What goes up and down, can be fast and slow, turns unexpectedly and brakes suddenly? No one knows what’s after the next curve. No one knows what to expect before entering the wagon. It is a rollercoaster, or the emotions I have felt during Project El Salvador 2008.
My emotions changed from happy to sad, tired to energized, and feelings of being overwhelmed with the group to enjoying their company. Every one of these emotions played a role in my experience during this trip. Despite these emotions, I viewed every challenge optimistically. In the end, I believe that everything worked out perfectly. Everything that has happened on this trip, good or bad, has happened for a reason.
This winter break has been an incredible experience, from when we first arrived at the airport in San Salvador to the goodbyes in Altos De Jardines. Our activities varied from traveling across the country and seeing beautiful landscape, seeing different people in towns in El Salvador, working with the community, understanding new ideas and feeling the energy from the youth, acting as if I could understand Spanish while Salvadorans were pretending to understand my Spanish, tasting and smelling the delicious cuisine, breathing the unhealthy smog, listening to hours of “girl talk” in a van and trying to add my unheard masculine insight, going to the U.S. Embassy and trying to obtain a new passport, and spending hours at El Salvador’s Immigration Office while others were taking a nap or having a cup of coffee (I love naps, and love coffee). Words and pictures aren’t powerful enough to communicate what we have all been through in the past month. I don’t have my journal, camera, IPod, and other material items anymore because they were stolen during last Wednesday’s incident. But, in the end, do these things really matter? No one can steal my memories and feelings; no one will take away what I have learned during this experience.
The rollercoaster hits the brakes suddenly. Everyone is startled and shaken. As everyone on the roller coaster fills with adrenaline and the ride ends, each and every person wants to hop back on and start all over again. That was Project El Salvador 2008.
Showing posts with label Gender Roles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gender Roles. Show all posts
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Chicken Was Almost Alive
All the women and little girls were sitting, while the few men watching the ceremony were standing on the side. Some elderly women in the back rows couldn’t even see what was going on in front of them, but remained still for hours, listening silently and attentively. There were kids running everywhere; probably children or grandchildren of the adults. And us Gringos - tall, fair skinned, loud, blue eyed hidden with sunglasses - were observing this event with a different perspective.
This “semi-improvised” ceremony, sponsored by Circulo Solidario, consisted of presentations, speeches, and indigenous dances and songs. It was noticeable that the town had endured many repressions, because the traditions seemed to be deeply rooted in their past culture. Everything was presented in a pleasant, informal way, which reflected on the town’s simplicity. It was cute to see the band playing instruments, while the singer was holding the lyrics and a little kid was holding a microphone for the guitar! But, as the town’s leader delivered his speech, the tone of the ceremony became serious. He spoke with a confident, distinguished, stern voice, which was similar to The Untied States’ next president. He probably saw the election on TV – and inspired by Obama’s talk of change. In fact, the man thought that change was important to be made for the community. But, other than that, everything was presented in a simple, laid back, modest and humble way.
After the ceremony, I walked around for a while and realized I was hungry. The lunch food, sponsored by Circulo Solidario, consisted of a plain piece of chicken and two pupusas As I was eating with my friend and my only other male companion on this trip, Chris, we thought: “Wow, the girls wouldn’t be able to eat this!” In fact, the chicken was almost alive. It still had hair on it and a thick piece of skin with it. But we ate it all and it was tasty! But because Salvadorans eat so little, and as Americans, we eat so much, their version of lunch was our version of a snack! So, our next stop was at an ice cream tienda. We enjoyed a nice dessert before joining the rest of the travelers (the ladies) who were… shopping.
This “semi-improvised” ceremony, sponsored by Circulo Solidario, consisted of presentations, speeches, and indigenous dances and songs. It was noticeable that the town had endured many repressions, because the traditions seemed to be deeply rooted in their past culture. Everything was presented in a pleasant, informal way, which reflected on the town’s simplicity. It was cute to see the band playing instruments, while the singer was holding the lyrics and a little kid was holding a microphone for the guitar! But, as the town’s leader delivered his speech, the tone of the ceremony became serious. He spoke with a confident, distinguished, stern voice, which was similar to The Untied States’ next president. He probably saw the election on TV – and inspired by Obama’s talk of change. In fact, the man thought that change was important to be made for the community. But, other than that, everything was presented in a simple, laid back, modest and humble way.
After the ceremony, I walked around for a while and realized I was hungry. The lunch food, sponsored by Circulo Solidario, consisted of a plain piece of chicken and two pupusas As I was eating with my friend and my only other male companion on this trip, Chris, we thought: “Wow, the girls wouldn’t be able to eat this!” In fact, the chicken was almost alive. It still had hair on it and a thick piece of skin with it. But we ate it all and it was tasty! But because Salvadorans eat so little, and as Americans, we eat so much, their version of lunch was our version of a snack! So, our next stop was at an ice cream tienda. We enjoyed a nice dessert before joining the rest of the travelers (the ladies) who were… shopping.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
The Little Town's Plaza
I remember sitting at a Plaza one day. It was in a cute little town where the main attraction of the town was a beautiful old white Christian Church. It was a place where there were many café shops, street food, lots of cute little goodies for sale, and to wrap it up, a sweet harmonious tune was whistling in everybody’s ears. But as I was fed up with shopping or walking around, I decided to do something else, and sat down at a café’s terrace and ordered a coffee. While I was sipping a cup of Salvadoran’s famous coffee, I practiced something that my dad had thought me to do whenever I was at a foreign country: people-watching. It is an important process to settle down, relax, reflect, and observe people in another culture and reflect on their culture (and myself at the same time!).
It was boys and girls playing around with a soccer ball that was barely bouncing, a group of old ladies sitting on a bench, probably chatting about their husbands, and something feminine like their hair, manicure or something like that! There was a group of teenage boys sitting on the edge of a wall working on their “mojo” with girls who were pretending to be naïve. And, finally, there was the group of men. All of them were smoking, sipping their cups of coffee, perhaps talking about their wives, sports and maybe debating political views. All seemed to be enjoying life, appreciating whatever they were doing (or not doing). Everyone seemed to be keeping an eye on everyone else; the same way policemen do during manifestation, as if they were going to report any suspicious movement. But everything was done in a harmonious, peaceful and friendly way.
It felt like people – men and women, boys and girls, and old and young - were all interconnected with each other, as if they all knew each other, as if they were just one big family with different blood. I had never felt or seen the same harmony in other third world countries that I visited I the past. They seemed to have no need of anything, living their lives simply, and filled with joy. Everyone was different, but shared something in common: they were all proud to be Salvadorans.
Sean Johnson
It was boys and girls playing around with a soccer ball that was barely bouncing, a group of old ladies sitting on a bench, probably chatting about their husbands, and something feminine like their hair, manicure or something like that! There was a group of teenage boys sitting on the edge of a wall working on their “mojo” with girls who were pretending to be naïve. And, finally, there was the group of men. All of them were smoking, sipping their cups of coffee, perhaps talking about their wives, sports and maybe debating political views. All seemed to be enjoying life, appreciating whatever they were doing (or not doing). Everyone seemed to be keeping an eye on everyone else; the same way policemen do during manifestation, as if they were going to report any suspicious movement. But everything was done in a harmonious, peaceful and friendly way.
It felt like people – men and women, boys and girls, and old and young - were all interconnected with each other, as if they all knew each other, as if they were just one big family with different blood. I had never felt or seen the same harmony in other third world countries that I visited I the past. They seemed to have no need of anything, living their lives simply, and filled with joy. Everyone was different, but shared something in common: they were all proud to be Salvadorans.
Sean Johnson
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Welcome
Welcome to our blog! This is a place for students involved in Project El Salvador to share their experiences and thoughts about San Salvador and beyond. These reflections and photographic journals are give you the opportunity to keep in touch with the students from the 2008 program. Please feel free to interact with the bloggers. ¡Qué disfruten la aventura! (Enjoy the adventure!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)