May was an enjoyable month. The parents came to visit!! May 18th was their arrival day, and I waited four hours anxiously in the El Salvador airport to greet my family that I had been estranged from for nine months. We began our adventure lounging out by the palm trees, almond trees, and big waves watching the surfers catch some good rides and people riding by on horseback through the black sand. My father really took to the hammock and to the domesticated female monkey that resided in our hotel. My mother on the other hand did not take to the monkey very well, but enjoyed swimming in the pool, drinking tropical drinks, and lounging out by the black sand reading. Needless to say it was a hard life of eating, drinking, swimming, scrabble playing, and catching up.

After the beachfront view and breeze we headed north into the department of Chalatenango where my little village of Cuesta Marina is located. As we pulled up interested faces peeked out of the houses to greet us. My parents, who speak no Spanish and my Salvadoran family, who speaks no English, finally got to meet. My parents were greeted with hugs by Mirtala, Blanca, and Hilda and the tears rolled down all of our faces. My two worlds collided. Although the language barrier, latrine and extreme heat made it a little difficult for them to be exactly themselves, my parents made a great impression. The night that they stayed we went to Elena’s for pupusas and budin! Everyone was taken with the conversation about export, Salvadoran job market, and goat’s milk. It was a real success!! In the morning we made typical Salvadoran bread and went around the community meeting and talking to community members.

Once my parents had the opportunity to meet my community and get some insight into the world I now live in, we headed across the lake Suchitlan to Suchitoto. Suchitoto was one of the most devastated towns during the civil war but after the war officially ended in 1992 with the peace accords the mayor’s office put most of their government allotted money to refurbishing the historic buildings and cleaning up the town. With their efforts, Suchitoto has now become a big destination for both domestic and international tourists. While there we ate some amazing food: salmon, paté, fresh fruits and vegetables, and great mojitos. Also we stayed in a quaint hotel called “los almendros” (the almonds) that is run by a French man and woman; therefore, there is a very “French” feel. Vacation it was. It came and went and now we are in June and everyone is back at work, but while my parents were here we were all on vacation reconnecting.