What Might CHALLENGE me?
-hot water is not common
-hand washing clothes
-housing will vary from one or two-room adobe clay structures with dirt floors to brick homes with zinc ceilings
-might have access to electricity, sometimes running water and telecommunications
-diet will be mostly beans, tortillas, eggs, rice, coffee, limited meats, and seasonal fruits and veges
-will live in a small town ranging from 800 - 40,000 people
-"the romance and excitement of working in a developing country quickly wears off...homesickness can be a strain"
What do you WEAR?
-Dress is conservative and more formal that in the US
-For MDP on the job, casual business attire -khakis, skirts, and nicer shirts
-For community work, jeans and polos are most common
-refrain from spaghetti straps or things too revealing
-on rare occasions you may need a dress
How will I GET AROUND?
-public bus system
-horseback
-bicycle
-walk
What Do Volunteers DO in El Salvador?
-project areas include: Water Sanitation/Health, Agroforestry, Soil Conservation, Small Business Development (ME!) and Youth Development
HOW will I Help?
-local community groups will have the ability to solicit and manage projects at the local level and address their own needs through increased citizen participation
-a more capable local government will lead to improved public services
-improve quality of life through better living conditions
What am I EXCITED about?
-"El Salvador is small enough to allow Peace Corps volunteers to know and collaborate with their PC companeros"
-beautiful beaches, Playa El Espino
-"you will be able to engage with other institutions in your town, such as the local elementary or high schools"
-"influence people's lives by working to obtain scholarships for students, coach sports, teaching English and forming youth groups"
-playing pick-up street soccer with local kids
-laying in a hammock at night looking at the moon
-"you will have time to pursue interests -reading, writing, photography, music, etc. that oftentimes are driven out by the rushful worklife in the US"
-"you will find Salvadorans to be hardworking and anxious to receive your assistance, in addition to being incredibly hospitable and giving"
-there is flexibility and a variety of activities I can do with MDP
