It is overwhelming for me to think about blogging about the last few days in a short amount of time.  Our days are packed, not just with events but with rich, meaningful and challenging content.  My mind is literally feasting on the experiences and material presented to us, and my emotions are having a hard time catching up.  With all this newness and intensity, I want to make it so clear that we are in wonderful, trustworthy hands.  Our professors-Dr. Guevara and Professor List--are excellent leaders.  They continue to help us feel comfortable exploring in these new spaces and give us grace and acceptance as we learn and ask questions.  Our group is starting to bond, and it is so fun to learn the stories of others as we travel.

Yesterday, we spent time learning about the popular history of El Salvador.  We learned about the indigenous people and how they were conquered by the Spaniards during the 1500s.  The indigenous people did not go down without a fight.  They actually fought fifteen years before the Spanish had total control.  I am finding out that "the fight" in Salvadorians has only gotten stronger over time.  They truly are a courageous people.  The agency that was teaching us was called Equipo Maiz (Team Corn--still not sure the meaning there), and they attribute their aspirations and educational work to the spirit of Monsenor Romero.  His image and story is everywhere here.  If you get a chance, look him up because I will be talking about him a lot upon my return.:)

Our group at the Masculinity workshop

We then spent time at a workshop on Masculinity.  The men that worked with us have worked in the San Salvadorian community for over ten years.  Their passion is to educate men and women on the gender stereotypes present in their current culture.  After the community members share the stereotypes, they have workshops that deconstruct these images and messages from larger society.  They reassure men and women (but specifically men) that no one lives up the to pressures of this male stereotype and that it is an illusion.  The reason they work with these populations is to try and diminish the violence that arises from male's insecurities and lack of knowledge about true masculinity.  One statistic they gave us about the current gender violence against women is that there are 647 gender related murders a year.  Their work asks the question, "Why is there so much violence? and What are the beliefs and cultural bases that support this behavior?"  At the Center, we were able to engage in our own exploration and deconstruction of gender stereotypes and realized they are quite similar to those of the Salvadorians.

Debiana, Kristin, Eric and I sharing our drawings

Today, the theme or topic was about solidarity or "solidaridad."  To reinforce this concept further, we attended the May Day Worker's March and spent time with Sister Peggy in Suchitoto.  At the Worker's Day March, everyone was in their red to support the power of the people and that of the worker.  The presidential party at this time is the FLMN--the left wing party.  For years, the Salvadorian people were oppressed by the right wing army who was funded and supported by our US government.  Millions of Salvadorians were killed in the civil war that broke out between the ARENA (right wing army) and the guerrilla fighters of the FMLN.  The energy of the March was electric as the workers in the unions held their banners with pride, chanting excitedly as they ran at times in groups through the streets.  By the way, the May Day marches began in Chicago and now continue in most of the other countries in the world--accept the US.  Yes, we have Labor Day, but I normally lay out in the sun instead of march proudly through the streets to support the middle/working class.  It is being continually reinforced here through our experiences that we in the States are quite insulated, almost too comfortable to act consistently with discipline on behalf of the worker here.  We talk so much in our country about freedom, yet do not partake in activities that promote freedom for all.  It is something I have wrestled with for the last few years and continue to more on this trip.

Worker's Day March

Sister Peggy and me

The highlight of the day for me was visiting the Peace Center in Suchitoto and meeting Sister Peggy.  She is a Sister of Charity and has worked in El Salvador for the past 25 years.  She lived through the Civil War here and has made the place her home.  I wish I would have recorded her talk because literally everything she was saying was one powerful quote after another.  She described the idea of "solidaridad" with others as "living as unequals sharing."  She was clear to say that it is not giving each other our extras or overflow, but giving from our own substance.  She shared that she is in El Salvador because she is richer among and with the people here.  They have helped her find her voice as she helps them with different needs.  This perspective really challenged me--do I give of my substance or from my extras and left overs?  Many times I think giving my extras will benefit me because I am not having to share what I really want.  But that is the question she continued to ask us--What do we really want?  If we are pursuing deeper meaning in life, we must question "Who really is our neighbor?"  For Sister Peggy, she believes that everyone and everything in creation is our neighbor.  We must love them all.  She did share a bit about her study of Liberation Theology and how it is moved her to work and live how she has.  There are movements in the church--as there always has been--that focus on people and not church services or buildings.  That is where I want to be--with God with his people, sharing relationships, stories and providing for needs.

The Garden at the Center for Peace

I want to leave you with a few quotes from her that will speak for themselves.
      "We must be mystics and midwives.  We must see the inner meaning present in each person's story.  We must be a part of birthing something new through creativity.  And creativity is like love--it's a renewable resource."
      "My veins don't end in me."--S. Peggy quoting a Salvadorian poet.
      "If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough."
     "What has happened to us that we don't have a perception of scandal?"
I will leave tonight with that quote because it is a question I am asking myself as we spend time here.  How do we sensitize to the truth and tune out all the political rhetoric?  How do we be followers of God as we are called?  It is great here because I am able to be present without distractions.  I am hoping that you all are having time away free from distraction to have eyes to see and ears to hear as well.

Oh, one last thing for today.  Throughout all these activities, we have been having wonderful meals--breakfast, lunch and dinner are all so yummy!