Ode to El Salvador

This weekend has reminded me that I live in El Salvador in more ways than one.

First, let's begin with Saturday's lunch. Jordan and I went to Pizza Hut in San Miguel, about an hour bus ride away. And let me tell you, totally worth it. Pizza Hut here is one, like a real sit down restaurant, and two much better than in the States. Oh, and three, it has Pizza Puch, or as they say it piksa pooch. Pizza Puch is Pizza Hut's mascot here. It's a giant dog (with a person inside) that walks around and sings and dances with all the kids in Pizza Hut at lunch time. It is the most obscene, ridiculous thing I've seen in awhile. The waitresses and Pizza Puch collect all the kids and jump up and down together. They also perform a routine dance in front of everyone. It makes me kind of want to kill myself, but it's pretty hilarious. Pizza Puch tried to get us to join the fun, but we kindly denied. Next time we'll bring a camera to document the fun. Plus, I've always wanted a photo with the infamous Pizza Puch.

Next, I bought a new colchon, or mattress for my bed. It's really more of a futon-like mattress, but I'd been sleeping on two similar ones that were ancient and completely flat, so I decided I'd shell out the $30 for an upgrade. Anyway, per usual I had to take it on the bus with me. I stand out enough in this country already and the last thing I needed to do was carry around something twice the size of me, but whatever, I had to deal. Anyway, I finally make it through the bus terminal and get myself situated on the bus.

The story continues. Sitting next to Jordan and I on the bus was a two-person mariachi band. That's right folks, guitar and cello in hand, along with some other accessories, the men played and sang along with the radio playing on the bus the whole way back.

Meanwhile, this punk of a kid, no older than 16 or 17, hops on the bus and proceeds to stare at Jordan and I, trying to speak English. We talked to him for a minute and then continued our conversation. We were laughing and joking around and what not and he started mocking us and being obnoxious. I was annoyed, but just ignored the kid. Then he pulls out his fancy camera phone and tries to take picture of us. He was facing the opposite direction, but holding his camera over his shoulder, trying to be sneaky about it. Jackass. Even more obnoxious. Ugh. And of course everyone on the bus is staring at us while this happens. Anyway, the kid finally got off and left us alone.

Cut to today. This morning we were watching a movie because we naturally get up at 5 or 6 because of the normal daily chaos (cows, dogs, roosters, pigs, people, etc). I was sitting down next to my refrigerator and I hear some rustling. Great, I thought, time to find the animal in my house. I check out the scene and low and behold, it's my toad friend. Looks like he never left. I poke at him with my broom stick and doesn't do much, but seems to be alive. I guess there were plenty of bugs for him to eat. Anyway, at first I thought he was sick or something because he wasn't trying to move at all when I touched him. Jordan meanwhile climbs onto the top of my table with my headlamp on to try and get a good look at him. While she's getting in place I pull out a pot and a serving spoon to try and transport the toad in. First I put the pot in front of him, hoping he'll just jump right in. Well, I'm an idiot. Next thing we know he's on the move, but not too far. Again, he doesn't want to move. Jordan decides she'll just sweep him out. He was not happy about it though. The whole time he was all puffed up and kind of hissing at us. Finally we got him out my back door, I gave him a quick bath, and he was on his way. The whole thing was quite the morning activity. And don't worry we have photo footage to share. Coming soon.

One last thing, I hate being a white, female in this country. I am always receiving piropos, or cat calls. The harassment here sucks. Most of it happens outside of my community, thank god, but some days, like today, I just get so sick of it. For the most part I'm used to it. Guys are always hissing at me or making crude gestures and of course I can't say anything because I live in a dangerous country and don't want to be shot for pissing off the wrong guy, but I can't get a break. Today, even the guy driving my bus today was out of control. These sleazy guys are always trying to speak English to me too, which is worse because I can't play dumb. Two guys on the street, in the last few weeks have tried to walk by and kiss me and I just have to go scurrying off. I hate it. And every guy on the street just stares at me. People stare, without any shame, right at me ALL the time, for long periods of time. The worst part is, they try and touch too. I hate that I can't do anything about it. I want to kill these guys. I mean, does this every work for them. Ah. Go to hell.

Well, that pretty much sums up the events of my weekend. Hope you enjoyed all the excitement.