Welcome back, Friends,
Our first weekend around San Miguel was jam-packed and very interesting. We went Saturday morning to Guatajiagua, the pueblo of UNIVO's Coordinador de Proyección Social, Lic. Salvador Amaya. Lic Amaya is also the liaison between UNIVO and our Teacher-to-Teacher project. This pueblo which is about an hour north of San Miguel has become famous for it's black pottery. The team bought several common items as souvenirs and gifts, and statues designed by internationally renowned potter Sarbelio Vasquez Garcia. Many families in the pueblo are artesanias. They work very hard and appear to make a meager living in this trade. Pictures will tell more about the pottery making process.
When we returned to San Miguel late Saturday afternoon, we couldn't get to our hotel due to "CARNIVAL"! We walked in and later took to the streets to join in the festivities. This year was the 50th anniversary of the celebration of the Virgin of La Paz. Nowadays it's really a huge party with over 1 million people from around the world, an extravagant parade, food and souvenir vendors everywhere, and over 50 international bands for entertainment. We're told it's second only to the carnival in Rio de Janeiro. We were "serenaded" until about 3:00am by fireworks and one of the bands located right outside our hotel.
Sunday was a very tranquil day -- the team was treated to a day at Playa Tamarindo (about 1 hour south of San Miguel) where Lic. Alfredo Paredes, one of the founding patrons of UNIVO, has a beach house. Ing. Rogelio Cisneros, UNIVO rector (perhaps like a provost?), and Lic. Amaya also accompanied us. UNIVO is appreciative of our workshop giving teachers in the Departamentos of El Salvador Oriente (the eastern 1/3 of the country) opportunities to learn effective methodologies to teach English. We are very appreciative of the support and kindness shown to us by our San Miguel friends.
We are ready for Monday of our 2nd week! Can you believe it's already December? Until next time...
Daphne
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