Volunteer Stories | Liesl
As I haul my luggage out the doors of Comalapa International Airport, El Salvador, into the hot, sticky heat of the curbside pickup area, a million thoughts run wild through my head. What if no one comes to pick me up? What if I don't like my host family? What if I don't like my project? Was I crazy to commit to 6 whole months in a foreign country? Anxiously scanning the crowd of family members, friends, and taxi drivers awaiting the arrival of passengers, my eyes instantly fall upon a sign reading "Travel to Teach- Liesl Fry". Holding that sign is my coordinator, Joaquin Batres, with a big welcoming smile on his face. "Okay," I think to myself, "he looks nice and normal."
I instantly relax; that is until he leads me to the small sedan, driven by his sister that will carry us to my new home. Oops! Did I forget to mention that I would have 2 surfboards with me? No matter. Joaquin is very accommodating and patient as we spend some minutes stuffing my surfboard bag into the back of the car, and then we're off! As we drive along the Pan-American Highway towards Santa Tecla with Joaquin in back, pinned to the seat by my surfboards, which are hanging out the windows on both sides of the car, I feel at ease once again. I can see right away that he is going to be an easy going and gracious host.
It is hard for me to grasp the fact that I have been here for 5 months already. It seems to have flown by so fast! However when I consider all that I have experienced since my arrival in El Salvador, it's easier to believe. To quickly sum up some of my adventures, I have climbed a volcano (I thought I was in shape- the climb made me think otherwise), ridden atop "The Congo Bus" as it wound through the mountains in "The Route of The Flowers" (a beautiful tour although far from tranquil, as the bus blasts Reggeton, and has you constantly ducking your head to avoid being whacked in the face by tree branches and telephone cables), attended a national soccer match ( El Salvador vs. Haiti- now that was fun), traveled to nearby Guatemala, surfed some of the most amazing waves in Central America, and learned to navigate the public bus system (yes, a little crazy and not always the most comfortable mode of transportation, but always interesting).
El Salvador is a tiny country, which means everything is close - the beach, the mountains, the city. Salvadorans are extremely warm and friendly people who are very proud of their country, and eager to show it off to visitors. If you are looking to practice your Spanish, you will have ample opportunity, as there is always someone trying to strike up a conversation and to ask you questions about where you come from, what you are doing in El Salvador, etc..
And of course, the highlight of my time here, my project! I have been teaching English at a home for children in Santa Tecla. It is not exactly an orphanage as many of the children have living parents, but for some reason, the parents are unable or unfit to care for their kids. On my first day at the home, I was a nervous wreck. I had never taught English before, and my Spanish left much to be desired. How was I going to communicate with these kids? My fears were quickly put to rest, as the children wasted no time in breaking me in and making me feel comfortable. Somehow, within the first hour of my being there, they had talked me into singing Britney Spears songs to them, which like it or not, became a daily part of the English classes.
Besides teaching English and performing American pop songs, I have also gotten to play soccer with them, help with coffee harvesting, learn some hip dance moves (or at least I tried to learn, but let's face it, us Gringas can't move like the Latin ladies), participate in a water balloon fight, and just hang out, talking and laughing with the kids. The thing that amazes me the most about them, and actually about all the kids in El Salvador, is how happy they seem, despite the obvious poverty and hardships that they face. Each day when I arrive at the home, I am always greeted by at least 10 children with hugs and happy shouts of "Hola Lies!" or "Hello teacher!"
They find so much pleasure in small things, such as the whiteboard and markers that I let them draw with, or my ipod and speaker that we use to listen to music. With the way they grab at and relentlessly beg to use anything little thing I have with me, you would think I had brought them a Wiii or some other fancy high tech toy. I am also continually moved by their generosity. They don't have much, but what they do have, they are always so eager to share with me and the other kids. Working with and learning from these children has been incredible!
Although I do feel that I'll be ready to leave El Salvador soon (I miss my family and friends A LOT!), it will not be easy to say goodbye to this beautiful country and its people. However, I will forever carry with me the life-changing lessons and experiences that I have gained from my time here and have no doubt that I will come back to El Salvador one day.
