Some Cultural Info for those interested.....

Hey Everyone, One of our leaders, Whit did a presentation of the culture of San Salvador. I, unfortunately was one of the few who didn't get to see it. But he sent out this wonderful email with some of the info that he provided for the rest of the team. I thought maybe you would be interested in hearing a little about the culture of San Salvador, and maybe what some of the things we will be doing....by way of culturally relating to the San Salvadorians.

Current President:

Antonio Saca, since 2004.

Official Currency:

U.S. Dollar (no currency exchange required!)

Area:

El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America. In area, it is approximately twice as large as San Diego County.

Population:

7 million, of which nearly 2 million live in the San Salvador area.

Main agricultural products:

coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans

Climate:

Weather is generally warm or tropical. The rainy season is from the month of May to October, and the dry season is from November until April. For the month of December, the average high in San Salvador is 82 F and the average low is 66 F. Temperatures tend to be are cooler in the more mountainous areas and warmer by the coast.

Clothing:

Due to the climate, the most recommended clothing is light, thin, usually made of cotton. Comfortable shoes for walking are advisable. You should bring a sweater or light jacket for evenings and in case we go to higher elevations (e.g. on a hike). In San Salvador's business environments, men wear suits and women wear business suits or dresses. Appropriate clothing for us to wear in the city would include jeans or slacks and polo or button down shirts, or modest tops. It is helpful to remember that San Salvador is the capital city and business center of El Salvador, and to dress accordingly while we are in city settings. Please note that throughout Latin America, shorts are generally considered inappropriate for adults to wear, especially in the city. For chores around the house, service projects involving physical work, and recreational activities, t-shirts and jeans are perfectly acceptable. You will want to wear sunglasses and hats to protect from the sun, but hats should not be worn indoors. Also, sunglasses should be removed when we are doing outreaches as they present a real barrier to communication and to sharing God's love with people.



Hope that was informative to you. *smile* Keep us in prayer
Brittany