December to Remember

So, I know that for the past month I did not post anything new, but I´ll try to make it up in one big post.  December was an interesting month for me.  It was full of national holidays and celebrations; a trip to San Salvador; getting violently ill; English class; and, oh yeah, burning the devil.

One of the holidays in December called Quema del Diablo or Burning the Devil, on Dec. 5th, really does consist of lighting fires in the streets and burning stuff.  Espuipulas has since stopped the actual burning part because too many people would use this holiday as an excuse to burn their garbage in the streets.  Even though, I still can find random fires along the sides of the roads on any given day, they found that the fumes would be overpowering with burned plastics and other toxins.  But, if you can´t burn the devil, they still find other ways to bring in the holiday-like putting on a dance performance in the middle of the street and having little kids show their best break dance moves.

Break Dancing in the Street

Another celebration in December was to celebrate the Virgen de Guadalupe.  Besides the large float of Guadalupe, it seemed to be a holiday geared for the youth.  The kids dressed in traditional garb and marched in a big parade.

Virgen de Guadalupe

There were a group of boys painted in black and one had a large picture of Guadalupe on his chest

During one of the Saturdays, I took a trip with a friend to San Salvador.  I think I have mentioned this in a past post, but Espuipulas lies less than 10 km from Honduras and around 20 km from El Salvador borders.  Thus, the trip to San Salvador took only a couple of hours.  I was excited to enter a new country.  Plus, believe it or not, I heard that El Salvador has a stable economy (they actually use $US dollars instead of a lesser currency; kind of weird to say when our economy is in the toilet right now), which means the roads will be a little better maintained.  Unfortunately, having a better economy doesn´t mean the country will be safer, but it does mean that they have the ability to hire more security guards with guns.  I read in my travel book that El Salvador has more security guards per capita than any other Latin American country.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed my brief trip to the country.

Road into San Salvador

Streets get a little crowded in San Salvador

While in San Salvador, we went Christmas shopping at a shopping center.  I wouldn´t have believed it if I didn´t see it with my own eyes, but this was a shopping mall one would see right out of the rich suburb of Edina or anywhere else in the states.  I was shocked for a moment to come upon this large shopping center when we had just driven through the slums of San Salvador ten minutes prior.  What a contrast!  Sure enough, the shopping center was complete with its own Christmas tree and Santa´s chair right in front.

¡Feliz Navidad!

On a more happy note!!!  I did get sick during the holiday month and I mean sick.  I´m talking Noro Virus sick (for anyone who is a fellow survivor of the ´04 outbreak at St. John’s).  Luckily, it only lasted for one night, but it was intense.  Let me just put it this way, I was glad for once that my bathroom was small enough that I could simultaneously sit on the Jon and reach the sink.  That´s probably too much detail for you, but my body has never before rejected something so ademently.  I hope that will be the last time that happens.  I think the culprut was some ketchup I ate with my papas at a local restaurant.  The ketchup came in a reusable bottle and there´s no telling how long it had been in there.  However, I think it could be a number of things with the daily bacterial battle my body endures.

I have been more active with the orphanage.  The water project is still in process, but slow.  I am glad that I made it to the orphanage before Christmas and wish everyone a Feliz Navidad.  I got each kid something for the holiday.  Although it wasn´t much I hope that it brightened their day.

Road to the Orphanage

Christmas was tranquilo, but I liked the build up to Christmas.  There were a lot of concerts that took place in the Basilica prior to the big day.  My favorite one consisted of a children´s choir.  The kids were well in tune with each other and they could really belt out a high note.

Christmas Concert in the Basilica

Just after Christmas I was invited to my friend Elias´ house.  His family lives a couple of hours away in a small aldea out in the country.  Elias and his family can play various instruments and they put on a little performance for me.  I needed the break from Esquipulas and the fresh air and sounds of the countryside rejuvenated me.  I really enjoyed my time with Elias and his family.  They were all very nice to me and his mom and sisters can cook a great meal.

Porch Jam

Next month will be interesting because Esquipulas will host an international festival that brings in the Cardinal and a represenative from Rome.  I will try to be more on top of my posts in the future.

¡Feliz Ano Nuevo!

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