Tech Week in Membrillo

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> This week I supposed to give us more hands on practice using all the tools we learned during tech week. We taught two classes, held an Eco-fair, did a community analysis and learned more about waste management and Eco stoves.
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> My host family here rocks! I have been insanely lucky with host families. They have hosted two volunteers before. They talk nice and slow, and we have really good conversations. Plus there are two daughters close to my age and they are super cool. And it is insanely beautiful in Membrillo.
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> The teacher I worked with this week was incredible! So as part of our program we are trying to implement these government environmental guides into the schools. Our maestra loved the guides and asked us how to get a copy. She loved our interactive methodologies and the kids seemed to like it too. The first day was super hard. We had to help review the excretory and reproductive systems. Sex Ed in Spanish. Oh yea. But we did manage to throw in some environmental themes and really by just using a different methodology than write on the board and copy, it's moving in the right direction. Day 2 was much easier. We had the kids design a t-shirt with different types of forests found in panama and then write a message about how to protect the forest. Then they had to present to the class. It was really rewarding to see how much the kids knew and to see some of the shy kids talking.
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> I mentioned all this was in Spanish right?
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> I would just like to take a minute to say that our education system in the states in amazing. Here sometimes teachers just don't show up. Often times there is only a primary school in a community. You might have to travel to go to middle or high school. And not all families can afford to send their kid every day on a chiva. One of my host sisters goes to Penonome every day for university to be a nurse. All her classes are after lunch and she goes until 10pm. She doesn't get back until 11pm. Someone has to meet her up at the chiva stop and walk the 30 minute, hilly and slippery road home. Education here takes serious work and I totally give her props.
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> Our last day in Membrillo was so nice. We drive into another community and then hiked for maybe 30 minutes or so to this little waterfall. It was fun to just hangout, swim, and jump off the rocks! And my family made me this awesome baston aka walking stick which wad super useful, especially when crossing streams.
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> In the afternoon, we had a despidida to say thank you to the community complete with piñata, chicha, and dancing. My family gave me this sweet hat that I wore to the party.
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> There is one person from our group headed to this site. My family told me that they wanted me to come back and work there for two years. Even through the stress and frustration of this week, all it comes back to is how important it is to make a positive impact on someone else's life. And that is what makes all this worth it.
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