Driving to school the other day on the very busy dual carriageway I suddenly noticed that the road looked wet. Yet, it hadn't been raining, and the pavement was dry...
A few police, and a few crashed cars. 'What's going on?' I thought, as suddenly my wheels started to slip and my car began to skid across the road. I somehow managed to make it safely to school by crawling along the next half mile, watching cars skid and slide. The police stood looking.
It turned out that at 6am that morning a truck had left a lethal trail of oil for 40 miles along one of the main roads in El Salvador. When he was finally stopped by the police he did a runner.
Lots of crashes. And it seems that, at no point was the road closed.
Sunday 23 September 2007
Monday 17 September 2007
Some of the things I'm getting used to...
eating pupusas regularly
not drinking water from the tap
sleeping under a mosquito net
that we only have running water in the morning
ants... of all sizes... everywhere... in the garden, in the kitchen...
seeing volcanoes
eating papaya and watermelon, plus huiskil, lorocco and pipianes
that drivers hardly ever use their indicators, and if they are they've probably left it on by mistake
that there's huge holes in the road at frequent intervals, bloody scary when you're driving along at 60mph
seeing street children 5 mins from my house, sniffing glue and sleeping on the pavement
armed guards everywhere including outside our local icecream shop and at the gate of our street
doing my private yoga / pilates class twice a week
not running as much as I want to
having 24 kids in my class
that most of my students' families have maids and drivers
that every time I go to visit my friends in the countryside someone else has gone to the USA (illegally)
not drinking water from the tap
sleeping under a mosquito net
that we only have running water in the morning
ants... of all sizes... everywhere... in the garden, in the kitchen...
seeing volcanoes
eating papaya and watermelon, plus huiskil, lorocco and pipianes
that drivers hardly ever use their indicators, and if they are they've probably left it on by mistake
that there's huge holes in the road at frequent intervals, bloody scary when you're driving along at 60mph
seeing street children 5 mins from my house, sniffing glue and sleeping on the pavement
armed guards everywhere including outside our local icecream shop and at the gate of our street
doing my private yoga / pilates class twice a week
not running as much as I want to
having 24 kids in my class
that most of my students' families have maids and drivers
that every time I go to visit my friends in the countryside someone else has gone to the USA (illegally)
Tuesday 11 September 2007
Early Mornings
Yeah it’s been a while since I’ve written. Done a million blogs in my head but not many free seconds recently…
So, what’ve I been up to? Well here’s an idea of my daily routine…
5am each morning my alarm goes off. It’s still dark outside. I turn it off quick hoping Chayo will sleep a little longer. I force my body out of bed. Into the shower - cold shower. (Yeah, hot water’s not that common here.) I brace myself, then take the plunge. At least it wakes me up. Downstairs I put the water on to heat to bath Chayo.
6am it’s almost light and we’re out of the house on our way. Chayo eating breakfast in the back of the car. I like the drive in. The roads are clear and sometimes it’s misty and the volcano looks great.
6.15 we’re at school. Chayo finishes his breakfast in my classroom while I check my school email and get things ready for the busy day ahead.
7am Chayo in his class and me with mine. This week we're all learning Rivers, Bones, Newspaper reports, Adding money... and a few songs that I'm squeezing in.
Th kids leave at 1.30 but I don’t finish till 3pm. Most days I drive home with Chayo whose tired and grouchy after his long day. Some days I work late and have a run at about 5pm when the sun is less intense.
Home. Sort tea, handwash Chayo’s uniform, then stories and bed for him by 6.30pm. Sort packed lunches for the next day and collapse in to bed, by 9pm if I can.
Kinda tiring... but good.
So, what’ve I been up to? Well here’s an idea of my daily routine…
5am each morning my alarm goes off. It’s still dark outside. I turn it off quick hoping Chayo will sleep a little longer. I force my body out of bed. Into the shower - cold shower. (Yeah, hot water’s not that common here.) I brace myself, then take the plunge. At least it wakes me up. Downstairs I put the water on to heat to bath Chayo.
6am it’s almost light and we’re out of the house on our way. Chayo eating breakfast in the back of the car. I like the drive in. The roads are clear and sometimes it’s misty and the volcano looks great.
6.15 we’re at school. Chayo finishes his breakfast in my classroom while I check my school email and get things ready for the busy day ahead.
7am Chayo in his class and me with mine. This week we're all learning Rivers, Bones, Newspaper reports, Adding money... and a few songs that I'm squeezing in.
Th kids leave at 1.30 but I don’t finish till 3pm. Most days I drive home with Chayo whose tired and grouchy after his long day. Some days I work late and have a run at about 5pm when the sun is less intense.
Home. Sort tea, handwash Chayo’s uniform, then stories and bed for him by 6.30pm. Sort packed lunches for the next day and collapse in to bed, by 9pm if I can.
Kinda tiring... but good.
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