"Zapo Verde" literally translates into Green Frog. A lot of community members from La Montana said this to me this week. When pronounced, it sounds like Happy Birthday in English. It is very amusing to my amigos aqui...
I have smiled a lot the past few days. My birthday, lets be honest, really is not a big deal. I turned 23...not a monumental age...and the celebration was not meant to be anything grandiose. I did not tell many people about my birthday but I wanted to use the day as an excuse to sit around with all my favorite community members.
One of my counterparts and dear friends made me a lovely birhtday lunch...sponsored by another pc volunteer and friend...and then we headed to my house for a small cake I purchased. I invited my closest neighbors in the vicinity...totaling about 15 kids. I turned around with cake in my hand and looked into the eyes of 78 toothless smiling little faces.
My other counterpart showed up with a pinata and we all held flashlights as kids dodged the swinging piece of wood in Jose's hands. I took pictures and laughed as the kids ran all over the place. I tried to rescue little Vacito from the trampling feet as best as I could. And I accepted the dirty hands smearing cake cream all over my face. Unfortunately, the small cake only allowed less than a sliver for each child, but no one complained...although I did spend most of the rest of the night picking up paper plates and candy wrappers from every corner of my house and yard.
I spent the rest of the night cleaning, burning trash and packing for a long weekend. I woke up at 3am to shower in the pitch blackness but serenity of the night/morning and soon began my journey across the country. I barely put my phone down throughout the day, reading texts and answering calls from my far away family and friends...and my cheeks are still sore from smiling.
I was thrilled to receive a call from the PC El Salvador country director inviting me to participate in an international event at the US Embassy next weekend. Did I say that I won a Grant to support my Artesania group from the US Embassy? Things are going pretty well.
Excited to continue the night celebrating with my awesome Peace Corps friends...Chelsea wants a shout out for her awesomeness in particular...and will bring more updates next time. For now, thanks to all of you my dear family and friends! I love and miss you all!!!
