Miss Gabriella, Super Volunteer w/ the backpack.
Thank you so much for
thinking of me! But, you are actually a little early…mine is in October…the 18th…send
all white envelopes…cash is accepted and preferred…JUST KIDDING.
Happy Birthday America
Sillies! To the land of the free…home of the McDonald’s, Starbucks at every
corner, sidewalks, flushing toilets, and hot water showers. Oh do I miss you
so.
Elsa, Liz and I on the beach during the 4th
Back to reality.
Things in site have been good, I hope all if you had an awesome 4th
of July, I heard there was a lot of storms and apparently a few firework shows
had to be cancelled, que lastima (how awful!).
A group of volunteers,
around 12 of us, a.k.a. about half of the volunteers still left in country,
planned a 2 night get away to the beach! Our PC Volunteer committee (knows as
VAC) along with a few other volunteers rented a beach house and planned all the
meals for our visit. We went to Costa del Sol, which is located in the
Department of La Paz, and had the most incredible time. I had been in site for
almost two weeks beforehand and it was time for a break. We did all things
American…hamburgers which almost failed because it was pouring rain and with
the windy the BBQ was just not working, but the stove and oven cooked them
nicely for us!
I love this photo of Elsa and I...walking on the beach.
The PCV's who love America.
We made pancakes, had an “Italian night” with my homemade tomato
sauce (though I made it too spicy…oh well), spaghetti and sangria. The beach
was lovely, PC made us hire a lifeguard to swim in the ocean (which we had to
pay ourselves, even though 4 PCV’s at the beach are lifeguard certified…). But,
it all worked out, it was a huge and beautiful house that fit us all perfectly.
Since getting back to
site, I feel like I have been SO BUSY. When did I get so busy? What happened to
my hammock time, reading endless books on my kindle and that other PCV’s passed
on to me? What happened to pasear’ing (passing time) with families for hours
over coffee? Okay, I still have those moments, but now I have meetings! There
are events to go to! I know about things not only an hour before now, but
sometimes 24 hours in advance, SOMETIMES 3 days in advance. I know, CRAZY.
Tucker'd out Tigre, so much work, he fell asleep on my laptop. Such a good intern.
Last week I was
approved for my first grant! Along with the committee I am on for PC called GAD
(Gender and Development Committee) to put together a co-ed youth camp. We will
be doing sessions about safe sex, HIV/AIDS education as well as life skills
activities including a career panel. These kids probably do not know all their
options post 9th grade or high school for work, besides working in
the home for girls and the fincha or the fields for the boys. I am reallllllly
excited! Hopefully it will work out; it takes about 6 weeks to receive the
money, so cross your fingers! This past Sunday presented the stove project to
my city council (ADESCO) and received their signatures to then scan and send to
the NGO to show the community’s commitment to the project implementation.
Worked on the mural this week a bit, still needs purple and the ocean, and then
label and it should be done!
Do not even think about stealing my grilled pig my dad killed a few hours ago.
(party I got invited too, they literally killed a HUGE pig)
There was also a “dance” held in the school, I
think for Teacher’s Day somehow, even though my community is very conservative
(a.k.a a lot of families do not dance). It amazes me that even some things are
the same in the United States. Like 10 kids showed up, all the girls danced and
all the boys sat or stood against the wall staring at the girls. Sounds a lot
like middle school right? I could not stop laughing.
School dance: Look familiar? girls dancing. boys sitting.
On Tuesday, I had a
personal meeting with my mayor which went great! He was a great politician,
saying if there’s anything he can do for me, please let him know and his door
is always open. We shall see if that is true, but I was impressed either way. I
told him we are working on several murals in the school and was hoping to have
a celebration at the completion (you have to celebrate the small things in
life) and hopefully he would attend and provide a snack, soda and maybe cake
for the event.
Then I met with his
youth adviser, who works with the youth group in the pueblo and we are going to
try to collaborate together on some trainings, events and other ideas on how to
get the youth in the rural communities trained for different opportunities
(mechanic, baker, etc). As much as I wish I had this meeting like…6 months ago,
I really do not think my Spanish would be at the level to understand everything
going on. Hopefully it will just keep improving, but who knows.
Door to visit the treasurer, in the mayor's office.
Apparently you aren't allowed to bring guns, money and guns...they just don't mix well.
This Friday I am
heading to the East to visit some of my best friends here to help my friend
Elsa with her English training she has been having every Saturday for over a
month now with teachers to train them how to teach English, without necessarily
learning the language to their students. Tough job, I know.
I am hoping to do a
similar training in my pueblo for the entire municipality in the future, so I
am going to observe and help with whatever she may need. I will hopefully visit
my friend Tricia’s site, which is exciting. I have not been out to the East
almost at all (because besides my friends there is not much out there, it’s
VERY underdeveloped in comparison to where I live).
I cannot believe it’s
already July, I head home in a little less than 3 weeks and…I COULD NOT BE MORE
EXCITED. I am excited for…well food for one, friends, family and everything
else great about America…really good ice cream, seat belts, washing machines
AND dryers, semi-reliable cell phone service (even though I will have no
phone), internet like…everywhere. This is the longest time I have ever been
away from home and the longest my sister and I have gone without seeing each
other. I may hug her for like 10 minutes straight and just not let go.
My host Mom (in red) cuts people's hair on the front porch, this is our neighbor getting a trim, she went through 4 school scissors to find one that worked. Classic.
I am
nervous too for a variety of things, the ultimate question from people “So what
are you doing down there?” Great question. I wonder that too, if am I making a
difference. Am I changing the world? Who knows, maybe I will not know till the
end of my service or years later, but all I can do is try for the time being.
Isn’t that we are all trying to do anyways? :-)
Hanging out in the hammock <3
No comments:
Post a Comment