Hey guys! I’m gearing up and getting ready for my trip which is 42 days away! This Summer has been flying by and I can’t wait to start my adventure this Fall. Hope you all found my blog ok and can navigate it (better than I can...)
The whole purpose of this, is to keep everyone posted on the happenings this Fall.
So far this Summer, I’ve stayed really busy, working my two jobs. I’m still at Baskin Robbins (over a year and a half now!) and I got a job “mannying” for a little family out in Parks. I watch their two kids, Mariella and Wyatt, and help them (retain) their Spanish, as they spend half the year down in Mexico, los ninos (the kids) have picked up quite a bit of Spanish. If anything, they’re helping me with my Spanish though!
I spent two weeks in Florida with my Aunt and Uncle, and also went to Harry Potter Land at the end of June, so I’ve definitely had an awesome Summer. I can’t believe it’s almost August though... but I can’t wait for September 8th to come at the same time.
So, I have been accepted into a program through El Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (Center for Exchange and Solidarity) and you can check out their website (http://www.cis-elsalvador.org/en/language-school/english-school/volunteer-teachers.htm) <-- there. I will be volunteer English teaching for 10 weeks in San Salvador (the capitol). In addition I will be taking formal Spanish classes 5 days a week M-F, 8am to 12pm. I will be living these 10 weeks with a home stay family, of which I’ve not been assigned yet. I’m sure I will have such a great experience this way and can’t wait. Apart from that, that is all that is set in stone, planned. After the class/teaching ends November 22nd, i’m going to send up my suitcase in the mail, take as little as I can (need...) and spend the next four weeks backpacking the country, staying in hostels and meeting people and helping out where needed. There is a small town up north, where I hope to spend a week working in an orphanage. El Parque Nacional (national park) in the East is filled with live volcanoes and forests and I plan to get some great hiking in. Of course I will make my way south to la playa (beach) and out west to la ciudad Santa Ana. I only hope four weeks is enough!
These are my plans, and of course I recognize that a lot is up for negotiation. . . but it’s solidified enough to where I’ll be alright, but not in trouble if things turn out differently.
I spend a lot of time at work these days and fall into my El Salvador state of mind...and today’s no exception. It’s all I can think about..I can’t wait. I’m anxious, nervous, excited, scared, but ready. As I said, 42 days.
And I know how fast 42 days can go by.
