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.

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!

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” 

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.

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.

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…

The world seems to have adopted Obama as their favorite from the beginning. I don’t think we are that much wiser in deciding who is the best. More so, I see the result as proof of a new leadership paradigm. When real change is needed features like race, gender and age have become inessential. True leadership is not a question of these features – a matter we young, educated and internationally minded people have grown to know.

So my heartfelt congratulations to the people of the United States for stepping into a new era. And congratulations to the new Mr. President and his fellows. I hope you will continue to inspire the world and prove that what you have promised can be seen and felt.