Even after a year in El Salvador I’m often surprised by the expensive items that I constantly see in my everyday life. The kid who brought the colored Nintendo Game Boy to the swimming hole, the guy with the portable DVD player on a chicken bus (that was a little much), the mini i-pod or the brand new cars that often pass my city hall on the way to the next town are all surprising since going into the Peace Corps I never thought I’d encounter even one of those things. While originally this may have been a negative thing (and at times continues to be), it has got me thinking. And it’s that topic I’d like to touch on here.

It’s quite ironic to see lavish items on the television while swinging in the hammock of an adobe house. Televisions are cheap enough to become so ubiquitous that all the people that I know here have access to a T.V. No matter how poor the community may be, someone has one. I talked with one volunteer who has no electricity, but that obstacle still hasn’t stopped people, as they have hooked up a car battery to watch their favorite programs. The images I saw while in that adobe house were not directed at the people I was with; they were for the wealthy part of society. The problem is these images got to the poor part as well. The poor are the ones who are defining their own development in terms of those useless products that they can afford. What aren’t shown are the important things that most wealthy people have in their lives that allow them to move beyond basic needs. Steps are missed when development or progress is defined in terms of materialistic gains. What the television doesn’t show is the importance of education system, health system, and good governance. These items are essential if people are to pull themselves out of the cycle of poverty, but pop culture pays them no attention.

We, in the United States, have created a society that is now wealthy enough that materiaslism has become the ever unattainable end goal. If more people were conscious of an effort to combat this through generous foreign aid, increased emphasis on improving health care, overhauling the public education system, maybe the world would take notice that there are other things in life that are more important than camera phones and stereo systems. The United States is the standard bearer and the trend setter for what it means to be a wealthy nation. This follows us from what we do in politics, foreign policy, pop culture and lifestyle and has been for generations.. It is essential that we understand that relationship and change our behavior accordingly. What kind of example do we want to set for the rest of the world? What is our vision for the world and how can we make that true in our own lives?

It´s been too long at this point to even apologize for my absence. But I continue to do well and love my time here. So while I may not have been in touch for a while, the blog I wrote will hopefully give you a small insight into what I´m doing here.

One of the pre-requisites of surviving in the Peace Corps is patience. The second is and understanding that we (meaning Americans) have yet to monopolize the way things should be done. The Peace Corps experience is about seeing that there are different perspectives about the world and different approaches to everything we may consider axiomatic. But the beauty of what we do is that it we help them to move forward and grow within the context of their own culture and ultimately, if we allow it, are the ones who are given lessons. Soon enough I will be back to the “American way” but for now I am enjoying experiencing alternatives. As a disclaimer to this story I want to say that all of this is meant to be funny and not degrading in any way. I have great respect for Salvadorans and feel that they are extremely capable group. But I think hearing about some of the cultural differences in our work approach will give you all some idea of the context of my work. What follows is what I consider one of my more successful days.

It all began on Friday trying to finalize the last details for Saturday’s meeting. The meeting was to be the second swearing-in of the board of directors of one of the community groups with whom I have been working. The first swearing-in had given me a little boost and a fair amount of pride, since it was one of my first big accomplishments. Since the first swearing-in meeting had gone fairly well and had left me somewhat inspired about the capabilities of these community groups, I hoped for good things at the second.

So on Friday I talked with the Municipal Secretary (second in command at city hall) about the plans for Saturday and she informed me that the mayor had told her we would be leaving between 1-1:20 pm for the meeting. Which would have been fine had the meeting been scheduled for some time later than 1 o’clock, which is was. I still didn’t think much of it since “la hora salvadoreña” usually is an hour late (sometimes more, sometimes less) I figured we’d arrive more or less on time.

On Saturday I had a nice relaxing morning hanging out in my house reading and doing a few chores. About 12, I headed up to the park hoping to find one of the park chalets open for lunch, predictably they weren’t. So after popping a few candies the city council member gave me and having a nice chat, we began waiting on the mayor. At one o’clock he and the rest of the crew showed and we were ready to roll…almost.

After some confusion about who was actually going and who would drive the city hall vehicle we were on our way. It was 1:30. The truck was loaded down with nine of us. Six in the cab and 3 in the back along with 30 chairs and two tables, but conspicuously missing was the mayor. I was informed that he would be taking his motorcycle right behind us.

We arrived about 50 minutes late, not too egregious, but still quite noticeable. Luckily only about two thirds of the people had shown up, the rest waiting until our truck showed knowing nothing happens without the mayor. The nine of us quickly got to work setting up chairs, talking with board members, filling out paper work and mingling. Just then we began to notice the ominous clouds rolling in.

Not being allowed to start until the big cheese showed up we all quietly chatted (almost exclusively about the impending rain), while constantly looking up at the sky. At the first sign of rain, a number of women forcefully grabbed their children’s arms and ran to the covered porch. And rain it did, but fortunately, (this time) we didn’t get rained on too much. (The last time I visited the community after walking an hour and a half, I had gotten stuck in a downpour only to discover upon arrival that they thought the meeting was the next day.) So as women slowly got back to their seats as they thought the threat of rain had passed, we waited and waited and waited. Unfortunately at 2:45, we all realized we better start the meeting before the mayor got there since it didn’t look like he would get there til dark.

The meeting was an important one and because much of it was scripted it should have gone quickly. Members of the board would pass in front of everyone, read a short paragraph, and ask if people approved it, and a third of the crowd would yell out ‘Sí’. The crowd itself was somewhat an oddity with all the women congregated to one side and the men trying their darnedest not to even enter the courtyard

The process began with the ‘saludo’. That’s where all that smoothness stopped. After attendance was taken the total number of members were counted at 23, which at a normal meeting is fine but because this was the swearing-in they needed 25 by law. So then, they went to track down all those people who hadn’t yet signed up.

Salvadorans are generally a pretty reticent bunch and are nervous to be put in the front of a group in any situation. (We will see more of this later) But after some cajoling, 20 minutes, an additional four citizens were signed up. We continued at a fairly nice pace. As we did a motorcycle rode up with the mayor on it. In requisite Salvadoran fashion he greeted the crowd, shook a few hands and took a seat. In reality it was one of his less disruptive late entrances..

Just as he arrived the topic of the board of directors was raised. Although we knew before hand, at this point in the meeting the president was going to reject his nomination. So we had to look to another person to take his job, but before that it was important that the president take 15 minutes to explain why he couldn’t do it and what the process was to replace him. Then the master of ceremonies got up to explain what the now ex-president had said. Then the municipal secretary explained what the master of ceremonies had said about what the president had said. Each of these was followed by long silences with the crowd too nervous to get the ball rolling by nominating a new president. Finally the long silence was broken and someone was nominated. Then we were rolling and got four nominations voted on. To my surprise, we got the first woman president in my municipality!

The meeting adjourned and we all enjoyed frescos (juices) out of plastic bags and cookies. While it may have taken hours for a 30 minute meeting, the important thing was that things got accomplished. So in the end, we have continued to move forward and that’s what I call a successful day.

Working with kids at a life skills camp. This was my presentation on population and family planning.

These were the kids that didn´t plan well in our socio drama and ended up knocked up at 16. And it didn´t stop there, they end up with 6 kids.

Here are the kids I brought to the camp. They are absolute rock stars and my inspiration in El Salvador. We came back to my site and did presentations in their schools and am trying to put together a youth group with the girls.

This is the first swearing in of the board of directors of the community group in "La Joya".

Hello all

I have received a few emails asking me about what happened to my blog. It´s great to know that at least two of you actually enjoy the blog. I´ve just recently found a cyber cafe in my town, so hopefully will be able to update it with a little more regularity. I know what you´re thinking he´s been in town for over 6 months and he just found this cafe. Isn´t his town only like a thousand people too? Well you´d be right. It´s just tough to find when it´s in a random house. Because of the long absence my entry this time is bigger than normal. Anyway here´s the info.

Since I last wrote I have had a decent amount of excitement. After the realization that I wouldn´t be returning until 2007 and that they wouldn´t visit until January of that same year, my parents decided it was time for a family trip. So my arm was twisted into a trip to Peru for Christmas. It was honestly one of the most beautiful places I´ve ever been to. We did the Cusco/Machu Piccu thing for the most part. Both were intriguing. It´s quite amazing to see the differences in the Latin world, when you are so immersed in one of those countries. After a great trip and a sad goodbye I headed back to El Salvador. The next day I picked up my stuff and headed out to Guatemala to meet up with my friends and girlfriend (don´t be too shocked more info to come). We had a kick ass time in Antigua, Guatemala for the new year.

After a great vacation and party in Guatemala, I came back to my site with little structure and direction due to the mayoral campaign that had begun in full effect. While this might sound bad, it was the opportunity that I was looking for. So I took the new found freedom and pushed for a lot more work with youth. In October I talked with the principal of the school about doing the work there in the beginning of the new year. During February I did a series of presentations on civic education to middle school and high school students. These presentations came from a workshop that a group of us did in December before we all left on vacation. (see photo) In addition, I really was looking to get involved with the enviroment and youth and have begun an enviromental youth group in town that begins this coming Tuesday. The last thing that I have done recently is an evironmental camp with a group of volunteers to the north of me in a state called Morazan. It was one of my favorite parts of my experience thus far. Each volunteer brought 3-4 kids and we did everything from a hike to presentations on climate change to a huge capture the flag game. These are very inspirational times getting to see these kids challenged and seeing their true capabilities. My future work may be slightly different but I have to talk a little with my mayor (who on sunday won his seventh election) and find out where he sees me working. Now that I´ve been here for a while I should have a little more say in my work, but I´ll have to keep you posted.

Socially I´ve continued to meet up with volunteers as much as before and continue to make great friends in the volunteer community here in El Salvador. But there are a few larger changes that I´ve had in the past few months. The first is that I´m beginning to feel accepted here in my pueblo. I know that doesn´t sound like anything too exciting but I´m working on a smaller scale here. It just means more good conversation and a little more info about both people and culture of El Salvador. This definitely makes me feel like I´m making progress. Still no good friends, but I think that´s around the corner. The second news piece is that I´ve been dating another volunteer now for the past four and a half months. That´s right, try not to be too shocked. Her name is Kate and she is a rural health volunteer. (see pic) She lives down on the coast which is about 3 and a half hours away. It is going very well and has been a wonderful addition to my experience here.

Additional thoughts:

I realized after I had sent out the last update to my blog I may not have explained why I added my closing statement about the need to connect with and understand those around us. One of the greatest things that I have discovered about the Peace Corps (PC) is that there is ample time for self thought and exploration. This “work” (I say work because it is one part of my goals here in the PC) has led me down all kinds of paths. These have included things as grandiose as questioning my basic ideology of life to things as mundane as how in the shit frogs constantly end up in my house. The latter not quite as deep or challenging as the former. So instead of boring you with the frogs (its through the shower drain if you were wondering) in this addition of the chaos that is my continued search for my own global, national, local and personal understanding I will touch upon what I believe I’m doing here.

I came into this experience hoping that I could challenge (and ultimately prove correct) my personal outlook on the world. On a smaller level and definitely farther back in my mind was the idea that I wanted to do some good and “change the world”. I believed that I could go into this place and create a great utopia for all those who lived there. Oh, to be young and naïve. After quickly learning that that was impossible, I had to come up with an understanding of how I was still helping to “change the world”. I mean, hey, if you’re not on a crusade, what’s the point?

The Municipal Development Program (that I’m in) recently had an In-Service Training where we delved into the depths of our reasoning for going into and sticking with the Peace Corps. As I’m sure most of you image this is a pretty tough job. Not in hours or in its strenuous nature or even in the living conditions, it’s simply getting used to working and living in the unfamiliar culture and environment. It was at this IST that I finally was able to put my reasoning into a concise thought. I’m here for consciousness building.

For me this consciousness building is about education, openness, possibilities and ultimately action. My work in this area rarely stops, from my everyday relationships with people to my more formal working relationships. It also includes my relationship with all of you and even with myself. I am no longer working to transform these people’s lives; I am working to help them understand what is possible in their world and hopefully outside their world as well. My new ideology has to do with giving people the power to change their own lives. While this isn’t entirely different, my approach and my role in all of this have changed significantly. I don’t necessarily see myself as the leader in that change. Instead, I’m now a person who can help leaders to see both their own potential and see the potential of the people around them. It is about changing one outlook that can change one outlook and so on and so on. When you live in the conditions or just with the obstacles that many of these people face a feeling of fatalism develops and may be supported by culture (or religion in the case of El Salvador). If I leave knowing that I had a hand in helping a few community and youth leaders to dig a little deeper and be a little more critical about their own potential and translate that to their community members I will have done something that is more lasting, and in my opinion much greater than any road I could have built or water system I could have solicited for.

My goals for my experience here in El Salvador may have become more realistic, but to the same degree I’ve increased the goals for the affect of my Peace Corps experience in the United States. While my work is to help build the consciousness of the people here it is also to expand the consciousness of those around me back at home. As I share my experiences with all of you I hope that you are challenged to think a little bit deeper or differently. When these experiences continue to compound themselves my goal is that it may change an opinion that you have held. Now don’t worry, I’m not quite that arrogant. This consciousness building that I hope I’m triggering in the people with whom I am working with here and in my communication with all of you is not going in one direction. There is no doubt in my mind that my consciousness and understanding will have changed ten times more than anything I could have done for anyone here. But this is a collective torch that we are carrying. As we help to light each others’ torches we are moving each other towards lives of greater understanding and hopefully more conscious and active lives that include the betterment of all of those who have contributed to the process. Even though I may have lost my inspiration for creating my own little utopia down here in El Salvador, I have affirmed my belief in the need for collect movement. Only when we educate and inspire each other can we change evils that maybe we didn’t know at first, then didn’t understand, then didn’t react to and finally moved to change. The world both immediately around us and in the global sense will change only when we spread and receive our collective understandings to one another.

Now that I’ve expounded on my personal philosophy I’ll write you all in a few months and let you know how it’s been turned on its head, again. Also for those of you who made it this far please let me know any comments that you might have about my thoughts or my writing. Thanks my friends.

Paz y Amor

Chris

Tara and I at the civic education workshop. We are doing a presentation on the Development of Democracy in El Salvador.

A great family pic over looking Machu Piccu

My dad and I after hiking Wayna Piccu. Machu Piccu is down in the background

My kids and I at the environmental camp in Perquin, Morazan. From left to right Alexi, Natalia, me and KelvinKate and I at her birthday dinner at an Argentine Grill in San Salvador.

My mayor on the day of the elections in front of an FMLN bus. That´s his party. Its a most leftist party in the country and the second most powerful behind ARENA which is the furtherest right leaning. Not much center leaning politics here either.

Hey everybody! I hope that you are all doing well this holiday season and enjoyed your Thanksgivings. I spent Thanksgiving with a few friends and a family from the embassy. (See pics) We had an amazing time and had equally as much fun heading out that night.

Overall things are going quite well. I am loving leaving here in El Salvador more and more. Finally in a new home that is amazing with all the ammenities that I could want, (including a fridge but does cost me $35 bucks a month in electricity so it will be quickly unplugged). I know, not quite the mud hut peace corps experience but there is still a decent adjustment time and plenty of difficulties and differences. Still, it has taken me a little while to be comfortable not living in the adobe house but now realize that it allows me to do more work and my experience is not just about getting used to living in a third world country.

On that side of life, work, I have been getting more and more indepedence as time has gone on. I basically make my own schedule and am doing a lot of work in communities. Still working on coordinating that development council. I think have finally been able to get it on an Salvadoan time schedule which means who knows how long that may take. While these community organizations do take up the majority of my time, I have begun to prepare presentations for the schools about democracy and government (for the elections in March) and have begun to prepare for an environmental youth group come the new school year. This will be a great chance to work with youth and do some education work which has become my new favorite development work.

From the social side of life all is well. I have been seeing friends much more than normal due to holidays and other working events. I am constantly looking to find a balance with my work, community and my Peace Corps friends and life. I have yet to find any good friends in my site. It is likely a combination of cultural and language difficulties. This is very common story with volunteers. Some saying that it took them a full year to find those one or two good friends. The country life takes machismo to a whole nother level. This makes it hard make connections with both men and women of my age. Despite that, I am beginning to feel both comfortable and accepted in my pueblo. Overall people have been extremely friendly and welcoming. Surprisingly we haven´t connected as quickly as I´d have liked but I´ll be here for two years and have no worries about the long term.

Just a quick thought to chew on:

One of the great things about the Peace Corps for me was getting away from America and American culture for a while. But while being I have had more conversations with people who have worked in Boston, D.C., Houston or LA. Each time I meet someone in my community the conversation inevitably leads to a story about one of these places or how cold it is right now "there". The United States has been replaced by sayings such as "up there" or "to the north". The belief here in El Salvador is that our two countries have this amazing interconnectedness. I haven't had the heart to tell them that most people in the states don't even know where El Salvador is. The only thing anybody might know is about a civil war, if that. Great thing to be known about. For these people, even more than other Latin American countries, America truly is the land of opportunity. They make the trek anyway possible illegal or legal. They spend entire life savings and risk there lives to work long hours and very little pay. Salvadorans work in our restaurants, wash our cars, clean our streets, work our gardens, work our fields and more. They leave behind family and country to get what they see as easy money.There has been a recent push with Peace Corps volunteers to really educate Salvadorans on the realities of their life in America. They work long hours for little money and then send back a few hundred dollars to their family. They won't live in nice houses or have these amazing lives and as few who haven't been their know it is a hard life. I know that this might feel like an "appreciate what you've got " message. But more than anything I think it is extremely valuable to understand the stories of those around you. I hope that the next time you look back in that kitchen of the restaurant at those dishwashers you have a better idea about what they might of gone through to get where they are and now an ability to feel a little closer to them than the distant that most of us go through our everyday lives trying to maintain between one another.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. I'm be heading down to Peru to meet my family. I'll give a full recap upon my return. Talk with you all soon.

Paz y Amor

Chris Sorry only 2 photos. Technically difficulties. I promise to send post more later. Maybe even of me doing work!

Nice new digs!! The turtle egg saving group after an all night beach combing excursion.

Hello all. I wanted to put up this blog to let you guys see some pics and get a little info about my life. Though I don´t know what I am doing I hope you enjoy.I spent June-August in San Vicente in training. This included anything from technical training in community organizing to all day Spanish class. Training was a great opportunity to get to know my other trainees before we headed out solo to our sights. During training I lived with a host family in a small community. Nothing especially crazy or weird. And I only got sick once. (Que Suerte) Overall training was fine but I was definitely was ready to get out on my own.I´ve been in my site for over a month now. The town is called Comacaran and is just a half an hour outside of San Miguel. Its hot and humid but bearable. It only has about 900 in the town and a total of 4000 in the municipality. After a week of living in my mayor's house and playing a lot of nintendo 64 with his kids (surreal) I got into my own place. It is a large cement room with a tin roof. Just two weeks ago I moved into another new house on the edge of town. Its a nice little two bedroom. (Great for guests, if anyone is so inclined) I'm very happy and am beginning to settle in.Work came at a much faster rate than expected. I knew I was going to begin working immediately (which is a little unusual) but not at the level that I am. A few weeks ago I ran a meeting of 10 ADESCOs (which are community development organizations) and tell them why they haven´t been working well. After three weeks of talking with people I obviously knew really well! But I have been able to settle in and get a little more comfortable with my work. I am going to try to start a community council with a leader or two from every community that could be a great capacity building group. The area has all basic services and now is looking into economic development which will definitely stretch me but is definitely exciting. I have a bunch of other projects that I will try to get started in the next few months as well. All the Peace Corps Volunteers are pretty cool. Lots of differences depending on the program the volunteers are in. No matter what the motivation almost all are cool in their own right. I don't party to much and it does getting a little lonely on occasions but I see a friend or have contact about once every couple weeks which are usually much needed breaks. I am reading alot and spanish is okay and improving. I can hold conversations with almost anyone. The slang and meetings give me a little trouble but I am getting better. That is about it. Feel free to leave comments or email me questions at christophermorrill@gmail.com.This is a pìcture of me and my family during training. At any one time there were 10-13 of us in the house. It was quite cosy.

A group photo of us at swearing in before becoming volunteers. The American Ambassador gave a great speech about how great CAFTA was. I thought it was totally appropriate for an apolitical organization like the Peace Corps. Not all work here in the Peace Corps we also know how to have a good time. And if you were wondering that is me in the background concentrating very hard on my dancing skills.

We also get a chance to get out and do some traveling. This is us setting up camp at Lake Coatapeque. Next post will have pictures of Comacaran and my work there.

Well this is just my test page. It is Friday night before I leave and am putting this together all last minute. Thank you for checking it out and I hope you all enjoy!