Rundown

This is one of those posts that is just a rundown of what has been going on in my life the past weekish:

On Friday we left for weekend stays in different communities to learn about the role of faith and liberation theology among the people. Robyn, Ryan, and I went to Nueva Granada to live with Padre Alcides. The weekend was amazing even though Padre wasn't my favorite person in the world. He talked a lot about liberation theology, living with and working with the poor, and many other Miss America Pageant topics. His words were great, but he lived in a huge house (which the three of us had completely to ourselves the whole weekend) that was packed full of hair products, dietary pills, deodorant sprays, and polo shirts. He was a very well kept man with perfectly gelled hair, designer glasses, and a Blackberry that he used constantly (even during Sunday mass). Padre also talked about women's rights and how everyone should be treated equally, but when all of us were together it was as if Robyn and I didn't exist. What Padre said didn't always line up with what Padre did. Oh, and he also abandoned us…a lot.

Despite the Padre part, the weekend was delightful. We spent time in the community learning about different initiatives they are taking to create social progress. My favorite part was Saturday when we went to another community in the municipality called Nuevo Gualcho. We spent the day with Mapache touring the community, swimming in a waterfall, and getting a real taste of El Salvador.

On Monday we went to the beach. It was pretty much the greatest day of my life. It was a semi-birthday celebration day, so I did not pay for one pina colada. I spent the day diving in the waves of the Pacific Ocean, laying in a hammock, exploring abandon houses along the shore, swimming in the pool, holding hands with monkeys, and other really awesome things that everyone wishes they could do for their birthday. That night a few of us went out for drinks and pool.

My actual birthday was spent writing a paper and reading for class, which wasn't super fun, but it made up for the ridiculously awesome day before. At dinner I got to blow out a candle on a beautiful cake. All in all it was a fantastic two days of birthday.

Today we had class and a meeting on liberation theology and tomorrow we head out for a weekend in Nueva Esperanza to experience more liberation theology at work in the communities.