A little over a week

It's crazy to think that in a little over a week, I'll be leaving beautiful El Salvador.

I've become pretty attached to this place and to the wonderful people I've met here.

Today, we went out to Getsemani again to help with Lauren's crocheting class. (She's just begun teaching women in this community how to crochet in hopes that they can make little purses and baby booties and things to sell). We have a couple of other projects going on in this area and it's been interesting to learn about the dynamics (and drama) of the community leaders and residents.

There weren't as many women at the class today as there were last week, but hopefully we'll have more next time. Those who came seemed to have made strong progress since last week and Lauren was still able to teach them some new things today, so overall it was a success.

Tomorrow I will either be going with FUDEM to do vision screenings or I'll be going back to Getsemani to work with one of the employees of Habitat for Humanity doing census records in that community. It would be really interesting to do the second project because I've never done anything like that before and I'd definitely get to use my Spanish some more.

I still have a bunch more pictures to post, but it's kind of tricky to get them off my camera and up on this blog, so bear with me. They'll be worth the wait, hopefully!

T-24 Hours

I leave for El Salvador bright and early tomorrow morning and I can barely wait!

After all the months of preparation, fundraising letters, packing lists and shopping trips, I feel about as ready as I'll ever be, so I really just want to get there and get used to it.

Last night I dreamed that I was there, using my Spanish. Oh boy, oh boy.

Tomorrow is a rite of passage: I get a stamp in my passport.*

As a side note, I'll be getting an international phone, but since my minutes will be very limited, email is probably the best way to get in contact with me. {lauracoalwell@gmail.com}

(I'll be getting a Skype account, too, but probably won't be on the computer a whole lot.)


*The passport that I got over 2 years ago for that one time when I was going to go to Scotland, but then didn't go.

image via

5 Days

I leave for El Salvador in 5 days and I'm nervous, excited, optimistic, cautious, (un)prepared..wondering what to think.

This is going to be completely new for me, and this whole week all that has been on my mind is that I just want to get there already and adjust and face the bugs and the new food, and realize that it's all going to be fine.

I'm really excited. I can't wait to get to know the city of San Salvador like I was born there, and fall in love with the people I meet, and actually come back with some street Spanish and some great stories.

Our country directors and the whole crew at Help International has been encouraging us to make goals for our experiences.

Here is what I want:

-Be less intimidated to speak Spanish

-Come back with a stronger passion to be involved in international development my whole life

-Make every person I come in contact with feel important and loved

and some more...but I don't want to have too many expectations before I leave, because I'm sure my perspective will change after I'm there.

image via

Two weeks

Two weeks from today, I'll be on a plane headed to El Salvador!

I can barely believe it and can hardly wait!

Fly away

I OFFICIALLY have a plane ticket leaving for El Sal on May 4th!

I'm getting really excited, and also a little nervous. I looked at the list of vaccinations I need to get before I go, and it's pretty hefty, but once I get those over with, I'll be a little relieved.

I think in my naive, never been out of the country, self I've underestimated a little just how much of a culture shock this will probably be.

But it will be good for me.

And I can't wait.