April 27th, 2014, 6am
I am just leaving ichicago for my first trip with Engineers
Without Borders. We are heading to Miami currently, with Candelaria, Honduras
as our final destination. I have been working on this project for about a year
now, so it is fantastic to finally be a part of a trip where I can start seeing
our efforts pay off.
Something that I wanted to get down because it was beautiful
and is a view that I don’t get to see too often, the view of Chicago from above
in the early morning was breathtaking.
The city was shrouded in a curtain of mist, while the roads were lit up
with lights from the cars and streets lighting the veins toward the city, as
if it was the energy that powers the city itself.
Looking past the city was Lake Michigan with a red-orange slice of the
sun over the inky-blue horizon. What is
alwas so striking is how small the city looks from so high up – a nice reminder
that what seems like a giant from one view, is seen as much smaller, almost
ant-like, from another vantage point….something to ponder on these next few days
– what will seem indomitable from one angle, but when approached from another
is much more scale-able? An interesting thought…..
JLC
Also, I need to tell Ashley about my 80’s jam on the flight
– they just played “Rock Me Amadeus”! That’s our jam!
April 27th, 2014 12:47pm
We have left Miami and are currently fliying over the ocean
on the way down to San Salvador. I am lucky enough to have a window seat and
have been glued to the window ever since take-off (except for writing).
I have never seen blues so brilliant before in my life – so
many shades from an inky-royal blue to a magnificent turquoise of the reefs and
sand bars. Currently all I see is the
inky blue that is just beautiful. I wish I could capture on my camera, but the
camera just doesn’t do it justice – some things you just have to see in person.
I assume that we are now not far from the coast of Belize,
but I am not sure – maybe not far from Mexico? Either way, I am hoping to see
the great hole that is off the coast of Belize – it is on my list of places to
see, and seeing it from the air would be spectacular.
Other than the sights, things have been fairly uneventful.
The four of us – myself, Luis, Liz and Gus – met at O’Hare and have been
together since. We had a quiet flight
from Chicago, and equally quiet (knock on wood) flight to San Salvador. Our layover in Miami was about two hours –
just enough time for some food and for Luis to do some translating on one of
our presentations – nothing like the last minute for an engineering project!
Other than that, I have been getting by on my two hours of
sleep – which doesn’t surprise me much, but that might hit me later tonight,
best not to speak too soon.
Well, we will be meeting two of our other members – Jimmy
and Nick – at the airport, which I think will be in about 45 minutes, but I am not
100% sure. And we are still above the
ocean, so it might be a while?
I don’t know. I just want to get to land and start that
adventure! I’m so anxious, and impatient right now – I’m getting restless!
Well, that’s it for now.
JLC
27th April, 2014, 3-ish pm
We have landed in San Salvador and due to mix-up/confusion
with how to make international calls, we are waiting, and have been for well
over an hour….it is humid and well into the 80’s – but we are here and it is
beautiful! Pupusas are going to happen!
JLC
 |
| Right before landing in El Salvador |
27th April, 2014, 11:30ish pm
We finally met up with our drivers….turns out that they
passed us several times but were confused by the women being in the group (they
were expecting only men for a group of engineers)….off to a great start.
I the drive to Candelaria was about 5 hours and included a
stop to get the El Salvadorian national dish – pupusas (per my request form my
El Salvadorian co-worker, Mario). I
ordered the queso con al reco on arroz, otherwise known as cheese and herb on a
rice tortilla – it was incredible! I can
definitely see why Mario so strongly encouraged it.
 |
| Pupusas and beer! |
It was also interesting seeing all fo the commotion and
activity going on along the road everywhere. I think it would make a great
coffee table book, “Found Along the Road”, or something to that extent. It
would include everything from the dog/goat skeleton I saw hanging from a tree,
to the goat on a leash we saw taking a dump while its owner watched, to the
random horse that appeared out of the dust as we climbed the mountain. The horse seriously appeared out of no where
and it took me a few minutes to register what I was looking at. There was just so much going on that it would
be so cool to document.
For dinner, we ate in Candelaria, with the mayor, Orlando,
and a few other people. I think that the
brief meeting went well, but I am too tired to give a fully accurate response
to how the meeting went – all parties
are keen to next steps though – which is great!
Off to bed – sleeping while writing this and not making
sense. Buenos Noches.
JLC
