September 2009

Hey all,

Been very busy lately trying unsuccessfully to get communities together for water projects. It doesn´t seem like it will be able to happen, but there are always other things to keep me busy. Water seminars are going well and will most likely continue as long as we can find interested communities. Mud oven and stoves are picking up and a latrine project is in the works.

One year in and one year left. All throughout my first year, I have had some time to look at what I have been able to do, how I´ve changed and what I´ve learned. The new perspectives I´ve gained over this past year is incredible and I am very thankful for the opportunity to be where I am.

I´ve done back breaking days of work for a bowl or rice, learned two languages and learned a new lifestyle. I´ve also seen how hopelessly sad and difficult life can be for my community and been amazed at their ability to live very happy lives despite hunger and poverty. The first year has had enlightening moments where I feel like I am understanding myself and the world for the first time. It has also had moments where I feel helpless, lonely and stupid, and I only wished I had a clue how to make it a little better. I have no idea what the second year will bring, but I know I won´t regret the experience.

My brother just had a baby. His name is Oskar

Left to right (Einer, Basilia, Baby has no name yet, Emilia)

Maximo taking the sand out of the oven.

Left to right (Paula, Nienami, Dionesia, Amado=

Amado, Dionesia and Maestra Rosaura Paz putting on the insulation layer to the oven.

Amado making the inside layer pretty.

Stacking the mud around the sand mold.

Building the base.

Mixing the mud.

Girls in Laguna Abajo

Jatwoida,

Choti

June 2009

I organized a water committee seminar in my community.  We trained representatives from three communities how to maintain and manage their water systems.  This is the graduation photo.  Only one person is smiling in this picture.

Alicia, teaching Mariano how to thermoform PVC.

Water conservation exercise.  This was interesting.  I asked participants to see who can use less water to wash equal quantities of dishes.  Men don't really wash dishes here.  We had to draw straws to see who would do it.  Maximo (on the right) emerged victorious.

This is Chidigon, with his "secreto de vaca."  We were sitting having lunch at the water seminar.I noticed a small ball of fur in a small chacara around Chidigon's neck.  I asked him what he had in the chacara.  He said, in spanish, "it's a secret."  Confused, I asked him again, "Really, what's in the chacara."  He then explained that special cows have secrets.  He had a special cow that displayed special characteristics, and upon slaughtering it, he found a small fur ball in the stomach.  Me and other volunteers have wondered what it is for a while, but we still have no clue.  He carries his secret for good luck and is very lucky to have it.

Maximo, brushing up his accounting skills.

People actually paying attention.

Ese todo,

Chodi

Balsaria

Me, throwing the balsa

Balseria is a very special festival in the Ngabe culture. I have heard it started when one family would invite another during good harvest years. They would share their food or else it would go bad. Nowadays, it is a large gathering of people from all over. People come to drink, fight and compete with other communities. It´s also a good chance to put on some colorful clothing and that dead cat skin that never seems to go with any of your other outfits.
There are a few things to do at Balseria, which usually lasts for about four days (I could only stand it for about four hours). They drink Chicha Fuerte (strong juice). It´s usually made from corn, it tastes sweet but has LOTS of alcohol in it. People drink this for the whole time they are there and some get very drunk. While at Balseria, you can also fight. This is a good way to mangle your face and possibly win a wife! You can also throw the Balsa, which hurts much less than bare knuckle fighting, and is actually pretty fun. During the whole festival, people will be making as much noise as possible from homemade contraptions (anything from cow horns to PVC whistles to turtle shells).

They play a game, which I tried, where one man throws a balsa stick at another´s legs. I didn´t get hit too bad, but I saw some very nasty welts.

Men wear anything from a Nagua (the dress that only women wear, see above) to colorful hats (see above) to dried animal skins, usually cats.

Fist fighting is very common among men and women.

Man ready to throw the Balsa.

Once someone throws the balsa, people rush to grab it so they can be next to throw. Once you throw, the next person throws at you.

Churches are discouraging Balseria because of the drinking, but it is an important part of their culture. Despite the gruesome violence of it, I am glad I went.

February to May 2009

The chiva ride. 34 people. I love the little child hanging on for dear life.

There´s a kind of bird that lives in those sacks.

I did a catholic pilgrimage to the Jesus of Alanje. We walked along a concrete road for four hours, got to a very pretty church and it was nice. All during this I was holding back the fury of some newly acquired stomach parasites.

Church of Alanje

For those who don´t speak spanish this sign basically mean, ¨sorry you just walked two hours to come to this meeting. We didn´t feel like telling you it was cancelled for some reason we won´t disclose.¨

Some kids helped me out with my garden.

Peña Blanca from the side.

Peña Blanca from the back.

View from Tugri.

Most recently, I did a trip to do a latrine in another community, named Guayaval. It was a little out of the way, but gave a good opportunity to see some nice scenery. It was a nine hour walk each way carrying the seat mold, but well worth the views and getting to know a different region of the comarca.

A community on the way to Guayaval.

Some of the people I stayed with.

This is a half made latrine.

View of some of the mountains in the area. This part of the Comarca is famous for its coffee.

The central group of Guayaval.

February 2009


Water source in Laguna 2, would you want to drink this water?

Luterio and Miguel. Taking a break at Domingo´s while surveying for the aqueduct.

Taking a break at the church while surveying in Laguna 2.

Another Laguna 2 water source.

Saca mi foto!

Kids cleaning fish.

Amado, the new water committee president, cleaning the spring box.

Kids playing.

Skinny dog.

Kid bracing himself and two chickens in the wind.

Chiva driver with classy tshirt.

Kids pose with tree that fell in the wind. Still windy in this photo.