I ate a small lunch since for some reason I am finally starting to gain weight instead of looking shockingly thin. I would be okay with the weight gain if it didn't only show up on my waist making me look like I am wearing a damn floaty. I mean seriously there are other areas that would gladly accept some extra cushioning!
It looked like it was going to rain all day but held off. Just in case, I took my umbrella and head out on foot to the field about 45 minutes away. I got to the next town just in time for the rain to start coming down in buckets. The roads became rivers of mud. I put on some Amy Winehouse and walked at turtle's pace...more like waded. I got a little lost especially when I arrived at what can only be described as orange rapids from the incredible amount of clay flowing with it. The ditch was so full that there was no way I was passing. So, I waited until someone showed me how to get to the field.
The rain finally let up and we were allowed to start our game. I didn't think we'd end up playing. Salvadorans have this weird belief that you can't bathe after you are active in some way. It will hurt your bones is what they say. Some PCVs concede that what they really mean is that a cold bucket bath and a warm body may not be good for ones muscles. In any case, we played or rather slopped through the first half going up 3-1. I was a muddy mess.
At halftime we got word that the bridge to get to my town fell. This was shocking and alarming because the bridge is not like a bridge you'd think of in a developing country. It is actually a real, rather large concrete bridge. Immediately I started thinking about how the hell I was going to get back to my house and who would feed my cat if I had to stay the night. I called my host mom who told me that the bridge was down but we could walk across it on foot. This was a relief but still weird.
The game started up again and I must say that at some point I looked over at our referee and he was relieving himself on the sideline. Yes, his back was turned but it never fails to shock me a bit to see the men go so openly here....wherever they please. My host mom's husband does it in full view of the street and I thank God that I have always managed to awkwardly keep looking straight ahead even as I greet him. During the game, I had to go the whole time...I will admit it made me slightly jealous that boys can do it wherever, whenever especially in this country.
We ended up dominating the second half and had an ending score of 8-1. I had a decent game on defense. I am truly enjoying soccer more and more and hope to play in the States.
After the game, we caught a ride with the opposing team to the bridge where we finally got to check it out. It was marked off-limits all around it like a crime scene but when we finally got up close it looked totally normal. I had to ask where it fell and then as we got to the other side I could see where about 2 yards of the bridge had sunk down. It was probably unstable and definitely impassible by vehicle but thankfully since I live so close to the bus stop on the other side of the bridge it won't hardly interrupt my schedule. However, it will interrupt the big project in November. There is supposedly a back country road that people used back in the day whenever the less-stable bridge would go out so we'll see. The thing I always think about in these situations is how helpless the people are here. That bridge could not be repaired for a very long time, as is the nature of the government. It's like a couple of weeks ago when my friend was telling me his truck was stolen in the city. It was just like that was that. The police would never find the car and there is no insurance to replace the car. It sucks.
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