Saturday, August 25th, 2007

Dawn Sanders - Travel to El Salvador
 

We carefully packed our plastic tubs full of essentials, surgical gowns, eyeglasses, gloves, and equipment, everything we'd need. All tubs needed to be less than 50 lbs to make it through airport luggage check-in. We were lucky to have a hassle free trip from checking in our sometimes slightly over weight tubs to airport customs in El Salvador.

Walking off the plane in El Salvador, I was hit by a wall of moist, warm air. It reminded me of the feel of our dank basement growing up in Wisconsin. It smelled like musty dried manure. Not a bad smell just different, an earthy, wet vegetation smell. The cicadas sang us a welcome, their voices floating on the thick air. The people even at this evening hour had great energy. They chatted quickly, hugging and piling in trucks. Salvadorans arriving in the airport were well dressed and smiling, toting their Disneyland treasure of stuffed animal and pink plastic ponies. I was struck by the lack of rules. We hopped in our van, looked around for seatbelts and laughed at our American propensity to follow rules as we found nothing to hold us in our seats but our weight. Traffic wove and crisscrossed like it was choreographed.

We stayed at Hotel Novo. We sat under a brick shelter covered in thatched roof watching sheets of lovely rain as curtains around the shelter. Refreshing, encompassing. Getting to know each other.

When I walked into my room, it was like walking back into the mid-century. Our kitchen was vibrant orange with a two burner "Rangette" and foil under the burners. There was a small metal sink and wooden cupboard like you'd find in camp cabins. The flickering florescent lights mounted in wooden panel were another throwback. Electricity was fluky but steady enough for lights.

Routine hygiene tasks took awareness. I had to stop myself from rinsing my toothbrush or my mouth with tap water and be conscious in the shower too not stand open mouthed under the falling water.

The year round warm climate made living an indoor/outdoor experience. Many things are open air. Our room's window was large and louvered. Bugs made their way in and out as if by kitty door. I learned to dismiss them crawling by as I washed my face.

That night we had the thumping dance music of the near by "Salon" to sleep or not sleep by and we were greeted to wakening by the song of sweet birds. Fresh fruit, eggs to order and cooked plantains made up our breakfast. We felt treated.
 

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