Bolt

Three years ago, October 2007, I was leaving to Oregon in the United States for three months for improving my English. Oregon is in northeast of the country.  It is located really close to Washington and California. I was going exactly to Beaverton, OR. My aunt, Claudia lives there with his husband, my little cousin, Marcella, and my big cousin, Jose. I was really nervous and eager about the departure because I had never flight alone. One day after school ended, I was in the airport at 5:00 am, it becomes a sad farewell. My mother started crying; for me that was the worst thing in the whole world, because my mom is the strongest woman I have ever known. When I saw her crying, I just tried to swallow down all the sadness and tears, but I just could not. The part when we have to take different ways came and she left. When I went downstairs I just saw a guy, my age, sitting next to the chair I was planning to sit in. I sat and I heard to music through my new iPod, so he was. After a while we started talking and introduced ourselves, his name is Alfredo, and it turned to be a friend of Carlos, an old friend of mine. We noticed that we were flying to the same state but different places. We agree with continue communicating for any kind of stuff, as parties or hangouts. After some hours we were taken to the airplane. I get comfortable and started reading an English book for a vacation project, which name was “Tangerine”.

After some flight hours, we landed and I walk out to get my luggage. When I was walking outside to meet my uncle, I just heard a far “Celeste”. So I looked back and saw my uncle, I went with him, he helped me with the luggage and we get in the car. It was a red small car, beautiful and comfortable. We spend approximately half an hour in the car driving and talking about the travel. Then he parked and we get down and he showed me the department, it was a really cozy place. I felt welcome and expected, the whole family was happy to have me there. I get there 7:00-8:00 pm. I was tired and with infinite desires to sleep. My aunt showed me the room, it was a small, dream room, with a big window in one wall, a huge closet for my cloth in the back and in the front a piece of furniture with a television on it. The bed was cover with a princess bedspreads. I enter the room; change into my monkey pajamas and started sleeping deeply. In the next day, we went to arrange everything about the school I was going to attend there. They made me some quizzes and tests to analyze how I was doing in Guatemala. At the next week, I started attending school and won’t lie; they made me feel great and quiet. I loved to attend school with different types of people. I made incredible and awesome friends, who made me feel at home.

But nothing is perfect and after a month everything started to come down, I was not anymore satisfied and happy being there. The only thing I wanted is to return with my parents and sisters. Every time my father called me and talked with me, I cried and I felt I was just too far away for the people who gave me life, my parents. It was insupportable to be there, I didn’t get out to hangout with friends and have a happy time, but to stay at the house was the matter. One November day my father called and as usual I started crying, this time he realized how bad I was spending the time out there, he talk me about some alternatives we could do for me to return earlier. One day I received some e-mail from him that change my mood, it was the new route (itinerary) of my journey. It didn’t go directly to Guatemala, but to Miami, because my parents were planning to spend some time over there for vacations. I could wait November 26^th to come, and the expected day came. My uncle, Aunt Claudia and Marcella took me to the airport and left me there. I went and bought something to eat, specifically a fruit juice and a giant chocolate chip cookie. I was really nervous entering the airplane because I knew that when I landed I would see my parents again.

We depart from Oregon and arrive on Florida, I was happy and we get out the airplane and we took a train. I became scared because I didn’t know where I had to come out. But I left it to destiny I get down in a random stop. I came out and started walking and back there they were, waiting for me, my parents. I ran to where they were and cried, but not of sadness, but because of happiness. This was a bolt for me, because it showed me how important the family is for me and how much I need them in my normal days, even if sometimes I don’t think about it. 

Talk about weather...

Have you ever stopped to think about people suffering on the other side of the world because of Mother Nature? Some people may, but not me. I was born in El Salvador, but now because of destiny stuff I am living on Guatemala, "the eternal spring land". I was just seven years old, ten years ago. It was a normal vacation day with an ordinary weather, sunny with a blue sky and some magical clouds flying all over it, January 13th 2001. I remember I was just resting on a sofa with my family, but then this mild shake moved us. My father, Mauricio started to tell us to go downstairs and get out of the house so Natalie, my sister, and I started walking, but my mom had to go back to get my six months baby sister, Valeria. We all get out to the street and wait for ten minutes approximately. When we returned to the house, my parents called my grandparents on El Salvador to see what had happened there. They told us they had just passed through an earthquake, but that they were safe and calm. My parents were constantly calling to all the family out there because there was this fear that something extremely bad happened to one member of our family. I was afraid because my whole family was there and they were all passing through an earthquake and in danger. I remember my only dream was to be near them and be sure they were safe and well. For that moment I just wanted to transform myself into a superhero. I wish to become kind of a super girl, or just this typical superhero with just one thing that could save the world. But it did not happen, I still be that seven years old girl, who would not be able to go there and save the whole country or at least her whole family. Hours passed and my parents were every single instant more nervous and anxious. I used to get very affected by my environment or the people around me. My parents, the nearest people I have, were transmitting me this maddening attitude. I started to lose control because I just see images in the television that show that something there was ending with everything, it just seemed like the end for all. My parents talked to me and I could become relaxed easily. When my parents achieved to called every single member of the family on the country, all we stayed calm.

Exactly one month later, February 13, 2001, another earthquake shook El Salvador. It was, for me, just getting worse and become other day for praying for everything not to have the perfect ending, but at least not the worst. At that moment I realized God was with them because for the second time, nothing wrong had happened to my family out there. But something better get out this time, the epicenter was far away my family houses, although it was in the same country and wanting or not they will be affected too. I was afraid obviously, my family still in danger.But days passed and I realized my family had passed through hard moments, but they were all right and safe. It was a hard starting for a year, but we all managed it well and get over it in a few months. Now I see why I was so affected and it was because more than half of my family was there and you never know what kind of misfortune can take one of yours. I wish I never would have to pass through an awful earthquake or some other natural disaster. I try to inspire peace and happiness to people because it is amazing the feeling you get when you see someone happy because of you. I hope El Salvador don't pass again in a near time through a similar situation because it is not sad just for them, but also for the people who have a great relationship with that unbelievable country.

It may be the perfect day, with an amazing weather, a brilliant sun, a blue and soft sky and sweet birds singing above, but a tragedy, may occur so everyone out there take advantage of your life because it's only one, and live each single day as if it was your last.

Important Person

Facebook, a social network that helps us meet new people in the world. It was something new that pulled in lots of people, including me. Some of my friends were telling me to seek for some of their friends in the network. I send my friend request to this cute boy, who was brother of my friend’s friend. We started chatting and he thought I had a serious crush on him. He called my friend, Conchita, and told her to talk to me about what just had happened. She later called me and told me all things he had told her about my “crush”. I just want to stop talking to him because of everything he was thinking. Then we started talking as really friends and telling each other about our lives. Some months after I realized I was falling in love with this guy, who thought weird things about me. Time passed and the magic day came, he invited me to an important event in his school. I was wondering if I should go or not, but then something make me notice I shouldn’t let the opportunity fade away. I attended to his school event and we had a great time, he showed me his entire school and we talk about the time we had passed just chatting. Later that same day, he texted me saying he hope I had spend a great time with him and that I was pretty. I was more than happy, I just didn’t know how to react or what to do next, but I kept “calm”.  Next week, we went out together to a party and he made me thk he liked me, because of few stolen kisses, to be exact, three sweet marshmekisses. Next day we went to the cinema and we shared a cookies and cream hershey’s chocolate bar. He confessed he was confused and he didn’t know if our relationship was going to a healthy ending. We talk and conclude we should try something because it have some positive possibilities for a happily ever after. After three months of spending time together and constantly seeing each other, something amazing happened. It was in July 11^th, 2010, the beginning of the soccer world cup, a normal and peaceful day when he came to my house, well dressed and with a deep perfume.  There you can see this guy with an amazing dark blond hair, his hypnotizing brown eyes, his white soft skin, and his contagious smile. We were having a normal dinner, when his cellphone rang, it was his dad who need him for a house stuff, and he had to leave, he assure me he will come back soon. After fifteen minutes my cellphone rang and it was him, asking for me to go out because he wanted to show me something. I went out and saw him standing at the middle of the street, he took my hand and guided me to my sweetest dream. There we were, both standing with out hands together, in the middle of this circle formed my candles, which he had created. And then magically he asked me if I would accept to be his girlfriend. I was in a shock state and of course I wanted to yell the world I wanted to be his girlfriend but I just felt my voice didn’t want to came out, but he felt it and heard it, yes, I want to. Then we just stand under the star cover sky and after a while, we entered my house and told my best friend, Miriam, what had just happened. I think he had just become the person I live for. He is the one, who makes me happy and shows me life is amazing, lovely and valuable. I am sure he is the kind of boy, every girl dreamed about, “the charming prince”, and I am the lucky one, his only one. He is one of the funniest guys I ever known, the one who makes me laugh the most. His name is Estuardo Umaña and actually he is my boyfriend, my best friend, and the real one for me. At this precise moment he is sitting next to me, hugging me and sleeping in my shoulder. If I should describe him in one word it would be, fantastic.