28th 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
28th 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
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