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Day Three – Reflection by Teri Shecter
The Salvadoran countryside is beautiful. Rolling hills with sugar cane, bananas, eucalyptus and palm trees.  The mango trees are currently full of succulent yellow-orange fruit. All of this is set against a backdrop of volcanoes and shrouded in a soft mist.  The...
Day Three – Reflection by Sarah Bradburn
Today was our first day in El Espino. The living conditions of the local residents were interesting to observe. Let's just say that I feel exceptionally grateful to be living in the United States. Even though I grew up fairly poor, I still think we hit the jackpot...
Day 2 – Reflection by Elliot Van Meter
Typically I sleep much later than many other people, but on this trip in El Salvador I have been forced to rise at the ungodly early hour of 7:00 a.m. This adjustment has been tough for me to get used to (as evidenced by my frequent napping on many of the bus rides),...
Day One – Reflection by Sharon Heller
The eleven volunteers from Grand Junction seemed to have forgotten about their early start when they arrived at the San Salvador airport late on Tuesday evening. There was an absolute “yes” vote to stop at a pupuserÃa and try out the local specialty, the pupusa, a thick corn tortilla offered with a variety of savory fillings. The combination of pupusas and the 6:00 a.m. flight from Grand Junction meant everyone was ready for bed when we reached the San José Hostal, a comfortable, family-owned and managed guest house in San Salvador.
Final Trip Reflection by Natalia: Simple Happiness
My name is Natalia (Yaya) Miller-Forrest and I am 14 years old. I am part of the Immaculate Heart of Mary confirmation class. I participated in the Alternative Spring Break trip as my retreat requirement for my first year of confirmation preparation. For the ASB...
Day One Reflection by Grace: A Salvadoran Education
This trip is providing fruitful experiences, which I hope will benefit people other than myself. It’s a whole new world here in El Salvador, and the lives of people here are greatly affected by violence that I have had the luxury of not knowing. Yesterday we went to...
Day Four Reflection by Jordan Gray: Family Values
Today we went to Santiago Texacuangos to visit the coffee cooperative, and I’ll be honest, I don’t know my way up from down here. But the city, the city is so beautiful I can’t help but watch it go by, a mish-mash of homes and restaurants and markets. From the...
Day Two Reflection by Monee Crosswhite: Living Solidarity
Before I came on this trip to El Salvador Anna and Andrea gave us an idea of what it would be like, and even though I have seen what they were talking about I have noticed that some things were left out. For example, they said that we would be living with families but...
Day Two Reflection by BJ Long: Kindling Passion
This morning was a little rough getting up. Just a little stiff from the first day. But when I woke up, I woke up to a very hot and delicious warm banana smoothie. It was amazing. Today we spent a lot of the day at the school. I loved every bit of it. When the bus was...
Service through humility
The fourth annual Mesa Catholic/Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad/Foundation for Cultural Exchange Alternative Spring Break trip to El Salvador is officially underway. Five students and two trip leaders are embarking on the journey with messages of solidarity,...
Call for Artists: FCE’s City Sister Celebration
Call for entries: The Foundation for Cultural Exchange’s Sister City Celebration and Silent Art Auction Open to all Grand Valley and Western Slope artists No entry fee Deadline: Contact us by July 30th; art submissions due by August 31st. The Foundation for Cultural...
Final Reflection by Rachel Wagster: We Left Our Hearts in El Espino
As I sit here in my cozy bed, with my puppy cuddling by my side, I cannot help but feel that something is missing. Just as I was reflecting on the experience, one of the compañeras from the trip texted me that she left her heart in El Espino. It hit me like a ton of...
Final Reflection by Benjamin Gemoya: The Way Home
So the last day of this trip was pretty sad and exciting. Exciting because I finally get to see my family after 9 days. I actually miss them. I could stay away longer but my mom will probably kill me. Sad because I am leaving El Salvador and because I hope I get to...
Final Reflection by Kelsi Madrid: All You Need is Love
I have been pondering ways to write my last reflection. How do I even begin? My heart hurts extra today as I think of everyone in El Espino. I fell in love with that country and those people. Everything I do, everywhere I look, I am reminded of El Espino. I found...
Final Reflection by Audrey Maddox: Aching Heart
My heart aches to have returned to U.S. soil. So here, in the comforts of Houston, TX, I close my eyes and I imagine El Espino. I feel the thick, humid air hydrating my every pore viagra england. I hear the jungle leaves gently blowing in the breeze. I see the bright,...
Last Day Reflection by Jessica Trujillo: What Do I Do From Here On Out?
I am currently on the flight back home (or to Houston) from El Salvador I have a lot of mixed emotions right now. I didn’t cry when I was saying goodbye to my family I was staying with, but I cried laying in bed last night by myself thinking about leaving. Yes,...
Midpoint Reflection by Leah Jane Davidson: What Binds this Group Together
I am always learning. Each day I find something new to ponder and work through in my thoughts. It’s interesting to me how different things affect different people, how some interactions leave a lasting impression while others are gone with the wind. El Salvador has...
Day 6: Reflection by Kelsi Madrid
Today was a very powerful and emotional day for me. We went to the coffee plantation and got to see how everything is made. We also got to hear the stories of the workers and the plantation’s background. Listening to the stories is when I realized how much the war has...
Day 6: Reflection by Amanda Willmarth
Today was filled with all new sights and knowledge. We went to a coffee cooperative to learn about what they do and how they do it. I personally don’t like coffee, but it was still really interesting to learn about what these people do for a living and how much effort...
Midpoint Reflection by Kailyn Miller: The Dirt on My Toes
As I sit here in the capital with access to a running, hot, shower, I stare at the dirt on my feet and ponder three words: entitlement, need, and love. I know that the dirt will easily rinse off of my toes because I am blessed with running water. I am not concerned...
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