There's no place like home/ home sweet home...

There's a saying that goes something like ' you don't appreciate what you've got, until it's gone... ' I think our group would attest to that after our month Salvadoran adventure. Nobody minded Javier, our airport ride being a bit early (before 4:30 am) to get us to the airport. The chatter was non-stop as anticipation had been growing as our departure grew nearer... no more sleeps, eh Erica?

Although I tried to convince all of us to go out for a last get together with a live Salvadoran salsa band at La Luna, only half of us ventured out. We did more chair dancing than actual floor moves but the band was great and both our ears and eyes got a workout as we watched the salsa choreography of a dancing couple right in front of us. I can only wish... Anyhow I don't think any of us slept too much pre-airport ride.

Javier engaged me en route re: my favorite and least favorite part of my visit. I had to say my favorite part was the pueblo humilde, the humility of the people, they deal with what they have and hope, and then generously share what they do have. My least favorite was the 'noise.' San Salvador is a large city and my bedroom faces the street with a bus route, traffic, constant blowing of horns, car alarms being set off and people. But Javier said the safety issue bothered you, didn't it? I had to admit that fear was always there. I explained that crime is not an issue where we live. Javier ruminated how the Salvadorans are just used to living with it and how nice it would be to visit somewhere where it would be missing.

The chatter of the girls and their excitement grew the closer we got after each our 3 flights.

Miami's humidity wasn't much different than San Salvador but once we cleared customs, we were happy campers. Planes were basically on time and despite one gate change in O'Hare, it was clear sailing... The girls dispersed as they fled to to the arms of their families and friends upon our La Crosse arrival and my job is done. I will miss my 'pollitas'( little chicks) as this mother hen's job is done as it's going to be real quiet...but it's good to be home!

As promised I will be updating the blog with pics. AND girls I'd love for you to share some of your reflections as you start processing our last month together. Hugs to you all!

Soy as in soy bean, not as " I am " in Spanish

Anna Gregg, a Mary Knoll layminister with a UC-Davis degree in Nutrition decided after a Peruvian Peace Corps experience that she wanted to come to Central America and work on a nutritional program to improve the local high carbohydrate but low protein diet. Soy beans would be the answer (42% protein) except for a couple of obstacles. The main problem was growing soy beans. The soil is not fertile in Nitrogen and it would take a while to amend the soil. So meanwhile the soy bean had to be imported and neither the transportation nor import taxes are cheap. The process was created of soaking, milling and boiling the bean and then separating by cheese cloth. The 48 hour shelf life is also an issue. The soy curd on top (ie a curd consistency) could be frozen and used in cooking.

In fact we had a spinach soy burger for lunch and I polished mine off. Recipes were collected and the education programs began. 75% of the brain is developed by the time a toddler turns two so protein is super important. Soy milk in itself isn't very appetizing so chemists were brought in to create both a salty and sweet soy milk version. Families join the co-op and receive soy milk servings for their families.

Soy Sorghum cookies, Soy cafe, Soy Horchata mix have been developed but not in the supermarkets as of yet. Quantity still remains a deterrent in going public and word of mouth provides their sales. It's a wonderful protein but until El Salvador can supply their own beans, they will have to be co-dependent and at the will of the importers.

Never let it be said that our group has ever missed a shopping op we left with soy products and also stopped at a local artesania. We have tried to help the economy whenever we can. :)

Chuck E.Cheese and the Botanical Garden ...

Sunday was our first day with 'absolutamente nada que hacer' ZIP. It was a good thing because this 'country' girl stumbled, ok tripped on a vine/ rock coming down the forest path on Saturday...I was praying extra hard that I had not broken my foot. Even a bad sprain would be tough to navigate with our remaining week. Fortunately elevating my ace bandaged foot and anti inflammatory drugs both topical and internal had me almost as good as new by Sunday afternoon's 'Family' outing.

Remember now there are 2 little ones where I live, a 2 and 5 yr old. We were heading to Multi Plaza, a high class mall which I figured must have a children's program going on. Silly me because as we approached the flashing lights I had a 'flashback' moment of entering Chuck E Cheese Salvadoran style.

Oh lordy,I would have OD'ed on ibuprofen. Isn't it the worst U.S. things that are emulated in other places The kids are the same all over as they ran from machine to machine just punching buttons and moving levers, not worrying if they were playing or not.I basically tagged after the 2 year old as she scurried about with her newfound freedom. It was air conditioned so it was a nice reprieve before the evening rain and all the humidity.

Tuesday we took advantage of all this humidity as we visited the Laguna Botanical Garden - and no I did not put that on the program. We certain can't grow tropicals like El Salvador without a green house! We enjoyed a cool, shady walk through the grounds amidst the oodles of school groups visiting this particular afternoon.

Although we were outside the hustle and bustle of the city our surroundings were anything but quiet. Our group was into the photo op and enthralled with the huge turtles in the pond.

I'm sure we all got some great pics!

Cinquera - today, yesterday and tomorrow

A bumpy cobblestone/ dirt/ rutted road considered the best route took us on the final stretch into the highlands of Cinquera where Don Pablo, the town's historian shared his life in this country setting, a town that was demolished by mortar and gunfire during the civil war and has since been rebuilt. Lest anybody should forget, the bullet ridden facade was left on the church and a memorial of a destroyed helicopter and arms welcome visitors and townspeople as it sits in the middle of the town's plaza.

Don Pablo's 2 hours plus testimony included so much including his personal torture sessions and loss of 5 children. Don Pablo shared his story, the story of his country where governments, the church and the people didn't act in the best interest of the pueblos. Living through all of this Don Pablo did not lose faith and today even holds weekly bible study. Hopefully some of our group will add their personal reflections to this visit but until them suffice it to say that it was emotionally draining... Hope always prevails that society's ills will be cured but there is a lot to do.

Projects to move ahead and work on the future in this small pueblo include a fruit drying plant, an iguanario and mariposario. The guide forgot the key so we couldn't see the drying ovens but we did see the solar panels that operate the ovens and the butterfly atrium is in between hatching so there were no butterflies, BUT we did get to see the iguanas (garrobos) which are raised to be sold as food and also for their eggs.

The temps started climbing as did we as we climbed the forest park trail which would be rewarded with a panoramic view atop a tower and followed by a dip in the mountain stream and waterfall pond. It was a hot one and every time that I think I have used every pore of my body, new ones seem to open up. That cold water was an amazing treat!

A day off for Karen...

On Thursday I had the pleasure of visiting the Escuela Americana where my La Crosse buddy, Holly, works with the high school's seniors arranging their service projects and internships. Salvadorans refer to this school as for the 'privileged.' And alfer seeing how the majority of Salvadorans are educated, today I saw how the elite live.

Set in a beautiful suburb on manicured grounds with lovely gardens, ponds and all the latest in computer labs besides good cafeteria food, makes some US college campuses look inadequate. Their sport teams excel as top notch coaches are contracted and American teachers are recruited yearly in the States along with local hirers too to not ignore their Spanish studies. The students are fluent in English by graduation and I was so impressed by the projects that they have done this year. These projects take them out of their suburbs to show them their own city and I commend Holly on the conscious raising that she is achieving. If we have everything and are sheltered from the rest of the world, we haven't really received an education. I was fortunate enough to be privy to a day of senior intern presentations. Many of the students have been with the same classmates since they were 3 years old so having an internship in a 'community' work place that is not family owned was out of their comfort level. After listening to some power point presentations, I know that these students will go far in whatever they decide to do. They learned so much from their internships including how to meet new people... their reflections revealed a lot of heart. Most will be going to college in the States. One gal who's going to Costa Rica for her medical school training wants to return to help her people. My hope is that many/if not all of these graduates will follow suit because their country needs them...

Mining and the Canadian Company Pacific Rim

Money always sounds great especially when you are impoverished and think that you will have more for your family to survive. Nobody mentions the fact that a poison ie. cyanide will seep into your water supply and illness will follow. And who knew that a mine in one day needs more than 10 years of your needed water supply to drill for its precious treasure? Maybe if you had known these facts ahead of time you would have refused to let this corporation ever begin mining for gold or silver that will destroy your land and your people. The average life expectancy of a mine is a little over 6 years but the destruction that it causes is forever. So it comes as no surprise that when El Salvador realized the mining consequences, the people were enraged. The small compensation that the people would receive was small pittance to the sacrifices that would have to be made. Now Pacific Rim is in court wanting recompensation for the money they have poured into the mining work that they have started... No way say the victims of this travesty of justice.

Our speaker from MUFRAS 32 is a lawyer who wants us to spread the word. AND BTW my dear North American friends realize that Pacific Rim is looking at Alaska next! Be aware.

The big surprise and historical no less...

I have to believe that sometimes things happen for a reason... and you will soon find out why. I knew that since we have outings on Saturdays that this holiday of Shavuot was probably my chance to visit El Salvador´s only synagogue in San Benito. I can´t tell you how many excuses I came up with as to why going to services last night was just not in the stars besides the fact that my usual taxis were not next to where I live, the heavens had let loose and the downpour despite my raincoat had left me soaking wet. Alas an empty taxi did appear and even if his $6 charge seemed a bit high, it was worth it to get out of the rain and not deal with a crowded bus that would take me to who knows where. The half hour drive gave me some time to airdry especially since there were closed streets due to the OAS conference in town and main thoroughfares were more congested than usual. I arrived to a more than usual couple guards in front of the designated address and there was also a police force of 6 in addition to an Israeli secret service guy. I thought maybe there had been a bomb threat and I should just stay in the car and go back. I asked the driver to wait while I checked out the situation and since he had offered to pick me up, I also needed to verify a time. The plain clothesman asked me where I was from, what my intentions were... etc. and I explained that I had emailed someone named Fernando. I apologized for being early and they eventually did let me in. I was the first to arrive but then a couple gentlemen entered followed by the young Rabbi ' who I would later find out is from Argentina and whose first pulpit was in Cuba and then he came to this congregation... His wife greeted me and invited me to light candles with her. People slowly trickled in and they welcomed me with handshakes. A gentleman sat down next to me and we started conversing in Spanish and when he asked me where I was from, he responded that maybe we could speak in English. I spoke about our group´s adventures and he said he was at the US embassy. I shared our embassy vist with him and our surprise about the less than 1% of US foreign aid. He spoke of the highway project and others and my response was that that was the least we could do. BTW I know in my mind that that highway in the North is not for the people but for importing foreign business... We also spoke about the gang issues and safety. His reactions to my comments interested me and I asked him what his title was at the embassy. Well I was sitting next to the Chief Director of Mission, Robert Blau , no less. Go Google.

As we were talking the Rabbi´s wife was taping RESERVED signs on the 3 rows of chairs in front of me. Robert informed me that I had chosen he right night to be at services since the Israeli FOreign Minister Ayalon and his entire delegation and the Iraeli ambassador to El Salvador would be in attendance. Ayalon was here due to his role as a OAS observer and would speak to us.

This was the first time since 1959 and Prime Minister Golda Maeir had visited that someone of this stature had visited here. WOW.

Services would be extra special. Some melodies were different but then there were the old standbys. It was neat to read the verse in Spanish although the majority of the service was in Hebrew. Foreign Minister Ayalon delivered a very articulate speech regarding Israel´s past and its role in today´s world. A very nice dairy reception followed. What a treat! One just never knows what an adventure will bring...