Yesterday I walked 5 kilometers in the blazing Salvadorian sun. Now before you make up your mind about this experience hear me out - I loved every moment of it. I have not really left my house in 12 days. Atecazol made me feel like I had some freedom. As superficial as this feeling might be the walk lifted my spirits. The only time I have walked more than 5 blocks or exerted myself in any manner over the past few weeks was to walk Michele to school with her mom Erika. Before we left the house Erika asked me three different times if the sun bothered me, each time with more concern in her voice than the last. I think she thought I couldn't understand her.
The walk to Atecazol was fantastic mostly because it was done at a quick steady pace, a welcome relief from what I have begun to call the "tropical stroll". I am a goal oriented girl I set my sights on the end and I do everything I can do to get there as fast as possible. It kills me that when we walk the 4 blocks to the store it takes almost 15 minutes. I know that some people say the journey is the best part but I just can't get my mind off of the end point.
The walk to Atecazol was also great because there was nobody to grab my arm and push me into the street at the right moment to cross or pull me back when they're sure I'm about to get hit by a car. The first day I came to Itzalco we went to the market and everyone's pushing a pulling almost got me run over. At one point we were crossing the street and Connie decided it was time to cross, she looked left then right and pushed (firmly guided me into the road might sound nicer here but oh well) me into the road. Just as she pushed me into the road a car came careening around the corner. Michele grabbed my right arm to pull me back toward her and Connie my left to pull me back toward her. In the end I simply ended up stumbling around in the street with two people pushing and pulling me all over the place while a car was rapidly approaching. It's nice not to have somebody decide for you when to take that first step to cross the street.
Frailty has been a constant theme here in El Salvador. People keep asking me if I am okay, if I am too hot, if I need to take a nap, or if I need an extra break in the middle of my 6 hour work week. I am surprised by how much the sun saps my energy but at the same time I know that I'm not made out of fine china. I have made up my mind that I am going to prove to the Salvadorians that I am not made of glass. I am going to prove to them that I do work 12 hour days in the states under the pounding sun, that I can walk 3 miles and not faint and that I can in fact sustain myself. I am going to prove that I can rally with the best, if not the best of El Salvador at least the best of the US.
The walk to Atecazol was fantastic mostly because it was done at a quick steady pace, a welcome relief from what I have begun to call the "tropical stroll". I am a goal oriented girl I set my sights on the end and I do everything I can do to get there as fast as possible. It kills me that when we walk the 4 blocks to the store it takes almost 15 minutes. I know that some people say the journey is the best part but I just can't get my mind off of the end point.
The walk to Atecazol was also great because there was nobody to grab my arm and push me into the street at the right moment to cross or pull me back when they're sure I'm about to get hit by a car. The first day I came to Itzalco we went to the market and everyone's pushing a pulling almost got me run over. At one point we were crossing the street and Connie decided it was time to cross, she looked left then right and pushed (firmly guided me into the road might sound nicer here but oh well) me into the road. Just as she pushed me into the road a car came careening around the corner. Michele grabbed my right arm to pull me back toward her and Connie my left to pull me back toward her. In the end I simply ended up stumbling around in the street with two people pushing and pulling me all over the place while a car was rapidly approaching. It's nice not to have somebody decide for you when to take that first step to cross the street.
Frailty has been a constant theme here in El Salvador. People keep asking me if I am okay, if I am too hot, if I need to take a nap, or if I need an extra break in the middle of my 6 hour work week. I am surprised by how much the sun saps my energy but at the same time I know that I'm not made out of fine china. I have made up my mind that I am going to prove to the Salvadorians that I am not made of glass. I am going to prove to them that I do work 12 hour days in the states under the pounding sun, that I can walk 3 miles and not faint and that I can in fact sustain myself. I am going to prove that I can rally with the best, if not the best of El Salvador at least the best of the US.
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