If I could write my experiences over the past week down for you it would make a short novel. The past week I have done so much that I could return home now and say "wow Peace Corps was a great experience!" Of course that is not going to happen but I can at least tell you that I feel incredible and excited and anxious to start my new work here.
My staging in DC went very well. Contrary to my expectations, the Peace Corps did not try to scare me away but began its process of "weeding us in, not out" as most of us had wondered about. The best part about staging, besides getting to see my friends Ernesto and Sara in DC, was finally meeting the 28 other trainees who will have the same tour of duty as me. We are already very close. I can anticipate great friends coming from this group.
After enormous ingression into the Peace Corps way of life, ie vaccinations, safety lectures, cultural indulgence, language training, we were put into our host family homes two days ago. Each one of us is in a different home all around the state of San Vicente. Our training center is in the capital city of that state, San Vicente city. Every other day or so we take a bus, or most frequently a "pick-up," which is a pick-up truck that hauls people around the state for .35 cents. Yep, we're riding in the back of pick-ups. Sorry to tell you, mom. But like any one of you would assume, things are extremely different here. I am so shocked and happy too that the influence of the US, though present, isn't as great in the country side here. I feel like I am across the world sometimes. I truly live with the poorest of people. I live with an older couple and two of their granchildren. The kids, Gabriela and Josué, already treat me like their favorite uncle. The dueños of the house, Gabriela and Bartolumé, talk with me and are not that shocked to have a Gringo living in their home. I am the 10th PCV that they have had in their home over the years. She is very sincere and humble, and treats me like a grandson. He is very hard and serious and has so far been hard to converse with. But as the time passes I know we will get to a level of communication at least suitable to say that we are amigos.
The home is were I am learning how to live in El Salvador. I use the latrine in the back yard each day while walking through a mob of hungry chickens, I bath outisde in a sheltered spot in the front of the house with a bucket and cold water waving at passer-by's, I sleep beneath a mosquito net, and have woken up each morning at 5:30 to the rooster croes. And strangley enough, to some of you, I feel completely comfortable with it all. Living-wise, this will be the longest camping trip I have ever taken in the states, but the beauty of this trip is that the food is delicious and I always go to bed on a full stomach.
Today I explored around my area and found the community soccer field. It adorns the top of the mountain that I live on, and on it you can see for miles over the valleys below. It is unbelievable. I arrived there by walking through pretty rural track and even a little jungle. The beauty of my hike was that every house I stopped by had family related to the people I live with. They all know me as the new gringo living in the Lopez house and treat me so nice
ly. I already feel like I am part of their family and I believe that is how Salvadorans prefer everyone to feel. As I stood on the field, completely by myself excpet for the majestic trees and grass and views around me, I got the biggest hit of goosebumps and a large lump in my throat. I thought " I am really here and doing this. This isn't a story in a book that I am fantasizing about. I am living in a foreign land preparing myself for an incredible work and life experience." I would have loved for you all to see what I was feeling. But in reality I am glad you weren't there. Being alone made it that much more special.
This Sunday I might possibly be playing with and for our community soccer team. One of the relatives of my family here is the director of the team and he has semi-recruited me. I can't wait to start moving around and kicking the ball. I feel like I've gained weight here as everywhere we've gone, and especially in my home, they feed me until I can't eat anymore.
I want to tell so much more but the reality is that I will only be able to spill my thoughts here every now and then and briefly. There is so much to tell and I can't practically do it all but I want you to read here and experience a little of what I experience, and more importantly you experience a little of what life is like for Salvadorans.
I love you all and I can't wait to hear from you. More will come soon and I'll be sure to include my work so far and details.
ly. I already feel like I am part of their family and I believe that is how Salvadorans prefer everyone to feel. As I stood on the field, completely by myself excpet for the majestic trees and grass and views around me, I got the biggest hit of goosebumps and a large lump in my throat. I thought " I am really here and doing this. This isn't a story in a book that I am fantasizing about. I am living in a foreign land preparing myself for an incredible work and life experience." I would have loved for you all to see what I was feeling. But in reality I am glad you weren't there. Being alone made it that much more special. 
