May 2009

Name: María de Jesús Carías Pintín Community: El Tular

My experience began on the day I learned that I was going to England. It was so thrilling to know that my dream of travel was actually to be realized. I only hope that when my friend in Italy with whom I studied for my baccalaureate hears of my trip she will be as excited as me. Slowly but surely the journey drew nearer to reality. When we went to collect our passports I knew for certain that I was going on a voyage.

Within a week of leaving I had a knot of nerves in my stomach, mainly because I was so excited about travelling, but also because I was anxious about leaving my daughter Katharine, and I knew I was going to miss her. On the actual day of departure, when Flor from Bálsamo asked me how I was feeling I just said, “happy but nervous!”.

When we arrived at the El Salvador airport, then it was really serious. I was going to get on an aeroplane, and I was looking for my air-sickness tablets, because I had no idea how I was going to feel....but the experience was really most pleasant, and with no ill effects. We arrived at Panama and to see the ocean was incredible. How I would have liked to take photos from the plane. We called at Panama, Amsterdam and then at last, England. My first impression was of the cold and it was raining a little. In fact most of the fortnight of my stay it rained. I know now why Brian told me that Manchester was called the rainy city.

What a difference from El Salvador, everything was very clean and well ordered. To be honest my English is not very good and I was a bit nervous in case anyone asked me anything, but I knew that Brian, Barbara and the people we had met in El Tular were going to be there to help, so I did not feel on my own. It really was cold but the Wellsprings people had everything ready, clothes against the cold just as Brian had told me when we talked in El Tular. I stayed with Norma in three different homes. I felt so at home because the people were so friendly and knew all about me, my likes and dislikes. I was very impressed. When we began our visits and trips it was great. I made the most of every opportunity and took all the photos I could. And whenever it was our turn to speak , to describe something of our life in El Tular, everyone listened with great attention and interest and amazement at our way of life.But the English language...! I took my courage in both hands to try and communicate whenever José Humberto was not around and, with the help of the phrase book I managed more or less. Something that impressed me a lot was the level of co-ordination among the whole community. And best of all they all knew about us, which was very flattering. It made me feel very important!

Everything I had to eat was delicious. There was nothing I did not like, and I did not put on any weight. I think that might be because we did a lot of walking, and with the cold we used up a lot of energy. It was also notable how everyone was concerned for our welfare. They even loaned us all mobile phones in case we got lost, so we could always find our way. To visit so many places, museums, churches, the zoo, everything was really special.

One day they gave me a real surprise. I was taken to Manchester United’s ground. What an enormous stadium, and to think that Cristiano Ronaldo played on that very turf.. But the surprise did not stop there. I met the best woman footballer in England. She was so friendly and she gave me a team shirt. She knew who I was and we had a good long chat. Sadly I was unable to play because of my age, but that was a surprise and a half!

My visit to England has been one of the most important experiences of my life. I never dreamed that one day I should get the opportunity to travel. On my way home it seemed like a fairytale, and I was most anxious to see my daughter again.

Now back in El Tular I really want to thank the Wellsprings people for the opportunity make this trip and realise my dream, and I reaffirm the commitment I made to Brian, to work hard for the El Tular community. Then I also want to offer my thanks to all the people who welcomed me into their homes, and a special thanks to David who protected me during a slightly embarrassing moment when I was sick. I want to thank Norma especially for being so kind to us on the return journey, and Flor who brought us safely back home, and absolutely everyone who made this fantasy possible.

Name: José Umberto Perez Carías Community:

The visit to England was, for me, like a gift that fell from heaven, to be chosen to make the journey was something very special. From the moment I learned I was going to go I was counting the days to the journey. I met with Flor from Bálsamo and Benjamin from the Peace Corps to frame a letter for my boss at FUSAL, to get permission to go. It was a load off my mind when I got the go-ahead, because I did not want to lose my job, and I did not want to disappoint Brian or miss the opportunity I was offered. I had my bag packed a week before we left. I bought some strong shoes in case we had to do some walking, and a camera because I knew I should have to take photos of everything and everyone.

Whilst Norma and Maria were lodged together, I stayed with a family alone, probably because I could manage something of the language, and could communicate. There I had contact with young people of my own age. It was amusing when I spoke in English for the first time. They all said ”American!”. My English was American English, because I learned it from Martin of the Peace Corps. In truth it took me some time to understand the English of England, but bit by bit I picked up the idioms. The family I stayed with were very friendly. I slept in the room of their son who was at the university. He had a music centre with a collection of discs that I liked very much.

It was a fantastic experience. Whenever we went to a new place, schools, churches, refuges, everyone knew who we were. They knew that I was José Humberto the lad from El Tular. I was most impressed. I ate all they put in front of me and it was very satisfying. Rarely was any dish repeated. It was probably the only occasion that I would eat this food so I had to make the most of it.

Like Maria I got a surprise. After the visit to the stadium in Manchester, we went to the zoo. I don’t even know the San Salvador Zoo, and I had to come to England to see such exotic animals. It was a huge place. We could not manage to see all of it before we were exhausted.

The day we left to come back to El Salvador I was sad to leave the new friends I had made, and I was going to miss the people’s kindness, but I was missing my family and I had to get back to my work. I want to offer my thanks to Brian and his wife for their welcome, and those who helped us to prepare the Power Point presentation of El Tular, and all the people who supported us and accompanied us on our various visits, to the family with whom I stayed, and to Norma for her kindness and patience on our return journey to El Salvador. Thank you everyone!