Goodbye, 2011

2011 was a busy year work-wise, and the first year in a long time that I did not leave the States for at least a month.  This will most definitely be remedied in 2012.  2011 marked our first full year in Baltimore, which was overall decent, but nothing fabulous.  My husband was able to renew his residency without any problems (but with a lot of stress on my part) and should be able to apply for citizenship this year, God and the government willing.  2011 was surviving a lifestyle that neither one of us likes, and wishing we were back in El Salvador or Colombia, depending on who you asked.  In the end, both of us realize that it's Baltimore for the time being, and that Maryland was actually a fabulous choice (thanks again, all you UMBC people who convinced me).

In addition to teaching at school, I also led a 18-week online course through the RELO office in Lima, and went to Peru to give workshops for several weeks in the summer.  This was a fabulous experience, but the next time I go to Peru I want it to be for vacation (or to live)!

On the El Sal side, we started the process of adopting our niece, only to lose her to violence in September.  The last couple months of 2011 were ones of mourning and readjusting our plans for the upcoming years.

And so 2012, here we go.  My resolutions....

1.  Get my recertification classes out of the way so I can get on with my doctorate!
2. Convince Cincinnati friends to move to the DC/Baltimore area.
3. Reclaim my car so I can go exercise.  Walking to the rec is unsafe and somewhat unreliable.  Find yoga studio.  Go.
4. Spend less time lesson planning.
5. Save money to buy a house.
6. Help husband study for citizenship test.
7. Go to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala and/or Nicaragua this summer.  Present at conferences, but don't get suckered into working. Find nice hamaca on a beach and stay there.
8. Start volunteering someplace on a regular basis.f
9. Find people to hang out with in Baltimore (2011 was boring in that respect).  Force husband to go to culture events, or go by myself.  
10. Go back to Central Ohio to visit family and Cincy to see friends (see number 2).
11. Get mother-in-law's tourist visa.
12. Make a larger dent in student loans (this is where teaching was not such a great choice). 

And, the 11 favorites of 2011:

Hiking around Maryland

Wild ponies!  One childhood dream accomplished.

Erin learns Salvadorans are Salvadorans wherever they live, and
that Venezuelans are well-behaved.

Arequipa, Peru...simply delicious

My fabulous Peruvian teachers

Garden before it went crazy...no peppers in 2012

Shaven gatita

Spring break in NY

More hiking around Maryland

Niagara Falls, frozen, after Justin and Lisa's wedding

TESOL in New Orleans.  I loved New Orleans!

Lima Again

I spent the second part of this trip to Peru working, working, working in Lima (not Lima, Ohio btw).  These were interesting days to be there, since July 28th was independence day and the inauguration of president-elect Ollanta Humala.  I caved in and paid for a Mirabus tour of Lima at night, which was honestly not worth it since I happened to pick the same night that they re-inaugurated the national stadium, complete with a visit from the Peruvian soccer team, who recently placed 3rd in the Copa America.  This resulted in lots of crazy Peruvians roaming the streets dressed in their red and white (and earlier, way too much honking of car horns).  Congrats to them, but ugggh to the noise!  The tour went through Miraflores to the centro historico of Lima, where we got to see the Palacio de Gobierno, the catheral, plaza de armas, plaza de San Martin, and other buildings where we didn't even stop long enough to take pictures.  There was also an hour-long stop at the Circuito Mágico del Agua, part of the Parque de la Reserva, where they've spent I don't remember how many millions of dollars creating a complex of fountains that are lit up at night.  I couldn't help but wonder, in a city of 10 million people, if they all have running water in their houses.  I'm betting not.  Anyways, it'd be a nice place to visit when there are less soccer fans around and when you're not being herded by a tour.

Plaza de Armas and the cathedral

Plaza de San Martin

 

Arequipa Tastiness

After almost a year of not traveling to Latin America, my first workshop stop in Peru was Arequipa.
The best part about Arequipa?  The food!  How long had it been since I'd walked down a street and felt forced to stop at a restaurant because it smelled so delicious?  The last I remember is Chicken Rico in Highlandtown (which not coincidentally is Peruvian), and although it's good, holds no candle to the food in Arequipa.  I was warned about the good food by the lady sitting next to me for several hours at the gate in Miami.  All of that weight I lost while my husband was on vacation, let's just say it came back in the four days.  I had my first meal watching Peru beat Colombia in the Copa America, seco de cordero.  So big that I didn't eat dinner, although at 2300 meters digestion was not an easy feat to accomplish.    

Alfajores, with chocolate from La Iberica in the background that didn't last very long

The second best part of Arequipa, known as the "white city," is the fact that it is beautiful.  The view of the mountains, the volcano, all combined with buildings made out of sillar, a white volcanic rock. I spent a morning in the Santa Catalina monastery,  which covers various blocks in the centro histórico of Arequipa.  Even the airport was made of sillar.  I'd forgotten how dry it is there (flew through last year as well), how hard the sun hits (the teachers I worked with were complaining about the rising rate of skin cancer there), and the fact that buildings are not heated.  It was a great place to try out my new alpaca coat!

Shout out to Peruvian Airlines and the flight back to Lima.  The captain was a great tour guide!  And thanks for not charging me more as a foreigner than you would for a Peruvian (unlike LAN). 

View of El Misti from the plaza de Yanahuara

Entrance into Santa Catalina

Looking down into Santa Catalina

Plaza de armas

View from the airport

2 Weeks Left

The end of my first year teaching with Baltimore City Public Schools is quickly coming to an end.  I'm glad to be back in a job that I enjoy, even though I'm definitely ready to have a lesson planning break.  Maybe some day I'll redeem my Sundays from my all-day planning sprees. 

This summer I won't be traveling as much as I'm used to, but I will be going to Peru for two weeks as an English Language Specialist and teaching another online course that stretches into October.  And who knows, maybe I'll break down and use all those Taca/Avianca miles I've been hording to head off to Honduras with the esposo (or maybe I'll save them until next year when I've vowed to actually take a vacation).

TESOL 2011 Convention in New Orleans

Five years after the first TESOL Convention I attended in Tampa, I finally managed to attend another one!  They've been in inconvenient, boring, or expensive cities in the time between, but New Orleans was worth the wait.  I was curious to see if it reminded me of Barranquilla (it did).

As far as TESOL goes, I was able to see friends and presenters from all over the world, network more than I have anywhere offline in a long time, and get lots of new ideas, in particular about online education.  The only downside was that I didn't learn much that's applicable to my current teaching situation.  All but one of the K-12 workshops that I went to were basically a waste of time, even when the presenters were BNIFs. I was also disappointed that I never made it to the Electronic Village sessions, which I really enjoyed in Tampa.  I had wanted to meet all of the wonderful teachers I learned with in Second Life this winter, but it wasn't meant to be. 

The convention left me wanting to go back to school again and to be connected to a uni again somehow.  We'll see.  Once the husband finishes his classes, doctorate here I come!  For now, it's back to online teacher training and summer trips.

Adventures in Second Life

During January and February this year, like every year, I took a free online course from TESOL, VILLAGE 11.  This year I finally got around to learning how to use the Second Life avatar that I created years ago when I was working in Barranquilla.  I was able to see many different ways to use SL for language learning and teaching, as well as (somewhat) master how to move around SL, control camera and views, go shopping, and build basic objects.  I still have a lot to learn, but taking this course really opened my eyes to a whole new "world" of learning and exploring. 

In a classroom in Arachon

Dancing at the VILLAGE closing party.

Learning to use Builder's Buddy

Without a Head in MacBeth

A newer, better dressed incarnation of Chelita

At the Museum of Natural History

Touring Language Lab

The Globe Theatre in Language Lab

At the Great Wall of China

Learning how to pose and take pics

The 10 Best of 2010

Feliz 2011

My husband and I decided not to go anywhere for Christmas break this year.  It's been nice being lazy and doing whatever I want, but I realized that the last time I hadn't gone anywhere for Christmas was probably freshman year of high school.  A bit strange, to say the least.  I've done a lot of traveling and moving in the past 15 years, and an enormous amount in the past 4.  It was about time for a rest, I suppose.  I've also decided that I'm about done sending Christmas cards.  Facebook and email is so much easier and cost efficient.  

Baltimore has been good to both of us so far, and is already starting to feel like home.  I love my job teaching ESOL in Baltimore City Public Schools, and Edwin enjoys interpreting and translating for the school system.  We've been here since September, and are both glad to be here after a rather lousy start in North Carolina.  There's yummy Greek food across the street and basically anything that we could want from El Salvador except 80 degree Decembers and the beach within walking distance. 

What I'm looking forward to in 2011 (not exactly resolutions, but things that I'm going to do or would like to get done):

1. Start saving for a down payment on a house.  Rent is ridiculous and a mortgage would be cheaper.  
2. Go to big TESOL in New Orleans.
3. Teach online again, and maybe go back to Peru.
4. Be in Roatan or Colombia or at least El Salvador this time next year.
5. Make myself run again, since zumba and yoga aren't cutting it.
6. Vow to shop at the markets instead of the "super"markets.
7. Present at Maryland TESOL next fall.
8. Find more gringo food that Edwin will actually eat.  
9. Start volunteering again...hasn't been the same since I left Cincinnati. 
10. Write!  I started this year, but fell off the train when I had to go back to lesson plan world. 

Iquitos and the Amazon

Took a while to get these posted, but here they are!

First Impressions of Lima

I'm so glad to be back in a place where the sun sets around 6:00 every day!  Yesterday's travel was exhausting (thanks so, so much, American Airlines and your plane that looks and feels like you haven't updated it since 1990), but I'm excited to be back in South America.  Honestly, I feel more comfortable here in Lima than I have all year in Ahoskie, and it's not just because I'm staying at the Radisson and the Pacific is a couple of blocks away!  Tomorrow and the day after I'll have workshops with the teachers I've been working with online, as well as many others from pedagogicos all around the country.  It will be nice to finally meet the faces behind all the forum postings and comments.  It is, however, much more expensive than I expected.  I went out to the pharmacy to pick up some of the things you can't get in the US without a prescription, and found the prices to be even worse than a dollarized place like San Sal.  I'm just happy to be out of the swamp and back into what feels like "real" life.

Peru & El Salvador, Summer of Conferences

After almost a year of living in the US again and 10 months since I had traveled out of the country, it's time to leave again.  I'll be headed to Peru in June to serve as an English Language Specialist and to present at various conferences.  Even though I won't get to play tourist this time like I wanted, I'll have time to explore Lima, as well as Tacna and Iquitos, with a little Amazon trip planned on the side.  Then again, in July, I'll be headed back to San Salvador for a month to present the BNC's biannual conference and to help write up some research.  I can't wait to be back in Latin America!

Merchants Mill Pond Trip

In an act of desperateness to escape from Ahoskie, there was the mill pond.  Creepy, but gorgeous!

Spring Break 2010

Fun times in DC, North Carolina, and Baltimore.  Great to see old friends and eat lots of Salvadoran food!

Weekend escape: The Outer Banks

Only an hour and a half away we have the Outer Banks, some of the prettiest beaches I've seen in the US.  We only made it as far south as Kitty Hawk and Nag's Head, but hopefully we'll be able to take the whole route down sometime soon!   

Food Outlook: Somewhat less Dismal with a Chance of Plátanos

hMost food in Ahoskie is just like the swamp....dismal...in price, quality, selection, you name it.  

Thank God that the Hampton Roads area is so close.  Pupusa heaven @ El Gavilan in Norfolk and awesome comida dominicana @ La Tierra in Virginia Beach!  Too bad dancing is only on Sundays...

Quest for Salvadoran Food

After 3 months here in North Carolina, Edwin is going crazy for pupusas.  I can't blame him...the quality of food here is absolutely disgusting.  At home, he cooks almost everything we eat for the simple fact that he is incapable of even dreaming of changing his eating styles.  And really, so am I.  I miss miss miss 2 hour lunches where that was my big meal of the day.  After I get home from school, there's no way I'm going to cook, and I love Salvadoran dinners, so...

Sad thing is that it took me this long to find out where there's Salvadoran food close by.  Another trip to Norfolk/Virginia Beach to search out pupusas is on the plate for today!  God bless Justin, whoever he is, and his lovely map of local markets.  


View Restaurants and Markets in a larger map

Derbez en cuando

SI UN ABOGADO ENLOQUECE... PERDERA EL JUICIO?  

SI LOS DERECHOS SON RESERVADOS...QUE PASA CON LOS ZURDOS?
 

CUANTOS PAJAROS EN MANO CORRESPONDEN A 450 VOLANDO?

SI UNA PERSONA ES ATROPELLADA CADA 5 MINUTOS... COMO HACE ESTA  PERSONA PARA AGUANTAR TANTO MADRAZO?

SI LOS INFANTES DISFRUTAN DE SU INFANCIA... LOS  ADULTOS  DISFRUTAN DEL ADULTERIO?

SI HAY MAS ALLA ' ... HABRA ' MENOS AQUÍ ' ?

SI LA PISCINA ES HONDA , EL MAR SERA TOYOTA ?

QUE CUENTAN LAS OVEJAS PARA DORMIR?

SI EL DINERO ES LA CAUSA DE LOS PROBLEMAS... ENTONCES PARA  QUE FREGAOS TRABAJAMOS?

PORQUE CORREMOS RAPIDO DEBAJ0 DE LA LLUVIA SI DELANTE TAMBIEN LLUEVE?

DONDE QUEDARIA LA OTRA MITAD DEL MEDIO ORIENTE?

HASTA DONDE SE LAVARAN LA CARA LOS CALVOS ?

PORQUE AL PLANETA LE LLAMAN TIERRA SI TIENE 3 CUARTAS PARTES DE AGUA?
 

PORQUE SEPARADO SE ESCRIBE TODO JUNTO PERO TODO JUNTO SE ESCRIBE SEPARADO?

SI EL AMOR ES CIEGO PORQUE LA ROPA INTERIOR ES TAN  POPULAR?

POR QUE LE LLAMARAN MEDIO AMBIENTE?  SERA QUE YA DESTRUIMOS LA OTRA MITAD?

POR QUE LE LLAMAN HEROE AL QUE NO TUVO TIEMPO DE CORRER?

Salvadoreñisimos with Don Wicho

 My husband made me read through this email quiz on salvadoreñisimos I don't know how many times, but erased all of his copies of it by the time this was on La Choly's program on February 18 (http://www.miradio.com.sv/wfProgramaLista.aspx?radio=4&codigo=14).  I just got it back, so here it is: the Salvadoran nationality test. 

1.COMPLETE LAS SIGUIENTES FRASES:

Saludemos la patria orgullosos __________________________

¿Mató tunco tu tata? __________________________
Sana sana ___________________________
Chinchilete ___________________________
Ponponte Niña Ponponte______________________
Zapatito Cochinito_______________________
Piedra, Papel_______________________

2.TRADUZCA AL ESPAÑOL UNIVERSAL LA SIGUIENTE FRASE:

A un cipote peche y chele, un tetunte lo apachó._________________________

3.TRADUZCA AL ESPAÑOL UNIVERSAL LAS SIGUIENTES PALABRAS:

Chucho_____________________
Cincho_______________________
Ataché_______________________
Chingaste______________________
Chambre_______________________
Paila__________________________
Pisto__________________________
Bolo_________________________
Careto(a)______________________
Chiliyo_______________________
Jeta_________________________
Cabal_______________________
Híjole_______________________
Chichipate____________________
Cholero______________________
Utual________________________

4.EXPLIQUE LAS SIGUIENTES FRASES:

Le estan dando atol con el dedo________________________________
Pegue una gran guinda______________________________________
Le gusta el arroz con tunco___________________________________
Es de mecha corta________________________________________
Esta comiendo frito_______________________________________
les tan dando en la nuca___________________________________
Nació mordido por la luna___________________________________

5.Explique la diferencia entre un tamal de sal, y un tamal de azucar.

6.Detalle los tres tipos de nuegados que existen.

7. Cual es el “poder medicinal” de la sopa de patas

8.Que se come con chicharron o merienda?

9.Que se come con curtido o salsa?

10.Que calle de San Salvador tiene dos numeros al mismo tiempo

11 Que otro nombre recibe el area de sol, del estadio Cuscatlán 

12.Cual es el procer de nuestra independencia, mas narizon 

13.”Quien no ama el lugar, la tierra natal, y donde ha nacido…” es la canción de un comercial de gaseosa, nombre esa gaseosa

14. Que personaje de la vida cotidiana decía ya se va papito…salu pues

15. Quien es la PIPIRIPAU

16. Según la canción, quienes bailan el  CANCHIS CANCHIS

17.Escriba el coro de la cancion "El sapito" de grupo "Bongo"

18. En que programa habia una seccion llamada “NI SI NI NO, NI BLANCO NI NEGRO”

19.De donde vienen las pupusas de Arroz?

20. Que quiere decir la expresión “Tumblinblin”

21. De que color eran, los siguentes billetes antes de la dolarización:
Un colon______________________
Dos Colones_____________________
Cinco colones____________________
Diez colones_____________________
Veinticinco colones_________________
Cincuenta colones__________________
Doscientos colones_________________

22. DE QUE GRUPO O ARTISTA SALVADOREÑOS SON LAS SIGUIENTES CANCIONES:

-El Cipitío______________________
-Las Pupusas______________________
-Con Zapatos de Tacón______________________
-Mi País__________________
-Patria Querida__________________
-Zangolote____________________
-Moviendo el Atol de Elote________________
-Pájaro Picón _____________________
-Bolo y Solo__________________
-Hacer Nuestro El Universo_________________________

23. LOS JUANETES ES UN MAL DE:
-Las Manos
-Los Pies
-Las Orejas
-La Espalda

24. EL BIENTEVEO ES UN MAL DE:
-Los Ojos
-La Piel
-Las Uñas
-Los Párpados

25. EL PISPELO ES UN MAL DE:
-El Ombligo
-Los Calcañales
-Los Ojos
-El Hígado

Snow and Virginia Beach

Edwin finally is here!  After a long horrid confusing visa process that still isn't over, he flew into Dulles last Saturday.  Must blog more about this later...it pisses me off to no end.  This meant a trip to DC for me, which was happy, and a visit with Karen.  I also got lots of salvi groceries and some stuff from Colombia, including my $2.50 Pony Malta.  He's basically hibernated his way through the first week, since it was the last week of school for me before break, and we had an insane amount of meetings and after school things. 

In my continuing tradition of trying to travel here on days when the weather sucks, Edwin and I went to the Virgina Aquariam at Virginia Beach.  At least I only made two wrong turns!

Love the teeth. 

On the way back, instead of rain, we had snow! Glad it wasn't the feet that the rest of Virginia got.

 

Me and the chucho de agua.

 

The snow, which was conveniently gone by late morning.

 

Snow was promptly followed by watching the first two hours of Sin tetas no hay paraíso. I've never been a big fan of novelas, but I'm still desperately missing living in the eje cafetero, and have fun picking out places I've been. 

We'll be headed back to Ohio on Tuesday, snow permitting, cat in tow.