Arrival (by KF)

We arrived without a problem to the most amazing host family ever, complete with the two most well behaved, cutest girls imaginable, C. and X., and their parents, Drs. M and F. Oh yeah, and a 4 month old puppy ( I think I can use the dog´s real name) Ginger. The family lives right next to a huge volcano in the middle of the capital, San Salvador. El Salvador is roughly the size of Massachusetts, and consists of 14 distinct departamentos, which are like really small states. Most people live in Sal Salvador. The M family lives on a big hill which overlooks the entire city.

The city so far reminds me of other LA countries I have visited, maybe a little less crowded and actually cleaner. There are tons of American chain stores like KFC and Pizza Hut, and even my fave Subway. The downside is that there is no way to walk around by foot because there is no pedestrian friendly walkway, at least not around where we are staying. So you have to drive everywhere. The first thing we did yesterday was get lunch at a nice restaurant near the house. We ate mixed grill with chorizo, chicken, steak and pork, and a delicious beef soup that was my favorite part of the meal. There was also a salad bar with some beets, rice with cilantro, and then some mayonnaise covered stuff that I stayed away from esp. after my Xmas food poisoning episode. After lunch Dr. M took us to an affluent part of town where the US Embassy is located (HUGE building -- what are they DOING in there) and we went to a park called Parque Madre Selva (Park Jungle Mother) where there are playgrounds, quiet shady walkways, and lots of families strolling about. There were also the requisite lovers on a few benches. After the park we had the pleasure of meeting Dr. M´s parents who live in a lovely home with a beautiful indoor courtyard with a lemon tree and a guayaba tree. Everyone is so nice and gracious and friendly. EDF even had her nails painted by X. on our way out the door! And our Spanish is improving by the minute, of course.

EDF and I collapsed into bed at 9 PM or so and this morning we piled in the jeep with the family to spend the day in Suchitoto, a lovely old colonial town about 45 km north of San Salvador. The town has a lovely plaza with a church built in 1500. The original church and wooden capillas, or small side chapels, are still standing. We enjoyed an icee outside the church and walked around in the bright tropical sun until we were about to pass out from the heat. We also made some purchases, EDF a much needed sun visor that is a little dorky but very protective, and K bought a necklace and a very trendy leather bracelet. We like to support the local economy...plus everything seems to cost 2 USD. After walking about the town we headed to Lake Suchitlan, a man made lake. We took a boat out on the lake and cruised around for a while before heading back to town for lunch. EDF took a turn at the helm of the boat whuch surprised everyone, who knew she had such skills. Lunch was at a restaurant overlooking the lake with a very inviting swimming pool. On the way home we looked at more of the fronts of homes in Suchitoto, some of which still have bullet holes in them from the Civil War. Suchitoto was in the middle of the violence (more on the war later) and the hospital was in ruins. Dr. M´s husband Dr. F was actually born in Suchitoto, and Dr. M did a year of required medicine internship in the town as well, so they both know it well. Dr. F still has a few aunts in town, but we didn´t meet them on this visit. All in all, it has been a packed weekend and we are gearing up for our first day of work tomorrow, we will be accompanying Dr. M to clinic as well as doing community visits with the clinic health educator.