Anyways, so Mario, Sr. started teaching me immediately... and I said, "No, otro vez! Manana?" Hahaha. Surprisingly, he remembered. And this evening I had my very own lesson in driving stickshift. In spanish. En el campo - the countryside.
THANK GOD I had a lesson of the basics w/ Joe a couple years ago. Luckily I didn't hit any El Salvadoran child or puppy.
Mario, Sr. decided to teach by letting me drive to the countryside to pick up Catalina (the sister of Mama Chave's first husband). We met her sister, Paz, who lives by the train tracks at a higher altitude than El Congo. It was quite a difference from the living conditions here at Casa de Mama Chave. The house resembled a wooden shed held up by some miracle of God. It smelled of camp fire and there were dogs chasing around roosters. Everyone always introduces me as "este Melissa. ella doctora (as I usually interject w/ No, no, en Mayo, Doctora) ... ella mejora amiga de Jackie". They are the sweetest.
On the ride back to El Congo, we took the scenic routes and Mario, Sr. and Catalina pointed out all the small churches. She also bought Scott and I pastillitos (sp?). I think they are my new favorite thing. They are fried dough w/ shredded lettuce (and not sure what else) inside. They reminded me of little tiny empanadas. The vendor puts about 6 of them in a small plastic bag filled w/a tomato sauce mix. HEAVEN.
The one time I don't have my camera on me... so much I wanted to capture. So, I told Mario, Sr. that I wanted to go back to see Paz and the churches, this time with my camera.
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