Our Water Dog

Chloe is our labrador retriever (which Cole knew early on and people were impressed with his knowledge and ability to say such big words)...and she is of course a water dog. She has always loved the water - swimming out in a pond or lake or river just to swim - and even riding the rapids from time to time. Well...she had never experienced the ocean, so coming here I was interested to see how it would be. The first time she wasn't too sure and I believe got a bit too much salty water, but she's a smart dog and has learned. We have been out a few more times with her and she is getting more and more comfortable. I love to play fetch with her and she loves to fetch. These are pictures from a few different trips.

We are leaving for the states tomorrow after being here for almost six months! It should be a bit strange and an adjustment being back and we are of course excited to see family and friends. Chloe and Spencer (el gato) are staying behind and we just left Chloe off at a vet and boarding spot. We will miss them both --- and wish them well in their different locales. Feliz Navidad!

Sharon, Lou and Skippyjon Jones Visit El Salvador - Part II

Happy Thanksgiving! Now, taking you back about a month...

Saturday late morning (October 28th) we were on our way to Barra de Santiago (one hour and 45 min drive) and more than ready for some rest and relaxation (after a couple of late nights for Rich and loud noise for us with the Baktun dance production). On our journey there we enjoyed looking at the sites, sounds and people. I'm sure it was nice for my parents to get out of the city and see a bit more of El Salvador.

Our destination was La Cocotera eco-resort http://www.lacocoteraresort.com/ situated on a peninsula with the Pacific ocean on one side and an estuary with mangroves on the other side. The property is a slice of the peninsula with two bungalows facing the beach on one side and one bungalow facing the estuary. The only way to get around when you get to this part of the peninsula is to drive on the beach (during low tide and with a 4WD) or to go by boat on the estuarary side. We barely made it on a little portion of the beach with our vehicle which we thought was AWD....but Rich was able to maneuver us in once we all got out. :)

The place was paradise - a small resort (only 6 rooms total) with a nice dining area next to a perfect sized pool for Cole with ionized water. Cole was in the pool nearly all of the time, especially since for the first day and a half he made a friend, Eli (7-8 years old), who spoke English (yeah for Cole) and was as happy about the pool and playing as Cole. We had bungalows ~ beautiful rooms where Cole and Skippyjon had their own bed ~ on the ocean side and it was glorious to sit in the room and hear the sound of the ocean and look out onto the water. The food was healthy and delicious ~ almost a bit too much (nothing like a rich tasty dessert).

During our time at La Cocotera - we chilled and enjoyed drinks (fresh juices, coconut water, beer, etc...) by the pool and swam in the wonderful ionized pool water --- Cole was in there morning and afternoon and sometimes early evening! Even grandma got into the pool and she is not a fan of water --- so it must have been perfect and of course there is the factor of her grandson....

We walked along the beach --- a non-rocky, flat black beach that goes on and on...and boogie-boarded in the waves. This is near to the same place that we came in early September and rented a beach house with another family (I didn't write about it in my blog) - and that time we took Chloe with us and had a great time with her - I was missing not having her on the beach with us and playing in the waves. The second evening we were there we were invited over by some friends - Lisa, a psychologist of the school, and Danny, her husband who is also a psychologist, former board member of the school and has done work with Peace Corps Volunteers, to have a drink at their beach house a few houses down from the resort. AND as it turns out he also manages the resort - a friend of his from the States came to visit and wanted to start an eco-resort that is run environmentally friendly (solar energy, local purchases, local foods...), socially conscious and involved (local school, micro-loans, adult-education) and contributes to wildlife conservation (sea turtles and re-entry of the scarlet macaw) ---- so he started it just doors away. Life is funny and small world.

My parents were very excited about getting out into an estuary and seeing the bird-life. We went out on a boat in the late morning one day and took a tour around - seeing some bird life (probably better to go earlier in the morning) and also local fisherman out in their canoes and other floating devices to catch crab and fish. It was a good way to get out into the estuary and see the peninsula from a different perspective.

We also released sea turtles - one per person. They raise them and when they are big enough release them out into the ocean. My understanding is that the locals will dig up the turtle eggs and sell them in the markets (and I have seen them sold in markets - in one of my first posts I have a picture of a woman selling turtle eggs). La Cocotera will find them first and/or buy them from the locals and then bury them in a safe, secure place in the sand until they hatch and then raise them there. As my mom put it - it is a little bit sad to see these small turtles make their way to the ocean with such odds against them, but at least they have a chance.

The only real down side to our stay and it was a huge one (especially for Rich) is that the last night (our second night) we were there Rich got really ill (later diagnosed as Salmonella) and was up nearly the entire night. In the morning it was evident he was very dehydrated and with his EMT training he knew he was not in a good place and needed some fast action. Luckily Danny and Lisa were there and we called upon them to help us find a local clinic and get Rich an IV. For me, it was a bit of an epic trip getting there (again, we thought it was AWD and Danny thought it was 4WD so my beach driving skills were put to the test while Rich was already at the clinic)...but a few hours later Rich was rehydrated and doing better and we made our way home. The treatment was free and we made a donation to the clinic. It certainly brought back the feel of Peace Corps days and probably also helped us to feel more okay than the average person about going to a local clinic.

Cutting our trip a bit short (from an overnight stay in the mountains at a coffee plantation) we had a scenic drive back along the coast and rested at home with mom's homemade spaghetti and meatballs. Home sweet home! We made the very most of the rest of their trip with a visit to the nearby volcano and parque El Boqueron and more lovely times around home and San Salvador. We look forward to their Next Visit ~ and thank Grandma and Grandpa for visiting us in our New Home!

Interlude: Cole's 2nd Tooth!

Cole lost his second tooth (in the front, on the bottom) on Tuesday, November 16th. He lost his first tooth (in the front, on the bottom) about a month before that -- and you can see in the picture that his permanent tooth is growing in nicely. For this one, Cole had heard from an older kid next door - Elise, a first grader, that if you go into the nurse and have her pull it that you get a special tooth carrier. SO this time Cole waited to have the nurse pull it (really it was hanging by a thread anyway...). The kindergarten teacher who lives in the complejo was telling me that morning as we walked to school that kids will not eat hard foods over the weekend just so they can go into the nurse and have their tooth taken out by her...so apparently it is a big deal and Cole is catching on quickly!

The first one Cole took out himself while we were hanging around watching some of the N. American guys (including Rich) play basketball against the Varsity team. I just looked up (as he was up on a little hill) and he was holding up his tooth!

At this point - Cole has not opted to put his teeth under his pillow. Why? The first time, he just wanted to keep it and didn't want to give it away...and then it got lost (such a tiny tooth). This time I'm not exactly sure what is going on, but I bet it has to do with a raton. In addition to the tooth fairy, he has heard that in El Salvador there is a raton (mouse not rat) that takes the tooth and leaves money --- and I'm not sure he is too keen on it. In the course of the week he's talked about paca (grandpa Lou) getting rid of mice in his house (not sure how much of the truth is in here grandpa?) and that mice don't belong in houses and he doesn't like mice in houses and that he is going to build a mouse trap and put some cheese in it. SO my guess is that the talk about the raton has some significance in this whole story and non-excitment about putting his tooth under his pillow for the tooth fairy/raton. (BTW I did reassure him that he can request the tooth fairy, if he so desires). Somehow his excuse that he is really "messy" with pillows (as they do often land on the floor) doesn't seem to be quite the whole truth! :)

My boy is growing up more and more and with quite an imagination!

Sharon, Lou and Skippyjon Jones Visit El Salvador - Part I

Sharon, Lou and Skippyjon Jones came to visit us in El Salvador! They arrvied on Tuesday, October 26th, stayed eight glorious days and left without Skippyjon Jones (lucky Cole) on November 4th. This is the first installment of that visit...FINALLY! :)

Rich picked up Lou and Sharon (mom and dad) at the airport on that Tuesday evening and that is where the journey begins...Cole was asleep when they got home... I woke up the next morning to find little Cole up bright and early and in his room with Grandma coffee in hand reading a Skippyjon Jones book (for they had already been into her stuff!)...and that gives you a little picture into Cole's morning routine now that Grandma and Grandpa came onto the scene. And all of the fun that we had with them.

We were all very excited for this day to come and have this visit. We were in need of family and the closeness, love and warmth that brings into one's life. It was a sense of normalcy while also taking us out of our "normal" routine. All in all, I would also say that it helped us refresh and even settle in a bit more to life here in El Salvador. The timing was good for us - we were pretty much physically settled into the house (basic items plus a little more) with a few extra homey touches in preparation for the visit. It also gave us a chance to introduce them to our life and places we thought they would enjoy around San Salvador (new and fresh eyes); and we all got a nice beach-estuary get-a-way as you will hear about in the next installment.

Wednesday through Friday Cole and I went to the school in the mornings and then suspended the normal afternoon routine (Español classe, fútbol and arte) to hang out with grandma and grandpa. Rich worked full days as the job of a principal dictates - so we enjoyed the evenings with us all together. Wednesday afternoon we walked to a nearby park with Cole dressed as a ninja (one of the items found in grandma's stuff), hung out at home and left in the late afternoon to drive to the coast for dinner - nothing like a nice dinner on the beach! At some point, I took my parents to a gourmet deli and restaurant called Kreef (walking-distance) which they really liked and went back to a few more times during their visit. At quiet times in the afternoons you could also find Cole and Grandpa or Grandma coloring together or doing a puzzle or reading a book - such blessed times.

Thursday afternoon we prepared for our halloween party! Every year the Complejo does trick-or-treating with the resident kids, their friends and other invited guests. We joined in the fun and invited a handful of Cole's classmates and their siblings along with a couple of my friends with kids. Grandpa and Cole put up spider webs with spiders ensared in the webing all over the house; and later on carved up a watermelon as a jack-o-lantern (which I think makes an even more creepy one with the red flesh and glow from inside). There are pumpkins (big and small) sold here, but the large carvable kind are quite pricey. Grandma, Grandpa and Cole ventured into the finca (large garden area or farm) of the school to find some beautiful and sometimes strange looking flowers for our table decorations. Mom also brought along halloween tattoos and goody bags filled with bugs, skeletons, bats, etc... which were a hit! Cole remained a ninja for the party and trick-or-treating (the witchey hat was an addition for the picture). Cole loves to have friends over to his house - he has always liked home - so it was really fun for him and a great excuse for a party with killer-decor. I enjoyed seeing Cole with his friends and the opportunity for my parents to meet his friends and folks from the area. It was FUN - thanks Mom and Dad!




On Friday morning - Grandma visited Cole's classroom for a little chat on turtles with the class. It was really nice for Cole to have his Grandma visit, talk in English :) and bring all kinds of props and give-a-ways on turtles to his class. (Later on in the trip we actually got to release baby turtles as part of a conservation effort). Friday afternoon we walked around a nice outdoor mall area to give my folks a taste of all that is here in San Salvador. That evening we all attended (and Rich worked) THE event of the year - a dance production called Baktun put on by the eleventh graders of the Upper School. Cole wasn't too thrilled with it (b/c of a video part at the beginning depicting history and war) so he and I ended up only staying for a short period of time. Haydée made her famous Salvadorian enchiladas which were enjoyed by all! (See August 18th blog for more information on this dish - not your Mexican enchiladas!)

Saturday we headed out to Barra de Santiago to La Cocotera eco-resort....and there is more to come on that in the next installment!

OmOcean

"What you do for yourself will affect how you experience your world. In fact, it will transform how you experience the world. What you do for yourself, you are doing for others. And what you do for others, you are doing for yourself" ~ Pema Chödrön

Tranquilo...means tranquil, calm and that is the feeling I had leaving the OmOcean yoga and surf retreat on Sunday, September 19th. A word that also comes to mind is connected. Two teachers at Escuela Americana - Beth and Jesse - began OmOcean yoga surf retreats http://www.omoceanyogasurf.com/index.html last year and I am the benefit of their passion and love of yoga n' surf with the desire to share it with others. Also, lucky for me they have a love of very good and healthy food (which includes coffee and wine!) ---- we had such thoughtful meals prepared by them with a lovely, nurturing atmosphere. I felt very well cared for at this retreat.

The retreat began Friday evening when Meg (an Executive Director of an NGO - non-governmental organization focused on family planning and HIV prevention) picked up myself and another complejo resident, Marissa, to make our way to the coast (without traffic it takes about 35-40 minutes to reach our destination) at a nice beach house called Lost Paradise. http://www.lostparadiselsalvador.com/ The house was wonderful - nice rooms with bathrooms (and hot water - a Peace Corps Volunteer never takes that for granted) that we shared; an open air dining and sitting area looking down onto a pool area; and lush surroundings. Beth and Jesse provided an inviting and relaxing atmosphere with good music, wine, food, flowers...and an "altar" (with beach rocks, flowers and beach wood) for convening at different times in the weekend, including our yoga. When we arrived, we got settled, relaxed and enjoyed a delicious meal of fresh sea bass, mango salsa and roasted, creamed yucca; and Jesse facilitated a relaxation and intention setting welcoming circle. Jesse began giving her Thai massage one-on-one sessions and Beth started the group in making a collaborative leaf painting ~ imprints of real leaves onto canvas layered throughout the weekend with some free-form painting. The other participants (four other women plus one assistant/instructor) in the retreat were from Guatemala City and work at an American school there (where Jesse has worked for the past 2 years before coming to the El Salvador American school).

The next day we began the morning with a long yoga session - outside with our mats (see picture below of where we did the yoga) - in a beautiful, natural setting with the sound of the birds and ocean in the background... I was out of practice and it was a different type of yoga than I did before, but they went at a good slow pace and were very encouraging to all of our levels. I really enjoyed being back into the poses and the space of yoga - I see lots of opportunities to make my practice more of a regular part of my life again. Breakfast was baked bananas, yogurt and granola...AND later on we had coconuts off the tree (drank the water and ate the meat). Then we got in the pool for some lessons on surfing (a couple of pics below, need to work on the knees and stance - must be similar to telemarking). I was able to get a feel for the board, paddling/balancing, and standing up in a quick second to grab a wave...The real waves in the ocean were too large/rough for us beginners (and others) that day...but I will get into the ocean at some point on a surf board! Jesse also taught us the connection of yoga and surfing - the breathing, balance, strength, consciousness and connectedness that yoga adds to surfing. We walked a few minutes to a beach to do synergy partner and group yoga and play around in the ocean --- it reminded me of some of the teambuilding or "initiatives" of outdoor courses, but with yoga poses and "moves". I always learn something from this type of venture, even though it is not always my cup o' tea. This time I learned the amazing things that can be done in partnership, connection and fluidity with our bodies. I appreciated the amazing "acrobatics" of our instructors to perform some incredible and beautiful poses together --- and their uninhibited nature and connection to their bodies and others.

Later on after a healthy, light lunch we headed to the nearby Playa del Tunco and Tekuani Kal for a temazcal (aztec sauna or sweat lodge) of Nahuat-Aztec design with use of medicinal plants and ancestral ritual. I have always wanted to take part in a sweat lodge, but have not in north america. The intense heat was something to get used to and allowed me (demanded of me) to go into meditative breathing; the aromas were different in each of the three rounds (new hot rocks and water) and greatly enhanced the overall experience. I used the ujjayi (ocean breath) that we practiced with Beth earlier that day in yoga; and continued to push myself to be open to stick with the experience, which paid off in the end. Afterwards we went into this pool of cool water that looks out onto the ocean...


The next day began with a yoga session --- how wonderful to practice yoga in the open air; a tasty breakfast; and then I experienced Thai massage. Jesse is trained in both Thai and Swedish massage. Thai massage seems to be based in movement of the body (a form of bodywork typically performed on the floor with no oils) in addition to the actual massage of the body. At one point Jesse "flew" me on her feet to better work with gravity and the manipulation or stretching of my body; it was a truly amazing, beautiful, healing experience... Our time as a group ended with a closing practice, group picture and selection of the collaborative leaf painting beneficiary - not me. I left feeling connected and transformed; and honored to be part of this weekend retreat.