As Shakira would say...

Estoy aqui. I'm here in El Salvador and loving it. It's REALLY hot and humid here. It makes those cold showers not so hard to bear. I'm speaking and learning a lot of Spanish. I've been told I speak well and that I DON'T HAVE AN ACCENT!!! WHAT?! Maybe they tell all the Americans that, but I'm taking it as a compliment.

My trip was fine except for a few obnoxious TSA people at the airport and a few delays. I got into San Salvador around 11:30 Friday, and the customs guy asked me if my dad was Salvadoran. Funny! I was picked up by Jose Juan. He's an ex-pequeno from Mexico, so his accent is much easier for me to understand, and we had great conversation on the two hour drive to NPH. He also hooked me up at the grocery store with some more familiar food and a calling card for the cell phone Donna lent me.

The accommodations at the Fundacion are really quite nice. (Better than Honduras, but don't tell anybody there.) I have my own little living room/kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. I'm right in the girls' house. They all have to line up for every meal, and my favorite part is how they argue over whose table I'm going to sit at. The food's not bad. The only thing I don't like is the tortillas, which don't taste like anything. You'd think it would be easier to choke down something that doesn't taste like anything than something that tastes bad...but you would be wrong. Oh, and they also make fun of me for how much water I drink!

I've been spending most of my time this weekend with the smallest girls in the girls' house (there's a separate baby house which I also visited). Their tia is Roxy and she's just eighteen. I absolutely love her because she always includes me and is totally willing to repeat or reword something she's said so that I understand. Her sister Gloria is a doll also. My favorite girls are Flor and Leslie because they always hold my hand. Sometimes I forget that these kids are orphans because they're so happy and full of life, but they've been telling me their stories. You wouldn't believe how many of them have seen their mothers killed right in front of them. I am blessed indeed to have my family! The girls and I went down to the river yesterday for a swim (I just waded...icky!) and had a blast.

Right now, I'm sitting in the office. I just had a meeting with the director's assistant Brenda and the school director Liliana. I'm waiting for someone to come get me and take me to the school. I'll be observing the little naughty ones today and then offering suggestions tomorrow. At least I think that's what we planned! ;) More later now that I know I have wireless in the office. Love you all!