Day 6: Do I Have Cankles?

Saturday, April 6, 2013: 11:40p
I don't know if it's the altitude, the humidity or a mixture of both, but my feet are more swollen than a preggos in August (my apologies to Jimmy's wife who will be pregnant in August). A couple of us are experiencing this. Shoes are too tight, rings don't fit anymore and overall Fred Flinstone feet. I'm sure that just gave you a super awesome picture of me right now.
Moving on to San Miguel.
San Miguel is about 2-3 hours east of San Salvador. We were welcomed first thing at a lunch with members of the local Rotary clubs. We dined on steak, veggies, and rice. I have eaten more red meat here in the last week than I have in months in the US.
I met my host Gladys and her daughter Ariella, who is 13. Gladys and Ariella live with Gladys' sister in a neat little house near downtown San Miguel. Through this entire experience, it's so neat to see family dynamics, and this is just one more. Ariella is a bit boy crazy and is super in love with One Direction, Ne-Yo, Bruno Mars, and the Biebs. She's a beautiful, fun and vibrant girl who can not go a minute without asking to turn the music up and singing.

The view of the volcano from the balcony

View down to dining area from balcony (all open air)

Stupidly, neither Jimmy nor I slept the drive to San Miguel. For some reason, during this trip, I have become super cheery in the morning... who knew I had it in me? As soon as we ate lunch, I was dragging. Gladys is a lady after my own heart and immediately took me for a café. She said she has to have her 2p cappuccino. I was so thankful for the espresso. I'm getting pretty lucky with my hosts helping supply my coffee addiction. a strange difference between back home and here: back home, I can't have coffee after 12noon without it keeping me up all night. Here: I had a latte and immediately was able to crash for a 30-minute power nap.
Post power nap, we all met back up downtown to see the plaza. Gladys, Ariella and I then went to the mall for some air-conditioning. Everyone warned us about the heat in San Miguel and they were right. It's hot. Not as hot as I thought it would be, but 95+ with humidity. It's at these times you understand and welcome a cold shower.

La Reina de la Paz

Ariella, Gladys, Christi and me

A major difference in San Miguel is that much few people speak English. Gladys and I joke that our conversation is just both of us speaking Spanglish. She knows about as much English as I do Spanish. Ariella knows more, so she helps when we can't communicate.
That being said, we knew this presentation would be a bit harder. We all decided to attempt a bit more Spanish and have Paul translate the rest. I think they appreciated this and it kept our audience laughing and interested.

Our thoughts on our Spanish performance

Rotario Club Sirama, San Miguel

This club was very thoughtful (as many have been) and had our US flag as well as the Rotary flag and El Salvador flag and played our National Anthem. So nice.
During and post meeting we were all wiped. I know I keep mentioning us being tired, but the 14 hours days of constant communication and constant brain activity trying to decipher and speak Spanish are exhausting. Jimmy and I both discussed how happy we were to just have mindless stupid conversation on the bus ride to San Miguel so we didn't have to think.
However, we pushed though and joined the others at a karaoke bar. We each indulged in a cocktail or beer (with the exception of Christi who was a huge trooper despite not feeling well). Little sleep + one beer = Slap Happiness

Our new friends were so much fun and jubilant. And I must say, very persuasive. After a bit of pushing, they talked us into karaokeing (is that a word?) an English song. And by we, I mean Parker and Paul and we would all just be backup at the table. And what was the song Christi so perfectly selected? The best song every to represent karaoke in the US... Don't Stop Believing by Journey. As reluctant and shy as Parker seemed, he belted it out and had the entire crown singing along and cheering. It was a perfect cap to the night.

And don't you worry... I do have video as does Jimmy.
Tomorrow is an exciting day... the beach! We have been looking forward to this all week and hope to get to nap it out a lot tomorrow before our 4am bus ride to Nicaragua.

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