Opener - Insert something clever about lack of photos
Hey gang, OK, one more update on the lack of pictures. I promise you some mad pictures one of these days, it is just that I never remember my camera cable when I come to the city (San Salv). When I do remember it, the internet near my site is so slow that it would be more efficient for me to walk to the states, develop the pictures (myself), and then walk them to each of your houses... you get the point.
Insert change of subject:
Anyway, let's talk a little bit about Jimbo getting truly settled into the life here in good ole' Salvador: Puberty was hard enough at 13... oh shit, I can't lie to you guys, I was a late bloomer... I went through it at 18 (23). Anyway, dad did give me a talk, but he didn't tell me I would change down there (El Salvador - which is south of the States, hence, "down there").
Two days ago, while walking to a football match with some guys from my site, a white tourist passes us in the neighboring town. I say, "Mire pues, un chelle". (Look guys, a white dude).
Why is this significant?
I said it as if I wasn't white... more importantly; I was actually surprised to see a white person.
Another significant thing that some of you might have missed: I typed 'football' (soccer) without even thinking about it... that would not have happened a few months ago.
Enter a typical dinner: beans, side of rice, four tortillas.
Three months ago you could not pay me enough to eat tortillas, I HATED them. Now that I live on my own and eat regular bread... I MISS THEM, and always ask for more, embarrassed that my host-mom will say no. She always gives me more, but with this weird smirk as if she knows I am changing - I am.
Comparing the US to El Salvador (in terms of rural thing - clearly I only have rural experience here).
Men here always ask me about how WE plant corn, or how WE milk cows, or how WE cut down brush (in the US)... I know respond with, "people in the states don't do it as well as WE* do it here".
*I am accepted here, but these people never confuse me for a Salvadoran.
I learned about this in a 300 level culture class at MSU - "the other" (TM, Hall) is a term used for those who are from one culture (through birth) but live in another ((i.e. Jimbo living in rural El Salvador)). "The other" is always seen as different and continuously makes efforts to gain cultural acceptance through language, dress, nonverbal communication, whatever... I am living proof of this. It is weird, I love it and I bet it is going to be a weird Christmas vacation when I visit my family and they ask me to pick the fun activity for the night and I tell them that I want us to boil a huge pot of coffee, talk about how much it rained and then go to be early so that we can dawn early enough to make fresh tortillas for breakfast.
Jimbo
out.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Am I Good At Not Writing Or What?
Se les saludas a todas y todos! Lo siento for not updating this enough... Anyway, a lot has happened (or at least I think a lot has happened) so I will just dive and throw it at you. Take it as you will. Also, no pics this time, trust me - some good ones to come. In terms of work, I have been keeping very busy. My English class had its first exam the other week. We have been studying 'how to present yourself'.
Anatomy of a 'How to Present Yourself' Exam.
"Hello, my name is Jim. What is your name?"
"Heeeeloo, Him, my naaaame is Edith. How are you?" (In the cutest think Spanish accent ever)
"Edith, I am well, thank you. How are you?"
"I am well, thank you. Niiice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you."
It was SO cool giving these kids their exam. They were very, very nervous but all did very well. Their faces lit up when I gave them high fives and wrote 10/10 on a sheet of paper to give to them!
I just gave a nice discussion at the latest PTA meeting over respect and the importance of it. The students are amazing in my site but sometimes they just want to do what they want to do (regular kids right?). Anyway, I more or less informed the parents about some of the stuff that could be improved and then taught some techniques of how to condition kids to show more respect (i.e. please and thank you...). At the end of the meeting the mothers and I discussed having a community hangout night in the near future. All of them seemed totally psyched about it, but said we would need to wait until December when the families have more free time. I am psyched, and waiting to gather the troops to plan the heck out of this event!
I am also starting to give guitar lessons at my house a few days a week. After about three weeks of kids coming up to me and literally saying, "and the guitar?” I said, "yes, the guitar - I'm going to teach you". I think some of the kids are a little too young to learn (aka the guitar is double the size of them) but they enjoy trying - so I am all about it!
A few days ago, I came home to find that my barril of water (which I use to bathe) was full of mosquitoes and larva. So I am going to initiate a clean water campaign in my site. I got in contact with my local health promoter and she is going to give me little bags called abate. These will clean and prevent that insects and their eggs can live in our water sources. I am so geared to get this project going. The plan is to go house to house, chatting it up, and then tossing a few of those suckers in everyone’s barrel and/or pila.
Last weekend I took a little trip to the western side of the country. The departamento of Santa Ana to visit a good buddy of mine, Gabe. It was his birthday, and about 12 of us pilled in at his house to celebrate. Not going to lie, some beers were purchased and I acted as if I was a freshmen at Michigan State University (I passed out water to re-hydrate and was the designated driver). The next night, we all took off for the beach. We hung out, had a few drinks and enjoyed the company of other white people. Then, I made the best decision ever. Our hotel was right on the water, and I decided to take a little hike along the shore. I found an old tree fort right on the water, climbed up, and decided to spend the night outside on the beach shore. I saw nothing but my long legs, my feet and the cresting waves! It was the best night’s sleep I have had in a long time, also completely safe (sorry mom).
I came into town today to send in a quarterly report, which works out perfectly, because it means I can stick around and watch the presidential debate tonight! SCORE FOR ME!
Things are starting to move a lot more smoothly. I am getting use to the slow pace of life and progress. Sometimes I look down and see that my leg is shaking like I’m waiting for the gun at the start of a 100 yard dash and I say, “relax Jimbo, you have more time, lets take slowly”. I have learned that slow is good and the little things count the most:
Things that work in El Salvador:
- Rapping while your English students are drawing a person and labeling the clothes that they are wearing.
- Throwing out your hand and yelling “Dame cinco” and then giving a high-five. Then folding one of your fingers and yelling “dame cuarto”… and repeating the process until the kids are on the ground laughing.
- Making jokes about how the road looks more like a river when it is raining, while making swimming motions with your hands and saying “I forgot my bathing suit”.
- Telling people over and over again that people in the states do not eat tortillas.
- Asking three year olds if I can borrow their toys for the rest of my life. (For some reason mothers really get a kick out of this).
OK guys, that is all I have for now. I promise in the near future an update with fotos!
Hiimboooo
Anatomy of a 'How to Present Yourself' Exam.
"Hello, my name is Jim. What is your name?"
"Heeeeloo, Him, my naaaame is Edith. How are you?" (In the cutest think Spanish accent ever)
"Edith, I am well, thank you. How are you?"
"I am well, thank you. Niiice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you."
It was SO cool giving these kids their exam. They were very, very nervous but all did very well. Their faces lit up when I gave them high fives and wrote 10/10 on a sheet of paper to give to them!
I just gave a nice discussion at the latest PTA meeting over respect and the importance of it. The students are amazing in my site but sometimes they just want to do what they want to do (regular kids right?). Anyway, I more or less informed the parents about some of the stuff that could be improved and then taught some techniques of how to condition kids to show more respect (i.e. please and thank you...). At the end of the meeting the mothers and I discussed having a community hangout night in the near future. All of them seemed totally psyched about it, but said we would need to wait until December when the families have more free time. I am psyched, and waiting to gather the troops to plan the heck out of this event!
I am also starting to give guitar lessons at my house a few days a week. After about three weeks of kids coming up to me and literally saying, "and the guitar?” I said, "yes, the guitar - I'm going to teach you". I think some of the kids are a little too young to learn (aka the guitar is double the size of them) but they enjoy trying - so I am all about it!
A few days ago, I came home to find that my barril of water (which I use to bathe) was full of mosquitoes and larva. So I am going to initiate a clean water campaign in my site. I got in contact with my local health promoter and she is going to give me little bags called abate. These will clean and prevent that insects and their eggs can live in our water sources. I am so geared to get this project going. The plan is to go house to house, chatting it up, and then tossing a few of those suckers in everyone’s barrel and/or pila.
Last weekend I took a little trip to the western side of the country. The departamento of Santa Ana to visit a good buddy of mine, Gabe. It was his birthday, and about 12 of us pilled in at his house to celebrate. Not going to lie, some beers were purchased and I acted as if I was a freshmen at Michigan State University (I passed out water to re-hydrate and was the designated driver). The next night, we all took off for the beach. We hung out, had a few drinks and enjoyed the company of other white people. Then, I made the best decision ever. Our hotel was right on the water, and I decided to take a little hike along the shore. I found an old tree fort right on the water, climbed up, and decided to spend the night outside on the beach shore. I saw nothing but my long legs, my feet and the cresting waves! It was the best night’s sleep I have had in a long time, also completely safe (sorry mom).
I came into town today to send in a quarterly report, which works out perfectly, because it means I can stick around and watch the presidential debate tonight! SCORE FOR ME!
Things are starting to move a lot more smoothly. I am getting use to the slow pace of life and progress. Sometimes I look down and see that my leg is shaking like I’m waiting for the gun at the start of a 100 yard dash and I say, “relax Jimbo, you have more time, lets take slowly”. I have learned that slow is good and the little things count the most:
Things that work in El Salvador:
- Rapping while your English students are drawing a person and labeling the clothes that they are wearing.
- Throwing out your hand and yelling “Dame cinco” and then giving a high-five. Then folding one of your fingers and yelling “dame cuarto”… and repeating the process until the kids are on the ground laughing.
- Making jokes about how the road looks more like a river when it is raining, while making swimming motions with your hands and saying “I forgot my bathing suit”.
- Telling people over and over again that people in the states do not eat tortillas.
- Asking three year olds if I can borrow their toys for the rest of my life. (For some reason mothers really get a kick out of this).
OK guys, that is all I have for now. I promise in the near future an update with fotos!
Hiimboooo
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