Felices Fiestas

Christmas here has come and gone. Highlights included:

-Chicken sandwiches (the special food here for the holidays) with Wendy's family

-Going to mass with our sweet friend Alex, who lost both his parents last year

-Dancing at  the disco until 2AM on Christmas eve

-Opening our stockings from my parents (still enjoying the chocolate, it's hard to find here!)

Christmas overall is... not as big of a deal here in El Salvador. The focus is on spending time with family and people you love. While I love gift giving, it was kind of nice to not have that stress this year! (We did send some gifts home when my family came in November of course, and they brought a suitcase full of peanut butter and treats).

We had a week off after Christmas, and we decided to stay in El Salvador this year. We traveled with two other Americans named Shannon and Tyler, who are also volunteering in Suchitoto. We enjoyed time at the beach at Barra de Santiago, enjoyed a beautiful sunset at Lago Coatepeque, a volcanic lake. We hiked Volcan Izalco, scrambling up the rocks and enjoying the view at the top. 

Of course, no trip goes without mishaps. Both the boys got stomach sick one day, and we had to camp out in the hostel. There was some friendly competition for the bathroom, we just had to laugh!

The morning we decided to go to the volcano, the owner of the hostel told us the bus would come at 8. It didn't come, and didn't come, and didn't come. She flagged down a pick up truck, and we hopped in. We were supposed to take another bus to the Cerro Verde where the volcano is. We had missed that bus as well, but thankfully the manager gave us instructions. "If you miss the bus, take bus 209 and then hitchhike to the top". 

And sure enough, we missed the bus. We took bus 209 and got off at the bottom of the hill. We sat and waited for a pick up to come by, and as luck had it we saw another one of the guests at the hostal driving by in their rental car. We piled in and made it to the foot of the volcano.

There was a big debate about whether or not we would go hiking at all. Too much wind, the branches are dangerous, they said. Finally those in charge decided it was safe to hike the volcano with less trees. We traveled in a group of 100, with policeman in full gear with large guns. Just in case.

It was a funny experience. The woman behind me talked on her cell phone the whole way back, giving her daughter an hour by hour summary of her busy week. Every person is different.

We spent new years eve with our wonderful friends Sara and Konstantin and their family. I am constantly amazed at the hospitality here. People's doors are always wide open, ready to invite us in. There is a warmth and kindness that I have come to love.

"The extravagant gesture is the very stuff of creation" 

-Annie Dillard