A kind of beauty I have never seen before

Yesterday I went to the Ancient Mayan Ruins (Ruinas de San Andres) with my best friend to celebrate Baktun. 

The celebration marked the end of the Mayan Calendar and welcomed the dawning of a new era. It was amazing to see people coming together to celebrate a culture that has been suppressed by the government for almost a century. And it is interesting to see how the Indigenous identity has been revitalized by activists and passionate individuals in the recent years. One of my cousins is working with bilingual schools that teach Spanish and Nahuatl to small indigenous communities.

This event made me appreciate a kind of beauty that I have never seen before. I've been much exposed to consumer culture all my life. And according to consumer culture, the definition of beauty and wealth is prescribed by the material things you own. However, I find that this construction of meaning rather artificial and fake. And I have also observed that Salvadoran culture in particular, tend to imitate the American hegemonic culture.

I have come to appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us. I have come to appreciate the spirit of giving and family that unites us as a country. I have come to appreciate that we do not need much to make us happy. It is possible to be perfectly content with the little things we have.

Sometimes we have to lay aside our ethnocentric views to appreciate a kind of beauty that we may have never seen before.

Home and Family Revelations

According to the Mayan Calendar, it's the end of the world but I'm extremely happy. 

By extremely happy, I mean waking up in the morning and smiling to myself because I can enjoy the warm weather and the sweet company of my family.

Being home has made me deeply reflect on the things that God has given me. I cannot help but give thanks all the time.

Both of my parents are alive and healthy. They are able to support me in my studies. I have an extended  family and friends who love me and appreciate me (and vice versa). I have enough food, water and a cozy bed to rest at night.

It's the end of the world but I have never felt so content in my life. Hehehe.

Just a few days ago I visited my grand-aunt (my grandmother's sister) and my cousin at their home. She showed me my great-grandmother's picture and told me stories about her.

She was born in Mazatan, Mexico...a small agricultural town in Chiapas near the border of Guatemala. She met my great-grandfather (a Chinese merchant) and moved to El Salvador because he liked it there. After some time, they decided to move to China with their 10 children to settle. Sadly, my great-grandfather died of some pulmonary disease leaving 10 of their children fatherless. She made the difficult decision of going back to El Salvador taking only 2 children with her. She always planned to go back but due to the circumstances (World War 2, money), she had to stay in El Salvador.

The rest of the children were raised by my great-grand aunt (my great-grandfather's sister) who was a school principal. She opened a school during the Second World War! My dream is deeply related to my family.

Another interesting thing that I found out about my family is that we have Spanish and Jewish ancestry. According to some records, my ancestors were Jewish people who lived in Southern Spain (near Andalucia).

Therefore, I have a quite mixed heritage. And I am entitled to carry a Spanish last name (since Jewish people pass on their last names through their mothers).

It's so interesting to find out things about your family that you never knew before. Who knew that I have Jewish ancestors? Who knew that my great-grand aunt was a school principal? I am so proud of my family heritage. And I think that I will embrace my Spanish side more and more. 

Meditations on a Tuesday Afternoon

For years I was deceived and blind.
Yet beneath my timid exterior, rested a strong and beautiful spirit.

I was asleep in the dark but Your truth shone through.

I wandered, and You found me.
I hungered, and You fed me.
I was dirty, and You bathed me.
I was tired, and You gave me rest.
I was homeless, and You made a home in me.

You have been good to me, O Lord.

Let not my spirit depart from Thee.