taban

So the flight was relativly painless. 2 1/2 hours to Houston; then 2 hours to San Salvador. No time change; Easy stuff.
Arrive at 7:45
Got to San Salvador and went through Customs pretty quickly
Got into a van with our armed police escort
Drove 45 minutes into the city
Got to the Hilton.. unloaded all of our stuff.
Waited for an hour and a half for a room; and then were told there were no rooms.
Get shipped off to their verison of the Olympic Training Center which is very much in a ghetto type area (not that any of the area is wonderful.. but you know)
Wait there for ANOTHER hour and a half
Get sent back to the Hilton.
Finally get rooms at like 1 am

I have decided I want to become a very important person so I can travel by police escort everywhere I go.
It's the only way to drive.
Seriously
We had to cops on motorcycles getting us through traffic and never stopped at a stop light. It was awesome; the only way to travel. We got everywhere so quick.
The city itself is just; well very poor. Mostly the homes are made of metal siding that seemes to be leaning against each part no real solid foundation. The buildings are very old and run down as ell. It isn't dirty.. I mean no trash everywhere.. just old and run down.. tired. The city looks tired.
The training facilities are really nicer then I expected. No AC and it's not pretty. But it is ideal for making weight since it is HOT.. plus there is a sauna right there and the wrestling room is big enough for two mats.. which is pretty good sized. The competition venue was the same. Friendly environment, not madison square garden.. but new compared to other things around it. No real doors or glass in the windows; so birds flew wherever they wanted; pooped on the mats (which got cleaned every 5 minutes it seems) and also at one point above us a chick must have hatched because we found half an eggshell matside.
Fruit was 25 cents for a sandwhich bag full; and it was all so good. There is this one fruit known as mammee.. oh my god.. it is so awesome.. I want to get it imported in mass quantities.
All the people seemed really nice. Some spoke English here and there.. I know a tiny bit of Spanish; so I was able to figure things out pretty easily.

So we all know how my love life here in the states seems.. well bleak most of the time..
I should move to El Salvador
Apparantly I am a goddess down there.
Had guys trying to get my coaches to let me stay down there for a couple more weeks; one of them asked if I was anyone's wife because he wanted me to be his wife. He had this grand idea that I wold move to El Salvador and just be very happy there. MY coach said he didnt think I would want to move.. so the guy had an alternate plan.. I live in Colorado, he stays in El Salvador.. we see each other on weekends..
Had about 10 different guys ask to take pictures with me. (Since when do people hit on the heavyweight?)
Then at the hotel we (The US team) was invited into a party (a qince.. did i spell that right?) anyway.. one of the guys in there asked me to stay for two more weeks; and when i told him i could because of a tournament he asked me to come down after. I told him I couldn't afford it and he said; it's ok, my family is loaded we will fly you back down.. hmmm...
Then at the airport the guy checking my passport before we left told me i was very beautiful and asked if I came to El Salvador often because he wanted to spend toime with me

WHAT THE HELL!?!
Can't even get a date in the States...
I am "Miss El Salvador" it seems

Nothing to juicy that wasn't reported in that article I posted above. They tried to move weigh-ins on us from 6 to 4:30.. but it didnt work. It was a really good tournament. I wrestled really well; made some mistakes but overall a strong performance I think. I was reminded that I am not a "true heavyweight" as those girls are HUGE. I will be very happy to be at my own weightclass in two weeks.
Sprained my shoulder a bit; but other then that didn't come off to worse for the wear.
I have my pretty Bronze medal next to my plaques from this year.