Putting time in

I really wanted to come back to the campo after going to the beach.

That might seem like an odd statement coming from me, but it's true. I hadn't left my site in what felt like a million years and so when I finally did I felt hurried and sweaty and tired. After a 5 hours stint waiting for the micro to arrive, I came home and nearly kissed the gray cinderblocks. Home sweet home!

So what have I been doing the past few months that I so desperately wanted to come back to? Have a look:

English class is... going. I realized that I actually love teaching, but I hate dealing with kids. I don't really have a good vibe with the new class. There are too many students crammed in to the small classroom, and they feel like they have to be there and so that makes it boring. Part of that was a mishap with the Directora, when she came in to my class and warned the kids that if they miss my class they won't be allowed to enter their other classes all day. I'm grateful that she values my time and is trying to impress that on to my students, but damn! I don't want kids getting kicked out of math class because they couldn't make my extra, apart from normal hours English club/class. Math is important, learning colors in English is not. It really isn't! One hour of English a week is not enough to really learn anything, but I do it because some kids want the exposure to something new. The other 80% of class though has been acting up and I'm getting real impatient.

I hope that the Directora approves my financial literacy classes to start next month. Understanding money and how it works is so much more useful than my not-really-English-class. Literally, no one cares if you can say "yellow" and "green". What's much more time worthy is learning how to save and budget money, even if it's a few dollars a month. Those skills alone will be relevant for life.

Of course, even of the Directora approves my classes there is a strong possibility that the kids won't show up. But I'm prepared for that. In fact, a part of me expects for this to fail. I really hope it doesn't though. Keep your fingers crossed.

One day I was coming to English class and I saw the 3rd graders playing COED SOCCER (whoa) with the soccer balls I got donated at the end of last year. It was a real pick me up to see them play. 

I attended the graduation party of my old host sister. She graduated college, which is a huge deal. She is the first in her family to go to college and I'm very proud of her. I think she's a good role model for other youth in the community. I came over before the party to help with all the balloons and paper mache. Sooooooo much paper mache. It was fun though because I got to spend some valuable time with my sobrina Aysel.

Everyone called her liscenciada all day, which means college graduate. It was fun!

I got to hang out with Aysel and take lots of selfies!

My adorable old host parents. My host dad walked my sister down the aisle for graduation, so he has a matching tie. I was so proud that my host mom tried out a new dress for the occasion. So fierce! 

There was a religious mariachi band, too! And I mean religious. Part of the deal is that they lead culto during the party. It was very them.

My host mom was overjoyed to see me. 

We also planned an elaborate surprise birthday party for my current host sister. This literally took weeks to plan and I don't know how but we kept it a secret! I think she knew something was up when Orbelina made bread early and her mom cooked a full meal and put it in tuperware. Me and the other bichas schemed a "trip to the waterfall" to get my host sister out of the house. I said I wanted to take a break from walking in the shade of the school and I snapped this pic right before my host family showed up in the back of a pick up truck. Surprise! We're going to Apalipul! The waterpark was actually really nice, and had lots of slides and a deep pool. I was of course the only one in a swimsuit, as the typical dress for swimming here is jeans and a t-shirt. We ate cake and rice and tortillas, and came home tired but happy.

Look more surprised! 

My host fam. Happy birthday! 

With the cake.

In February I planted seeds my dad sent me last year. I now have basil, zucchini and green beans growing alongside the green peppers my host dad planted. Before he went to health promoter school, he used to sell whatever he could grow in the market. That's what he lived on. I believe him because all of our plants are growing well! He and the neighbor kid made a bamboo/garbage/old door garden to keep the chickens out. 

We started the seeds in a big bucket. This was the end of February.

Then we built this! With old soda bottles, bamboo and the door. 

Zucchini coming in strong! 

These were my great grandfather's green beans. How cool that they're now in El Salvador!?

The basil, slow but sure. 

The door serves a new purpose. 

Graduation in Year 2

This past week was graduation for kindergarten and 9th grade, and it was different in every way from last year's celebrations.  I think the greatest change is that this year I understood and accepted so much more.

Last year, for example, I was so confused as to why there were Catholic mass and culto during the graduations. I kept asking if the schools were private, thus skirting the separation of church and state. Now I understand that religion simply reins supreme in El Salvador, and education, religion, and politics are blurred together.

This year I was a participant in the graduation and not just following around my host sisters. Actually, I handed over my camera to them so they could take pictures of me! I was in the mesa de honor, which means I was responsible for handing out the diplomas and shaking every. single. little. hand. (It's ok, I brought my berry sangria hand sanitizer because I knew this was coming.)

I went to culto (on time, but we started the typical 45 minutes late) and politely abstained from talking in tongues while the pastor yelled in the mic. Geez, I really can't give the evangelists a break. It actually wasn't that bad! I know what culto entails now and I wasn't fazed by it. A year of the Jesus radio preacher and next door culto speaker distortion has really shored up my strength for respecting religious differences (even if I totally disagree with the angry screaming and no pants rule). I was happy that my students could share their special day with their main man, Dios.

I walked at the head of the parade from the culto to the school with the director and the representative from the Ministry of Education. He was a nice man and we implored him to work a little harder for our school. Like, how about a few more teachers? Enough to teach all the grades? We'll see what next year will bring. (I have some videos of the parade and culto, but I'll have to upload them when I have better internet.)

I'm notoriously silly and cheerful in my community, almost to a fault. I was a big, happy presence in the midsts of an over serious kindergarten graduation. I don't think kids should anti-smile in photos. It's just wrong. I'd crack a few jokes and get a good smile every once in a while. I think they were also terrified to walk across the stage in front of all their families.

My 9th graders were great and I was so proud to hand over their diplomas. I even gave a speech before I presented my participation diplomas for basic English class. They, in turn, presented me with a diploma. I want to frame this and hang it right next to my master's degree. Sometimes I wonder which diploma was more difficult to earn...

After the ceremony the mesa de honor ate lunch. I really enjoyed lunch. I was starving! I was so happy that the band was rented all day and kept playing during our meal so I wouldn't have to waste precious breath on conversation as I shoveled rice, chicken, and tortillas in my mouth. If you think I might be exaggerating you'd be wrong. I ate like a champ.

I scarfed down my food because I hadn't been invited to anyone's graduation party, so might as well fill up! I know that parties are a huge expense for families, and so I wasn't expecting anyone to invite me unless they really wanted me there. I walked my overstuffed butt home and almost made it when Alfredo stopped me in the street and smoothly directed me inside the house. A sneaky invite! Him and Yohanna (I suspect they are dating) had a joint graduation party and yes, I ate another plate of chicken and rice (opted out of tortillas).

I had the misfortune of sitting next to a really rude man who had just been deported from the US. He'd been there since 1999. He'd tell me a stupid story about naming his daughter after a stripper and I'd respond in Spanish with something like "Interesante," even though nothing about this man was interesting. I got the feeling that he just wanted to be a jerk because no one could understand him. Oh, and he's the pastor's brother. I bet they don't see eye to eye. He's making the camino north again on December 8. This man is honestly one of the first people I've met here that I hope doesn't make it.

Rude guy aside, I had a really great day. I'm so proud of my students and I'm proud of myself. Last year I didn't know a single person at the graduation and this year I could look out on the crowd and wave to all my friends. I'd catch the eye of a kid in my art class and make a funny face, and I know it made their day. After the ceremony I talked with the moms of my students and told them to feel proud of their kids, and they did. I hugged one of my crying students and she couldn't even talk, she just hugged me back. I guess the best way to describe how I felt yesterday would be "overflowing with love." I literally could not contain my happiness and pride, and all that after only 13 months in-site.

I think this is what Peace Corps is really about- seeing the change inside yourself.

Mesa de honor. My smile really stands out. 

Valmoris is in my art class and usually very upbeat. I think he was nervous here!

Kenny escorted his half-sister Marilu. They're super cute, if a little too serious. 

Ana has the exact same teenage angst that my sister has, so I usually make faces like this at her when she's rolling her eyes.

Me giving a speech. It was actually a good one. 

My oldest student. I'm so proud of him! His daughters are super cute, too.

Poor Ana. She can't escape me!

Over joyed parents. 

The band. Keep playing!

Ive had my camera, so of course there was a photo shoot with Aysel. 

The 9th graders with the mesa de honor. 

Gissel was crying on me.

Alfredo won a medal for having good grades. 

My kids. I'll never forget this class! 

Graduation 2013

I've spent the past two weeks attending graduation ceremonies for kindergartners and 9th grade. I'll let the pictures tell the story:

My host nephew, Wilfredo, graduated last Thursday from the school in the canton over. We started the day with a photo shoot.

Me and Cori, my host sister who goes to the university in San Miguel during the week

Edwin, looking like a macho Salvadoran man

From left: Kenny, Cori, Edwin, Ale

Wilfredo and me. I was surprised by his hand placement... 

Here I'm thinking "I hope this isn't the Rico Suave I was meant to meet in ES"

Cori, Wil, Yo

Edwin and Aysel. I'm glad she's too young to pick up on the no-smile Salvadoran smile. 

The ceremony was in the casa comunal de San Lucas

Every graduate has an escort, and they're the only ones who get to sit :( Usually it's a family member around the same age or a parent. Cori was Wil's escort. 

Why wouldn't there be a Catholic mass at the public school's graduation ceremony?

From left: Lili and Marili, my community guide's daughter and granddaughter 

Karime, my community guide's other granddaughter. This is what all the female kindergartners wore for graduation. No caps and gowns here, but lots of rhinestones.  

The 9th grade graduates

Me and Glenda. I went to her quince on my first day here

Wil, Edwin, Ivenia

Cori, Wil, Edwin, Ivenia

Woo! More pics!

 Yesterday was the kindergarten graduation for La Montañita. It was super cute!

Everyone walking back from the Evangelical mass part of the graduation ceremony. Why wouldn't there be an Evangelical mass at the public school's graduation ceremony? Vaquito makes his presence known. 

Sergio, my new friend, escorts his graduate friend

The kiddies

Mesa de honor

The kids sang a song at the end. My battery died right in the middle of the song!

 Today I went to the 9th grade graduation for La Montañita. I only took one picture because honestly I'm all graduated out. Where's the cake?

Color change at the mesa de honor, everyone taking pictures

Of course we've had family graduate at every ceremony, so I've been going to a lot of parties. Typical food here is fried chicken, rice, coleslaw and tortillas with a coke on the side. I've eaten more the past week than I have the past month. It's been fun, but exhausting! I'm glad I went to everyone's ceremony though. It's important to support the youth in the community. I even got a few shout outs from the mesa de honor!

And hey, I got some sweet pics with my wanna-be GQ model host nephew. Right!?