Henry Flores, project coordinator for CFCA in Santa Ana, met me at the airport. We began the normally one-hour drive back to Santa Ana, but with heavy traffic and having to take an alternate route because of rubble from the earthquake, our trip took four hours. We arrived mid-evening in Santa Ana, where I spent four days adjusting to the culture, food and language. El Progreso is a rural village comprised mostly of farmers who live in houses built from adobe and mud. A few dirt roads that traverse the mountainside provide access to these homes.
Flat ground is scarce.
Crops of corn, coffee, and beans seem to be most prevalent. Cheese, eggs, and rice are moderately accessible. Many fruit trees such as oranges, mangos, jocote, cuijines, platanos, bananas, pineapple, and papaya grow on our lands as do many other new and exciting foods or medicines. Getting water is an effort. Occasionally, one has use of a truck, which makes this chore much easier.