Typical day in the United States:
Wake up, eat breakfast, maybe some yard work on the weekend, head to the park to play basketball with your friends.
That exact same day in El Salvador (see if you can spot the difference):
Wake up, eat breakfast, yard work/chores on the weekend. While waiting for your friend to come grab you to head to the park to play some basketball, your neighbor comes over and asks you to go to the field with him – he is holding rope, a wheelbarrow, and a machete (so obviously you say yes without hesitation). After the ten minute walk, you notice that there is a baby calf lying on the ground next to its less than happy mother. Your neighbor instructs you to pick up the newborn (umbilical chord still attached) and carry it a half mile back to your house where your whole family is waiting for you applauding. The whole time the 700 pound mother is taunting you, possibly trying to shoot you in the eye with milk. You get home just in time to hear that your friend has left for the game without you – but you have a solid excuse for your tardiness.
Life Goals:
Become fluent in Spanish
Never completely grow up
Carry 60 pound baby calf a half mile back to your house that is near a volcano.
One down, two to go,
Jimbo
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
I heart Vnecks
V-neck,
The V Neck T-Shirt is without a doubt in the top three greatest inventions of all time. Why? Because it is compatible with every type of dress-code situation that can be thrown at you:
Sunny day? Want to tan but it is not appropriate to take the shirt off? No problem, V-neck gives ample room for the rays to get you looking real good.
Running late to a meeting and are worried about it affecting your professional reputation? Throw on a V-Neck, once your colleagues see that chest-hair peaking over the V of your shirt – they will know that you are serious and mean absolute business. Chest hair doesn’t lie nor does it joke around.
However, if there was an error to the v-neck design I might have found it in El Salvador. While sitting in training I have noticed that I feel a bit… oh what is the word? – exposed. I have paid more attention to this; the normal lower case v that I am accustomed to is turning into an upper case V in bold lettering. This means less shirt, more V, and weird glances my way.
Hand washing my clothes today, I have decided that the overall process stretches the V too far. Which is great to know because out of the 16 t-shirt that I brought, 4 of them are regular t-shirts (saved me stubbs).
Unintentionally revealing myself more and more everyday,
Brittany Spears
The V Neck T-Shirt is without a doubt in the top three greatest inventions of all time. Why? Because it is compatible with every type of dress-code situation that can be thrown at you:
Sunny day? Want to tan but it is not appropriate to take the shirt off? No problem, V-neck gives ample room for the rays to get you looking real good.
Running late to a meeting and are worried about it affecting your professional reputation? Throw on a V-Neck, once your colleagues see that chest-hair peaking over the V of your shirt – they will know that you are serious and mean absolute business. Chest hair doesn’t lie nor does it joke around.
However, if there was an error to the v-neck design I might have found it in El Salvador. While sitting in training I have noticed that I feel a bit… oh what is the word? – exposed. I have paid more attention to this; the normal lower case v that I am accustomed to is turning into an upper case V in bold lettering. This means less shirt, more V, and weird glances my way.
Hand washing my clothes today, I have decided that the overall process stretches the V too far. Which is great to know because out of the 16 t-shirt that I brought, 4 of them are regular t-shirts (saved me stubbs).
Unintentionally revealing myself more and more everyday,
Brittany Spears
Religion: Physical Challenge
Before I start this blog entry, I just want to make a quick comment. I have read over my previous entries, and I just want to let everyone know that the sarcastic or humorous stuff is in no way a cheap shot at El Salvador or the amazing people here that have done nothing but accept me so far. The jokes and sarcastic comments are just ways for me to vent out my frustrations of adapting to a new culture, being the outsider, being far away from home, and leaving many things behind cold-turkey… if they had a nicorette gum for leaving great friendships and family behind, I would be hooked.
OK – so after doing all that is “La Semana Santa”, man do I have a lot of information to process and translate. If there is one thing I have learned, Catholicism as a whole is without a doubt taken a lot more serious here. This is a solid comparison – let’s say Catholicism back home is an average professional baseball player. Solid arm, good foot speed, can hit the ball and makes some great plays every now and then (lets not forget he looks great in a uniform). In Monileros, Catholicism is Barry Bonds. Crushing homeruns, stealing bases, hopped up on steroids and just owning the record books. Religion is on steroids here. I realize that is a funny or unusual comparison, but I really do not mean anything negative about back home or hear with all of the above. It is just very obvious that there are major differences. I tell people that I am a Catholic here and they laugh at me as if I am a lightweight. This brings out my competitive side and leads to the following: In the last four days I went to over 8 masses, spent hours at the church cleaning and preparing, and also participated in a procession in which I was one of six guys that helped carry a 250 pound tomb of Jesus throughout the canton for an hour and a half – I did this on three separate occasions. I have bruises on my hombres (shoulders) to prove it. Last night I went to mass at 8 pm, and got home by 12:30am just in time to get to sleep so that I could wake up by 6 am to get to mass. Other Peace Corps Volunteers have told me that everyone in the community has been talking about the Gringo that was very involved in the events – which honestly is a pretty cool feeling because I am really trying to find my way here. I finally know what rushing a frat is like… Lambi Si Phi Salvador for life!!!!
After some serious thought I am beginning to realize why religion is so different here. I am surrounded by amazing, kind hearted, all around great people back home – and I am not placing judgement on the way we live. However, in comparison to the people here – we have so many amenities, privileges and over all benefits of living in the United States that take up a considerable large amount of our time. Middle class in the Untitled State is absolutely WEALTHY compared to life here. The people in Monileros work hard all day, have their families, and have religion. It is simple, pure, and a lot of effort is poured into all three. It is very humbling to live among people that thank God everyday for the absolute essentials, when I know for a fact that I have complained about not having all the little extras that I absolutely do not need. I guess with all those comforts it is kind of easy to loose sight of what is really important. (I am not trying to preach to all of you, this is purely some self-reflection at the end of a long day). It is going to be a hard, yet amazing experience living in such conditions for an extended period of time.
Other then that, the Spanish has kind of taken a turn for the worst. I feel like I am not learning anything right now. I have a very hard time understanding my house family. It is either young kids talking, very fast and quiet; or my house parents, who are older and mumble. I hope things pick up, I have been studying and am not seeing any great results just yet. I still have a ton of time to get back at it though.
OK – so after doing all that is “La Semana Santa”, man do I have a lot of information to process and translate. If there is one thing I have learned, Catholicism as a whole is without a doubt taken a lot more serious here. This is a solid comparison – let’s say Catholicism back home is an average professional baseball player. Solid arm, good foot speed, can hit the ball and makes some great plays every now and then (lets not forget he looks great in a uniform). In Monileros, Catholicism is Barry Bonds. Crushing homeruns, stealing bases, hopped up on steroids and just owning the record books. Religion is on steroids here. I realize that is a funny or unusual comparison, but I really do not mean anything negative about back home or hear with all of the above. It is just very obvious that there are major differences. I tell people that I am a Catholic here and they laugh at me as if I am a lightweight. This brings out my competitive side and leads to the following: In the last four days I went to over 8 masses, spent hours at the church cleaning and preparing, and also participated in a procession in which I was one of six guys that helped carry a 250 pound tomb of Jesus throughout the canton for an hour and a half – I did this on three separate occasions. I have bruises on my hombres (shoulders) to prove it. Last night I went to mass at 8 pm, and got home by 12:30am just in time to get to sleep so that I could wake up by 6 am to get to mass. Other Peace Corps Volunteers have told me that everyone in the community has been talking about the Gringo that was very involved in the events – which honestly is a pretty cool feeling because I am really trying to find my way here. I finally know what rushing a frat is like… Lambi Si Phi Salvador for life!!!!
After some serious thought I am beginning to realize why religion is so different here. I am surrounded by amazing, kind hearted, all around great people back home – and I am not placing judgement on the way we live. However, in comparison to the people here – we have so many amenities, privileges and over all benefits of living in the United States that take up a considerable large amount of our time. Middle class in the Untitled State is absolutely WEALTHY compared to life here. The people in Monileros work hard all day, have their families, and have religion. It is simple, pure, and a lot of effort is poured into all three. It is very humbling to live among people that thank God everyday for the absolute essentials, when I know for a fact that I have complained about not having all the little extras that I absolutely do not need. I guess with all those comforts it is kind of easy to loose sight of what is really important. (I am not trying to preach to all of you, this is purely some self-reflection at the end of a long day). It is going to be a hard, yet amazing experience living in such conditions for an extended period of time.
Other then that, the Spanish has kind of taken a turn for the worst. I feel like I am not learning anything right now. I have a very hard time understanding my house family. It is either young kids talking, very fast and quiet; or my house parents, who are older and mumble. I hope things pick up, I have been studying and am not seeing any great results just yet. I still have a ton of time to get back at it though.
Tuesdays with Malaria
Tuesdays with Malaria:
The Peace Corps takes the health and safety of its volunteers as priority number uno. To make a comparison, if a Peace Corps Volunteer where an international airport, the national security color would always be red (as opposed to green or orange). Have you ever been at the airport and heard that the terror threat is at orange? When I hear that I know that we are only in a little bit of trouble. So I only drop half of my stuff, and take off down the terminal screaming with tears running down my face. This ends with three flight attendants helping me to my seat, and a mid-flight visit to the cockpit where I receive wings and a chance to “fly” the airplane.
Anyway, with safety in mind, we are given medicine and vaccinations on a weekly basis. Tuesdays are with Morrie… I mean malaria. After dinner every Tuesday, I pop two pills that will apparently save my life.
Possible Side Effects of Tuesdays with Morrie are not limited to, but may include: upset stomach, loss of appetite, mild to server drowsiness, receiving pennies while trick or treating, loss of hair for men, mild hallucinations, bad dreams, super powers, bad presents on Christmas, inability to come with the terms that she is just not that into you, and horrible blog entries.
But on a serious note, I take this stuff every Tuesday night and it gives me the worst dreams ever. I have dreams that there are gang members in my room, and I wake up reacting like a 7 year old kid and run into my parents room to sleep for the night. I come to just in time to realize that my parents are a 64 year old Salvadoran couple who don’t speak English, and that I decided to sleep nude which made the walk back to my bed really embarrassing.
In conclusion, this medicine stinks, and I hate the side-effects.
But at least I still have Tuesdays with Malaria to look forward too.
The Peace Corps takes the health and safety of its volunteers as priority number uno. To make a comparison, if a Peace Corps Volunteer where an international airport, the national security color would always be red (as opposed to green or orange). Have you ever been at the airport and heard that the terror threat is at orange? When I hear that I know that we are only in a little bit of trouble. So I only drop half of my stuff, and take off down the terminal screaming with tears running down my face. This ends with three flight attendants helping me to my seat, and a mid-flight visit to the cockpit where I receive wings and a chance to “fly” the airplane.
Anyway, with safety in mind, we are given medicine and vaccinations on a weekly basis. Tuesdays are with Morrie… I mean malaria. After dinner every Tuesday, I pop two pills that will apparently save my life.
Possible Side Effects of Tuesdays with Morrie are not limited to, but may include: upset stomach, loss of appetite, mild to server drowsiness, receiving pennies while trick or treating, loss of hair for men, mild hallucinations, bad dreams, super powers, bad presents on Christmas, inability to come with the terms that she is just not that into you, and horrible blog entries.
But on a serious note, I take this stuff every Tuesday night and it gives me the worst dreams ever. I have dreams that there are gang members in my room, and I wake up reacting like a 7 year old kid and run into my parents room to sleep for the night. I come to just in time to realize that my parents are a 64 year old Salvadoran couple who don’t speak English, and that I decided to sleep nude which made the walk back to my bed really embarrassing.
In conclusion, this medicine stinks, and I hate the side-effects.
But at least I still have Tuesdays with Malaria to look forward too.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
One Day In the Life
Una dia en la vida,
Hola todos! Estan buenas? The Spanish is starting to really pick up which is insane. I mean, I still talk at the level of a two year old. But a two year old who is on schedule to start beggindergarden at the normal age!!
For training we had a version of ‘take your son to work day’. I got to follow my family around and see how they live a normal day. I woke up and worked with my house mom a little bit – in the garden, the kitchen, etc. Salvador, especially in rural areas which are very conservative, has a reversed society. Gender roles are very obvious and not broken. The men bring home the bacon, and the women take care of the house and the kids. Men actually have little conversation with their families, and I have learned that this is not disrespectful. It is just the way things are. I do my own dishes and try to help out, but it is very hard to. My house mom continues to do my laundry even though I tell her not to. (We don’t have a machine, laundry is done by hand).
At around 10:00 am, I went into el campo (the fields) with my house dad. Every man in El Salvador carries a machete around with him at all time. It is used for work and is a little intimidating at times (who is going to mess with someone who has a machete?). Assuming I would be working with him I was very excited to start breaking down some walls in terms of conversation. He left me with my brother Ociel, who is 18. However, he did give me a machete and I spent 4 hours cutting down branches. We dry the branches out and use them to build a fire under the stove that we make tortillas on! I got a little bit of respect because I had a huge blood blister from using the machete. All the guys thought I would complain because I am a lazy American. They kept looking at me saying “te duele? Te duele?” Which means, does that hurt? I said no, and that was the first time the old man here called me by my name Jaime – Jim doesn’t fly here.
I also learned a word that only men use when people ask: “como estas?” (how are you). Men say: “Estoy cachinbon” Which just means ‘I am fine’. It doesn’t mean much, but when you are in the field with a bunch of old school farmers and you just throw out “Cachinbon” like you know what you are doing – it’s like dating the cool girl at school or something? Haha, wow I’m weird.
Other than that, life is slow here. I wake up REALLY early, between 6 and 7. Take a bucket bath, eat breakfast and either take the bus to San Vicente for training, or stay in my canton for language and cultural class. We are starting to get into the swing of things and I am anxious to see where I fit in.
I have been real good about being excited to be here. However, Monday someone told me that it was St. Patrick’s Day. I had completely forgotten this, and at that moment a shock of homesickness was sent through my entire body. I have spent the last 4 Saint Patties with my best friends just having fun and enjoying being young and dumb. It made me think about Dave Hannon too. Those of you who don’t know him, he is one of my best friends who is a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kazakhstan – I haven’t seen him in almost 8 months. This was the only day that I spent a great amount of time thinking about others at home wondering what they were doing. Especially everyone at Michigan State. I can’t imagine what Vraniak and Willy were up too, haha. (And watch out for those 428 Grove ladies).
Jokes: Why don’t you ever put an Irish man’s drink on the roof?
- Because he will think it is on the house.
Why do you only give an Irish man 239 beans?
- Because one more and it would be two-farty.
(This is an example of how I spend my downtime)
I cannot add pictures just yet, because we have certain rules about the Peace Corps computer and software that we cannot break. But the second I can, I will put a bunch up. I hope you like cows and volcanoes.
Thank you so much for the e-mail responses, you have no idea how close to home it takes me,
Jimbo
Hola todos! Estan buenas? The Spanish is starting to really pick up which is insane. I mean, I still talk at the level of a two year old. But a two year old who is on schedule to start beggindergarden at the normal age!!
For training we had a version of ‘take your son to work day’. I got to follow my family around and see how they live a normal day. I woke up and worked with my house mom a little bit – in the garden, the kitchen, etc. Salvador, especially in rural areas which are very conservative, has a reversed society. Gender roles are very obvious and not broken. The men bring home the bacon, and the women take care of the house and the kids. Men actually have little conversation with their families, and I have learned that this is not disrespectful. It is just the way things are. I do my own dishes and try to help out, but it is very hard to. My house mom continues to do my laundry even though I tell her not to. (We don’t have a machine, laundry is done by hand).
At around 10:00 am, I went into el campo (the fields) with my house dad. Every man in El Salvador carries a machete around with him at all time. It is used for work and is a little intimidating at times (who is going to mess with someone who has a machete?). Assuming I would be working with him I was very excited to start breaking down some walls in terms of conversation. He left me with my brother Ociel, who is 18. However, he did give me a machete and I spent 4 hours cutting down branches. We dry the branches out and use them to build a fire under the stove that we make tortillas on! I got a little bit of respect because I had a huge blood blister from using the machete. All the guys thought I would complain because I am a lazy American. They kept looking at me saying “te duele? Te duele?” Which means, does that hurt? I said no, and that was the first time the old man here called me by my name Jaime – Jim doesn’t fly here.
I also learned a word that only men use when people ask: “como estas?” (how are you). Men say: “Estoy cachinbon” Which just means ‘I am fine’. It doesn’t mean much, but when you are in the field with a bunch of old school farmers and you just throw out “Cachinbon” like you know what you are doing – it’s like dating the cool girl at school or something? Haha, wow I’m weird.
Other than that, life is slow here. I wake up REALLY early, between 6 and 7. Take a bucket bath, eat breakfast and either take the bus to San Vicente for training, or stay in my canton for language and cultural class. We are starting to get into the swing of things and I am anxious to see where I fit in.
I have been real good about being excited to be here. However, Monday someone told me that it was St. Patrick’s Day. I had completely forgotten this, and at that moment a shock of homesickness was sent through my entire body. I have spent the last 4 Saint Patties with my best friends just having fun and enjoying being young and dumb. It made me think about Dave Hannon too. Those of you who don’t know him, he is one of my best friends who is a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kazakhstan – I haven’t seen him in almost 8 months. This was the only day that I spent a great amount of time thinking about others at home wondering what they were doing. Especially everyone at Michigan State. I can’t imagine what Vraniak and Willy were up too, haha. (And watch out for those 428 Grove ladies).
Jokes: Why don’t you ever put an Irish man’s drink on the roof?
- Because he will think it is on the house.
Why do you only give an Irish man 239 beans?
- Because one more and it would be two-farty.
(This is an example of how I spend my downtime)
I cannot add pictures just yet, because we have certain rules about the Peace Corps computer and software that we cannot break. But the second I can, I will put a bunch up. I hope you like cows and volcanoes.
Thank you so much for the e-mail responses, you have no idea how close to home it takes me,
Jimbo
A letter to number 2
18th of March, 2008
Dear Stool Sample,
I hope that we never have to meet. Why? Because I have a few concerns: 1) Aim. Sure, I have a decent jump shot, but I have no practice aiming that into a small cup. 2) I believe it to be a little awkward giving someone a cup of badness. Some water, sure; hot chocolate, even better; but this, ewwwwwwwww.
In conclusion, people are starting to get sick here. Amebas and parasites. I have been lucky thus far. My host family has had 10 other volunteers live with them – so my house mom knows how to cook and clean everything properly. Most of the volunteers started a little pool, throwing 2 bucks in and whoever is the last to get sick (aka have number two problems) wins the pot-ty (get it? Potty?). People are dropping like fans, the shi** is really hitting the fan – literally. I will let you know how it goes.
Hoping to be number 1 in number 2,
Jimbo
Dear Stool Sample,
I hope that we never have to meet. Why? Because I have a few concerns: 1) Aim. Sure, I have a decent jump shot, but I have no practice aiming that into a small cup. 2) I believe it to be a little awkward giving someone a cup of badness. Some water, sure; hot chocolate, even better; but this, ewwwwwwwww.
In conclusion, people are starting to get sick here. Amebas and parasites. I have been lucky thus far. My host family has had 10 other volunteers live with them – so my house mom knows how to cook and clean everything properly. Most of the volunteers started a little pool, throwing 2 bucks in and whoever is the last to get sick (aka have number two problems) wins the pot-ty (get it? Potty?). People are dropping like fans, the shi** is really hitting the fan – literally. I will let you know how it goes.
Hoping to be number 1 in number 2,
Jimbo
A lot to say!
Hey gang – Jimbo here and oh’boy is there a lot to write about. I talked to my Dad a few days ago (Mom, I called your phone but you didn’t pick up) and told him to put an update on the site to let you guys know what is up… but I will reiterate and expand.
Going from DC to Salvador was completely rushed. We left for the airport at 3:30am, which meant that I got no sleep before flying. (Thank Jeff for the Thai food in DC/the Imodium, haha) Which wouldn’t have been a problem if I wasn’t leaving the airport to begin Peace Corps training. From the moment I got off the plane until right now, I am experiencing a very local level of “Beatlemania”. Everyone blatantly stares at me – even when I look at them they continue to stare… this has taken some getting use to, but whatever, I can’t change it. I just think of it as, ‘this is what it must be like to be really popular in high school’.
The Peace Corps training office is located in San Vicente (I know this is repeat info, but it is also neat). San Vicente is a ciudad (city). But trust me they are not like cities in the states. There are around 12 cantons and pueblos that surround San Vicente. I live in Montileros, a canton of about 212 casas (homes). A pueblo is smaller than a city; a canton is a rural living area. No running water, but we have electricity. I am actually very lucky because my house has an actual shower/toilet. However, when water runs low (and it does) I am forced to take a bucket bath in front of my entire family (how do you say awkward in Spanish?}
Here is the starting line-up for my casa:
Abuelita (little grandma) – Mama Cruz
Mi hermana (sister) – Nuria, 6 years old, cutest thing ever
Mi hermanos (brothers) – Danielle, 9 years old, loves getting beat in soccer
Nuria and Danielle’s mother – I don’t know her name, which is really funny and awkward
Oceal – 18 year old brother. Cool guy, we don’t talk much. He likes raggaetone and Daddy Yankee. I like Top 40 and John Mayer. Quite the dichotomy.
Senor Danielle – as a yet we have a real awkward relationship. I think he likes me sometimes, but I cannot understand anything he says and he only calls me “gringo”. Gringo is the term used for “whitey”, but it isn’t necessarily negative. However, I am really sick of it and am starting to give him the ‘stink eye’*
*I don’t know what that means
Animals:
Gatos (cats) – We have 3 cats. Two are adults; the other is a little gatito (kitten). I only see it when I eat and it begs.
Perros (dogs) – We have 4 dogs, I am not real found of them. I don’t touch them because of the fear of rabies. One has rabies for sure; it looks at me as if it were Mike Tyson.
Cows – 3… enough said.
Bulls – 3…. I get scared walking next to them. My 6 year old little brow hits them and I get scared and run away.
Chickens – 14.64326 million… enough said
Roosters – enough to wake me up every night 15 times.
On a serious note, the animal situation in this country is really sad. At first I thought it was abuse, but it is not. Just about every animal I have seen is extremely malnourished; however, after only being here for about a week I know it is just because the food situation is completely different here. Where in the State people enjoy eating, for the experience, the conversation, the environment – people in the rural areas of Salvador eat for energy. Meals are very quick, little talking, and repetitive. Frijoles with every meal (beans). Chicken, eggs or this flower that we eat (which is actually really good). Every meal comes with a tortilla. My house-mom does go to the store but most of what we eat is from the farm. Milk, eggs, tortilla…. I really like it though and my mom hooks it up with a ton of food – I need to slow down, I don’t want to get really fat in the next two years, haha.
Salvadorans are beautiful people. Everyone has been very kind to me. Life is hard, but much slower, which means that people have more time to help with speaking and whatnot. The past few days have been very intense and hard for a few different reasons. I have never been so frustrated in my life. Back home, all I do is talk – here it is a struggle to ask for more beans with dinner. I have slowly started to comprehend people but am still only having very basic conversations. This is a critique of both the Spanish programs in the States and the amount of work I put into them. I love having two kids around because I have no problem testing out new stuff with them. I am starting to think a little bit in Spanish and I can through out the past tense of verbs without really trying… but it is going to be a long road ahead. There have been two days thus far where by nighttime I just shutdown and could not think or speak in Spanish anymore. I just grabbed a book and read some English words for a few hours – much needed. However, this frustration is nothing compared to the other issue I am dealing with.
I have never been sure if I am completely capable of handling all that the Peace Corps entails. And after one week I am very nervous. These beautiful people have absolutely nothing, but act like they have everything. They enjoy life and are so family orientated. Cantons are full of farming families and life is hard. Old men in there 60s-70s wake up every morning at 430 or 5 am and head into the campo (fields) to cut down sugarcane to support their families. I was walking through the canton the other day and I almost broke down because there is so much that needs to be done and I am not sure that a 23 year old kid has the power to do it all. I can’t wait to start helping but I just don’t think I can handle the possibility of failing. I laugh now remembering the LARGE talk that some of my fellow classmates had while discussing globalization and grassroots development. As if reading 5 books about it makes us an expert. Being here, those theories are just words on a page, here development is very real. After three days here I can honestly say that I am changed for life. I don’t mean that I will eventually head home and not want the finer things in life, but I will probably never take them for granted anymore.
Today, (Sunday) my family went to church. Most families here are Catholic and today starts ‘la Semana de Santa’ which is the weeklong celebration of Easter. I had to jump into the back of a truck to get a ride because 95 percent of the families here do not have a car so those that do taxi others around for a quarter a shot. It is amazing here, if a driver see’s someone walking down the road they stop and ask if they want a lift – it is just one example of how Salvadorans help each other out. The mass was nice, I didn’t understand a lot, but it sounded really pretty (I am absolutely in love with learning Spanish).
Hmmm I am leaving out a ton, and I know that I am zoned out and just letting my fingers type. Sorry if all this has been a bit unorganized and what not, it just reflects how my mind feels right now as I am in my bed, underneath my mosquito net working on this.
Horrible things that have happened:
1) I lost my nail clippers (and I need them)
2) I lost my flash drives (and I need them)
3) My guitar is broke. The next is so warped that the strings hit every fret and make a buzzing sound rather than beautiful music… this sucks so bad.
In summary, I am safe, taller than everyone here, still awkward, and am very homesick. I am not afraid to admit that whatsoever. The whole family, all my friends, a certain girl (wink) ha-ha just everyone!
Thanks again to everyone who came to my going away party! Aunt Mary, as always – you are amazing. Also, K-Fri – thank you so much for making that drive, I will NEVER forget that!
Sam – I would not be here with both socks and boxers if it weren’t for you… thanks for knowing how to pack for such a journey.
I miss home, but I live next to a volcano – so I rule
Que tengan una buena semana!
Jimbo
Going from DC to Salvador was completely rushed. We left for the airport at 3:30am, which meant that I got no sleep before flying. (Thank Jeff for the Thai food in DC/the Imodium, haha) Which wouldn’t have been a problem if I wasn’t leaving the airport to begin Peace Corps training. From the moment I got off the plane until right now, I am experiencing a very local level of “Beatlemania”. Everyone blatantly stares at me – even when I look at them they continue to stare… this has taken some getting use to, but whatever, I can’t change it. I just think of it as, ‘this is what it must be like to be really popular in high school’.
The Peace Corps training office is located in San Vicente (I know this is repeat info, but it is also neat). San Vicente is a ciudad (city). But trust me they are not like cities in the states. There are around 12 cantons and pueblos that surround San Vicente. I live in Montileros, a canton of about 212 casas (homes). A pueblo is smaller than a city; a canton is a rural living area. No running water, but we have electricity. I am actually very lucky because my house has an actual shower/toilet. However, when water runs low (and it does) I am forced to take a bucket bath in front of my entire family (how do you say awkward in Spanish?}
Here is the starting line-up for my casa:
Abuelita (little grandma) – Mama Cruz
Mi hermana (sister) – Nuria, 6 years old, cutest thing ever
Mi hermanos (brothers) – Danielle, 9 years old, loves getting beat in soccer
Nuria and Danielle’s mother – I don’t know her name, which is really funny and awkward
Oceal – 18 year old brother. Cool guy, we don’t talk much. He likes raggaetone and Daddy Yankee. I like Top 40 and John Mayer. Quite the dichotomy.
Senor Danielle – as a yet we have a real awkward relationship. I think he likes me sometimes, but I cannot understand anything he says and he only calls me “gringo”. Gringo is the term used for “whitey”, but it isn’t necessarily negative. However, I am really sick of it and am starting to give him the ‘stink eye’*
*I don’t know what that means
Animals:
Gatos (cats) – We have 3 cats. Two are adults; the other is a little gatito (kitten). I only see it when I eat and it begs.
Perros (dogs) – We have 4 dogs, I am not real found of them. I don’t touch them because of the fear of rabies. One has rabies for sure; it looks at me as if it were Mike Tyson.
Cows – 3… enough said.
Bulls – 3…. I get scared walking next to them. My 6 year old little brow hits them and I get scared and run away.
Chickens – 14.64326 million… enough said
Roosters – enough to wake me up every night 15 times.
On a serious note, the animal situation in this country is really sad. At first I thought it was abuse, but it is not. Just about every animal I have seen is extremely malnourished; however, after only being here for about a week I know it is just because the food situation is completely different here. Where in the State people enjoy eating, for the experience, the conversation, the environment – people in the rural areas of Salvador eat for energy. Meals are very quick, little talking, and repetitive. Frijoles with every meal (beans). Chicken, eggs or this flower that we eat (which is actually really good). Every meal comes with a tortilla. My house-mom does go to the store but most of what we eat is from the farm. Milk, eggs, tortilla…. I really like it though and my mom hooks it up with a ton of food – I need to slow down, I don’t want to get really fat in the next two years, haha.
Salvadorans are beautiful people. Everyone has been very kind to me. Life is hard, but much slower, which means that people have more time to help with speaking and whatnot. The past few days have been very intense and hard for a few different reasons. I have never been so frustrated in my life. Back home, all I do is talk – here it is a struggle to ask for more beans with dinner. I have slowly started to comprehend people but am still only having very basic conversations. This is a critique of both the Spanish programs in the States and the amount of work I put into them. I love having two kids around because I have no problem testing out new stuff with them. I am starting to think a little bit in Spanish and I can through out the past tense of verbs without really trying… but it is going to be a long road ahead. There have been two days thus far where by nighttime I just shutdown and could not think or speak in Spanish anymore. I just grabbed a book and read some English words for a few hours – much needed. However, this frustration is nothing compared to the other issue I am dealing with.
I have never been sure if I am completely capable of handling all that the Peace Corps entails. And after one week I am very nervous. These beautiful people have absolutely nothing, but act like they have everything. They enjoy life and are so family orientated. Cantons are full of farming families and life is hard. Old men in there 60s-70s wake up every morning at 430 or 5 am and head into the campo (fields) to cut down sugarcane to support their families. I was walking through the canton the other day and I almost broke down because there is so much that needs to be done and I am not sure that a 23 year old kid has the power to do it all. I can’t wait to start helping but I just don’t think I can handle the possibility of failing. I laugh now remembering the LARGE talk that some of my fellow classmates had while discussing globalization and grassroots development. As if reading 5 books about it makes us an expert. Being here, those theories are just words on a page, here development is very real. After three days here I can honestly say that I am changed for life. I don’t mean that I will eventually head home and not want the finer things in life, but I will probably never take them for granted anymore.
Today, (Sunday) my family went to church. Most families here are Catholic and today starts ‘la Semana de Santa’ which is the weeklong celebration of Easter. I had to jump into the back of a truck to get a ride because 95 percent of the families here do not have a car so those that do taxi others around for a quarter a shot. It is amazing here, if a driver see’s someone walking down the road they stop and ask if they want a lift – it is just one example of how Salvadorans help each other out. The mass was nice, I didn’t understand a lot, but it sounded really pretty (I am absolutely in love with learning Spanish).
Hmmm I am leaving out a ton, and I know that I am zoned out and just letting my fingers type. Sorry if all this has been a bit unorganized and what not, it just reflects how my mind feels right now as I am in my bed, underneath my mosquito net working on this.
Horrible things that have happened:
1) I lost my nail clippers (and I need them)
2) I lost my flash drives (and I need them)
3) My guitar is broke. The next is so warped that the strings hit every fret and make a buzzing sound rather than beautiful music… this sucks so bad.
In summary, I am safe, taller than everyone here, still awkward, and am very homesick. I am not afraid to admit that whatsoever. The whole family, all my friends, a certain girl (wink) ha-ha just everyone!
Thanks again to everyone who came to my going away party! Aunt Mary, as always – you are amazing. Also, K-Fri – thank you so much for making that drive, I will NEVER forget that!
Sam – I would not be here with both socks and boxers if it weren’t for you… thanks for knowing how to pack for such a journey.
I miss home, but I live next to a volcano – so I rule
Que tengan una buena semana!
Jimbo
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Host Family Village In San Vicente
I am in San Vicente. Actually arrived here Tuesday. I live in Molineros, it is a canton (a rural area or community). The people here are so friendly but they live in absolute poverty. I live with a grandma and grandpa, a six year old girl and nine year old boy... there is an 18 year old too but he doesnt talk to me much. I do not know ANY spanish - i thought i would. But I have only been practicing for a day - i can tell i will get much better.
I am lucky because I have an outdoor shower and toilet (a real one not a latrine). My family has 5 cows, a goat, some dogs and some cats.
I feel pretty safe here, they take good care of us (peace corps and the stay at home families). My family has had 10 other volunteers. Last night mama cruz (my lil grandma) asked me what I normally eat for la cena (dinner). I told her chicken, pasta.... as I went to get to the bus she gave me a thing of pasta for lunch!!!! so good!
I live about 20 minutes outside of San Vicente. It is gorgeous. Molineros is 3 miles from a volcano - I have an insane view.
I am lucky because I have an outdoor shower and toilet (a real one not a latrine). My family has 5 cows, a goat, some dogs and some cats.
I feel pretty safe here, they take good care of us (peace corps and the stay at home families). My family has had 10 other volunteers. Last night mama cruz (my lil grandma) asked me what I normally eat for la cena (dinner). I told her chicken, pasta.... as I went to get to the bus she gave me a thing of pasta for lunch!!!! so good!
I live about 20 minutes outside of San Vicente. It is gorgeous. Molineros is 3 miles from a volcano - I have an insane view.
There are three other volunteers in this village living with their own host family. We meet in the morning and take about a 20 minute bus ride to town for our training.
More to come!!!!
I love you all (mom, dad, billy, meghan, grandma, all the aunts and uncles!)
te quiero y que tengas una buena dia!
Jimbo - (they call me jaime)
I love you all (mom, dad, billy, meghan, grandma, all the aunts and uncles!)
te quiero y que tengas una buena dia!
Jimbo - (they call me jaime)
Monday, March 10, 2008
Staging/Going to the big show.
Hey everybody! Just got done with staging today, two long days of me and 38 other people letting out all of our worries and getting real excited about heading out on this experience of a lifetime. We have to get up at 3:30am to head to the airport, we will be in El Salvador by 12 noon I guess. From there, we have a Spanish level convo. Word on the street is that it is recorded and reviewed - then we are placed in small class sizes of 4 to get some intense learning in. Training in El Salvador will be a 7:30-6pm gig, and I believe it is six days a week.
We will be living in San Vicente for eight weeks of training! There is supposed to be a volcano right near the city which will either be the coolest thing or the scariest thing ever.
I am very excited, but I am going to need a lot of support! So any emails, or messages or letters... anything will help! I can't wait to keep this blog going and let you know about my progess in training.
More to ASAP! Thanks again for all the support, I will never forget that! I would not be able to do this without all you guys!
Jimbo
We will be living in San Vicente for eight weeks of training! There is supposed to be a volcano right near the city which will either be the coolest thing or the scariest thing ever.
I am very excited, but I am going to need a lot of support! So any emails, or messages or letters... anything will help! I can't wait to keep this blog going and let you know about my progess in training.
More to ASAP! Thanks again for all the support, I will never forget that! I would not be able to do this without all you guys!
Jimbo
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Why El Salvador, Why? By: Jimbo Mayer
Years ago, my little brother, Billy, asked a great question: "Dad, how do dogs know Spanish?" - this statement changed my life. After years of research and countless hours of talking to our dog, Norman, my journey was laid out for me. One night, in between drooling and heavily breathing, Norman looked me square in the eyes and said, "Go to El Salvador... only there will you meet a dog capable of explaining this to you". This was followed by him begging for cheese from the refrigerator and the need to go 'do his business' (I don't know what business he is in, but it involves squatting and awkward facial expressions).
Starting March 9th, 2008 I will start my journey with the Peace Corps working in the area of Rural Health and Sanitation in El Salvador and in my spare time finding the answer to Billy's greatest question ever! Am I nervous? Absolutely. But 27 months of living in Central America, helping other people, learning another language and interviewing hundreds of dogs will make this an amazing experience! I am going to miss all of my family and friends like crazy. I really would not be able to set out on this trip without the support that I have from all of you! I hope you will follow my blog and keep me updated with everything going on back home in the States!
Speaking of which, Peace Corps Volunteer's love to get mail, so keep those letters comin. Here is an initial address. Small care packages are okay too (pista pista) but they say don't send anything expensive.
Cuerpo de Paz El Salvador (Volunteer Name)
Apartado 1947 (Note: use Apartado 1947 for letters but use Apartado 39B for packages)
Correo Nacional, Centro de Gobierno
San Salvador
El Salvador
Starting March 9th, 2008 I will start my journey with the Peace Corps working in the area of Rural Health and Sanitation in El Salvador and in my spare time finding the answer to Billy's greatest question ever! Am I nervous? Absolutely. But 27 months of living in Central America, helping other people, learning another language and interviewing hundreds of dogs will make this an amazing experience! I am going to miss all of my family and friends like crazy. I really would not be able to set out on this trip without the support that I have from all of you! I hope you will follow my blog and keep me updated with everything going on back home in the States!
Speaking of which, Peace Corps Volunteer's love to get mail, so keep those letters comin. Here is an initial address. Small care packages are okay too (pista pista) but they say don't send anything expensive.
Cuerpo de Paz El Salvador (Volunteer Name)
Apartado 1947 (Note: use Apartado 1947 for letters but use Apartado 39B for packages)
Correo Nacional, Centro de Gobierno
San Salvador
El Salvador
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