3 month meeting

October 20, 2011

So yesterday was my big 3 month meeting, where Felix, the Ag program specialist, came to listen and help clear up information for my community if needed. I had a ton of posters to show the results of each one of the meetings I've had up until this point. There were actually almost 30 people that showed up, so I was feeling pretty good about it. There were a ton of people I personally invited that didn't show, which was annoying, but let's just not think about that part. So I basically just presented the needs list the community has provided me through the various meetings we've had. The most common issues that came up include potable water, better overall health (improved diets, access to a health center), latrines, school improvements (better materials, better attendance, a pre-school center, better school health/meals), improved roads and bridges, access to credit, and reforestation (or also better use of firewood). So I presented some ideas I have of types of projects we can try to start, including building improved ovens and stoves that use less firewood and produce less smoke, starting family gardens to improve family health and variety of produce, latrine building projects, a school garden (which I've already started and hope to successfully maintain), and starting more community banks. The hardest part of the meeting was just getting people to talk. That's the toughest thing about meeting here, is the amount of pena, or shame or embarrassment that people have. They'd rather say nothing and get nothing done sometimes than speak up in front of a group and be heard aloud. Really frustrating when you're trying to get the opinion of your community about what types of projects are most important to them. But after a little bit the group warmed up and spoke up about some things. I made two future meetings with some ladies to give a presentation at their houses for the people that live near them about starting a community bank. Many people were interested in building stoves and ovens, after Felix stepped in to help me explain the logistics of it, so I got a list started for that. I had no one speak up about starting a reforestation group so we can start a tree nursery. That was frustrating because everyone stated how important that topic is to them. So why don't you want to help then!? They know what they want and what needs to change but getting them to show up and take action is the hard part.

After the meeting Felix congratulated me and said it looks like things are going well for me, and that my Spanish is really good. I know there's tons of improvements to be made in the Spanish department, but it felt nice hearing that from him. I walked him down the road to the little casita I'm thinking of moving into and had him take a look at it to give me his official Peace Corps say. We talked a bit with the woman who owns the house, and afterwords he told me it's a possibility if I wanted to go for it, but there's a lot to do, which I'm aware of. I need to put in a cement floor (not because I have to, but I want to), put in a latrine and a shower, somehow hook up a water source, buy or otherwise acquire a lavandero for washing clothes, hook up electricity (I'd really like a mini fridge), buy a gas stove for cooking, and some more furniture, like a new bed and larger table for eating and whatnot. Not to mention other odds and ends that I have provided for me now, like dishes. That all comes out to lots of cordobas. But luckily Peace Corps allows us to take out loans from future paychecks to help pay for larger housing issues. Some volunteers build their houses from the ground up, so you can imagine they'd need more money sooner. They say it's tough having less money later, but having your own place is totally worth it. So I'm going to start looking into prices for cement floors, a latrine, and a shower. Those three at least will have to be installed before I can move in. But I get ahead of myself; first I have to talk to the committee of FUMDEC, the womens group, because they actually have an agreement with the owner to use the house for meetings when necessary. But I don't think they'll have too much of an issue since in the end I'll be fixing up the place anyways, and they'd benefit more in the end when I leave them a nice updated house. So we'll see what they have to say.

I want to say thanks to all the awesome people who have been sending me packages filled with goodies. It means a lot to me, and I definitely use every ounce of every item that I get. Since I'm letting my hair grow out these days it's always in my face, but it's luckily at the length that I can tie it back. So hair-ties, the nice ones without the metal band, are a good package-stuffer if you feel the urge. Plus, I've been pinning my bangs off to the side so if you see any cute hair clips, the kind that just bend and snap open and closed, I could use some options for nicer occasions. The hair items sold here are usually really cheap quality. Also, “Airborne”, the citrus flavored cold-preventer pills, are a good idea, since it sucks being sick, and maybe, just maybe, if I could prevent a cold coming on, it would make my week so much better. These are just ideas, of course I don't expect anything because mailing packages can be expensive. But hey, if the holiday spirit is just bursting out and you can't resist sending me Halloween candy, I'll gladly accept! And don't forget: you MUST send me (e-mail is fine) pictures of your carved pumpkins! Me faltan las calabasas! (I'm lacking pumpkins!). I also want to mention that simply sending photos is super awesome. Like my friend Tina recently mentioned in an e-mail (who's currently in training in Peru), sending photos means you get displayed on the family and friends wall in our rooms, which is a good place to be! So they're super important :)

Well, next week starting on Monday is our 3 month language workshop for my whole Ag group. We're going back to the town of Diriamba, in the department of Carazo, to stay with the same families we stayed with during training, since the current group (environment) in training is going to be at their sites visits, so we get their rooms for the week. However, my training family apparently didn't get a trainee this time, most likely because this current training group is smaller than my group was. So I'll be staying with a new family for the week. But I'd like to go visit my old family again and check in with them, especially since I feel my Spanish has improved a bit. So we'll be in our same language groups as before, having class from 8-4pm Monday through Thursday. I'm sure we'll be making time to socialize with everyone again, since this is the first time we'll all be back together again. It'll be nice to see some faces again and catch up on how everyone's sites are treating them.

I hope everyone's doing well and staying healthy.  Sorry, but I've been lazy with the Spanish lessons lately.  Don't forget to check out my pictures: sarahinnica.shutterfly.com

~Sarita~