All the fun of home!

I boarded my flight around 4:30pm and settled in for the 5 hour flight. I was seated next to a elder Salvadorian lady. She breached normal flying rules when she didn't move to the empty seat next to her. You know what I mean, I was seated in the aisle and she was in the middle seat - she didn't move to the window seat. Anyway, the flight attendants promptly dispersed the immigration forms and I filled my out. All this while the woman sitting next to me is watching. When I was done, she turned to me and asked me to fill her's out - I thought this sounded shady and asked her to repeat. It then dawned on me - she didn't know how to write. So, I took her passport, visa, address and all and filled out the forms. Don't worry - I did ask her all the questions about livestock and bringing food into the country.

After that we just chit chatted occasionally, though - I think she had trouble understanding me and my accent. All well.

Once we landed, I quickly ran through immigration (which isn't hard to do at 10:30pm) and waited for my luggage....why am i always the last person to get their luggage. But it was all good once I exited and there was PJ waiting for me - what a good brother. He remembered to bring a coat, since it is cold as hell up here, and took me for some late night food.

I stayed with him for the night before flying down to SC. He even gave me a couple of bucks for the trip. I gotta tell you, I nearly passed out when I had to pay over $6 for a muffin and a hot chocolate. It was frightening.

Anyway, I finally got down and, of course, my father was there awaiting me!

Thus, I spent the next few days with parents. Yes, I was horribly spoiled with food and shopping. I won't go in to the debauchery, but i will mention the excess time in hot showers I spent.

On the 23rd of December, we started the long journey up to Connecticut. We went a little further then halfway before stopping at family to spend the night.

Vacation at Last!

The final week leading up to the 19th flew by!

Work wise - I pretty much acted as though I was already on vacation. I did tie up some loose ends though...mainly dealing with the artisans. Andrea Ramos fired her kiln before actually putting any pieces in - it seems to have worked since none of her comales broke. And right before leaving I learned that Maria Irene fired again and nothing broke in her kiln either - so onward and upward with the project!

Personally - I spent a lot of time getting things organized. I was finally brave enough to open my suitcase and clean it out. Proud to state there was nothing living in their.

I also attended a surprise birthday party for the sister of Don Justo (the mayor). Mostly because I'm pretty close to his family...hell...Iris is his daughter- in-law. Well, it was meant to be a surprise party but I ruined that. I went into Sonsonate earlier then everyone else because I had to pick up some medicine (yes, i got sick before going home) and then walked over to a friends house that is right in front of the birthday girls house. Well, she saw me and figured out that gringas don't arrive without reason. I didn't mean to kill it - but I guess that just happens sometimes.

It turned out to be a really nice evening. We participated in the procession that happens every night during Advent. They take a small Jesus statue and bring him to a new house every night. I recognized the tune of most of the songs, i just couldn't sing the words.

Soon enough it was Wednesday and I was off to the airport. I was wise enough to tell Don Justo I needed a ride to the airport at 12, knowing full well that we would never leave at 12. First we had to turn back to get authorization to buy gas, then we had to give a ride to some people down to Don Justo's ranch - I've gotten good at this stuff.

But then I was off!

count down till vacation

Another week flew by and now there is only a week till I’m up visiting in NY – Yey!

I’m spending the time wrapping up lose ends before I go and visiting a few people.

Over the weekend I headed over to Joe and Natalie’s site. They live in a canton by the Santa Anna volcano in the midst of coffee fincas (plantations?). It could best be described as a Christmas weekend. We made ancient gingerbread (meaning the recipe was really old, medieval old), and strung up the Christmas lights while listening to Christmas music. I was originally only going to stay one night, but they slowly convinced me to spend a second. I haven’t been so lazy in quite a while. I think Sunday was truly spent reading, napping and eating – Joe cooks really well.

Monday morning came and I thought I would take the long way back to Sonsonate to stop by Mary Susan’s site and pick up coffee – her site makes great organic coffee. Unfortunately, that morning I received a phone call from my kiln constructor (for my project) saying that the first kiln finished was used and the entire product inside was destroyed. Needless to say, I ran home as quickly as possible.

It proved not to be so disastrous when I arrived. 40 out of 120 comales (large, clay plates) were badly cracked, but not utterly destroyed. And all the pieces were located in the same area of the kiln – by the chimney. After talking with a few people, a number of reasons came up.

• The kiln wasn’t completely dried before use, so the humidity affected the pieces.
• The pieces were heated to rapidly.

And the most likely

• The pieces were cooled to rapidly. Upon speaking to a great guy named Larry who specializes in ovens, I learned that if the wood burning chamber wasn’t closed up after use, the chimney would act in reverse and suck cool air down.

Now, out of precaution, I’ve stopped new construction until the artisan fires again. I’m thinking it was just a flook. Nevertheless, I held a meeting with all the artisans to explain the situation and lay out how we were going to precede – an effort to stop any gossip that may spread.

And don’t worry about the artisan that lost 40 comales – I paid her for them.

Other then that, not much going on. I’m just starting to pick up gifts for people and will soon tackle opening my suitcase – a scary step since one never knows what bug has moved in.

Three am wake-up call

Later that same week, I believe the 29th of November I believe, my artisans were invited to go sell at the embassy themselves. I, being the strategic volunteer that I am...alright, maybe it was another volunteer’s idea, anyway - i managed to store the stuff at the embassy so I wouldn’t have to bring it all back. This time around, though, the artisans wanted to be there at 6am, meaning we left at 4amish. It was really harsh getting up at 3:30am....but I managed. The pick-up ride out there was cold - I have no idea what I’m going to do in cold of NY.

Anyway, the sale went ok. I don’t think they sold as much as they wanted to, but enough. I also picked up a few things including a piece of black pottery. It is a type of pottery that is sold on the other side of the country. My artisans called me a traitor...what can i say.

That night was spent celebrating the swearing-in of new volunteers. I can’t say I enjoyed it as much...probably cause I was exhausted. I stumbled into bed at 4:30am on Friday and slept quite nicely.

Saturday I somehow got suckered into climbing two volcanoes...that’s right, two. Iris, Irwin,Victoria and I braved it and succeeded! The trail begins at the top of one volcano (you take a bus/car to get up there) called Cerro Verde. You walk down that volcano, then walk up Izalco, down Izalco and up Cerro Verde. It takes a little over 4 hours in total and I am still hurting. The best part was definitely coming back down Izalco. The volcano only stopped erupting in the ´60s and thus is just made of ash, rock and pumice. It´s still hot in the center, some of the rocks are warm and when the rain water enters, it comes back out a vapor. To come down Izalco, you start a mini avalanche beneath your feet and walk on top of it - really cool. It can best be compared to skiing. The worst part was coming back up Cerro Verde - 1,300 stairs. Ouch!

Sunday was recovery time and checking out the soccer tournament. I won’t say much about it, but that the ref left there running.

And that brings us to this week....nothin going on. I believe this is where I start my count down till visiting home in NY - 15 days!