EL SALVADOR REFLECTION

Over February break, our Christian Ethics El Salvador 30 class partook in the highlight of the course: spending eight days in El Salvador. Mr. Senger instructed us to write in our journals frequently, even after the trip. Allow me to make this journal entry public.

April 13, 2023

Each night in the guesthouse, we sat together in a reflection circle to discuss our daily experiences. For the first couple of nights, the reflection circle was only positive and admirable of El Salvador. When comparing our experience so far in El Salvador to our lives here in Regina, many of us preferred what we thought was life in El Salvador. The colourful and charismatic architecture of San Salvador, the tropical landscape, the strong sense of Salvadorian culture, a sense of close-knit community, and the overall livelihood and hope that filled the air allowed for a very pleasant experience.

Our group leader, Andy, told us that many of these elements of the country were a result of what she called “radical hope.” When she first introduced this term, we did not fully understand it.

By the third or fourth reflection circle, we began to discuss the less beautiful elements of the country. There was discomfort, sorrow, unrest, guilt, and regret. The long-lasting impacts of colonialism, the poverty and gang violence, the murders of Archbishop Senor Romero and the six Jesuit Priests, and the water crisis made our once simply “sweet” understanding of the country somewhat “bittersweet”. Our enamored view of El Salvador caused us to gloss over and not see the historical significance of the country’s struggles.

Andy explained to us that Salvadorian radical hope is a result of systemic suffering and violence. The livelihood that we fell in love with was built on struggle, hardship, and oppression of the Salvadorian people.

We realised that our initial understanding of the country was warped with privilege and even some ignorance. Romanticizing El Salvador’s radical hope meant a lack of understanding, and, therefore, a somewhat falsified experience. Once we recognised this, each of us came to change our way of taking in the country. We found ourselves in a situation where knowledge was of higher value than marvel, respect of higher value than admiration. Simply enjoying El Salvador would not allow us to truly experience El Salvador.

Although I cannot speak for everyone on the trip, my outlook on life has changed. Now when I experience something beautiful, I no longer drool over it absent mindedly. I dedicate myself to learning about it because when I learn about it I can truly appreciate it.