10 Reasons Why I Love Where I Am

I hope you all love where you are as much as I love ES! I want to share with you some of my favorite things about this country:)
1. SALVADORANS! The best part of the country. While the culture is pretty conservative, I find the people to be open and ready to chat with everybody and about almost anything!
2. My host mom, Nina Ana, the woman who looks after my every need and answers all my silly questions. She provides my home-away-from home anytime I need a break from work.
3. Lisette. Hands down the best host sister ever! She cracks me up, gives me pedicures, and takes me everywhere with her. She is also completely insane.
4. Salvadoran children! You can't find cuter ones anywhere. Usually they're embarassed the first time they meet you, but the second time they come around, they act as though they've known you their entire life. They're so enthusiastic about playing with me and teaching me how to live here!
5. Yummy fruit! My host mom knew I was anticipating the mangos on our tree ripening, so she picked the first ripe one and hid it in the kitchen so I could have it for breakfast one morning. Love! Pineapple season is also fast approaching, and bananas and plantains are always available. Not to mention my new favorites, jocote and mamey!
6. Music. Who in the world, outside of Latin America, understands my passion for Spanish-language and 80s music?
7. Spanish. In a week I will be in my site, speaking only Spanish for days on end! I won't have to see a gringo for two months if I don't want to!
8. On the other hand, the ES is small enough that I'm within a day's journey of all my PC friends, the beach, all major cities, and several foreign countries. Vacation!
9. PC friends and staff. I've made some great friends here, and I look forward to meeting the rest of the PC volunteers in the next few months. The staff here is also really awesome! I'm going to miss seeing them daily.
10. SAN JUAN ABAJO! My site:) We got assignments yesterday, and they are sending me to the village of San Juan Abajo in the region of Jocoro in the department (state) of Morazan. Good luck finding San Juan on a map! If it's detailed enough you might find Jocoro. It's in southern Morazan, near La Union. I'll post photos as soon as I can!

I have one week left of training, and then on Friday I'm being sworn in as a volunteer. It's a big deal - a ceremony at the US embassy and a crazy party afterwards in a private club! Then Saturday I have to wake up early to move to my site! I'll be getting there just in time for Holy Week, which is the week from Palm Sunday to Easter. It's one great big vacation all over the country. Then I turn 23! Life is good:)