It started to dawn on me that this trip was going to be more than just learning the context of El Salvador and how this applied to my teaching during day 3. We visited the Romero Center where an enthusiastic tour guide/professor explained the significance of the art in the church on the Universidad Centroamericana campus, the site of a horrific massacre beginning the end of the civil war. She also took us to a museum of martyrs and to the small dorm-style room where 4 American nuns were shot in cold blood.
Later in the day we had leaders of teachers' unions fit us in their busy schedule and visit us at our guesthouse. The whole day I of course was trying to fit this into my context of teaching and students' learning. But once we went on to Morazan, my mind opened up and the real reason for the trip hit me on the head...in the form of a song!
SOLIDARIDAD! SOLIDARITY!
This group from rural Morazan is resettled from the refugee camps in Honduras where they lived for 9 years during the civil war. They were so open to sharing their life journeys! So gracious with their food and stories (I ate fried chicken for the first time in like 5 years)!
Most of all, they were gracious with their words. The group leader (above with the red shirt) thanked us again and again for our solidarity. For listening and caring about their stories. And for sharing in these moments with them. This trip is not so much about me and my Washington, DC life. This trip was about understanding the resilience of the Salvadoran people. How they have struggled, but have also lived resiliently! They are, despite the poverty and violence that racks a lot of the country, are living happy lives and support one another in a way that I have not seen with my own eyes before.
We heard this message again and again as we met more amazing people who have lived very difficult lives. I was having a conversation about Voices with a couple of my co-travelers and we were wondering why they do it? Why do they bring delegations down and go through the hassle of keeping us safe, making so many appointments and arrangements, and to barely break even on the cost?! It's because of solidarity. Simple as that. They love El Salvador and they want us to pass on to everyone we know what a strong and loving people live there. They want us to pass on their history. They are important, they are special, they know it, and they want us to carry this message back to our communities.
We love El Salvador too. I definitely brought back a completely better sense of what our Salvadoran students have overcome to make it to the US and also what traumas could be lingering and complicating their education. It's been awesome telling my Salvadoran co-workers about how I visited and learned all about this country. They usually thank me just for visiting! Most of all, I am so happy that I have first hand experienced how amazing Salvadorans are and I am excited to spread the news.
