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Security Briefing and more

The security briefing...is more of a safety dos and don'ts of El Salvador. They tell you how to behave, how to be safe, where to go, tell you what the most pressing dangers are, warn you about the driving, tell you about the security people that work at the embassy, etc. the general safety of living in a foreign country. It was helping, a little, b/c I lived here for almost 2 months, I figured out or was told a lot of what I heard in the meeting. But the good news is that I now have access to the embassy. What does that mean? It means that when I take the kids to the pool or playground, or go to the gym each morning, I can show my badge and after they check the car for security, I get to come in. 24/7 access to unclassified areas. So no more waiting or having to be escorted places in the embassy. (It's really nice)!!!

Today Sara took the kids and I to the beach she goes to. It was really nice. Since it was a tuesday afternoon, it was just us and the kids at the beach and pools (I'll put pictures up when I have a faster internet speed). Black sand beach - the only beach that doesn't have rocks all over it too - huge ocean waves, fresh water in the pools (always my favorite being a fresh water girl) and of course sunshine and warm weather. It was in the mid 80s today. Oh, but last night was gorgous! It was windy and it cooled down a lot. So it felt like a fall night, I just sat outside enjoying the breeze and cool weather. It's not nearly as cool as Michigan right now, but it was nice.

The windy season is beginning soon. I asked Alex what that means and he said, "The Wendy season is where everyone goes to Wendy's." Not a bad answer...we go to Wendys - very infrequently - to play on the playplace. It's a good change from the embassy from time to time.

I am going to be volunteering at my church here to help organize files, do power points/bulletins, etc. as needed on my day off. It will be nice to use the skills I learned over the past few years. I am teaching 5th and 6th grade Sunday school too. They are a fun group of kids, but I only teach with them once a month. So I'm beginning to aquire some extra weekly scheduling. Once I find a language school, I'll add that to the mix too. I have tennis lessons (for now) on Tuesday mornings, which is a fun time with Denise and Pam, but I'm getting bored with the instruction being the same week after week. So I'm debating just working on it on my own...that would just require finding time to do that though.

Halloween is coming up soon...that will be so much fun. We're going to be the superhero family - Shane and Alex are spiderman(men) I'm Batgirl (like batman...) and Syndey is a little bat. Then Shane is going to have a murder mystery party - Trailer Trash Tragedy - so it will be a super fun dress up day, busy but fun and totally worth it.

Just in case i haven't mentioned it...I totally enjoy my life here and I'm so thankful that God has allowed me to be here. The kids are wonderful (most days ;) ) and I have so many blessings.

October really?

I can't believe it is already October. Time has gone so quickly...for real, it seems like i just arrived, yet at the same time like this is my home. We had some sick children for a couple weeks. It seems like everyone here has a cough or runny nose. Hopefully as we get closer to the end of the rainy season and into the windy season that will go away. I haven't gotten too sick, just a small cough and a few allergy problems from time to time.

So what's new? I can't say too much has changed. I've done a bit more traveling, gone to the beach a couple times (I love it there. Shane has a membership at Club Salvordorano and it is beautiful. There are huge waves from the ocean, but for those of us (me and the kids) who don't like to go in the salt water, there are two super nice pools (a kids-size and adult-size). We have our own cabanas with hammocks and changing area. Such a great place to go!!!). I've gone to the zoo, which was so funny. You see, we are all gringos (white people) so when we go out, everyone stares...everyone. So at the zoo people got brave and came over to talk to me and see if I could speak spanish, then they wanted to know what we were doing in El Salvador. When I tell them that Shane works at the embassy...oh ok. And that's usually the end of the conversation. It's funny. The zoo was pretty nice. Monkey island was the best part; they are so funny! We went to the playground for a bit and Alex and Sydney were swinging with some JR HI/HS age girls in the swings. Alex loves the girls, especially if they are older than he is. This girl asked him what is name was (Alex who doesn't liket o speak spanish) and he said Spiderman - with a spanish accent of course trying to impress her. So funny.

I haven't gotten involved with the youth at church because my schedule doesn't allow for it but I will begin to teach the 5th and 6th grade kids once a month. I have great intentions of emailing the pastor to see what else I could help with, but of course I haven't done that, since I'm online so much.

I did begin a bible study with some ladies of the church. I enjoy our group. It's a funny mix of people but they are very interseted in the history and really desire to grow closer to God.

I'm currently looking for a language school, to help with my spanish. And....I have my security briefing tomorrow morning!!! YEAH! Access to the embassy. What a blessing!

Well time has run out and I need to go pick up the children...so I will hopefully update the rest of the details and pictures soon.