Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and a very Happy New Year to all
Christmas has come and gone here. The Salvadoran Christmas is a little different than the traditional Jersey Christmas that I am used to. First of all Christmas is celebrated here on the 24th of December. Second of all kids line the street with quetes, or in English firecrackers; families gather to eat hoagie sized sandwiches of chicken, lettuce, cucumber and beets; and people where shorts and tees because the heat takes over when dancing to Salsa, Cumbea, and Regitone music. Last but not least, I was speaking Spanish. Although different and a little sad being estranged for my family in the States, Christmas turned out to be quite beautiful and filled with joy, which is what Christmas is supposed to be.
On the 25th , the day which I am accustomed to spending the day opening presents, lounging for many hours in my bedtime clothes and eating a meal that take a week to digest, I spent the morning carrying water from one of the only water sources in the canton and talking with some of the women in my community about well everything. Water has not being running for about a week now. Women, children and men go to the little bodies of water to wash themselves and there clothes. How do you tell a community that they are contaminating their drinking water with the chemicals they use to wash themselves and their clothes when they have no other option? Something that seems so carefree and easy like going to a tap to get filtered and clean water is put into perspective for me when I watch the people spend hours schlepping water to the house. Here is a picture of Don Medardo loading the horse with water to bring back to the house.
For the 31st the ADESCO is putting together a dance in the street for the canton and the pueblo. Everyone is really excited. Give Salvadorans any excuse to dance and throw firecrackers in the street and they will take it, as they should. So as the entire world is preparing to bring in the New Year our little canton of two hundred and thirty people is as well. Wishing everyone happiness, health, and a prosperous new year.
Christmas has come and gone here. The Salvadoran Christmas is a little different than the traditional Jersey Christmas that I am used to. First of all Christmas is celebrated here on the 24th of December. Second of all kids line the street with quetes, or in English firecrackers; families gather to eat hoagie sized sandwiches of chicken, lettuce, cucumber and beets; and people where shorts and tees because the heat takes over when dancing to Salsa, Cumbea, and Regitone music. Last but not least, I was speaking Spanish. Although different and a little sad being estranged for my family in the States, Christmas turned out to be quite beautiful and filled with joy, which is what Christmas is supposed to be.
On the 25th , the day which I am accustomed to spending the day opening presents, lounging for many hours in my bedtime clothes and eating a meal that take a week to digest, I spent the morning carrying water from one of the only water sources in the canton and talking with some of the women in my community about well everything. Water has not being running for about a week now. Women, children and men go to the little bodies of water to wash themselves and there clothes. How do you tell a community that they are contaminating their drinking water with the chemicals they use to wash themselves and their clothes when they have no other option? Something that seems so carefree and easy like going to a tap to get filtered and clean water is put into perspective for me when I watch the people spend hours schlepping water to the house. Here is a picture of Don Medardo loading the horse with water to bring back to the house.
For the 31st the ADESCO is putting together a dance in the street for the canton and the pueblo. Everyone is really excited. Give Salvadorans any excuse to dance and throw firecrackers in the street and they will take it, as they should. So as the entire world is preparing to bring in the New Year our little canton of two hundred and thirty people is as well. Wishing everyone happiness, health, and a prosperous new year.
posted by jojotravels at 9:55 AM
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