Independencia

Last weekend was el Dia de Independencia in El Salvador. Actually, it's the independence day for most of Central America.

There is really a sense of celebration of youth here. You can feel the pride of each family, and the acknowledgement that youth is sacred.

In Suchitoto they celebrated with a parade on Friday night, and a parade on Saturday morning, and speeches and dances after the Saturday parade.

The parade on Friday night was supposed to start at 6PM. So naturally we were there at 6, but the parade didn't start until almost 8. It was a funny mix of cultural outfits, marching bands, fairy tale characters, and cool torches. Probably the cooest parade Ive ever seen.

The high schoolers here are so beautiful, they all look like models. It's kind of intimidating. I think puberty starts early for El Salvadorans?!

We had hoped to go to a dance on Friday night. I even bought $20.00 shoes (so expensive...) for the dancing. However upon arrival it was not salsa music, but really bad reggaeton without words. The space was filled with high schoolers NOT DANCING, standing in a corner. Some things are the same no matter what culture you're in.

I have never been in a country where there is so much orgullo (pride). Pride in the people, the food, the peace, the present. And to think we just have fireworks on 4th of July.

"Life is no “brief candle” for me.   It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

-George Bernard Shaw