Hard to believe that almost a month has gone by since I last posted - it is certainly not from lack of material... Life has been busier with energy focused on getting Cole settled into school and a routine and getting more into my work which has been interesting and enjoyable. I will write another posting talking more about life, work, school and excursions of the last month...but this one is dedicated to El Salvador's Independence Day.
El Salvador claimed its freedom after the Central American Independence Act was signed on September 15, 1821 ending the 300 years of Spanish rule. All five Cental American countries celebrate the same day of independence (and Mexico as well - which has an interesting history in relation to El Salvador). For more information on their independence and political history go to: http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/el-salvador-independence-day/ OR http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Salvador
The celebrations started at 8am ish on Tuesday September 14th with a school-wide program at the gymnasium (students 4th grade and up) including marching of the flag by the top-in-their-class seniors, the national anthem and other songs (a band played), speeches, and traditional dances performed by the seniors and a performance by the 4th graders. In one of the pictures you will see Rich up on the stage, but he did not deliver a speech this day. At 10:30am that same day there was a parade at the Lower School for those kids Pre-K through 3rd grade with a band, flags and parading of the kids. Cole seemed to enjoy himself and holding a bandera (flag). And he is taking the "singing of the anthem" (in Spanish?) very seriously - ahh...que lindo! (...so cute!)
On the actual day of Independence (a holiday with no work/school) on Wednesday September 15th we went to a nearby area to have breakfast at San Martin (very good bakery and restaurant) and then stepped out on the sidewalk to enjoy the big parade. I expected there to be a little more variety and lighter fare (traditional dress, dances, large puppets...), but it was essentially a military parade. (I later found out that there was another parade of the schools that is more of the dances and floats; and then the two parades come together into the national stadium). There was just about every kind of uniform and part of the military you could think of and bands and aircraft (helicopters, various planes...) flying overhead. Cole had on his peace tie-dyed shirt...and he thoroughly enjoyed all the trappings of a military parade. In my pictures I chose to focus on the bands - who doesn't like a good marching band, right Dad? Afterwards someone told us that we were on the evenings news (too funny).
El Salvador claimed its freedom after the Central American Independence Act was signed on September 15, 1821 ending the 300 years of Spanish rule. All five Cental American countries celebrate the same day of independence (and Mexico as well - which has an interesting history in relation to El Salvador). For more information on their independence and political history go to: http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/el-salvador-independence-day/ OR http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Salvador
The celebrations started at 8am ish on Tuesday September 14th with a school-wide program at the gymnasium (students 4th grade and up) including marching of the flag by the top-in-their-class seniors, the national anthem and other songs (a band played), speeches, and traditional dances performed by the seniors and a performance by the 4th graders. In one of the pictures you will see Rich up on the stage, but he did not deliver a speech this day. At 10:30am that same day there was a parade at the Lower School for those kids Pre-K through 3rd grade with a band, flags and parading of the kids. Cole seemed to enjoy himself and holding a bandera (flag). And he is taking the "singing of the anthem" (in Spanish?) very seriously - ahh...que lindo! (...so cute!)
On the actual day of Independence (a holiday with no work/school) on Wednesday September 15th we went to a nearby area to have breakfast at San Martin (very good bakery and restaurant) and then stepped out on the sidewalk to enjoy the big parade. I expected there to be a little more variety and lighter fare (traditional dress, dances, large puppets...), but it was essentially a military parade. (I later found out that there was another parade of the schools that is more of the dances and floats; and then the two parades come together into the national stadium). There was just about every kind of uniform and part of the military you could think of and bands and aircraft (helicopters, various planes...) flying overhead. Cole had on his peace tie-dyed shirt...and he thoroughly enjoyed all the trappings of a military parade. In my pictures I chose to focus on the bands - who doesn't like a good marching band, right Dad? Afterwards someone told us that we were on the evenings news (too funny).
Afterwards we came home and enjoyed a quiet afternoon at home and Cole played with the neighbor kids. Nice to have a day off in the middle of the week! This weekend I will be going to the coastal area/beach for a weekend retreat of yoga, thai massage, synergy (partner and group yoga), and surfing (lessons). I am looking for an opportunity to get back into yoga and my goal for this year is to learn to surf, so this should be a wonderful weekend for me.
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