05-June-09

As usual my ride home was a pain. Today I waited for the bus; one bus passed but I guess it decided not to stop. I became livid. I couldn't believe that the bus just kept going even though myself and another lady flagged it down. Thankfully another bus came fifteen minutes later.

On my way home I get to see many different things. I travel from a nicer part of San Salvador to a more necessitous part which is where my grandparents have their home. I am staying where Soyapango begins. This part of town is a motley of large well built houses adorn with pastels, shanty towns, and factories. My grandparents have had the option (I believe) to move to a nicer part of town with the assistance of their children but this is what my grandparents have known to be their home. My grandparents have built a humble home and thankfully they have much more than those that live around them. Regardless impecuniousness that surrounds me in this part of town I walk safely and not at any point have I self insecure.

On my way home today I became very emotional. Just seeing the scarcity around me dispirits me and makes me realize of how important our democratic rights are. Every time I see a person getting on the bus to beg for money my heart plummets to the floor. On this particular day a gentleman his wife and baby got on the bus. Then all of the sudden he comes to the front of the bus holding his baby and begins a speech. I became concerned for the child because the bus rides are tremulous, and I feared for the safety of the child. He began to tell all the riders that he “too was coming from work but unfortunately he has to work in whatever he can each day because he was let go from his job recently.” He then went on to explain how he barely has enough to feed his child and that he is asking for the co-operation of any coin. All us who felt his pain assisted him with a quarter or two. Later on an old man (septuagenarian) crawled under the turnstile (typically these turnstiles have a counter that are checked periodically; people who get on the bus to sell or to beg typically jump over) as he crawled under he said a small prayer and did the sign of the cross. Then then got up and holding on to the seats with his cane in had he began to ask for money to help his family. When I saw this began to tear. Seeing this poor old man in this condition stung me completely. I have been here close to a week and have seen many things but this perhaps struck a chord in me.

06-June-09
Tonacatepeque
Today I was invited to go to Tonacatepeque. I had a change to get out of San Salvador and actually breathe some fresh air. But it took me awhile to learn the name of this city. (still can't say it) This city is so small that you can practically travel from corner to corner in an hour. I had delicious soup, and tamarind sorbet. It was extremely hot and I wore jeans because my legs have been massacred by mosquitos and ants. I suffered the whole day from the heat.

I got home just in time to watch El Salvador kick Mexico's ass....buyaaahhhh!!!

Futbolisticamente El Salvador SI existe!