This is my dog here. I rescued him from just one of the average Salvo abusers of dogs. I wish I could save every dog, but alas its just me and Ta-lo (tay-low). I did not give him the name but he responds well. We keep each other company.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
My new boyfriend!
This is my dog here. I rescued him from just one of the average Salvo abusers of dogs. I wish I could save every dog, but alas its just me and Ta-lo (tay-low). I did not give him the name but he responds well. We keep each other company.
My work here!
I miss home, so whoever reads this I need some updates from home! I think as long as I get updates, I resist the urge to come home!
So I am sure a lot of you all are wondering, what the heck is she doing down there in El Salvador? Not looking at direct flights to Dallas, that’s for sure! Ok maybe sometimes, but that is mostly to help those people who want to visit me. If you aren’t one of those people, maybe you should think twice about that! So in all seriousness, I will give you all an idea of what I will be doing for the next year, or at least the next like 6 months. It’s hard to constantly think about the 2 year time frame, so I break it up into increments. It also is very effective for goal setting and mostly not to drive me crazy.
So projects that I will be working and some I want to be working on
-The computer project. This project I have inherited from the previous volunteer, kind of. The local school in my community is recently the proud owner of four computers with an impressive operating system of Windows 95! But heck, they were bought for an extremely LOW used price from a computer donation company in the states. For future reference, never toss out that old computer, there is always a place for it in the developing world. And that’s word. I bet you can even get a tax write-off for it, for all you elephants out there! Just kidding the dems like that too. Ok so back to the computers. Of the technology generation, I was always around computers, so it seems as second nature to operate one and use one efficiently. But than for those of you, like my grandma (love you) and people in the developing world; unless you were one of the few that was able to go to school, you probably have never seen a computer, let alone knows how to use one. True story. So being able to operate a computer, opens a lot of doors. Like typing, creating a flier and or invitation, surfing the internet, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
-I already mentioned the girls' soccer team, but that is a work in progress.
-I already mentioned the Latrine project, but that's a work in progress as well.
-I have started a home garden, which has proven to be quite successful. Who knew I had a green thumb!? I am growing corn, zucchini, cucumber, green bell pepper and tomatoes. It is the rainy season right now here in El Salvador, where it rains every day, so its ideal for planting and growing vegetables. Along with the vegetables, I have two mango trees, two papaya trees, a lime tree, and a chile bush. This is all in my backyard at the moment. The hope for this project will be to re-create my garden in other communal parts of the community. This is a project that will touch on nutrition and proper diet. Because the diet here is BAD! full of grease and salt, with little nutrition to boot. A lot of people dont even realize there are other ways to cook, other than in a pot of oil. I also hope to start cooking classes. Simple ingredients and simple techniques that hopefully will catch on! Like they can't even cook an egg, without it being in an oil soup! And maybe this cooking class turns into a womens' group, and then we get into some health topics. Little successes!
So I am sure a lot of you all are wondering, what the heck is she doing down there in El Salvador? Not looking at direct flights to Dallas, that’s for sure! Ok maybe sometimes, but that is mostly to help those people who want to visit me. If you aren’t one of those people, maybe you should think twice about that! So in all seriousness, I will give you all an idea of what I will be doing for the next year, or at least the next like 6 months. It’s hard to constantly think about the 2 year time frame, so I break it up into increments. It also is very effective for goal setting and mostly not to drive me crazy.
So projects that I will be working and some I want to be working on
-The computer project. This project I have inherited from the previous volunteer, kind of. The local school in my community is recently the proud owner of four computers with an impressive operating system of Windows 95! But heck, they were bought for an extremely LOW used price from a computer donation company in the states. For future reference, never toss out that old computer, there is always a place for it in the developing world. And that’s word. I bet you can even get a tax write-off for it, for all you elephants out there! Just kidding the dems like that too. Ok so back to the computers. Of the technology generation, I was always around computers, so it seems as second nature to operate one and use one efficiently. But than for those of you, like my grandma (love you) and people in the developing world; unless you were one of the few that was able to go to school, you probably have never seen a computer, let alone knows how to use one. True story. So being able to operate a computer, opens a lot of doors. Like typing, creating a flier and or invitation, surfing the internet, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
-I already mentioned the girls' soccer team, but that is a work in progress.
-I already mentioned the Latrine project, but that's a work in progress as well.
-I have started a home garden, which has proven to be quite successful. Who knew I had a green thumb!? I am growing corn, zucchini, cucumber, green bell pepper and tomatoes. It is the rainy season right now here in El Salvador, where it rains every day, so its ideal for planting and growing vegetables. Along with the vegetables, I have two mango trees, two papaya trees, a lime tree, and a chile bush. This is all in my backyard at the moment. The hope for this project will be to re-create my garden in other communal parts of the community. This is a project that will touch on nutrition and proper diet. Because the diet here is BAD! full of grease and salt, with little nutrition to boot. A lot of people dont even realize there are other ways to cook, other than in a pot of oil. I also hope to start cooking classes. Simple ingredients and simple techniques that hopefully will catch on! Like they can't even cook an egg, without it being in an oil soup! And maybe this cooking class turns into a womens' group, and then we get into some health topics. Little successes!
an unfortunate event
Recently, there was an incident in my community that struck a cord with me. A 40 year old man decided to go fishing with some of his nephews in a river that runs through my community. Mom calls it my village, but it’s like a small (500) people. Being an epileptic, the man had a seizure while fishing in the river, and consequently fell in. Being as no one he was fishing with knows how to swim, no one jumped in to save him. By the time, help was called ( and when I say help I do not mean 911 or local police) the man had been swept by the current in the river down towards the nearby lake. This happened about four in the afternoon on a Monday. Neighbors, friends and family (mostly the male populous) soon after started a rescue party beginning to search down the river. However, there was one tiny BIG problem hindering the search rescue. The river is filthy dirty. When I say dirty, I mean human and animal feces, you name it trash residue, and whatever falls in. The people who did know how to swim did not want to jump in to look around, go figure. Every time I think there is positive progress here, I am reminded by the fact that this is a developing country, with significant problems in action-solving here. When the police were finally called, there was little they could do, considering they did not want to jump in either. Everyone is upset that no one will jump in to search the waters, when really they should be upset that the water is an issue in the first place. Sidenote, people also take water from the river, to drink as well. I know. Can’t even begin to think about it. Long story short, man was discovered in the lake 72 hours later. And its usually custom here to have a vela, kind of like a wake, except the whole community shows up for free food and coffee. But there was no vela, only burial service because the time they found the body, there wasn’t much of a person left. The whole incident was upsetting because of the duration of the search and the issue with the water. These are the people I will be working with for the next two years.
As a result of this event, local government and myself have iniated a campaign for swimming lessons. Don’t worry, this will be done at local pool and not feces water.
Also the doctor assigned to my community and myself have been talking about coordinating a first aid and cpr workshop. No time like the present I have been telling myself. So along with the swimming classes, and first aid, maybe just maybe someone who was affected by the training will be able to rescue someone in need. Dramatic? Maybe. But life here is just like that. Things that we associate as basic functioning So So needs are not even passerby thoughts here. Events like this remind me why I am here.
As a result of this event, local government and myself have iniated a campaign for swimming lessons. Don’t worry, this will be done at local pool and not feces water.
Also the doctor assigned to my community and myself have been talking about coordinating a first aid and cpr workshop. No time like the present I have been telling myself. So along with the swimming classes, and first aid, maybe just maybe someone who was affected by the training will be able to rescue someone in need. Dramatic? Maybe. But life here is just like that. Things that we associate as basic functioning So So needs are not even passerby thoughts here. Events like this remind me why I am here.
Jumpin Tortillas!
I know it has been awhile since I have posted, and alas there are no good reasons, except for the fact that I live in a third world country and it is really hard to explain life here.
So I have been adjusting to life here, as silly as that might seem, it’s a big step here in the Peace Corps adventure.
I don’t believe anymore that I am changing the world. I don’t believe that I will change lives. What I do believe is that I will spend the next two years creating sustainable projects that hopefully will help people help themselves. What do I mean when I say sustainable projects? This means being a facilitator in the progress of development so when I leave this place, whatever work was on-going will continue without the gringa. This is hard, because its really tempting to just get things done or just buy that soccer ball for the soccer team. I am learning that when an individual and or on a community level is given and or gifted something, NO ONE APPRECIATES IT OR RESPECTS IT. I could take offense to that, but instead I am learning the value of ownership. If someone is invested in something or someone, maybe not financially but maybe socially, people pay attention and people respect it. It’s a weird concept that we, I think as Americans tend to often overlook.
I will give you some examples that I have encountered on this:
I am currently forming a girls’ soccer team, and they lack a lot of supplies, like balls to practice with. I could just buy a ball, its like 12 bucks here for a ball. Cheap right? What’s the big deal right? The big deal here is 12 bucks is two 10 hour days of hard labor here. The big deal is who will take care of a free ball? Nobody. Why would they, it was free. No biggie. SO, we are approaching a different way. We are currently doing some fundraising selling food at soccer tournaments and doing a raffle. Our goal is not huge or unobtainable, it’s 50 bucks. But for these women, to raise 50 bucks for a common goal is a big deal here. You better believe it when we get that 50 bucks and those purchases are made, they will be fighting over the chance of who gets to take care of the balls. Silly. Maybe. More sustainable than the gringa just taking care of it, you betcha. Because now they know they are also capable of teamwork and as well as raising funds for a project. I am going to start counting little successes like these, and then maybe they will start adding up to what I prematurely thought success was defined.
I am also beginning work on a latrine project. Half of the community receives remesas from the states, but for the other half, they are without running water, electricity, and most importantly, a place to do your business. I found this out when I initially completed a health census upon arrival in my community. And this project will be beyond fundraising for funds, because this project wiill be financially expensive. So I am beginning to search for grants etc. However, in order for them to properly care for aid latrines, ownership has to be involved. I am now in the process of securing labor from the community to complete the project, so we will see how that goes.
So I have been adjusting to life here, as silly as that might seem, it’s a big step here in the Peace Corps adventure.
I don’t believe anymore that I am changing the world. I don’t believe that I will change lives. What I do believe is that I will spend the next two years creating sustainable projects that hopefully will help people help themselves. What do I mean when I say sustainable projects? This means being a facilitator in the progress of development so when I leave this place, whatever work was on-going will continue without the gringa. This is hard, because its really tempting to just get things done or just buy that soccer ball for the soccer team. I am learning that when an individual and or on a community level is given and or gifted something, NO ONE APPRECIATES IT OR RESPECTS IT. I could take offense to that, but instead I am learning the value of ownership. If someone is invested in something or someone, maybe not financially but maybe socially, people pay attention and people respect it. It’s a weird concept that we, I think as Americans tend to often overlook.
I will give you some examples that I have encountered on this:
I am currently forming a girls’ soccer team, and they lack a lot of supplies, like balls to practice with. I could just buy a ball, its like 12 bucks here for a ball. Cheap right? What’s the big deal right? The big deal here is 12 bucks is two 10 hour days of hard labor here. The big deal is who will take care of a free ball? Nobody. Why would they, it was free. No biggie. SO, we are approaching a different way. We are currently doing some fundraising selling food at soccer tournaments and doing a raffle. Our goal is not huge or unobtainable, it’s 50 bucks. But for these women, to raise 50 bucks for a common goal is a big deal here. You better believe it when we get that 50 bucks and those purchases are made, they will be fighting over the chance of who gets to take care of the balls. Silly. Maybe. More sustainable than the gringa just taking care of it, you betcha. Because now they know they are also capable of teamwork and as well as raising funds for a project. I am going to start counting little successes like these, and then maybe they will start adding up to what I prematurely thought success was defined.
I am also beginning work on a latrine project. Half of the community receives remesas from the states, but for the other half, they are without running water, electricity, and most importantly, a place to do your business. I found this out when I initially completed a health census upon arrival in my community. And this project will be beyond fundraising for funds, because this project wiill be financially expensive. So I am beginning to search for grants etc. However, in order for them to properly care for aid latrines, ownership has to be involved. I am now in the process of securing labor from the community to complete the project, so we will see how that goes.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Oh home!
So I have been here for a little over 3 months now and so far I have been good, relatively. I mean I haven't gotten terribly ill, nor has anything bad happened to me. But I feel like time is here is getting to a point, where the honeymoon phase is wearing off, and I am like, I moved here, willingly?! I moved to a place that is ungodly hot, where everyone plays their music at uncomfortably loud level, and where there is a lack of the concept for time for anyone and anything. So with my levels of frustrations rising and not seeing a free weekend with gringos in sight, I have decided to make a list of things I like so far about this place to overshadow what might not be so peachy about living here in El Salvador.
-The majority of Salvadorans that I have met have an overwhelming level of generosity without even knowing me.
-The fact that anytime I visit anyone, they will find a chair for me to sit in. (BTW, you are obliged to sit in the chair, in case not to offend)
-I have RELATIVELY good transport, and get anywhere in a day if I wanted
-Coca-cola in glass bottles with REAL sugar
-Riding in the back of a pick up, anywhere
-Eating fruit here in all stages of riping, not like in the states where you wait till its sweet and ripe. They have 4 levels of riping here.
-Almost anywhere here you can see the stars
-I can lay in a hammock all day and its justified
-The lack of urgency for anything
-bucket baths!
-Pupusas, if you havent tried the cheesy goodness, you should!They only cost a cora! Thats quarter to us.
-Curtido, it's like a cabbage vinegar slaw that accompanies the pupusa. Cant eat a pupusa without curtido now!
Ok that is all for now, but just making that list made me feel better being here. I dont want to say that I am homesick, I am just adjusting to life here. It's a very different world down here.
In other news, I have to hold a town hall type meeting in front of my whole community and to think of being in front of emotionless faces, scares me!
-The majority of Salvadorans that I have met have an overwhelming level of generosity without even knowing me.
-The fact that anytime I visit anyone, they will find a chair for me to sit in. (BTW, you are obliged to sit in the chair, in case not to offend)
-I have RELATIVELY good transport, and get anywhere in a day if I wanted
-Coca-cola in glass bottles with REAL sugar
-Riding in the back of a pick up, anywhere
-Eating fruit here in all stages of riping, not like in the states where you wait till its sweet and ripe. They have 4 levels of riping here.
-Almost anywhere here you can see the stars
-I can lay in a hammock all day and its justified
-The lack of urgency for anything
-bucket baths!
-Pupusas, if you havent tried the cheesy goodness, you should!They only cost a cora! Thats quarter to us.
-Curtido, it's like a cabbage vinegar slaw that accompanies the pupusa. Cant eat a pupusa without curtido now!
Ok that is all for now, but just making that list made me feel better being here. I dont want to say that I am homesick, I am just adjusting to life here. It's a very different world down here.
In other news, I have to hold a town hall type meeting in front of my whole community and to think of being in front of emotionless faces, scares me!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Remesa Phenomenon
UPDATE!!
So I have found a house to live in for the next two years! The concept of renting to people in the campo is difficult because they don’t understand non-conventional ways of making money and that of foreigners way of living. Let me give you a picture of what I have been through. I live in a remesa community, meaning that most people here have a relatives or multiple living in the States, Panama, and or Spain for the most part. What I mean by Remesa, remittances in English, money of some value, gets sent home, usually monthly. So that means I have found a house, whose owners live in San Francisco.
Remesas lack long term development. People who depend on that monthly money wire do not think about investing and or saving that money.
Remesas are resources from immigrants in the States, mostly monthly payments back to families.
Remesas are keeping this economy and all while people living in the states are sacrificing their well-being to help their families here in El Salvador. s
First the upside to Remesas. Folks with more money every month have more time than those who HAVE to be in the campo, working the fields (often not their own) for ten dollars a day. Women are likely to be more participatory in projects we, as Peace Corps volunteers, attempt to do. Remesas, more disposable incomes, means larger donations for things/projects/events (Sure am lucky to live in what’s called a “remesa community”). Those “Hermanos Lejanos” (Familiy in states, literally translating to far away brothers) can hook it up for projects, something that is benefiting their community of childhood. In fact, that perkI have already witnessed here in my community. A man, while visiting his dad and mom here contributed several hundred dollars to a fundraiser for the local city council. Remember, even the jobs that a lot of you would never consider doing STILL make more than ten dollars a day, some can make that in an hour. So essentially when those folks return home for a visit, they are ballers, literally.
The downside to Remesas: Remesas don’t give people motivation to get a job and or to better themselves. For people who do not have a loved one in the states, will travel hours to a job and the majority of people in the campo average out to ten dollars a day.
And another issue. Some peoples’ spouses and other family have been living in the states for significant periods of time, sometimes never given the opportunity to come home (you know that whole thing with being illegal).
There are approximately 5.7 million people living here in El Salvador, while an additional approximate 2 million Salvadorans have immigrated to the United States. While in training, we were informed in 2004, 70 percent of El Salvador’s economy were Remesas. A lot of the time, if you are able to work, you find a way to go to the states. Its not because this country sucks or anything, but the lack of jobs available. And we think we got it bad with our unemployment.
Productions comes before consumption in a developing country, thus chances of developing are slim, as they will never develop more than they produce.
So I have found a house to live in for the next two years! The concept of renting to people in the campo is difficult because they don’t understand non-conventional ways of making money and that of foreigners way of living. Let me give you a picture of what I have been through. I live in a remesa community, meaning that most people here have a relatives or multiple living in the States, Panama, and or Spain for the most part. What I mean by Remesa, remittances in English, money of some value, gets sent home, usually monthly. So that means I have found a house, whose owners live in San Francisco.
Remesas lack long term development. People who depend on that monthly money wire do not think about investing and or saving that money.
Remesas are resources from immigrants in the States, mostly monthly payments back to families.
Remesas are keeping this economy and all while people living in the states are sacrificing their well-being to help their families here in El Salvador. s
First the upside to Remesas. Folks with more money every month have more time than those who HAVE to be in the campo, working the fields (often not their own) for ten dollars a day. Women are likely to be more participatory in projects we, as Peace Corps volunteers, attempt to do. Remesas, more disposable incomes, means larger donations for things/projects/events (Sure am lucky to live in what’s called a “remesa community”). Those “Hermanos Lejanos” (Familiy in states, literally translating to far away brothers) can hook it up for projects, something that is benefiting their community of childhood. In fact, that perkI have already witnessed here in my community. A man, while visiting his dad and mom here contributed several hundred dollars to a fundraiser for the local city council. Remember, even the jobs that a lot of you would never consider doing STILL make more than ten dollars a day, some can make that in an hour. So essentially when those folks return home for a visit, they are ballers, literally.
The downside to Remesas: Remesas don’t give people motivation to get a job and or to better themselves. For people who do not have a loved one in the states, will travel hours to a job and the majority of people in the campo average out to ten dollars a day.
And another issue. Some peoples’ spouses and other family have been living in the states for significant periods of time, sometimes never given the opportunity to come home (you know that whole thing with being illegal).
There are approximately 5.7 million people living here in El Salvador, while an additional approximate 2 million Salvadorans have immigrated to the United States. While in training, we were informed in 2004, 70 percent of El Salvador’s economy were Remesas. A lot of the time, if you are able to work, you find a way to go to the states. Its not because this country sucks or anything, but the lack of jobs available. And we think we got it bad with our unemployment.
Productions comes before consumption in a developing country, thus chances of developing are slim, as they will never develop more than they produce.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Alright, definitely time for an update!
So I moved to Guatemala. Well not really, but yeah basically. I live in a village that borders Guatemala and the river is what separates the two countries. I have had trouble with my internet, mainly because service goes in an out here because I am so close to Guatemala. Yesterday marked my third week in my site. Where I am now is where I will be living for the next two years! That's really overwhelming to think like that so I am going to divide my service up into tri-monthly quarters. So for the next three months, I am working on adjusting to my new community as well as doing a census to get to know the community a better. And it's awkward. How many cases of diarrhea have you had in the last two months? When was your last mammogram? Do you know anything HIV/AIDS? Etc. Etc. How much do you make in a month? How much do you receive in Remesas. All awkward questions, for me and them. I have 130 houses to do, so I work on that a bit every day. I am also just doing some diagnostics with different groups in the community to get a better needs assessment and priority rankings for potential projects for the next two years. But mainly it's just adjusting to be the new gringa in town. I am the second volunteer in my site, so they kind of have an idea about our weird behavior and our strange culture. For example, living on my own. That is so weird for them! So I think I will have some luck in being pro-active and make some headway in doing some projects. But we will see.
On another note, I know you all want to visit. I can officially have volunteers in July, but I hear November, December, and January are the best times to come. But naturally, whenever you all can come, let me know! I miss you guys.
So I moved to Guatemala. Well not really, but yeah basically. I live in a village that borders Guatemala and the river is what separates the two countries. I have had trouble with my internet, mainly because service goes in an out here because I am so close to Guatemala. Yesterday marked my third week in my site. Where I am now is where I will be living for the next two years! That's really overwhelming to think like that so I am going to divide my service up into tri-monthly quarters. So for the next three months, I am working on adjusting to my new community as well as doing a census to get to know the community a better. And it's awkward. How many cases of diarrhea have you had in the last two months? When was your last mammogram? Do you know anything HIV/AIDS? Etc. Etc. How much do you make in a month? How much do you receive in Remesas. All awkward questions, for me and them. I have 130 houses to do, so I work on that a bit every day. I am also just doing some diagnostics with different groups in the community to get a better needs assessment and priority rankings for potential projects for the next two years. But mainly it's just adjusting to be the new gringa in town. I am the second volunteer in my site, so they kind of have an idea about our weird behavior and our strange culture. For example, living on my own. That is so weird for them! So I think I will have some luck in being pro-active and make some headway in doing some projects. But we will see.
On another note, I know you all want to visit. I can officially have volunteers in July, but I hear November, December, and January are the best times to come. But naturally, whenever you all can come, let me know! I miss you guys.
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