Glow Sticks and Grey Water: Meeting the Community (28th April 2014 - Honduras)

28^th April, 2014 12:40pm

We spent most of the morning checking out the landfill and its issues (issues according to the community).  They have a lot planned, which is fantastic!  I guess they have come a long way too, which is also great. I wonder how many other projects can say that.  I feel very fortunate to be working with a community that is not only happy about the work that we are doing, but that is also following through and taking the projects to the next level – making them their own.

We were actually able to see more of the surroundings and town today in the day-light – and it is gorgeous!  We are surrounded by mountains, which we knew, but actually seeing them is so much more amazing.  The town is very bright and sunny with the yellows, pinks and other pastels on houses everywhere.  Palm trees are, of course, everywhere, adding to the sunny feeling (association). 

We drove to the landfill this morning, then took a trip up the mountain to where they have a water treatment system for rainwater – all gravity powered and used as you would use “grey water”.  

Looking across one of the water basins at the water treatment facility

From there we hopped back into the truck - Luis, Gus and I standing in the back – which was absolutely crazy, but so amazing.  We were on a dirt road, on the side of a mountain, with a drop to one side of you and all you have to hold onto is the metal bar behind the cab.  We rode down the mountain to the village to check out the clinic and their needle/medical waste problems.  This was really need because it was the first time, other than the mayor and his administration, that we got to meet people from the town. 

More writing to come later….I have to get going for a meeting in 5 minutes. Also, writing this as cows are “moo”-ing outside my window – reminds me of back at school in Wisconsin! Haha!

                                                                                                JLC

28^th April, 2014, 9:25pm

Just met the kids from town – they are so flippin’ adorable! When we got back from the meeting with the officials of town (I will get to that later), several of the children were hanging around our hostel, looking for “Shaggy”, or Jimmy with the nickname Shaggy because he looks like Shaggy from Scooby-Doo.  We had to eat dinner and all throughout dinner, they would come up to the window of the dinning hall and giggle and whisper among themselves.  We would wave, “Hola” and they would duck their heads down at the acknowledgement, then we would slowly see some small, dark eyes peep back up over the wall.  

Children peeking over the window sill at us while we ate dinner.

One child in particular was bold enough to come  up and talk to us, inviting us to a game of futbol when we were done eating.  We had to finish yet, so we told it would be a little while.  She didn't seem too pleased with the answer and was back just as soon as she had left, but this time instead of only asking about futbol, also asking our names.  She got a bit of a smile when hearing my name, because, as it turns out, she has the same name (but goes by her middle name, Diana).  Instant friends!

After one more round of this, and more of the kids outside ducking when we would say “hola” (which reminded me so much of a young neighbor of mine back in Chicago – it is in a way comforting that some reactions span different cultures), we got up to put our plates away, and the kids went wild!

They went ballistic when Gus brought out the glow-stick bracelets that he brought. Luis took a great photo that I am very excited to see of me holding the package above my head and all of the kids jumping all over me, trying to grab it. After grabbing a glow stick to try to make glow in the dark bubbles with, I gave the package back to Gus, to which he got the same royal treatment….losiento Gus!

Everyone loves glow sticks!

We played soccer and a bunch of other games for at least two hours, and the kids, like their prized glow sticks, didn't fade.  We, on the other hand, and much to their disappointment, had to call it a night – we had been working since 8 am and were drenched – or more like encased – in sweat.  A shower was beyond inviting.

In actual volunteer news, our first meeting with community members went really well.  I think that they felt very comfortable voicing their opinions and concerns to us – many of which changed the plans that we had for work – which is fairly typical, and why we have those meetings with the communities we are working with – so we can determine what their needs are and help them with those needs and not with what we think their needs are.  Es muy importante!

Additionally, we split into two teams – one scoped out the river and the other team (Gus, Jimmy and I) scoped out materials for the aquaponics system, and in doing so, met Jose, who invited us back for coffee at 4pm.  I have heard much about him and he is certainly holding up to these stories in terms of hospitality and helpfulness. 

I better shower now. I have another day ahead of me, the water is finally running again and its time I washed off some of this sweat. 

                                                                                                                JLC

Found Along the Road: The Journey to Candelaria (27th April, 2014 - Honduras)

April 27^th, 2014, 6am

I am just leaving ichicago for my first trip with Engineers Without Borders. We are heading to Miami currently, with Candelaria, Honduras as our final destination. I have been working on this project for about a year now, so it is fantastic to finally be a part of a trip where I can start seeing our efforts pay off.

Something that I wanted to get down because it was beautiful and is a view that I don’t get to see too often, the view of Chicago from above in the early morning was breathtaking.  The city was shrouded in a curtain of mist, while the roads were lit up with lights from the cars and streets lighting the veins toward the city, as if it was the energy that powers the city itself.  Looking past the city was Lake Michigan with a red-orange slice of the sun over the inky-blue horizon.  What is alwas so striking is how small the city looks from so high up – a nice reminder that what seems like a giant from one view, is seen as much smaller, almost ant-like, from another vantage point….something to ponder on these next few days – what will seem indomitable from one angle, but when approached from another is much more scale-able? An interesting thought…..

                                                                                JLC

Also, I need to tell Ashley about my 80’s jam on the flight – they just played “Rock Me Amadeus”! That’s our jam!

April 27^th, 2014 12:47pm

We have left Miami and are currently fliying over the ocean on the way down to San Salvador. I am lucky enough to have a window seat and have been glued to the window ever since take-off (except for writing). 

I have never seen blues so brilliant before in my life – so many shades from an inky-royal blue to a magnificent turquoise of the reefs and sand bars.  Currently all I see is the inky blue that is just beautiful. I wish I could capture on my camera, but the camera just doesn’t do it justice – some things you just have to see in person. 

I assume that we are now not far from the coast of Belize, but I am not sure – maybe not far from Mexico? Either way, I am hoping to see the great hole that is off the coast of Belize – it is on my list of places to see, and seeing it from the air would be spectacular.

Other than the sights, things have been fairly uneventful. The four of us – myself, Luis, Liz and Gus – met at O’Hare and have been together since.  We had a quiet flight from Chicago, and equally quiet (knock on wood) flight to San Salvador.  Our layover in Miami was about two hours – just enough time for some food and for Luis to do some translating on one of our presentations – nothing like the last minute for an engineering project!

Other than that, I have been getting by on my two hours of sleep – which doesn’t surprise me much, but that might hit me later tonight, best not to speak too soon.

Well, we will be meeting two of our other members – Jimmy and Nick – at the airport, which I think will be in about 45 minutes, but I am not 100% sure.  And we are still above the ocean, so it might be a while?

I don’t know. I just want to get to land and start that adventure! I’m so anxious, and impatient right now – I’m getting restless!

Well, that’s it for now.

                                                                                JLC

27^th April, 2014, 3-ish pm

We have landed in San Salvador and due to mix-up/confusion with how to make international calls, we are waiting, and have been for well over an hour….it is humid and well into the 80’s – but we are here and it is beautiful! Pupusas are going to happen!

                                                                JLC

Right before landing in El Salvador

27^th April, 2014, 11:30ish pm

We finally met up with our drivers….turns out that they passed us several times but were confused by the women being in the group (they were expecting only men for a group of engineers)….off to a great start.

I the drive to Candelaria was about 5 hours and included a stop to get the El Salvadorian national dish – pupusas (per my request form my El Salvadorian co-worker, Mario).  I ordered the queso con al reco on arroz, otherwise known as cheese and herb on a rice tortilla – it was incredible!  I can definitely see why Mario so strongly encouraged it. 

Pupusas and beer! 

The rest of the drive was the most exhilarating drive I have ever experienced – dodging animals and bumps in the unpaved road while climbing the mountain in the dark.  I wonder if the darkness made it better (albeit spookier) because I couldn’t see how long of a drop it was off the road, down the side of the mountain.

It was also interesting seeing all fo the commotion and activity going on along the road everywhere. I think it would make a great coffee table book, “Found Along the Road”, or something to that extent. It would include everything from the dog/goat skeleton I saw hanging from a tree, to the goat on a leash we saw taking a dump while its owner watched, to the random horse that appeared out of the dust as we climbed the mountain.  The horse seriously appeared out of no where and it took me a few minutes to register what I was looking at.  There was just so much going on that it would be so cool to document.

For dinner, we ate in Candelaria, with the mayor, Orlando, and a few other people.  I think that the brief meeting went well, but I am too tired to give a fully accurate response to  how the meeting went – all parties are keen to next steps though – which is great!

Off to bed – sleeping while writing this and not making sense.  Buenos Noches.

                                                                                JLC

Taking the road I carve for myself....

It has been over a year since my last post, and so much has happened since then! First, I am so sorry for not posting sooner and more regularly.  I feel that a lot that has been going on has been laying the groundwork for what is going on this year; plus it has been a lot of things that didn't seem like they were major things at the time, but now that I look back, they were important parts of where my path has lead me.  I will be much better at keeping up this up-to-date.  This time I really promise.  

Secondly, I have officially decided not to do the Peace Corps (at least for now in my life) and had my last conversation with them a few weeks ago.  I will try to document everything the best I can.  Luckily I did keep journal entries, and some of the conversations were over email, so I can share some of that with you. Starting with the journal entries from over a year ago....but first a brief background on why this is all coming up again now...

They keep your application for up to a year after you turn them down three times in a row (as I had and as outlined below).  So I did give them the actual final "no" a few weeks ago (May 14th, 2014), but that will be its own post.  

A huge part of me was very upset about this, as it was such a huge dream of mine, and for so long. But, I think that with where I am right now in my life, it was the best decision and my last conversation with my recruiter was such a lovely conversation that I will share it here instead of paraphrasing it.  This is taken directly from my diary on May 9^th 2013, written before my final conversation (there was some “telephone tag” going on) and then May 14^th, just moments after getting off the phone with my recruiter.

May 9^th, 2013 Chicago, IL

The Peace Corps has contacted me for the final time about projects and I don’t know what to expect. The past few rounds they have contacted me for have included projects that just didn’t fit so well. The first time was for English in sub-Saharan Africa, which I was worried would be too warm for me, and I, selfishly, wanted something more related to my degree. The second time they contacted me, they had similar projects and a few engineering projects [note: I could only be sent as an engineer if I had experience working as an engineer, internships didn't count] in South America and Africa. While this was intriguing, I wasn’t eligible for South America until I became fluent in Spanish. In addition to that, they had contacted me a week into starting my job and a week into moving to Chicago, and as much as I want to do Peace Corps, I couldn’t wrap my head around moving to another country within a year of moving to the city. So I, sadly, had to turn down the offers.  The good in this is that I knew that I would be in the next round of projects, and wasn’t entirely missing out on my dream. I would have another two months to think about if I would be ready to go or if I what I am doing here in Chicago is enough to help improve the world in whatever ways I can with my talents and skill sets (through my job at the non-profit and joining Engineers Without Borders). 

This past Monday I received a call from my PC recruiter saying that I should give him a call and we can figure out my stance with PC andmaybe move forward with a project. My easy-going Monday was suddenly flipped upside-down and my stomach was in knots – it had already been two months and I had been so busy with so many other things that I hadn’t been giving it much thought.  I have been playing phone-tag and emailing my recruiter, so I haven’t spoken to him directly yet, and consequently, don’t know what is all available, but am faced with the dilemma of: Do I accept something and go somewhere my skills are needed and leave behind a job that I love where my skills are also needed? Or do I stay and give up on a dream that I have had for years? Part of me tells myself that dreams change or can be fulfilled in other ways, and that EWB is not only a very good substitute for PC, but might actually be more fitting for me.

I think one of the biggest things for me is letting go of the dream – I wanted it for so long, and talked about it so much, that it became a part of who I am and wanted to be, but my life might not be meant to go down that path, and not knowing the path is a little intimidating. I am all for taking the road less travelled, but I thought PC was the road less travelled. In reality the road I am taking is being carved out as I go along it – it hasn’t even been travelled…yet. 

I don’t know what I am going to say to my recruiter when I talk to him. I guess it really depends on what he all has to say – last time he was very good at putting me at ease, so hopefully it goes well again…

JLC

P.S. I had to note the irony of all this – I am writing this with my Peace Corps pen while lying under my PC poster, both read “Life is calling. How far will you go?” Apparently I’ll make it to Chicago – at least for now…

May 14^th 2013, Chicago, IL

I just got off the phone with my PC recruiter…

Him: “…So what is your standing with the Peace Corps?”

Me: “After talking to several people,”

Him: “Good”

Me: “…and much thought, and as much as I hate saying it, I am going to be turning Peace Corps down right now.”

Him: “Don’t feel bad saying it – you are making a difficult decision between two good things; it’s one of those good-tough decisions. We aren’t going to hold it against you, and really, you will know when you are ready and that is all we can hope for. Maybe in a year or two you will be at a point in your life where the next step will be Peace Corps and the timing will be right. And really, by then you will be more competitive and more eligible for our more interesting programs because you will have more experience with work and Engineers Without Borders. So don’t feel bad about it at all.”

So even though it was really hard to let go of a dream, at least for now, after talking to him, I feel like I have made the right decision. 

And I didn’t know this until right now, but they will keep my application for a year, so if there is a point in the next year where I want to sign up again, I can, as long as it is before May 14^th, 2014 (without re-applying).  This is really nice because the application took several days to complete (weeks if you include all the letters of recommendation). 

So for right now, I don’t know what my future holds with Peace Corps, but I think that for right now, I made a good decision and as Jeff told me in another conversation, “We will always be here for you if you decide you want to do it.”
So for now, I am happy with where I am and my future is just a bunch of blank pages…
JLC