego to spend some time with my mom (and to finally introduce her to Matt), and then back in Iowa for a few months at least, on Nov 27.
Cuidense mucho, y nos vemos pronto!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
a few pics
I was trying to put up more photos...but they aren´t loading at the moment. So here are the only ones I could get to. Quick update, I recently visited Mexico City (DF) to see Matt. That basically involved a soccer game, and lots of good food and walking around. And cheap dvds! (hello, fourth season of nip-tuck, only 10 bucks!) Then he got some random extra vacation and came back to El Sal to see me! Fun times. Sorry this update sucks. I´ll try to put up more photos and stories soon!
A bit of a walk to one of the highest parts of my immediate area..it´s pretty. And I, as usual, am pink-cheeked!
My lovely dog.
Sittin on a rock with Matt and me...contemplating life, I´m sure.
A bit of a walk to one of the highest parts of my immediate area..it´s pretty. And I, as usual, am pink-cheeked!
My lovely dog.
Sittin on a rock with Matt and me...contemplating life, I´m sure.Monday, July 23, 2007
4am: Let´s go to the Market!
So after drifting in and out of restless, half sick sleep all night, I was dismayed to finally look at my watch and realize it was 3:40am. I turned my alarm off, and stalled until 4, when I finally decided I wasn’t really sick and that I should get up. Wandering out my door, I ran into Rina, engripada (she has a cold) and wearing an oversized fleece jacket. In San Vicente, it’s actually cold in the morning.
I went to SanVi last week to help out with the fresh group of trainees because I’m a part of GAD, the Gender & Development committee. It’s fun stuff. So I stayed a couple of nights with my host fam from my training days (weird that it’s already been three months since I left there, time really does go pretty quick). I spent Friday at the training center, and then had a bet going with myself and the disbelieving Rina that I would actually get up at 4 in the morning. Why? To go to the market of course!
Rina and Tive do seasonal work. While I was living with them, it was sugar cane season, and they were constantly working in the molienda making molasses-like stuff. Now they’re harvesting the tomatoes, cucumbers and chiles they planted just as I was leaving. By about 4:20, I was already glad I was up. We were driving down the highway with a truck full of produce and people, and the sun had yet to rise. It was cool, calm, and almost pretty.
Then we got to the market area, about 45 minutes away.
Oranges. Chiles. Tomatoes. Live chickens. Socks. Potatoes. Yucca. Onions. Garlic. Jocotes. Zapote. Large slimy fish. Live turkeys. Coconuts. Corn. And people. Swarms of people, climbing over each other and the piles of produce, arguing over prices while men carrying 2 or 3 large sacks of produce over their backs squeezed through shouting “voy, voy voy!” (comin through, move or be trampled). It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen, if only for how people packed in around each other. I literally couldn’t move my feet for a while, there were so many sacks of produce and different vendors around me. And it seemed like every time someone would sell a sack of something and make a little room, a new vendor would swoop in with an even bigger sack or basket.
Vendors. I shouldn’t call them that. Most of them are farmers. Rina wanted to get $12 for her sacks of 300 chiles. She got 9 at most, and sold them at $2.50 for 100 instead of the $5 she was aiming for. One lady who bought chiles from us turned around and sat about 5 feet behind me, selling them in baggies for 4 for a quarter. So I guess the farmers never make out that great. After spending about 5 hours in the market, Rina came home with 40 some dollars from selling the week’s produce. Not much to feed her three kids and the nephew that now basically lives there as well.
It was a dizzying experience that I would never like to go through again, but I was glad to see that aspect of work. It never fails to give me a new appreciaion of how different people spend money, and the difference between people who really work for a living, and those who receive Remesas (cash) from family in the states (which is 1 in 3 families, according to a recent news article).
So, back in my site, I came home to a misbehaving dog. She likes to wander around in the street now, chewed through her leash to escape confinement while I was gone, and also got sick. My roommate, (sounds weird saying that, they don’t really use the term here) Aracely was very concerned that something would happen to my dog while I was gone and I would be really upset, so she kept sending me text message updates. I think she takes better care of that dog than I do, actually. She’s about 6 months old now. Anyone have tips on dog training??
So now I’m back in my site…and back to work. And it’s been thunder and lightening all night, but no rain. Wacky. Hope everyone is taking care…
I went to SanVi last week to help out with the fresh group of trainees because I’m a part of GAD, the Gender & Development committee. It’s fun stuff. So I stayed a couple of nights with my host fam from my training days (weird that it’s already been three months since I left there, time really does go pretty quick). I spent Friday at the training center, and then had a bet going with myself and the disbelieving Rina that I would actually get up at 4 in the morning. Why? To go to the market of course!
Rina and Tive do seasonal work. While I was living with them, it was sugar cane season, and they were constantly working in the molienda making molasses-like stuff. Now they’re harvesting the tomatoes, cucumbers and chiles they planted just as I was leaving. By about 4:20, I was already glad I was up. We were driving down the highway with a truck full of produce and people, and the sun had yet to rise. It was cool, calm, and almost pretty.
Then we got to the market area, about 45 minutes away.
Oranges. Chiles. Tomatoes. Live chickens. Socks. Potatoes. Yucca. Onions. Garlic. Jocotes. Zapote. Large slimy fish. Live turkeys. Coconuts. Corn. And people. Swarms of people, climbing over each other and the piles of produce, arguing over prices while men carrying 2 or 3 large sacks of produce over their backs squeezed through shouting “voy, voy voy!” (comin through, move or be trampled). It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen, if only for how people packed in around each other. I literally couldn’t move my feet for a while, there were so many sacks of produce and different vendors around me. And it seemed like every time someone would sell a sack of something and make a little room, a new vendor would swoop in with an even bigger sack or basket.
Vendors. I shouldn’t call them that. Most of them are farmers. Rina wanted to get $12 for her sacks of 300 chiles. She got 9 at most, and sold them at $2.50 for 100 instead of the $5 she was aiming for. One lady who bought chiles from us turned around and sat about 5 feet behind me, selling them in baggies for 4 for a quarter. So I guess the farmers never make out that great. After spending about 5 hours in the market, Rina came home with 40 some dollars from selling the week’s produce. Not much to feed her three kids and the nephew that now basically lives there as well.
It was a dizzying experience that I would never like to go through again, but I was glad to see that aspect of work. It never fails to give me a new appreciaion of how different people spend money, and the difference between people who really work for a living, and those who receive Remesas (cash) from family in the states (which is 1 in 3 families, according to a recent news article).
So, back in my site, I came home to a misbehaving dog. She likes to wander around in the street now, chewed through her leash to escape confinement while I was gone, and also got sick. My roommate, (sounds weird saying that, they don’t really use the term here) Aracely was very concerned that something would happen to my dog while I was gone and I would be really upset, so she kept sending me text message updates. I think she takes better care of that dog than I do, actually. She’s about 6 months old now. Anyone have tips on dog training??
So now I’m back in my site…and back to work. And it’s been thunder and lightening all night, but no rain. Wacky. Hope everyone is taking care…
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
address update, take 2
Super quick update, as I need to go catch a bus to go to Gotera (nearby city) for a “Morazan Meeting” with all the volunteers in the department of Morazan. I bailed on the last two meetings, so I feel it’s about time I made it to one.
So, update: I moved to a new house! Not one of my own, but I moved in with my friend Aracely, and her mom and little sister, Julissa. We just took her mom to the airport yesterday to go visit her 3 other kids in New York for 2 months though, so it’s just us in the house for now. I actually moved slightly outside of my working area, but it was just the right situation, and I am not really wanting to live totally alone right now. So I moved in with what are basically the sisters I never had. We spend way too much time teasing each other, laughing, and eating, but I’m really happy here.
My address: Since I know the post man, the mail will always get to me at the old address, but if you want a more permanent one, use this:
Melanie Patterson
Lista de Correos
Sociedad, Morazan
El Salvador, C.A.
Not much else is new. Just workin…I’ll get pics up of the new family soon. Take care everyone, and keep writing me, your letters definitely help keep me sane and make me feel a little connected even though you are all so very far away.
So, update: I moved to a new house! Not one of my own, but I moved in with my friend Aracely, and her mom and little sister, Julissa. We just took her mom to the airport yesterday to go visit her 3 other kids in New York for 2 months though, so it’s just us in the house for now. I actually moved slightly outside of my working area, but it was just the right situation, and I am not really wanting to live totally alone right now. So I moved in with what are basically the sisters I never had. We spend way too much time teasing each other, laughing, and eating, but I’m really happy here.
My address: Since I know the post man, the mail will always get to me at the old address, but if you want a more permanent one, use this:
Melanie Patterson
Lista de Correos
Sociedad, Morazan
El Salvador, C.A.
Not much else is new. Just workin…I’ll get pics up of the new family soon. Take care everyone, and keep writing me, your letters definitely help keep me sane and make me feel a little connected even though you are all so very far away.
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