Summer in El Salvador - July 21st, 2005

It’s always difficult when I finally make it to San Salvador and have a chance to sit and write about my experience, well, my life, here. There is so much to say and at times I am at a loss for words in spanish and in english. So, where do I begin? There is a quote by Ursula K. LeGuin in the journal that I brought with me here that reads: “It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” In the past two weeks, I have realized that in my anticipation of the end, of bringing this experience back to the states, I have lost sight of the journey. This realization peaked when a CRISPAZ delegation came to my campo for three days. As they were having a reflection on the beach about their time in the Cooperativa de los Mongles, I found joy in the fact that I am not here for merely a week or three days, I am here for 2 months, I am part of the life here and this is my life here. My life is not waiting for me in the states, my life, right now, is in El Salvador. My life is with my family here, with the women’s group I work with, with the rain, with the heat, with the zancuros, and my life is wonderful. I realized that I would not trade this experience for the world. I love having a chance to live a life that I would have otherwise never understood. And yes, there are times where I really want to say something and cannot find the words in spanish. And yes, there are times when the cultural differences frustrate me. However, this experience, this part of my life, has enriched me in ways that words cannot describe.
So what are the things that have enriched me and what have I been doing these past two weeks? Well, as I said, a CRIPAZ delegation from a parish in Chicago came to the Cooperativa for 3 days, so the preparation and actual delegation took a lot of my time because it was the first time a delegation came to this part of the country. I have also been working more and more with the women’s group because they have started working everyday because I am headed back to the states with some products. I actually had the experience of walking through the fields to find a seed called: “ojo de congrejo” (eye of the crab – this gorgeous seed that is half black and half red). However, this seed is part of a vine and is hard to find and is usually in shady, misquito infested areas (let’s just say that I have new bites on my body). It was probably one of the best times I had with the women! I have also been talking with my family more and more and learning about their life during the war, their life today, and how they see the possibilties for change. These conversations are always challenging, but interesting, and definatly a learning experience.
Also, the other day, I went to El Parque ‘Imposible,’ which is in Ahuchapan. This is one of the national parks in El Salvador and it is gorgeous!!!! We hiked for about 2 hours and ‘WOW!’ is the only way I can descripe the beauty, a camara could not even capture the amazing scenery.
All in all, life here is grand, I cannot believe the time has passed so quickly, and as my ‘brother’ said to me today over breakfast as we were talking about when I will go back to the states: “Cheryl, I will be sad.” (In his broken english.)