We're Pretty Much Famous Now.

Written by Bessie about El Salvador. Feelin' excited

Ok, so famous might be a slight exaggeration, but we're something. Last night Kyle and I were guests on a podcast! Cooler than just any podcast, it's a podcast in spanish broadcasted out of San Salvador all over the world for Salvadorans living wherever they may be. What's the big deal about a podcast for Salvadorans? About 6 million people live in El Salvador, and around 3 million more Salvadorans live outside the country, so there are lots of people all over the world hankering for Salvadoran goodness.

The podcast is called La Charamusca = "an improv, mix of things" and literally means a plastic bag full of frozen juice like a popsicle, like their logo. It's three 30-something super nice guys, Omar, Guillermo & Robby, that like to sit around and talk about interesting stuff about El Salvador.

us featured on the la charamusca podcast

During our interview, we talked about El Salvador winning Miss Congeniality, our trip & living in El Salvador, and they quized us about local slang. Oh, and Kyle wasn't 100% sure he'd root for El Salvador (vs. Costa Rica) when we're in Costa Rica during the next World Cup qualifying game, and he nearly didn't get out of there alive. They really get to interviewing us about 20 minutes into it if you want to give it a listen.

All in all it was a good time, and we got to meet yet more friendly Salvadorans that are proud of there country and want to share it with others. Oh, and I got to prove to more people world-wide that blonde gringas can speak spanish (decently anyway). woop! woop!

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July 16, 2008 *Karla*: Hi Bessie, I just listened to the radio interview with la charamusca, and I loved it i thought it was really funny. It was funny when you said "tenemos un crap de carro" that's so funny. And your Spanish is really good and also your knowledge on the salvadoran slang words :) especially when they asked you about the mamones that was sooooo funny...Oh and that's really cool that you guys are gonna be painting on Sunday i hope there's a lot of volunteers. Well take care and enjoy the rest of your time there:)

July 16, 2008 Bessie: Thanks, Karla! The guys are really funny & we had a super fun time during the interview.

I'll post about painting after the project!

July 16, 2008 orlando: Ha ha ha, LOS FAMOSOS Bessie and Kyle damas y caballeros!!

July 16, 2008 Kyle: Quires un autógrafo? Solomente diez dolares!

July 16, 2008 Bessie: Besos, Besos! A todos nuestros fans! ;)

July 16, 2008 orlando: I just listen to the interview and that was really funny I was laughting so much. So how did La Charamusca got in touch with you guys?, by the way my gramma use to make charamusca to sell she didn't make good bussiness because I use to snag most of them. Anyway when you mentioned "tengo un carro crap", the guys answered "is a car of the year, is a car that everything sounds exept the horn". It seem you guys had a great time. I grew up in Los Angeles CA and there is a big mexican community, and it seem most of the salvadorians popular slang word are kind of bad word for them like mamon, chingaste, pichinga don't ever say it in front of a mexican. So you guys want to go to Playa El Maculis?, ok that beach is close to a beach called Las Tunas, ovethere there like a beach restaurant where they serve "coctel de curil" I think I saw a picture of you guys eating one. Kyle when you are in Costa Rica I want you to be with one of the few salvadorians sheering up for El Salvador, just kidding. I think I will miss you guys in El Salvador, and I even haven't meet you guys ;=).

July 16, 2008 Kyle: That sounds like an accurate description of our car. Our radio used to make sweet sounds, but then someone stole it :(

Unfortunately, I think I will be stuck in the northern highlands of Costa Rica doing another language intensive homestay, so I don't know if I'll make it to the game :( If I can make it, though, I'll cheer for ES. Can someone lend me a jersey?

July 16, 2008 Kyle: Correction: the radio wasn't stolen; the antenna was. There aren't many stations near El Pital...

July 16, 2008 Bessie: thanks for translating that! I honestly had no idea what he said: "is a car of the year, is a car that everything sounds except the horn" is pretty much what our car is, but we get what we pay for, and it's a good deal!

July 16, 2008 Kyle Crum: Just to be clear, I mis-understood the question and I thought they were asking who do you think was going to WIN the game. Being honest, I said that I haven't seen Costa Rica, so I wasn't sure. I do know that if I can make it to the game, though, I'll be cheering for El Salvador. Hopefully people won't throw things at me!

July 16, 2008 Bessie: [that's good for out PR, Kyle, good save] I know all of our Salvadoran friends will be happy to hear your a Selecta convert!

July 16, 2008 orlando: I sort of understood you misunderstood the question but it was kind of funny I was laughing so much about that, and if you cheer for Costa Rica is ok, you get a pass because you should if you are overthere hanging with your costa rican friend. Hey did you know that the guy who scored twice for El Salvador in El Salvador vs Panama his name is Eliseo Quintanilla he played for DC United and the coach didn't liked him so he spent all his time in the bank that sucks, well now he plays for a Costa Rican team called Liga Deportiva Alajuelense and he is kind of popular ovethere so if he does the same thing he did for Panama I don't know if he liked ovethere.

July 16, 2008 Kyle: As long as Eliseo is popular here, that's all that matters...

July 16, 2008 Bessie: he plays for Alajuela, huh - we'll be on the look-out...

July 16, 2008 Rachel Z: I just finished listening. I must say, I'm quite proud of my Spanish comprehension abilities!! First off, I'm hurt--hurt I tell you!--that I didn't get a shout-out at the end of the interview. SOME of your gringa friends comprenden espanol! ;) Second, I didn't realize that the Crisalida site that Kyle has been working on is something we can actually SEE. It's gorgeous! (cvoluntario.org) Third, you guys are awesome! I'm really curious how you ended up on there, and I'm so impressed by your ability to shoot the ... breeze in Spanish, on a podcast that you know hundreds of people will be hearing. Thanks for the entertainment! (P.S. I love that they played your karaoke video!)

July 16, 2008 Bessie: Sorry Rachel dearest! Honestly, I didn't see the question coming, and I'm impressed you listened to the whole thing.

Hola a nuestra amiga en Chicago - Raquel!!! My shooting the breeze has been quite a few years in the making. Oh, and a post about volunteering & our work here will come...

July 16, 2008 Kyle: Ya, I have about 15 minutes per hour of really good comprehension, the rest, I just sort of know what's going on. I'm sure your French helps out a lot in the comprehension category along with the clarity of their speaking.

Me soprendío the "shout-out" at the end, too. So, "Hola a nuestra amiga mas chivo, Rachel!!"

I also forgot people to go to Lago Coatepeque. So, ya, people should go there when they go to ES!!

July 16, 2008 selena: i dont know spanish! i wanna know what all those words are next to ur picture!

July 16, 2008 Bessie: With please. I wouldn't deprive you, you're one of our valuable fans!

In this episode we interview Bessie and Kyle, from BessieandKyle.com who are on a trip for a year from Chicago to the southern-most point in Argentina, and who have lived in El Salvador for 2 months. Bessie tells us about their trip and what they've liked about El Salvador. They also tell us a little about their website where they're documenting all of their trip. Also Guillermo talks a little about recent news and we finish with a double test of being Salvadoran!

July 16, 2008 german Fuente: hello guys i am a big fan of la charamusca i listen to this guys for years now since their first podcast we used to watch them live at ustream.tv but i dont know why they stopped broadcasting anyways i had fun listening to you guys what an excting journey i am from el salvador and i live in long island new york and we are developing www.informateaqui.com and cyber-genios.com good luck on your journey have fun i wish i could do something like that with my wife but she wont leave ny bye

July 17, 2008 Bessie: thanks for saying hi. los charamuscos were super fun guys & it was a cool way to get even more of a feel for how fun Salvadorans are - not that we didn't know already. saludo!

July 17, 2008 Elmer: After being on La Charamusca, you have achieved "Super Star" status! A superbowl commercial spot is not out of the question at this point!!
hehummm.. just remember the little guy that "hooked it up" (me) ;-)

July 17, 2008 Bessie: it was a great hook-up. thanks cyber-friend! :) I could just see Kyle and I singing horrible karaoke music during a superbowl commercial. Better yet, maybe we'll be half-time entertainment!

July 17, 2008 selena: thanks bess! =)

July 18, 2008 Mezclado: Hey guys,

Just like to say thanks heaps for visiting the place of my birth throughout these months and thanks for giving ES an opportunity to appreciate it in spite of the dangers and the bad rep the country has gained throughout the years. How long do guys have left until you leave for your next destination??

Also, have you guys visited the famous maya ruins of: San Andres, Joya de ceren and Tazumal?? They ain't that big in relation to mass area but Joya de Ceren especially gives an insight into the typical lives of simple homes of the past. Just a quick 5 mins per site is all that's needed lol.

If it wasn't for the ES soccer game you posted i wouln't have met you guys, funny how a small internet post led me to you guys.

Anyways, take care and may God bless yous on your future journeys. PS esxcuse the Australian english grammar.

Cheers

July 19, 2008 Kyle: We're leaving for Costa Rica in a little over a week. We haven't been to those mayan ruins, but we did go to one on the way back from El Pital. They weren't impressive per se, but the museum was actually pretty cool and informative.

As for ES's reputation, it's really not dangerous as far as we have seen. It's probably not as safe as, say, Kansas, but it's certainly not worse than any of the surrounding countries (in fact, it may be safer for tourists).

July 21, 2008 Bessie: We've had a great time exploring the country & living here the past few months. It's a been a great place, and we've met tons of people, ex-pats and Salvadorans alike that have spent lots of time out of ES and are happy to call it home. Thanks for stopping by!

July 19, 2008 Mike D: I'm jealous. That's so awesome. How do you move down to hang with the Ticas after such love being doled out by the Salvadoreños!?! Can't you get a sweet job doing a weekly guest spot: something like "Ask a Gringo!"
Super Cool~Mike

July 19, 2008 Kyle: Easy. I will demand that they treat us as well as the Salvadoreños and complain if they don't. That's usually the best way to accomplish things: expect greatness and complain if you don't get it.

July 20, 2008 Roberto Miranda: Hello!

Un Saludo y abrazo muy grande para Bessie y Kyle
espero que se lleven una experiencia muy linda de nuestro pais.

July 21, 2008 Mumsie: Woo-hoo! So thrilled for you in your exploits! (And MAYBE a bit Jealous, too...) Work hard/Play hard! Sounds like you and Kyle are having a great time exploring and relating to The World Around You! (^@^)

July 21, 2008 Bessie: exploring is the word for it - we're having a great time at it!

We're Pretty Much Famous Now.

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