Wow I can´t believe a month´s gone by

I really can´t believe it´s been an month since I´ve updated this journal! Having so many different methods of journaling makes me forget which ones I´ve kept up with and which ones no.
Let´s see, a lot has happened and a lot of the same things have been going on as well. As of right now I am in my third week away from the city of San Salvador. We were supposed to go back last weekend, but due to plans around my host site, I decided I couldn´t make it. I don´t even know where to begin here.
First of all, after about a month of rainless, hot days I´ve finally learned what the rainy season means here. It´s still hot during the day, but we´ve been getting some good rainfall just about every evening/night. It had been a long time in coming and for many came too late. In the area where I am, farmers lost between 30-80% of their milpa (corn) crops. In the lower section of the area where it´s even hotter and poorer, 100% of the crop was lost! This is absolutely devestating to a family who relies on the sales of their crops to provide everything.
Everyday, Ive been learning something new here and there´s no way I can reflect on it all before I leave. For a long time, I didn´t think I was really changing as a person, but kind of observing and growing more frustrated with the many problems the country has. Lately though, little things taht I had taken for granted and that I was accustomed to always being there and being necessary simply aren´t anymore. It´s an interesting process of growth and I look forward to seeing what life is like when I return to the land of flashing lights, traffic laws, different types of food.
I have to admit that I am not exactly in the mood to think about food at the moment! I had my first "sick" experience last night and into this morning. We´re pretty sure the 5 gallon water jug I traded for yesterday is bad. I didn´t bust it open til last night and all through the night my stomach didn´t quite sit right. I figured it was food I had eaten (aka the boiled veggies that had been sitting out all day and had been reheated twice) but my stomach just felt achy. This morning when I took some of my water with alka seltzer, it came back out in under 5 minutes. After that, I was able to keep down some bread and café. Ive also been pretty "ok" at the office. My stomach is a little restless, but it´s understandable!
Others had told me that getting sick made them realize what everyone here goes through because of the problems they have with spoiled food and bad water. I figured that if I got sick, it wouldn´t really change my mindset, but I was wrong. It is true. I´ve watched various members in my family get a stomach-ache for a day and move on and now I see that this feeling is part of their lives. It´s sad that people have to live this way and that not enough is being done to help it.
Another change I´ve made here is that I have a political mindset/I actually want to know what is happening politically and economically. Granted I´ll never be one of those people who get super into details, but I have grown frustrated on so many issues and have learned so much, it´s difficult not to see the world with different eyes.
Projectwise at OIKOS, I don´t currently and won´t really have a set project because there were some changes to our Piedra Azul plans. I decided I like it this way because I have been given the opportunity to really see what this place does. I´ve gone to visit many communities and seen many beautiful places. I´ve learned different aspects of the OIKOS world and have been able to witness all the organization does from the political fight to the environmental actions. I also did begin teaching, or at least helping with some English classes in the school across the street from my house on Fridays. This has been an interesting experience too and at times I´m frustrated with the learning structure, but it´s another thing I will probably digest after I return to the states.
Okay, enough for now! I´ll try to update again this weekend in the capital city! Peace out!