Hello, all. This is day 2 of being in El Salvador, and I'd really rather be sleeping than writing right now. Yesterday, our first day, was exhausting. I arrived in San Salvador with a group of maybe 13 other people from CWU's CLCE group. Their group will only be here for one week, while I will be here for ten. ESNA (El Salvador/Norte America) decided that it would be a good idea for Lacey and me to kind of get oriented to the country with this larger group, so we're all staying in a hostel together. I'm bunking with Lacey and Alyssa in San Jose hotel/hostel, and, let me tell you, I am SO GRATEFUL for the little AC unit in our room!!!! Why, it's a frosty 65-70 degrees! Compared to the 90 outside, this is bliss. While I have loved the people, the culture, the food, and the history of El Salvador so far, one thing that is absolutely miserable is the heat. Yesterday, my feet were so swollen that I had to change out of the shoes I arrived in and put on sandals instead. By the time I went to bed, they were tingly and the left foot felt like it would just split from the pressure. I drank two gallons of water throughout the day yesterday, and took some ibuprofen before bed, so today is a better day in that regard. We have been touring around and learning about Monsenor Romero today. He was the archbishop of the Catholic church here in El Salvador during a time of civil unrest. It was illegal to so much as carry a Bible around. In 1980, Oscar Romero (Monsenor Romero) was assassinated by government militaries. There's more to that history that I will add later after I load photos from the museums we visited today.

During lunch today, at the Universidad Central de America (Central American University), Alyssa and I struck up a conversation with a young woman. She was visiting UCA from a group from the National University. I was glad for the opportunity to practice my Spanish.

This is all for now; I'll expand on details later and add pictures, but I've been so exhausted from heat and nonstop go-go-going that I can barely think clearly to write. I have learned a TON today, and got to practice speaking Spanish several times. :)