Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Livin' Large...
I am moved in and mostly settled in Las Tablas. I miss my dog and my rancho and the cool weather. Cat calls everyday...not so much. Heat and I are not friends. Like seriously, I don't know what people did before fans. And my house is pretty fancy. Best things about electricity...fridge and washing machine. Ahhhh such happiness to have food that doesn't go bad right away and not washing my clothes by hand. BUT I love my new job. I feel so much more productive and useful and professional. I am movin' on up!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
67 Ways to Change the World
67 WAYS TO CHANGE THE WORLD
Think of others
1. Make a new friend. Get to know someone from a different cultural background. Only through mutual understanding can we rid our communities of intolerance and xenophobia.
2. Read to someone who can’t. Visit a local home for the blind and open up a new world for someone else.
3. Fix the potholes in your street or neighbourhood.
4. Help out at the local animal shelter. Dogs without homes still need a walk and a bit of love.
5. Find out from your local library if it has a story hour and offer to read during it.
6. Offer to take an elderly neighbour who can’t drive to do their shopping/chores.
7. Organise a litter cleanup day in your area.
8. Get a group of people to each knit a square and make a blanket for someone in need.
9. Volunteer at your police station or local faith-based organisation.
10. Donate your skills!
11. If you’re a builder, help build or improve someone’s home.
12. Help someone to get his/her business off the ground.
13. Build a website for someone who needs one, or for a cause you think needs the support.
14. Help someone get a job. Put together and print a CV for them, or help them with their interview skills.
15. If you’re a lawyer, do some pro bono work for a worthwhile cause or person.
16. Write to your area councillor about a problem in the area that requires attention, which you, in your personal capacity, are unable to attend to.
17. Sponsor a group of learners to go to the theatre/zoo.
2. Read to someone who can’t. Visit a local home for the blind and open up a new world for someone else.
3. Fix the potholes in your street or neighbourhood.
4. Help out at the local animal shelter. Dogs without homes still need a walk and a bit of love.
5. Find out from your local library if it has a story hour and offer to read during it.
6. Offer to take an elderly neighbour who can’t drive to do their shopping/chores.
7. Organise a litter cleanup day in your area.
8. Get a group of people to each knit a square and make a blanket for someone in need.
9. Volunteer at your police station or local faith-based organisation.
10. Donate your skills!
11. If you’re a builder, help build or improve someone’s home.
12. Help someone to get his/her business off the ground.
13. Build a website for someone who needs one, or for a cause you think needs the support.
14. Help someone get a job. Put together and print a CV for them, or help them with their interview skills.
15. If you’re a lawyer, do some pro bono work for a worthwhile cause or person.
16. Write to your area councillor about a problem in the area that requires attention, which you, in your personal capacity, are unable to attend to.
17. Sponsor a group of learners to go to the theatre/zoo.
Help out for good health
18. Get in touch with your local HIV organisations and find out how you can help.
19. Help out at your local hospice, as staff members often need as much support as the patients.
20. Many terminally ill people have no one to speak to. Take a little time to have a chat and bring some sunshine into their lives.
21. Talk to your friends and family about HIV.
22. Get tested for HIV and encourage your partner to do so too.
23. Take a bag full of toys to a local hospital that has a children’s ward.
24. Take younger members of your family for a walk in the park.
25. Donate some medical supplies to a local community clinic.
26. Take someone you know, who can’t afford it, to get their eyes tested or their teeth checked.
27. Bake something for a support group of your choice.
28. Start a community garden to encourage healthy eating in your community.
29. Donate a wheelchair or guide dog, to someone in need.
30. Create a food parcel and give it to someone in need.
19. Help out at your local hospice, as staff members often need as much support as the patients.
20. Many terminally ill people have no one to speak to. Take a little time to have a chat and bring some sunshine into their lives.
21. Talk to your friends and family about HIV.
22. Get tested for HIV and encourage your partner to do so too.
23. Take a bag full of toys to a local hospital that has a children’s ward.
24. Take younger members of your family for a walk in the park.
25. Donate some medical supplies to a local community clinic.
26. Take someone you know, who can’t afford it, to get their eyes tested or their teeth checked.
27. Bake something for a support group of your choice.
28. Start a community garden to encourage healthy eating in your community.
29. Donate a wheelchair or guide dog, to someone in need.
30. Create a food parcel and give it to someone in need.
Become an educator
31. Offer to help out at your local school.
32. Mentor a school leaver or student in your field of expertise.
33. Coach one of the extramural activities the school offers. You can also volunteer to coach an extramural activity the school doesn’t offer.
34. Offer to provide tutoring in a school subject you are good at.
35. Donate your old computer.
36. Help maintain the sports fields.
37. Fix up a classroom by replacing broken windows, doors and light bulbs.
38. Donate a bag of art supplies.
39. Teach an adult literacy class.
40. Paint classrooms and school buildings.
41. Donate your old textbooks, or any other good books, to a school library.
32. Mentor a school leaver or student in your field of expertise.
33. Coach one of the extramural activities the school offers. You can also volunteer to coach an extramural activity the school doesn’t offer.
34. Offer to provide tutoring in a school subject you are good at.
35. Donate your old computer.
36. Help maintain the sports fields.
37. Fix up a classroom by replacing broken windows, doors and light bulbs.
38. Donate a bag of art supplies.
39. Teach an adult literacy class.
40. Paint classrooms and school buildings.
41. Donate your old textbooks, or any other good books, to a school library.
Help those living in poverty
42. Buy a few blankets, or grab the ones you no longer need from home and give them to someone in need.
43. Clean out your cupboard and donate the clothes you no longer wear to someone who needs them.
44. Put together food parcels for a needy family.
45. Organise a bake sale, car wash or garage sale for charity and donate the proceeds.
46. To the poorest of the poor, shoes can be a luxury. Don’t hoard them if you don’t wear them. Pass them on!
47. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen.
43. Clean out your cupboard and donate the clothes you no longer wear to someone who needs them.
44. Put together food parcels for a needy family.
45. Organise a bake sale, car wash or garage sale for charity and donate the proceeds.
46. To the poorest of the poor, shoes can be a luxury. Don’t hoard them if you don’t wear them. Pass them on!
47. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen.
Care for the youth
48. Help at a local children’s home or orphanage.
49. Help the kids with their studies.
50. Organise a friendly game of soccer, or sponsor the kids to watch a game at the local stadium.
51. Coach a sports team and make new friends.
52. Donate sporting equipment to a children’s shelter.
53. Donate educational toys and books to a children’s home.
54. Paint, or repair, infrastructure at an orphanage or youth centre.
55. Mentor someone. Make time to listen to what the kids have to say and give them good advice.
49. Help the kids with their studies.
50. Organise a friendly game of soccer, or sponsor the kids to watch a game at the local stadium.
51. Coach a sports team and make new friends.
52. Donate sporting equipment to a children’s shelter.
53. Donate educational toys and books to a children’s home.
54. Paint, or repair, infrastructure at an orphanage or youth centre.
55. Mentor someone. Make time to listen to what the kids have to say and give them good advice.
Treasure the elderly
56. If you play an instrument, visit your local old-age home and spend an hour playing for the residents and staff.
57. Learn the story of someone older than you. Too often people forget that the elderly have a wealth of experience and wisdom and, more often than not, an interesting story to tell.
58. Take an elderly person grocery shopping; they will appreciate your company and assistance.
59. Take someone’s dog for a walk if they are too frail to do so themselves.
60. Mow someone’s lawn and help them to fix things around their house.
57. Learn the story of someone older than you. Too often people forget that the elderly have a wealth of experience and wisdom and, more often than not, an interesting story to tell.
58. Take an elderly person grocery shopping; they will appreciate your company and assistance.
59. Take someone’s dog for a walk if they are too frail to do so themselves.
60. Mow someone’s lawn and help them to fix things around their house.
Look after your environment
61. If there are no recycling centres in your area, petition your area councillor to provide one.
62. Donate indigenous trees to beautify neighbourhoods in poorer areas.
63. Collect old newspapers from a school/community centre/hospital and take them to a recycling centre.
64. Identify open manhole covers or drains in your area and report them to the local authorities.
65. Organise the company/school/organisation that you work with to switch off all unnecessary lights and power supplies at night and on weekends.
66. Engage with people who litter and see if you can convince them of the value of clean surroundings.
67. Organise to clean up your local park, river, beach, street, town square or sports grounds with a few friends. Our children deserve to grow up in a clean and healthy environment.
62. Donate indigenous trees to beautify neighbourhoods in poorer areas.
63. Collect old newspapers from a school/community centre/hospital and take them to a recycling centre.
64. Identify open manhole covers or drains in your area and report them to the local authorities.
65. Organise the company/school/organisation that you work with to switch off all unnecessary lights and power supplies at night and on weekends.
66. Engage with people who litter and see if you can convince them of the value of clean surroundings.
67. Organise to clean up your local park, river, beach, street, town square or sports grounds with a few friends. Our children deserve to grow up in a clean and healthy environment.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
I'm done....
Anyone who is reading my blog probably knows that I don't cry and I hate crying and even more so I hate crying in front of people. Yet at my going away party I cried in front of everyone in my community.
Two years is a long time. Los Virotales is my other home. As much as the people and work made me crazy sometimes, I love them dearly. I like it here, obviously I am extending as regional leader. But I did not expect it to be so difficult to leave my community. I am not going that far away. I can visit whenever I want. But it won't be the same. It won't be MY community. There will be someone else living in my ranchito. Someone else taking care of Ollie. Someone else working there. And it hit me like a ton of bricks in front of everyone.
I know as Peace Corps Volunteers we can't change the world in two years. But maybe we can start something. Maybe we can make friends that won't forget us and we won't forget them. Maybe our lives will change more than we can possibly imagine.
I am ready to begin the new chapter in my Peace Corps life, but not quite ready to close the old chapter. But here I come Las Tablas, ready or not.
Two years is a long time. Los Virotales is my other home. As much as the people and work made me crazy sometimes, I love them dearly. I like it here, obviously I am extending as regional leader. But I did not expect it to be so difficult to leave my community. I am not going that far away. I can visit whenever I want. But it won't be the same. It won't be MY community. There will be someone else living in my ranchito. Someone else taking care of Ollie. Someone else working there. And it hit me like a ton of bricks in front of everyone.
I know as Peace Corps Volunteers we can't change the world in two years. But maybe we can start something. Maybe we can make friends that won't forget us and we won't forget them. Maybe our lives will change more than we can possibly imagine.
I am ready to begin the new chapter in my Peace Corps life, but not quite ready to close the old chapter. But here I come Las Tablas, ready or not.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Praying for Rain
I was all for the long summer. I am not really into heavy rains for days where you can't leave the house. Until I realized how much we really need it. I have practically no water at my house. When I do it is a trickle. It takes forever to fill up a bucket. It takes forever to wash clothes. We went to see the water source. Almost bone dry. The little stream...dry. The little well....1 inch of water. And this 1 inch of water is for me, my neighbor, and the school.
And I have it easy. Some people have to carry water from a nearby stream. Some people's nearby stream is totally contaminated and they can't use it. So they are pretty SOL.
In Chitre they are putting restrictions on water and electricity use. Its serious.
So do a rain dance or say a prayer....because we need RAIN!
And I have it easy. Some people have to carry water from a nearby stream. Some people's nearby stream is totally contaminated and they can't use it. So they are pretty SOL.
In Chitre they are putting restrictions on water and electricity use. Its serious.
So do a rain dance or say a prayer....because we need RAIN!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Balance
"There is no such thing as a work-life balance. Everything worth fighting for unbalances your life." —Alain de Botton
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Campo Warrior
Imagine this. Darkness. Rustling in my penca roof. Headlamp.
Broom in one hand. Machete in the other.
Oh yea. I wish I had a camera. That is my campo warrior
gear, fighting off tarantulas!
The first time I was unsuccessful. I was not properly
prepared. The monster just hid in between the palm leaving me for a sleepless
night. Second time is a charm. I woke up to a rustling bag. I figured a frog
had gotten in my house again. Wrong! After a few deep breaths and a few machete
swings. My tarantula intruder was no more.
Now for the creature in my latrine….
Going Postal
I am over the post office. The last 4 times I have been in
there I have been in minor arguments. I discovered that not all provinces pay
to store their packages, but here in Herrera we do. And maybe if they didn’t
have stupid hours and tell me they work on Saturdays and then don’t work
Saturdays, I could pick it up. Remember I live far from the regional capital
people? Oh yea, and I got something stolen out of a package. So yea, I’m done
with them.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Environmental Camp
Donate to my friends project if you can! I will be helping out with this camp in May and any help will be appreciated!
https://donate.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=13-525-016
https://donate.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=13-525-016
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Regional Leader
I like Panama. I like Peace Corps. So I applied for a job. And I got it! You are reading the blog of Herrera and Los Santos's newest regional leader for 2013-2014!
Here is what it means....
Peace Corps/Panama understands that the Volunteers are our
greatest resource and in this spirit, in May 2003, implemented a Regional
Leader (RL) system that enhances Volunteer support, site development and agency
relations. RLs are outstanding third-year or high-performing second-year
Volunteers who ideally serve for a period of one year and are selected by the
Country Director (CD) to act as a liaison between Peace Corps and partner
organizations in each region. RLs play a primary role in Volunteer
support as a mentor and by helping to make sure Volunteers have the resources
and contacts they need to be productive. RLs are also members of the Site
Development Team and support the Associate Peace Corps Directors (APCDs) and
PTSs in identifying and developing sites and placing Volunteers.
Regional Leader duties include: 1)
volunteer support, 2) site development, 3) regional meetings, 4) trainings, 5)
inter- institutional coordination, 6) picking up the pieces, 7) safety
coordination and 8) regional handbook 9) 25% of the time devoted to a specific
project.
Another year in Azuero!
This is why we don't have nice things.
Peace Corps Volunteers become used to living with no amenities. So when you give them too many nice things at once, for example doors, someone is bound to get locked in. And that someone happened to be me. At our close of service conference in Panama City, I got locked in the bathroom. The door handle was broken and when I shut the door to use the bathroom, it did not re-open. After a hot half hour, and some PC ingenuity, a butter knife, and some pliers...I was free! Luckily they saved me a plate of lasagna :)
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Chepo
Check out this website created by fellow Peace Corps Volunteer Steve Bailey. It is for a community called Chepo which is about a half hour car ride or two hour walk away from Los Virotales. This is where the closest electricity is and where there are "bigger" stores and 2 restaurants and where many students go to middle school.
http://chepolasminas.org/index.html
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
We did it!
Project complete!
25 stoves and 25 families later we are done!
Thanks again for the support from all my family and friends! Check out my facebook or ask my mom to see photos of the finished projects.
After lots of organizing and walking (you wouldn't believe the walking) and at times frustration, I am beyond pleased with the end result. It has been great helping to organize and execute a project that will stay in the community for many years to come.
25 stoves and 25 families later we are done!
Thanks again for the support from all my family and friends! Check out my facebook or ask my mom to see photos of the finished projects.
After lots of organizing and walking (you wouldn't believe the walking) and at times frustration, I am beyond pleased with the end result. It has been great helping to organize and execute a project that will stay in the community for many years to come.
Hospital
Don't be scared by the title, I was not in the hospital, a Panamanian friend of mine was. And let me tell you if you are seriously ill in Panama go no where but a hospital in Panama city.
We showed up at the emergency room around 3 pm and he was admitted right away. An infection in the foot. They let me fill out all the paperwork (I have to fight to let the doctor talk to my mother.) And this hospital looks like it was from the 70's. Old design, outdated equipment, outdated system. After about 2 hours they called me and told me they were going to hospitalize him. So they let me back into the room (again not family) and told me what was going on. They did pretty much nothing except put an IV in, they didn't clean it or anything. He had to wait until the next morning around 10 for someone to clean it. Dinner had passed and luckily I was there to go get food because otherwise he would have to wait until breakfast. Before it was cleaned and bandaged, he got up to go to the bathroom and it started bleeding. It took 4 hours and asking 3 times for someone to clean it up. They would not regularly check on him, leave the IV hooked up unnecessarily, and just not great care in general.
But you get what you pay for. I am not quite sure how the health care system works here, but from this it seems to be the government pays for coverage. You will never guess how much an emergency room visit and 5 nights in the hospital cost.......$5!!!! That's right folks $5. Think about that the next time you get your insurance or health care bills.
We showed up at the emergency room around 3 pm and he was admitted right away. An infection in the foot. They let me fill out all the paperwork (I have to fight to let the doctor talk to my mother.) And this hospital looks like it was from the 70's. Old design, outdated equipment, outdated system. After about 2 hours they called me and told me they were going to hospitalize him. So they let me back into the room (again not family) and told me what was going on. They did pretty much nothing except put an IV in, they didn't clean it or anything. He had to wait until the next morning around 10 for someone to clean it. Dinner had passed and luckily I was there to go get food because otherwise he would have to wait until breakfast. Before it was cleaned and bandaged, he got up to go to the bathroom and it started bleeding. It took 4 hours and asking 3 times for someone to clean it up. They would not regularly check on him, leave the IV hooked up unnecessarily, and just not great care in general.
But you get what you pay for. I am not quite sure how the health care system works here, but from this it seems to be the government pays for coverage. You will never guess how much an emergency room visit and 5 nights in the hospital cost.......$5!!!! That's right folks $5. Think about that the next time you get your insurance or health care bills.
The G-word
Gringa.
White girl.
You would think after a year and a half people would stop calling me gringa. Or at least I would get used to it. Neither of these things have happened.
At first it didn't bother me. I called myself a gringa. It was a joke. But seriously people. You know my name. And if you don't say joven (miss) or muchacha (girl). I know I live in the campo but that is no reason for ignorance. I don't say hey panamanian. It just doesnt make sense.
Oh and gringa most certainly is not my first name. "Hola gringa" is simply unacceptable.
End rant.
White girl.
You would think after a year and a half people would stop calling me gringa. Or at least I would get used to it. Neither of these things have happened.
At first it didn't bother me. I called myself a gringa. It was a joke. But seriously people. You know my name. And if you don't say joven (miss) or muchacha (girl). I know I live in the campo but that is no reason for ignorance. I don't say hey panamanian. It just doesnt make sense.
Oh and gringa most certainly is not my first name. "Hola gringa" is simply unacceptable.
End rant.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
I could have been a vet...
Ollie is what you would call a typical male. Fighting, eating too much, chasing the ladies, jealous, and aggressive I finally decided to put an end to this troublesome situation.
Months ago I tried to get a vet to neuter him. I wanted a sedative and painkillers. After back and forth, the vet finally came, but I wasn't there. I got tired of the shenanigans and decided to do it campo style. But my plan was to grab the dog and let the guy do his job while I was far away unable to see. Unfortunately this is not what happened.
I am the only one who can grab my dog without him getting mad. So I did. Then they told me to put him on his back. So I did. Then I had to close his eyes so they could put a y-shaped branch on his neck so he couldn't wiggle his head too much and bite. So I did. All a mistake. Then I had to hold down his chest and grab his back legs while the guy cut. And with my close proximity to the situation I had to look. It was a lot quicker and smoother than I thought it would be. I have never heard a dog cry like that. I honestly didn't know whether to cry or vomit or both. Luckily I did neither, but I did not eat dinner later that night.
Ollie is fine and healing up. He stopped bleeding quickly and has only some minor swelling. They tell me him licking it will heal it.
I helped, but next time I think I'll leave it to the professionals.
Months ago I tried to get a vet to neuter him. I wanted a sedative and painkillers. After back and forth, the vet finally came, but I wasn't there. I got tired of the shenanigans and decided to do it campo style. But my plan was to grab the dog and let the guy do his job while I was far away unable to see. Unfortunately this is not what happened.
I am the only one who can grab my dog without him getting mad. So I did. Then they told me to put him on his back. So I did. Then I had to close his eyes so they could put a y-shaped branch on his neck so he couldn't wiggle his head too much and bite. So I did. All a mistake. Then I had to hold down his chest and grab his back legs while the guy cut. And with my close proximity to the situation I had to look. It was a lot quicker and smoother than I thought it would be. I have never heard a dog cry like that. I honestly didn't know whether to cry or vomit or both. Luckily I did neither, but I did not eat dinner later that night.
Ollie is fine and healing up. He stopped bleeding quickly and has only some minor swelling. They tell me him licking it will heal it.
I helped, but next time I think I'll leave it to the professionals.
Stove Update
We are moving along on the stove front. 10 completely built and 6 bases built with many more work days planned. And 3 stoves already being used!
The process can be slow but seeing results is amazing!
The process can be slow but seeing results is amazing!
Friday, October 5, 2012
Campo Birthday
It's my birthday, I'll kill a chicken if I want to.
Birthdays basically mean you have to kill a chicken. I was very Panamanian about getting on this task, and waited until the last minute. And no one wanted to sell me one. I sort of guilted on of my favorite crazy old ladies into selling me one. So the Sunday before my birthday I stopped by and picked it up, carrying it 30 minutes to Melania's house. It almost pecked me in the face as I tried opening one of the gates. Not cool. Melania was laughing at me as I walked in the house with this chicken, she didn't think I was really going to buy it.
We got to work right away. Melania killing the chicken (I wasn't going to do that) and I was cutting up the veggies. We made arroz con pollo. Rice cooked with small pieces of chicken and cabbage, carrots, onions, and pepper. Potato salad with beets. Fruit punch. Funfetti cake. All the essentials.
No one knew the words to happy birthday. It took about an hour to get them to finally sing to me and then they sang it more or less correctly, with only a few made up parts ie "and blow out the candles." It was incredibly sweet and I absolutely loved it!!
Excellent celebration of my quarter century!
Birthdays basically mean you have to kill a chicken. I was very Panamanian about getting on this task, and waited until the last minute. And no one wanted to sell me one. I sort of guilted on of my favorite crazy old ladies into selling me one. So the Sunday before my birthday I stopped by and picked it up, carrying it 30 minutes to Melania's house. It almost pecked me in the face as I tried opening one of the gates. Not cool. Melania was laughing at me as I walked in the house with this chicken, she didn't think I was really going to buy it.
We got to work right away. Melania killing the chicken (I wasn't going to do that) and I was cutting up the veggies. We made arroz con pollo. Rice cooked with small pieces of chicken and cabbage, carrots, onions, and pepper. Potato salad with beets. Fruit punch. Funfetti cake. All the essentials.
No one knew the words to happy birthday. It took about an hour to get them to finally sing to me and then they sang it more or less correctly, with only a few made up parts ie "and blow out the candles." It was incredibly sweet and I absolutely loved it!!
Excellent celebration of my quarter century!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Junta de Amy
I held my first junta or work day and I have to say it was pretty fun! Out in the campo people have juntas when there is a lot of work to to, like building ranchos, or more importantly my rancho. I set a date and invited the people. I advertised it on the white board at the store. Twelve guys came along with three ladies to cook. In the morning the guys were cutting and carrying the palm. Around 10 the teacher carried the huge load in her car and they started putting it on the roof. Seven pounds of beef and ten pounds of rice late they ate and continued working. As with any good junta there was chicha de maize or a sweet corn drink. Often it is fuerte or alcoholic, but I went for the sweet option. It's Peace Corps people, gotta keep it g-rated. They finished just before the rain came...and guess what...my porch was dry!
Stove 1 Success!
The building has begun!
As part of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas grant seminar, 6 volunteers and their counterparts along with several Peace Corps staff came to Los Virotales to build two stoves, and Eco-Justa (the kind I am building for my project) and a tower stove. After weeks of running around like a crazy person trying to organize everything and worrying that something would go wrong, the day was an amazing success!
Everyone arrived at 8:30 am and started off with an intro by yours truly and then the "stove expert" Sixto took over the show. He explained to everyone the process of how to build the stove. Everyone helped a little, whether it be mixing cement or sifting sand or laying the bricks. Asking questions and taking notes. I got the best Panamanian cooks, my host mom and grandma to help cook a tasty lunch of chicken, lentils, rice, and a cabbage and carrot salad. Ollie only fought once.
The second part of the day we built a tower stove, another type of stove many volunteers are using. This type is preferred by some due to the fact that is is free. You need to get some wood to make the molds for the bricks, and the bricks and "cement" are dirt and horse poop. Same thing, everyone got their hands dirty and asked questions.
I was beyond happy with the support of Peace Corps and my community to pull this day off. The families of each stove did their part in providing materials and helping with lunch and coffee breaks. Several people stopped by just to check out what was going on.
Definitely a Peace Corps high!
As part of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas grant seminar, 6 volunteers and their counterparts along with several Peace Corps staff came to Los Virotales to build two stoves, and Eco-Justa (the kind I am building for my project) and a tower stove. After weeks of running around like a crazy person trying to organize everything and worrying that something would go wrong, the day was an amazing success!
Everyone arrived at 8:30 am and started off with an intro by yours truly and then the "stove expert" Sixto took over the show. He explained to everyone the process of how to build the stove. Everyone helped a little, whether it be mixing cement or sifting sand or laying the bricks. Asking questions and taking notes. I got the best Panamanian cooks, my host mom and grandma to help cook a tasty lunch of chicken, lentils, rice, and a cabbage and carrot salad. Ollie only fought once.
The second part of the day we built a tower stove, another type of stove many volunteers are using. This type is preferred by some due to the fact that is is free. You need to get some wood to make the molds for the bricks, and the bricks and "cement" are dirt and horse poop. Same thing, everyone got their hands dirty and asked questions.
I was beyond happy with the support of Peace Corps and my community to pull this day off. The families of each stove did their part in providing materials and helping with lunch and coffee breaks. Several people stopped by just to check out what was going on.
Definitely a Peace Corps high!
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