Not by choice, but by the force of a slum landlord who
doesn’t want to pay to fix leaks in the bathroom. Almost all the houses in
Suchitoto are owned by richer people that live in the capital, or the states.
The rent is high (for El Salvador)
and many of the houses are falling apart. Ours is no exception.
So, our roommates requested that the leaks be fixed, and mentioned that there was something wrong with the electrical system of the house, and that some of the wood is rotting. Apparently, those were “too many demands” and they don’t have the resources to fix these things. Which is ridiculous, because they have 3 houses and land in Suchitoto alone. At any rate, they told us we had to leave.
Evicting us from our house due to our requests for repairs. It’s unjust. I feel like it’s also an example of a lack of a system. If there had been a contract, stating who was responsible for repairs, this never would have happened. I think many landlords don’t feel its their responsibility... which makes no sense. I digress.
Our new house is in front of our work and one of the schools that we teach at, which will be fun. We’ll have more space, and coconut and fruit trees. We are moving with our roommates Noel and Elba, with whom we have grown a sweet friendship. They are our El Salvadoran family, along with Nova our little black dog.
I will miss waking up to the greenness of the hills of Suchitoto, and the lake down below. Perhaps I will remember to appreciate it again. The lake and the hills are always waiting for us. Casa #81, Suchitoto, the tropical sun, it has been a healing place for me in so many ways. For that I am grateful.
We now celebrate one year volunteering here in El Salvador. It has been rich with experiences and wonderful people and bright colors. These next 9 months is a new chapter, may it be even better than the last.
"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new"
--Socrates
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