Wow so 2 blogs already in the month of April and its only the 18th? Whats going on!? Craziness, thats what. Yesterday, my host mom had tourists come to see her wool spinning/natural tint dying/knitted items. They arrived in what many women of my town thought was an ambulance, causing a bit of a stir. They had a French license plate, and tucked inside their work-van was an entire home. They invited me to dinner in their modest home-on-wheels, and I got to see how they fit 2 adults, an 8-year-old girl, and a 6-year-old boy into the space of a van. They have a kitchen, bathroom with shower, table, and a bedroom in that tiny space. It was incredible, and whats even more incredible is that I ate international cuisine in my little, modest pueblo that doesn't even have internet.
While we sat at their table space, they brought out guacamole on crackers and fish liver in a can. I believe it was cod liver, with its accompanying cod liver oil, but I can't be entirely sure since they didn't know the English translation. You may have heard old-timer tales of kids being forced to drink fish liver oil? Well, that's exactly what this was. Except it wasn't disgusting. I enjoyed it, especially with a bit of lemon, pepper and guacamole on a cracker. After trying that bit of interesting French cuisine, I was then introduced to Mint syrup. Apparently, this is a big thing in France. Kids are served water with a dollop of different flavored syrups. My visiting family's favorite was Mint. It was really, really delicious, although that might also be attributed to my first drink of cold water in months. I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed my time in their company. It was exciting, different, and fun. I mimicked a few words of French, and attempted to learn to read a few words. I listened to good international music, and was inspired to want to travel Europe in one of these van-homes.
Other than that, I've been continuing work in my site. I taught my first class of a series in Environmental Ethics. It went really well. I've planned out an event for Earth day this coming Monday. I have a GLOBE meeting to attend Wednesday. Things are going well, or as well as can be when I'm wanting to go home, or travel. I hope everyone out there is well. Even people in my site are talking about the Boston Marathon bombing and North Korea's nuclear bombs. Stay safe people.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Saturday, April 6, 2013
After a long silence...Year and a half Update
I realize I haven't really been posting recently. Sorry about that! So much and yet so little has happened, I'm not exactly sure how to update here. Vacaciones Utiles (Summer school) was a rough time for me this year. It was hard last year too, but this time, I think I hit my all time low of my service. Or at least...I hope its the lowest I'll get! I still have 6 or 7 months left of service, depending on when I decide to Close. We get to Close of Service (COS) anytime a month before or after our swearing-in date which was Nov. 27th. Anyways, back to this January and February. It was rough for me, and I'm not too sure why. I guess I started feeling unnecessary and alone. In my old region, I met so many amazing fellow volunteers that on a personal level I just really connected with. Here in Ancash, we have wonderful volunteers, don't get me wrong. I guess I'm just having trouble connecting with them, or finding my place. We've had some great times, but its very sporadic I guess. Also, in my site with my work, I was being thwarted at every turn. I wanted to do some environmental themed classes, but in Huaripampa, the science teacher is completely unwelcoming. Last year I decided I wouldn't work with her, but I thought I could still enter their tutoring class which is an hour every week. But they told me they had all their Tutoria classes scheduled for the year and basically told me I couldn't do anything. Even in English, the teacher didn't want my help. She doesn't speak English hardly at all, hasn't studied the language, and yet wouldn't let me teach because the school board already approved her plans and she "can't" change them. It basically seems like I'm not going to work with Huaripampa this year, despite my best intentions. I understand how Willa felt when she gave up working with them in HER second year. The one redeeming factor in Huaripampa is that their teacher of Work education was motivated/forced by me to start a composting corner, as well as a tree nursery. This Friday, I delivered 500 tree clippings of a native tree, Quenual, to be planted in that bed. They'll grow through the year, and then be transplanted as I'm leaving. So that's my work in Huaripampa.
In Olleros, my work is going way better, although recently the town suffered a natural disaster. Thursday, April 4th, we had a solid hour of hail and thunder. It rained the rest of the evening, and on the radio we learned that Olleros, just 10 minutes hike downhill from me, over 20 houses had either collapsed or suffered damage. The Olleros high school also suffered some damage, although not to buildings. Their alfalfa that was very recently planted was completely wiped away by the nearby canal being blocked in the landslide. That means sewage water is pouring down the center walkway of the school. Their soccer/basketball/blacktop area was also covered in mud. Friday, I watched as 2nd and 3rd grade kids tried their best to push the mud off their precious play area. Also, Friday, I saw a solid 50 people in the main square, currently homeless, cooking a community food pot and receiving aid from the various government programs. It was shocking that this happened where I'm living, but at the same time it could have been worse. Nobody died, although a few guinea pigs got swept away. Huaraz, and Recuay, the two big cities nearby have both sent aid in cleaning and for the displaced families.
So to move away from the sad news about Olleros, the good news is that I'm working extensively with Olleros. I'm teaching English to 3rd, 5th and 6th grade of Elementary school. They are wonderful and super enthusiastic. Also, their teacher stays in the room, and I feel like in that way I'm helping them learn as well which makes my efforts a little more sustainable. I'm also teaching 2nd grade of Secondary which for us would be 8th graders. I've written up a plan to work in several areas with them throughout the year. I'm teaching them English, and have started a series of 5 Hapkido/Self-Defense classes with them. Friday I taught them the second class of that, practicing kicks. It was fun, and I snapped a photo. I hope to get it uploaded to my Facebook soon (we'll see if the internet cooperates). After we finish with self-defense, we'll move into the Ultimate Frisbee unit, and then lastly the Swimming unit. Also, this week I'll start a set of 6 classes with them about Ethics, specifically Environmental ethics. I hope they'll think and hopefully even debate a little in that class. Honestly though, they're the classes I'm most nervous to teach. The language will be hard to communicate, and the subject might be a little too advanced for them yet. So wish me luck with that! Other than that, I've also coordinated to do GLOBE weather monitoring again with them, and climate change education. And lastly, with the entire school, I've arranged to celebrate Earth Day in the main square with the mayor providing refreshments. Each grade has a theme that they'll elaborate and present on. They also started a tree nursery bed of 500 Quenuals. I planted them Friday amidst the chaos of the landslide with the "juniors" of the high school. It felt incredible to realize that I've now worked extensively in all three of my goal areas. I've done a large education program, taking 60 kids on a science fieldtrip which falls in Goal 1 of Environmental Education. I've now had 1000 trees planted in nursery beds which is Goal 2 of Natural Resources, and of course last year I worked extensively in recycling which is Goal 3, Trash Management.
So to sum it all up, I'm doing a lot better than I was even a month ago. Hopefully, things stay positive for me.
PS: I also just today received the best two packages in my service, or at least, most appreciated. Willa sent me Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and gifts to give to some of her close friends in our site. I can't wait to pass them out; I will get to see their faces receiving something from Willa whom they always ask me about. Also, my mom sent me a package that had a yoyo (awesome right? I get to teach my host brother how to walk the dog), apple cider packets, sunflower seeds, and Reeses. I guess this far into my time here, I appreciate so much more the thoughtful quirky things from my life at home that I can't have here.
In Olleros, my work is going way better, although recently the town suffered a natural disaster. Thursday, April 4th, we had a solid hour of hail and thunder. It rained the rest of the evening, and on the radio we learned that Olleros, just 10 minutes hike downhill from me, over 20 houses had either collapsed or suffered damage. The Olleros high school also suffered some damage, although not to buildings. Their alfalfa that was very recently planted was completely wiped away by the nearby canal being blocked in the landslide. That means sewage water is pouring down the center walkway of the school. Their soccer/basketball/blacktop area was also covered in mud. Friday, I watched as 2nd and 3rd grade kids tried their best to push the mud off their precious play area. Also, Friday, I saw a solid 50 people in the main square, currently homeless, cooking a community food pot and receiving aid from the various government programs. It was shocking that this happened where I'm living, but at the same time it could have been worse. Nobody died, although a few guinea pigs got swept away. Huaraz, and Recuay, the two big cities nearby have both sent aid in cleaning and for the displaced families.
So to move away from the sad news about Olleros, the good news is that I'm working extensively with Olleros. I'm teaching English to 3rd, 5th and 6th grade of Elementary school. They are wonderful and super enthusiastic. Also, their teacher stays in the room, and I feel like in that way I'm helping them learn as well which makes my efforts a little more sustainable. I'm also teaching 2nd grade of Secondary which for us would be 8th graders. I've written up a plan to work in several areas with them throughout the year. I'm teaching them English, and have started a series of 5 Hapkido/Self-Defense classes with them. Friday I taught them the second class of that, practicing kicks. It was fun, and I snapped a photo. I hope to get it uploaded to my Facebook soon (we'll see if the internet cooperates). After we finish with self-defense, we'll move into the Ultimate Frisbee unit, and then lastly the Swimming unit. Also, this week I'll start a set of 6 classes with them about Ethics, specifically Environmental ethics. I hope they'll think and hopefully even debate a little in that class. Honestly though, they're the classes I'm most nervous to teach. The language will be hard to communicate, and the subject might be a little too advanced for them yet. So wish me luck with that! Other than that, I've also coordinated to do GLOBE weather monitoring again with them, and climate change education. And lastly, with the entire school, I've arranged to celebrate Earth Day in the main square with the mayor providing refreshments. Each grade has a theme that they'll elaborate and present on. They also started a tree nursery bed of 500 Quenuals. I planted them Friday amidst the chaos of the landslide with the "juniors" of the high school. It felt incredible to realize that I've now worked extensively in all three of my goal areas. I've done a large education program, taking 60 kids on a science fieldtrip which falls in Goal 1 of Environmental Education. I've now had 1000 trees planted in nursery beds which is Goal 2 of Natural Resources, and of course last year I worked extensively in recycling which is Goal 3, Trash Management.
So to sum it all up, I'm doing a lot better than I was even a month ago. Hopefully, things stay positive for me.
PS: I also just today received the best two packages in my service, or at least, most appreciated. Willa sent me Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and gifts to give to some of her close friends in our site. I can't wait to pass them out; I will get to see their faces receiving something from Willa whom they always ask me about. Also, my mom sent me a package that had a yoyo (awesome right? I get to teach my host brother how to walk the dog), apple cider packets, sunflower seeds, and Reeses. I guess this far into my time here, I appreciate so much more the thoughtful quirky things from my life at home that I can't have here.
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