Holy Week….

Last week was Semana Santa here in El Salvador. Semana Santa is also known as Holy Week. Everyone takes the week off. Schools are shut down. All government organizations are closed. Even the buses were shut down for part of the day on Friday. It is something similar to our spring break, but it is a religious holiday in honor of Easter.

Well, for me that meant no work and all play. Not because I did not feel like working, but simply because I had no one to work with. Many people were off visiting family in other parts of the country. All organizations were closed. Everyone was just relaxing so I took the time to hang out with some PCVs lay out by the pool a little, eat Chinese food in the capital, and visit my old host family.

So, chronologically it went something like this.

Two Fridays ago I went to help out a fellow PCV doing an environmental fair. As part, she asked some PCVs to come and perform a short skit about trash management and recycling. I was lucky enough to play the role of a very dramatic plastic grocery bag…

As part of the environmental fair, volunteer Sarah (behind) had a costume competition for her students. Students dressed up in outfits made out of trash. From left to right we have 1) chip bags 2) corn husks 3) leaves and bags 4) straws 5) aluminum foil 6) chip bags and trash bags

PCV sweeping up the trash into a big pile...

Lindsey, on the dirty ground crying....

PCV separating the trash into organic material, recyclables, and non-recyclables...

Conga line to the recycling plant...

Then, Saturday my friend Paul came down to hang out with me for the weekend. We hung around Juayua on Saturday…

Embarrassing...drinking a licuado.

Posing with the Mexican cactus!

Paul's turn!

Sunday, Paul and I went on a hike with some other PCVs in the area to climb Santa Ana volcano….I thought I was going to die, but I did not. We actually made it!

On top of the mountain...you can see volcano Cerro Verde in the background!

My feet hanging over the edge looking into the crater. Look Mom, I actually have used my hiking shoes!

Later in the week, I went to hang out with my old host family in Cañas (where I lived my first 2 months in country). It was so much easier to understand them now that I have lived here for a year!

When I got here Oso (the dog) was just a puppy, now he is HUGE! And so is Kevin (the boy).

Luis and Jimmy watching T.V.

Brand new baby! So cute!

Washing dishes at the pila...

Host mom Niña Gloria, and her mother sitting outside.

The family is now raising ducks.

The family of chicken and ducks trailing behind the leader...he, he, he

Kevin with the volcano view in the background.

Mya riding a horse at her host family's house across the street from mine.

Niña Gloria and her mom carry palm leaves to make tamales.

Saying goodbye in the driveway.

After saying goodbye, we headed to the capital for some relaxation at the Sheraton pool, Chinese food (two days in a row), and American time.

Then it was back to site to begin another busy week! Lots of stuff on my plate this week, so I need a few deep breaths, a good nights sleep, and a good book for an hour or so, to power me up!

*Side Note*

Special thanks for all the packages recently. Being away from home on weeks like this one, where everyone is visiting family, and taking vacations with loved ones it is especially difficult. Lucky for me, I have a lot of people who love me and never forget to make me feel better!