Una sorpreza para mi, una sorpreza para ti

Alisa and I endured all the horrendous bus rides for one reason, and one reason only. We had to be in El Salvador by March 14 or bust. March 14 became D-Day because it was the day Alisa's sister Ashlee and friend, Anne would arrive from San Diego and it was also the day before Stephanie Edwards returned to the United States. We knew that all the cosmos would align this night or not at all. Thankfully a 5am, 12+ hour bus ride from Managua brought us to our destination by 6pm.

Anxious to reach San Salvador, and forced to sit through terrible movies like the Airbud spin-off, SnowBuddies, and that football movie with The Rock (for the second time! Seriously?), Alisa and I did all we could to stem boredom. For a long time we re-rolled toilet paper into smaller rolls, debated which puppy imprint on the toilet paper was our favorite and why, and tried to use the squares to make paper cranes. Eventually, however, our boredom culminated in an exquisite floss-strung, scrap paper "Surprise/Welcome" sign.

We happened to have told Steph that we wouldn't make to San Salvador by the time she left and so we stealthily awaited her arrival at the Casa . . . this was also our reunion at long last with Emory and Megan . . .

SURPRISE!!!

In the ensuing mayhem there were screams, laughter, and even tears. We decided we ought to surprise people more often.We then picked up Ashlee and Anne from airport (who amazingly made it here despite losing Anne's passport in the San Diego airport 15 minutes before their flight's departure . . . luckily they found it on the ground next to a trash can . . .). The glorious evening culminated in a crazy dance party with the Casa students.

Long lost loves.  It feels like home.

Santa Clara in El Salvador.  Annie Rovzar, we like your moves.

Saying goodbye to Stephanie at Jugolandia. We are sad to lose her, but Boston University could not be luckier.