AUTHOR: Nancy TITLE: First Day DATE: 11/10/2008 07:17:00 AM ----- BODY:
Hi all,
Just a quick note to let you know that we have arrived safely in Sonsonate and the team is again absolutely wonderful. Of course we have gotten used to the usual Central American "slow time" but everyone is coping really, really well.

For a first day, yesterday chock full of amazing experiences. We had spent the night at two small hotels in San Salvador and in the morning the team went to the Museum of Archeology while three of us met with the San Salvador Rotarians to try to get the last of the money owed from the Major Matching Grant. Again, no luck, but it is promised for today (for about the seventh time! So, as we lacked money for the materials needed to work at the factory we took our time getting to Sonsonate. Everyone really enjoyed the young woman guide at the museum and it was a great introduction to not only the history but the current political situation here.

We had a beautiful day and drove by Lake Coatepeque to a small coffee finca for lunch. The owner explained that due to the drop in coffee prices he had converted his farm into a tourist destination where he was experimenting with growing hydroponic vegetables and flowers. The team learned how cacao was grown and made into cocoa, how lettuce was being grown in a floating garden, and how the river had been diverted through natural springs so it was clean for the fish and the vegetable production.
We all had talapia with fried yucca for lunch and then went on to the factory.

Upon arrival at the factory I was overwhelmed by what Gustavo had done since we had last been there. Not only had the exterior been painted with a huge sign "StoveTeam Internacional Oregon - El Salvador", but there was a huge poster with photos of all of our work. Amazing! There was, in addition, a new two-burner stove for schools, and an enormous white-board showing daily production and delivery.

The boys, Nery, Tino, Salvador, etc. took the team on a step by step demonstration of how stoves were produced while Gerry, Marga and I met with Gustavo, Luisa and Elvira to go over the accounting. Gerry was thrilled to discover that everything was in order and all was exactly as we had hoped. We all feel very relieved that the factory is not only doing what we had hoped, but more! We now have not only the Ecocina, but a two-burner stove for schools. This is beyond our wildest dreams and makes us so proud of Gustavo and his team.

To top all of this off, the team learned to make fire in the Ecocinas on-site, and then we walked down to the center of Nahulingo where the town was celebrating National Pupusa Day. Our Ecocina was right on the corner, and Elvira and Luisa were making pupusas on the two stoves. Don, Gerry, Charissa and I were invited up on stage to thank the town for inviting us to participate in the celebration, and then team got a look at Nahulingo. And again, the pupusas were fabulous. The best I have eaten in my seven trips to Central America!

In the evening we returned to the hotel where I took a very quick swim, and then it was time for dinner with the Santa Ana Rotarians. There were ten of them with their wives, and of course Billy Cader's adorable children, and then the big surprise of a piñata to celebrate Susie and Bob's birthdays.

So, not bad for Day #1, eh?

More anon...we're off to a Peace Corps village this morning...in 80 degree weather and gorgeous sunshine!

Nancy

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