Afredo on the yegua

This past weekend I went to my first amanecida or dance that lasts all night. We arrived at about 10 and it lasted until 7:30am. Tipico dancing all night with Nenito and Alfredo. It was awesome!  It was jam packed with so many people you could hardly move. My feet got so dirty from other people stepping on them. And how else would you finish the night? Why of course with Nenito playing the accordion on a donkey and Alfredo on a yegua (female horse)! Yes folks this is real. They rode around playing the last song on a donkey and a horse. I nearly got trampled by people as the horse got scared and started bucking. I love Panama J

FULLY FUNDED!!!

GRACIAS! GRACIAS! GRACIAS! Thank you soooooo much to all that donated to the Los Virotales stove project! Your support is invaluable! It feels great to be moving forward in the project and everyone is very excited! More to come soon once we start building!

Thank you to:

David, Cindy, and Kelly Stypa

Richard and Lorraine Stypa

Sharon Schwedt and Brett Neubig

Les Neubig and Sue Matecki

Roman and Diane Cefali

Mr. and Mrs. Lyons

Mr. and Mrs. Gross

Mrs. Wik

Don and Sharon Mulqueen

Eric and Katie Zimmerman

Evan and Bethany Crahen

Whitney Peterson

Kira Sullivan-Wiley

Please let me know if you made a donation to include you in my thank yous! Not how much, just if you did! 

Motivation such an aggravation

How does one motivate another? I think this is the eternal Peace Corps question.

I certainly didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth, but I know that I have had many incredible opportunities in my life. I don’t feel that I have anything I don’t deserve or didn’t earn. It pains me to see the lost opportunities here. The Panamanian government and international governments give away millions of dollars each year in different projects, and the people don’t take advantage of it. When has the US government given me thousands of dollars’ worth of stuff for me to work and provide for my family. Never that’s when. 

Recently we began a soil conservation project with 4 other communities because there was not enough interest is just Los Virotales. This is legit the best project that has ever come. Soil conservation is great from an environmental perspective because they are not clearing new land every year to plant and will reduce the amount of chemicals used in production. From a farmers view, it saves them work because they are not clearing land every year, and saving them money in workers and chemicals. And those that are farming now aren’t spring chickens anymore. During one of the meetings that two people showed up to, the engineer asked me if I had land here because I was the most interested in the project. Yikes. This project also rocks because the funds are a lot more flexible. There are not just buying things that the project requires, they are asking the people what they want. Genius. What tools, what plants, what more could you want?

Good news. 4 community members are participating, and I believe getting a lot out of it. I still may be the most excited about it, but at least there are a few on board with me. And that is really what it is about, reaching those who are interested. Because not everyone will be. Peace Corps is here for those few motivated individuals. To help them move forward in their work and have them make the world a little bit better place.

Sex ED

This is not a topic that I would normally discuss, but the things that people still believe in 2012 really amaze me. Birth control is readily available in Panama, even in rural areas. Every two months a medical team comes to rural areas to provide basic health services, this includes family planning. At any health center protection is available. After three children, the government will pay for a woman to have her “tubes tied.” And for a country predominately Catholic, and if not Catholic some type of Christianity, the women in their 30s and 40s  typically tend to be supportive of birth control. Then why are girls getting pregnant so young? I blame the men. This is not some feminist remark, it’s the truth. Men feel less like men if they use condoms. They tell women that birth control aka the pill is harmful for their health and they could have babies with disabilities because they are/were on the pill. They don’t want to use condoms if the woman is on the pill. They tell women that they cannot get pregnant the first time. They tell a woman that “pulling out” is an effective birth control. And they believe it all for the most part. Because men are never wrong. Ha. Well my dears, if men are never wrong, why are you pregnant at 14? I realized that most Panamanian women are poor trophy wives, their husbands “maintain” them. I kid you not, this is the word they use, maintain. Again for a predominantly religious country they have some interesting beliefs in marriage. They use the term “casarse” or to marry very freely. Now, it is most commonly used for people who are living together, and most likely with children. Many people are afraid to get married, because they think it is a huge sin to get divorced. Which is theory is an excellent idea to have. Marriage is serious. You should take your time and think about it. It should not be rushed. But this time should not include you living and having children with your partner. Because sex before marriage and children before marriage is a sin, but it is brushed under the rug.  Yea see if that makes sense.

Visit home

I am happy I went home for a visit. As much as I was back and forth about it, I really did need to see my family and friends. While I was able to clarify a few things, I am just as confused on others. Que va.

 

I ate WAY too much, pizza and wings, Timmy Ho's, Johnny C's, Starbucks to name a few. I need another vacation after all the running around, and maybe an exercise plan. It was great to catch up with friends and see my family. I am so happy I was able to be there for Sarah's wedding!  And hot showers every day….woah. Thank you so much to everyone who came to see me and for making my trip home special. And now it's Panama Part 2.

 

It was ready to come back, but then once I got back to my house in Los Virotales it was a bit weird. I was happy to be there and see everyone and have my little house and my dog. (And my newest chicken which I carried with me on transport…so Panamanian.) I however was not happy to have ants and cockroaches. Or cold water bucket showers. Or no electricity. Or rice. I guess I have to get accustomed again. My visit home spoiled me again! Darn these modern day luxuries.

 

Eco Stoves for the Environment

Since its inception in 1964, the Peace Corps Partnership Program has helped thousands of Peace Corps Volunteers implement community-initiated projects worldwide.  Now I am taking on a new Eco-Stoves for the Environment project in Panama that needs your support.

This project, developed to address a pressing community need, will be implemented by both myself and local partners.  This project will benefit the people of the community for many years to come. 

In order to begin implementation, I must raise $2,097.50 from friends, family and other interested donors.  The people of the community and I are asking for your assistance to turn this project into a reality.

The community is located in a semi-mountainous region in central Panama with a population of about 125 people. The majority of the inhabitants work in small scale agriculture and cattle farming. While the community has benefitted from government aid and projects in the past, and currently is executing projects with environmental focus, much work is still to be done. The previous volunteer began an Eco-Stove Project, and in conjunction with the Panamanian Environmental Agency, built 14 family stoves in the community, as well as two in the churches, and one for the school. The project was successful and helped to generate a larger community interest in the project. This new phase of the project is to build 25 more stoves, not only benefiting the immediate community, but also two other nearby communities. The project objectives include: supporting families with the resources necessary to have access to the new technology; reducing deforestation due to more efficient burning of wood, reduction of health risks caused by smoke inhalation and burns, and a better overall quality of life for the families involved. Teaching the community why and how to properly use the cook stoves is much more important that the actual stoves themselves. The stoves will be built by an expert along with the assistance of the community members. Each household will be responsible for gathering sand, gravel, and ash before the stove is built, and will be responsible for helping the expert build the stove.

As for donations, the two easiest options are to:

            1.      The donor may call us and we can take the donation to your project number 525-186 by credit card over the phone 202-692-1682 .

            2. The may may donate online to www.peacecorps.gov/donate, searching for the project number 525-186 or my last name, Stypa.

One year reflections

If you asked me a few ago where I would be at today, I would not have said Panama. I had big plans. Go to school, get a good job, be successful, and make lots of money. I was going to be some sort or scientist or researcher. But development work? Humanities? No way! Yet here I am, I have my big degrees, a job until next year, successful is TBD, and the money….broke.

Most days I have no idea what I am doing. I had a Panamanian tell me that for me coming here is like going back 100 years in time. For gosh sakes its 2012! Why are we still cooking on firewood, washing by hand, and without electricity?  Lack of motivation, organization, and support from the government is at times unbearable. And the eternal question…am I making a difference?

I know it is worth it the days when the kids put their garbage in my trash bag or say please, and when I am greeted with a warm smile or a big hug or when I spend time with Melania and her family. I may not have a million projects going on, but that is not why I joined the Peace Corps. Maybe I should be married and be starting my family. Maybe I should have a real job. Maybe I should be paying my student loans. Maybe I should thing about growing up. But I don’t wanna!

I have accomplished a lot this past year and checked a few things off my bucket list.

·         Learned and became “fluent” in another language

·         Lived and worked in another country

·         Learned to surf

·         Made amazing relationships

·         Opened up to new people

·         Learned to eat rice 3 times a day

·         Discovered how amazing culantro is

·         Took care of my very own house, garden, and dog

·         Discovered the plethora of tasty foods you can make with corn

·         Learned what it is like to be a minority

·         Lived simply and happily

·         Bought a cow and was given a chicken

·         Went someplace where people knew absolutely nothing about me and still don’t understand that much about me

·         Seen poverty for real

When I signed up for the Peace Corps I honestly didn’t think I would come home at all. And I honestly wasn’t that sure I really wanted to until about a week before. I was nervous about all the changes that have happened at home…or rather all that hasn’t changed one bit. And I have changed enormously and am in a very different place in my life. But right now is an excellent break for me. I have some time to re-group and re-think my plan of action. Time to fundraise for my project. And get to enjoy many of the perks of living at home including but not limited to pizza and wings, hot showers, a comfortable bed and many other niceties that are not available in my campo lifestyle. I however am definitely going to have price shock. Culture shock I don’t really think so, Panama is pretty developed. But when I paid $10 for a mediocre sandwich in the airport it hit me, I’m headed home.

I didn’t think leaving would be a big deal to leave Panama, it’s only two weeks, but I felt sad. I almost cried when I said goodbye to my host mom Melania. Everyone was so excited for me to be traveling to see my family and friends and send their saludos. My favorite was from my Abuelo. He said say hi to your family for me, but make sure to tell them in English because I know they don’t speak Spanish. Ah Abuelo…