Most Christians are part of the Catholic denomination. Are denominations are present and growing in popularity. Some Protestant churches in the capital may have 8,000 to 10,000 parishioners on a given Sunday.

The country is known for pupusas, which are handmade corn tortillas stuffed with different things like cheese, chicken, or refried beans. Football, or soccer to Americans, is extremely popular. Everyone has access to television and radio.

Maras is another part of Salvadoran life that affects the culture. Maras are gangs and a major problem as it brings delinquency. People get involved with the gangs for several reasons including for income. Jobs are hard to come by and the gangs offer an escape.

Gang members often come from broken families or homes where the mother and father do not live together.

Plus, many have not went to school for very long or are not literate and have no prospects of good jobs.

El Salvador suffered a severe civil war in the 1980s. It was brought about by the great inequality between the rich and poor in the nation.

War costs were two billion dollars and casualties reached around 70,000. Since the end of fighting and the United Nations peace agreement in 1992, more opportunities for Salvadorians have been established from government changes (BBC NEWS).

The twelve year civil war was the catalyst for migration to the U.S. as people tried to escape it. Today illegal immigration occurs as Salvadorans travel seeking work and better wages because it is hard to get good jobs that pay well in their own country.

Some members of Jamie’s family reside and work in California. He said "The economy of El Salvador depends on the money that Salvadorians are sending from the United States." We could make close connections to Mexico in that a great part of their income both comes from money immigrants send to their families.

The low-paying jobs in the U.S. are favorable to what Salvadorians and Mexicans would make in their own country.

Some of the prime exports of El Salvador include beans, coffee, sugar, and textiles. The climate is well suited for the large coffee production providing jobs that are unfortunately low paid. According to Jaime, the job market is changing as more people are going to school longer and attending universities. The problem with this is that new jobs that people are preparing themselves for are not available.

Many people after going to college cannot find jobs that meet their training and have to work jobs they are overly qualified for.

The president of El Salvador is Elias Antonio Saca of the ARENA party. He is generally well liked, except by the FMLN party which totally opposes President Saca and his ideas. Jaime seemed very appreciative about the goals of the president of working to bring more good paying jobs to the country. A major challenge in El Salvador is finding jobs for its citizens and the president is working so more people can find work and not go to the U.S.

Free education in El Salvador is guaranteed by the constitution up to the ninth grade. Students who enter high school can go for a small amount as the government helps fund the schools. College is inexpensive too as the government also keeps prices low.

The Universidad Nacional de El Salvador (UES) in the capital, San Salvador, is the public university. UES also has smaller branches located in other cities. Private schools and universities also exist that are more expensive but provide better education opportunities.

The Salvadorian government is currently encouraging the use of English and hopes to make it a second language. According to Jaime, knowing English is vital to getting better jobs in El Salvador. English is taught starting in the first grade and teaching continues for those who attend high schools and college, however, most people do not speak English.

There are opportunities for citizens to learn English well at academies for learning. Jamie attended one of these and has a great understanding of words and grammar.

Jamie could name a lot of things he liked about the U.S. He enjoyed traveling and seeing the cities and beautiful places to visit. He especially liked the cleanliness of the streets which look much nicer than El Salvador. When asked about his favorite foods he best remembered the fast food. The favorite places he ate at were Burger King, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. He also said that he liked the society and the people he met were nice.

The main thing Jamie appreciates about El Salvador is the people and their solidarity. Salvadorans greet everyone they meet, even strangers.

They extend help to everyone. Jamie pointed out that everyone has a positive and happy personality. They are content with what they do have.

When asked of weaknesses of the U.S. he spoke of discrimination which is not a problem in his country and there is no superiority.

Jaime seems to have a high hope for the future for El Salvador and its people. As people gain higher education, the government is working to find jobs suited for professionals. With more people living on a higher wage, Salvadorians would be able to see more opportunities in their own country and not leave seeking jobs.

Allowing citizens to stay in El Salvador would also keep families together and could reduce the number of people in gangs.

El Salvador is changing little by little Jaime says. Things have improved since the civil war and El Salvador is also conducting business with other countries. Investing is developing business and offering job opportunities. The goal by the President is to depend less on money from the US. and more on their own people.

Works Cited