Sundays in San
Salvador are the best! A day of
tranquility, a day of rest, a day to catch up, and a day to reflect. Many salvadoreñans have to work Monday
through Saturday, so Sunday is the one day when they can be home with
family. Church plays a big role on
Sunday. (I can hear organ music in the background as I type.) Both Catholic and Evangelical churches
offer services throughout the day so that everyone who wants to go has options
to fit within their schedule. For
the retailers and restaurant workers who work on Sunday, a Saturday evening
service is offered. Whether church
is a place to express and share devotion, or a place to connect with family and
community, it is a big part of salvadoreñan culture.
My husband
and I choose to show our devotion to the gods and goddesses of health and
wellbeing by going to the gym on Sunday.
There is no scramble to secure a spot on the treadmill or in front of
the barbells. There’s plenty of
room and the energy is calm and focused.
I remember
the first time I ventured out of our apartment here on a Sunday to the grocery
store. It was around 10am and the
streets felt desolate. What a contrast
to the usual hustle and bustle! Since
then, we’ve made it a day to explore the city and go to new places. Traffic is usually quite intense with
cars weaving in and around you at varying speeds, honking now and then for good
effect, but not on Sunday. It’s
the one day I can navigate the roads with confidence.
I am grateful
for this day of respite. It’s a break
from the usual frenetic energy that is San Salvador Monday through Saturday. Places throughout the world have
incorporated the “need for rest” on Sunday. We all need and deserve a break, whatever that ends up
looking like for each of us. Happy
Sunday Everyone!
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