Hey, Hei, Hola!
I am happy to present another great “flow of thought” session.
You let yourself build an illusion. For example of a person, some one (supposedly) close to you. You then think you know how he feels, thinks, acts, talks, moves etc. Based on your observations and the feedback gotten from the person, you build an assumption in your mind. You then spend time apart and you hold on to that assumption cause that is all you have. You return. You come back with high hopes based on the assumption, the illusion you’ve kept so dear.
I learned a very good lesson (one that I will most definitely remember for life) about how one should never trust their illusions, but follow the hinch. The hinch (a.k.a the 6th sense) is very reliable. At least for me. Everytime I get it, it is always right. I try to supress it, think that I’m being paranoid, but no…the Hinch has it.
So I returned to Finland to see that the Hinch got it again. The illusion broke and was replaced by strong realism. There is nothing left. The ground is flat. Everything has to be build from scratch. But this time there will be no illusions. There will be construction with a strong everlasting base. It will hold through storms and earthquakes, floods and erosion. It will simply never disappear. But one person cannot build anything lasting by themselves. Only illusions. It takes two and it takes a lifetime.
Some weeks ago, having returned from Guatemala, I realized that Semana Santa (the Easter week) is near. I also realized that people here make kind of a big deal about the holidays connected to it . Thirdly, I realized that I have no plans and that I want to do something. Lastly, I took a look at the map and noticed that I’m actually not more than a 10 hour bus ride away from the Caribbean. The conclusion that I managed to make of all these gradual realizations at about half way through Semana Santa was that I should take some days off and head to the Caribbean! It was Tuesday. On Wednesday night I was at a gas station hanging out with a random bunch of eager salvadorean holidaymakers ready to board a bus and start an all-inclusive tour to the Honduran Bay Island of Roatán.
I had no other wish than to swim in the turquoise sea and lie on the beach. And I got plenty of that indeed. 3 days was just enough for it not to slip on the boring side. I also made a few further observations of Salvadoreans. Firstly, I was surprised how, for many meetings, most of the people showed up early. Usually we are used to things proceeding rather slowly with a lot of waiting. Na-a, a few times I was the last person missing and I arrived at a sharp hour! Secondly, the waking up hours to join the tour activities were insane! At 6-7am… That was a turn off. But then again, after breakfast I could sleep on the beach.
The third thing was not that much of a new notion, but more something I already was aware off and what just got a stronger validation – the lack of the kind of clear and structurized communication I am used to. There was not much clear information given along the way. Rather the tour leader lady just told someone something and then the word was either passed on or people just observed and followed. Things ran smoothly nevertheless. No one was ever left behind, everyone knew where to be and at what time etc. It was actually pretty amazing. A very interesting cultural beahaviour pattern.
Here are a few snapshots. I still cannot believe that I took the bus to the Caribbean. 
5 days to go in Central America. 5 days more sleeping in someones corners. 5 days to enjoy warmth (both the weather and hospitality of the people). 5 days avoiding criminals and gang fights. 5 days to baila like a latina. 5 days more of cold showers. 5 days more to eat pupusas. 5 days till sleeping in my own bed. 5 days more of heated discussions. 5 days more of broken spanish. 5 days till eating Carelian pies. 5 day till departure tears. 5 days more listening Cumbia and Reggaeton in the car radio. 5 days more hiding my stuff from Vaquita – the crazy puppie. 5 days of cheap life. 5 days more of sun tan. 5 days of exhaust and crazy buses. 5 days of smiling and greeting street people. 5 days of daily religious symbols and actions. 5 days of amazing salvadorean people. 5 days of slamming doors and passionate arguments. 5 days to enjoy salvadorean coffee. 5 days till solitude. 5 days to say and do too many things. 5 days to say good bye. 5 days to pack my stuff, my memories…
Next week is going to be historical for 2 reasons. 1) I am going to visit Guatemala for the first time in my life. 2) I am going to participate in the last AIESEC conference in my life… as a delegate
I am excited to meet a lot of fellow AIESECcers and to learn more about the Ibero American Network. Not to mention all the fun and dances!!
I just got an email from a friend who was asking for some advice for job searching. She told that she wrote me because referring to my past expat duties… “your job search skills are mad!” That made me realize again, how amazing opportunities this organisation has given me and hopefully will keep offering for many more generations of students (and fairly recent graduates 
).
Chivo!
The mighty United States. Practically every one here has at least one relative/friend who has made it to the (supposedly) “good life” on the otherside of the bay or the (in)famous border river, Rio Grande.
It is not hard to imagine that this great quest has generated a whole industry of questionable trafficing services milking hundreds of $$$$ in return of a safe ride to the other side. Stories are numerous. Some people have simply taken a charter bus until the border and with the help of these “experts” crossed the river to the Land of Freedom & Glory. Many are less fortunate and get fished from the river by US border patrol or sadly loose the battle against the harshness of the effort. The border area, so they tell, is isolated with a surrounding desert taking its toll on thousands of hopeful crossers.
United States seems to be both admired as a place for high standard of living as well as loathed for its mightyness and cultural imperialism. Nevertheless…in this world of scarcity, where only the fotunate few can keep up with the desired lifestyle of many, hundreds of thousands of people keep reaching towards the U$A, their El Dorado.
Ricardo Arjona bittersweetly depicts this hopeful quest of millions of fellow latinos.
An anonymous comment speaks volumes: “Por favor ya no vayamos a lamber culo a los yankees. Luchemos cada uno en su pais por la puta. No nos vendamos por unos dolares. ok”
Something that has become very obvious to me is that the parents have a very strong influence in their (in some standards) grown-up kids’ lives over here. I’d say that very close to a 100% of the 18-23 year olds, namely the students, live with their parents.Parents hold a significant role in the decision making of their post teens. They influence decisions like which field of studies to take, which clubs to join, what job to take, with who to socialize, where to travel (if to travel at all) etc. Obviously money is a big nominator in a country where not all opportunities are equally divided. So parents want to see some “return on investment”.
I was conducting membership interviews where there were questions like what is the most challenging goal you have reached or tell us about a decision you made, and very often the answers went around discussing with the parents’, or listening to the parents, or raising against the parents’ opinions etc. The fact that someone had chosen a career less favored by the parents was a very common example of a tough decision made.
Obviously for my Nordic nature being so involved with the parents after turning 18 is strange. I mean back home, in some cases the parents in fact even wait for the 18th birthday so they are not anymore legally bound to support their kids. Harsh, huh! While that kind of behaviour is definitely extreme, it is still common that the kids are eagerly moving out to their own place and will work hard to gain independency from their parents. Being a “mom’s little boy/girl” is an image everyone want’s to resist and so, many people avoid visiting their parents too often. Striving for independence is the value people are (I’d even dare to say rather agressively) brought up to.
All in all, while being here, I do admire the people’s habit of listening to their parents and in general the culture of family orientation. Gotta admit that very often the old folks’ talks do make sense.
As in many of the Latin American countries, security measures are a very visible element of the life in El Salvador. People’s homes are heavily protected and every shop and outing has a security guy equipped with heavy armour. I live in a row house and all the windows have bars. The house is in a guarded area, which means that everyone driving in is suspect to inspection. Therefore the house entrances can remain without bars. Backyard then again, is surrounded by a wall with two layers of rounded barbwire. Those houses that are not on a restricted residential area resemble zoo cages with their heavy barring. There are bars and locks everywhere and it seems like a mission impossible of even thinking anyone could ever break into the house…Which obviously is exactly the purpose.
For me all this is somehow a bit pressing, since my conception of barriers around the house is for keeping the dog at the property. My Finnish security paradigm mainly evolves around keeping warm in the winter, keeping safe on the waters and avoiding a crash with a moose on the dark roads. This idea of safety I have learned to respect and don’t take it that much for granted anymore.
Then again, even if the people seem to have somewhat “caged lives”, meaning restricted entries, no-entry neighborhoods, caged houses, dangerous roads, curfews etc. they still make the most of the possibilities. For the residents it is perfectly a normal routine to pull the bars down and tackle through the multiple locks before calling it a day. People have a tendency to adapt their lives according to the circumstances.
What can be said about us Finns? We Finns, we have all access to everywhere, don’t have to beware of assaults in public transportation (at least not on an everyday basis) or fear our sons and daughters being kidnappped. In what ways are we restricted then? Could it be that we Finns too cage ourselves? We tend to be stiff, somewhat expressionless people, caging our emotions and increasingly living for our individual well-being. What does this result in? Loneliness, incapability to form lasting relationships, problems with mental health, violence, suidice…
If the Salvadoreans have physical restrictions, that sure doesn’t hinder them of living life to the fullest, showing affection and the scale of emotions we face in everyday life. Today I experienced a rather harsh family dispute. Insults, swearwords and even some physical assault were thrown in and mixed in the latin drama style. However, not too long after, all the parties were laughing and talking with each other again like nothing ever happened. Caging one’s emotions and not living through them, can bear serious consecuenses.
If life has to happen in a cage, then I’ll rather look through the barred window.
Finally I manage a moment for an update. Like said, I am in El Salvador, and that means that cultural explorations are back on. I’ve risen from the self inflicted paralysis of doing nothing. Back in Finland it was rather hard to come up with anything interesting after having ranted about reverse culture shock issues. Hence the long silece.
So whatta hell am I doing here?
That is a very good question. I kept wondering about that for a little while myself too. Then I again got into the sweet euforia of being in a new, interesting country and all the questions diappeared. I knew that it will be good. It is what I want.
El Salvador sure has a character. It is a rather small country both by area and by habitants. Though something like 1/4 of the population live in the US (some legally, some not). It is surprisingly American. Well, then again it is Central AMERICA, so what else to expect. US of course is a great influence. The lifestyle does irritate me a bit. People drive everywhere, you hardly ever see anyone walking, dozens of fast food parlours, owerweight people etc. (then again, I still have a lot to see.) Of course there are alot of positive things. People, like stereotypical latinos, show their character, they are warm and welcoming and you never feel awkward the way that is so typical with the Nordics sometimes. What the stereotypes leave out is that there are a lot of hard working people, who sacrifice many things to make things better for their families. Community involvement is highly supported. Many students are actively advocating societal issues and doing charity work.
I am enjoying my time. People are very eager to make you feel a part of their group. They like to teach you about all things Salvadorean. As a small country among those larger, they are very aware of their cultural identity and they want to make sure that you do distinguish it. It is therefore especially a great dive into a culture very distant to me.
Cafe Salvadoreño, Salvadorian coffee is excellent! El Salvador was at one point the world’s largest coffee exporter. Even if other countries have overtaken it in terms of quantity, the quality is still very hard to match.
Btw. for those really wondering what is the purpose of this trip… I am working as a talent manager in the member comittee of AIESEC El Salvador. So playing with students, evangelising AIESEC and trying my best to get things to work out over here.
People! I am in El Salvador. I will make a better update soon.
Long gone are the days when I was sitting home, getting bored, and hoping to be working as all sensible people of my age.
Now I employed by AIESEC MC, working day and night and dreaming (no pun) about the moment when I can catch a good night sleep.
But yea, it is interesting…
