Everyone arrived safe and sound in San Salvador on Saturday evening-- the students and Brian were met with the heat and humidity of the early Salvadoran evening, and by their excited leader, Sarah. We all piled onto the bus and played get-to-know you games as the sun set behind the San Vincente volcano. When we finally arrived to Hotel Oasis, a delicious meal of pupusas and other comida typica was awaiting.
The following day, we went on a bus tour of the city, passing by a shanty town erected on the outskirts of San Salvador. We scratched the surface of the most prominent issues of poverty, landlessness and globalization in El Salvador. We also passed by the US embassy, a massive expanse of white-washed buildings which are heavily guarded-- this served as a great juxtaposition to the impoverished living situations of many Salvadorans.
We were also able to visit the cathedral where Archbishop Romero is buried, and experience a bit of the hustle and bustle of the busy Plaza Libertad, at the heart of the city. Later in the day, we visited Puerta Del Diablo, a famous lookout point from which we could see much of the country-- from the dramatic peaks of Volcan Santa Ana to the foggy coastline of the Pacific beaches. We ended the day with a stop at the Wall of Truth and Memory, commemorating those who lost their lives during the civil war. It was a full day!
On Monday, we met with a series of organizations in San Salvador, learning about both historical and current immigration issues, whats being done to dissuade inner city youth in the city from joining gangs. We also listened to an amazing, personal account of a revolutionary, Damian Alegría, who has dedicated his life to bringing about social change in El Salvador. Damian has recently realized some of those dreams by becoming a delegate in the National Assembly. He, along with his wife Carolina, are the gracious owners of the Hotel Oasis, our home in San Salvador. We are quite sure that our students will have many more questions for Damian during our time here.
Our students have already started asking some tough questions and begun to synthesize some of their different skill sets, areas of expertise, and individual passions as we begin to put all of our experiences together to look at the big picture. We´re excited for what the rest of the week will bring!
Saludos desde San Salvador,
Sarah and Brian
