There really are fresh vegetables in El Salvador.

Yes, folks, there really are fresh vegetables in El Salvador.  Yesterday was Pastor Miguel's birthday, so I went with he and his family to a restaurant in Santa Tecla, just outside San Salvador, to celebrate.  The restaurant is called "Yemaya: Food from the Earth," and that's exactly what it was.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  It's a vegetarian place.  I had a salad, which I'd been craving ever since ... well, really, since BVS orientation began.  It had fresh spinach, toasted walnuts, red onions, and apples, and was tossed in a hot balsamic vinaigrette.  It was great.  Really, really great.  And the company was great as well.  We had a really fun time.

Yesterday was a very good day.  Ideal, really.  Equal parts fun and work.  I had a meeting at the school where I'll be teaching a summer English class, and we got quite a bit accomplished.  And afterwards, I learned merengue and bachata.  Well, I had already danced both a little in DC when I visited a friend in August, but this was spontaneous and unexpected.  The other folks were rather impressed that I already (sort of) knew the steps.  I spent the rest of the afternoon at Cal Pipil, and around 5:30 or so we went for our "coffee break," which has become nearly a daily thing.  Because dinner is so late here, folks often go for coffee and pan dulce (sweet bread/cake) when we in the US normally have dinner.  I was invited to go to a friend's house for coffee, and on the way we bought semita alta, a delicious sweet treat that's sort of like a vanilla cake with molasses sauce inside.  I love hanging out with the other "piples" (teenagers and teachers associated with Cal Pipil).  I am always welcomed so warmly, and I'm so enjoying getting to know some of the other teachers here at la Cal and in the church.

I really enjoy being here.  There are moments I just smile and feel so blessed to have this opportunity.  The bumps in the road have been pretty minimal thus far.  I'm having a little trouble getting started with my English classes, but I just need to jump in and do it.  My Spanish continues to improve with each passing day, and I'm glad for that.  Food's good, I'm not starving.  I'm making friends.  I don't yet have a key to my house, but hopefully soon ...

Short post, but more to come this weekend ... most likely.  Hasta luego!