We are off tomorrow to Mizque (just south of Coch) and Huari (in the Altiplano, the high, cold, harsh area of Bolivia) for our technical trip. Ill be drilling wells, building banos, and working with water committees for the next week and a half. The anticipation is growing because... we will find out where our sites will be right after the trip!!!! ciao ciao

Pulga, our dog (spanish for flea)

Community Development Activity: Success!

As part of our training we had to do a community development activity, which involved exploring the good things about the community along with the problems. We did this through talking to people in the area (we found that tienda ladies are very helpful and willing to talk as long as you like) as well through more structured projects like having people in our families draw a community map. Through our analysis we found that the local elementary school had horrible bathrooms, and on top of that no water for the kids to wash their hands with afterwards. In basic san, we learned about a project called “tippytops” which are low water using, hand washing devices made from old 2 liter bottles. I along with my team of Brandon, Evan and Amanda made 4 of these for the school and took them there to demonstrate. We talked to 3 classes of 1st and 2nd graders about the importance of washing theirs hands after using the bathroom and before eating. After our hand washing speech, we had a relay race in which the kids ran to us, washed their hands, and then got cookies! The kids were adorable, loved the game, and were overjoyed to play with the gringos. They also were impressed by the ¨tippytops¨and even wanted to learn how to make them for their own homes. We left the school feeling like we had made a small, but important impact on the school.

BOLIVIA BASICS

Peace Corps: Our group is the 45th Peace Corps group in Bolivia (B45!). My project is Basic Sanitation ( Public health, Bathrooms, Water, Trash…) The other half of the group is training for Integrated Education (Health, Education, Gardens…) There are 28 of us; 3 married couples, average age 26, 2/3 females, 1/3 males.

TRAINING:
3 months in total in the Cochabamba region, before going to our sites. We have now completed 5 weeks of training. Training consists of language classes in the mornings. I am with 2 other girls, Anna S. and Sarah N. We switch off having classes at each others houses. Then we have technical training in the afternoons, where we practice things like building banos, water pumps, filtration systems, and learn how to communicate with local water committees...

CLIMATE:
The Cochabamba valley has a nice climate. It is winter now, and the nights and mornings are cold (even freezing some nights), but the days are hot (getting up past 26 C).

TRANSPORTATION:
Micros, are small colorful buses.
Trufis, are white minivans.
Taxis, are taxis.

COST OF LIVING: 8 Bolivianos= 1 US Dollar. In comparison to the US things are CHEAP here, but not when you are making US $2 a day. When we actually enter service, we will make more money, at least enough to pay rent, buy food, basic needs and a little extra. Given the amount we are making right now, a Boliano and dollar are pretty equivalent in my mind, somethings though are surprisingly different.

.5Bs= Small Chocolate milk or Yogurt in a bag
1B=6 mandarinas
1B=1 soda
1B=1 cheese empanada
1B= 6 fresh rolls
2Bs= 2 rolls TP
3Bs= 25 bananas
6Bs= M &Ms or Toblerone
10 Bs= Huari Cerveza
20 Bs= Dinner out
15-30Bs= Box of Cereal

Amanda and I Is it possible this is
Peace Corps Bolivia?

(Our Corpus Cristi BBQ)

Guess who are the
Basic San Girls!
(from Top; Anna,
Sarah, Anna, Amber,
Erin, Hannah)

Walk to spanish class
(A walking bush, typical sight!)

Dona Marcelina

preparing the Corpus

Cristi lunch
Nayra!!

Don Felipe in the

background (I think he may be

chasing our dog out of

the house with the stick)
Bolivian couple plowing

and planting together.

The man maneuvers

the plow while the woman

throws the seeds from her

skirt

Bano worksite,

Basic Sanners

laying the foundation¨Vendame¨

a typical tienda

The canopy bed I´ve been

waiting for my whole life! My room
A group of PC gringos on a walk!

Hannah, Erin, Ryan, Anna

Meera, Sarah, Tom

Mes numero uno!

I have now been in Bolivia for a month and feel that I have learned a lot and am getting more used to being here. I am enjoying living with my Bolivian family. My Bolivian sister Nayra is a wonderful support outlet here. She has helped me learn how to wash my clothes, has taught me traditional Bolivian dances and helps me with Spanish. She is a really good friend, and sister. Spanish is coming along well. I continue to have class at one of 3 houses every morning. Technical training is also going well. In our community we are working on building a “bano ecologico” (sounds better than a dry latrine, but is the same thing). The family that we are building the bano for have 5 children, all under the age of 13. They have never had a bathroom of any sort. We have built the foundation, and are working on the chambers for the tanks. There will be two tanks, which you switch from every 6 months. After 6 months the waste will be dry and can be used as fertilizer. It will have a toilet seat, which is a large improvement over a pit latrine. The family is responsible for getting some of the materials for the project, as well as finishing the surrounding walls. They have been very enthusiastic about the project.

This weekend we had a trash pick up day in another community in coordination with JICA (Japanese Peace Corps), and returned Bolivian Volunteers from 40 years ago. It was a very interesting experience working with both groups. It was pretty amazing to be speaking Spanish to girls from Japan in Bolivia. The enthusiasm of the returned volunteers was also very inspiring. It seems that no matter what kind of project they were here for, they learned so much from the experience that they were able to take with them in their lives.

It often seems like we have been here a lot longer than a month, maybe because we have so much training. We are definitely getting to know each other better. All of the volunteers are unique individuals and I enjoy everyone in their own ways. This past week we had a day off for Corpus Christi and we had a bbq and pool party. I never imagined that there would be a beautiful pool in the middle of our farming community… You never quite know what to expect in Bolivia. It was a great break from our normal busy, busy days.

I’m thinking of and missing everyone in the states. This week has been especially hard with the tragic death of a very influential person in my life, my high school cross country coach, Richard Chenault. My thoughts are with him, his family and all of the people who are mourning the great loss of his life. He will live on through us in our memories, friendships and good works. Richard’s life will continue to be an example of inspiration for me, and everyone who was touched by his passionate spirit.



Things I am still surprised by:
1. Pink toilet paper, and not being able to throw it in the toilet
2. The amount of rice, potatoes and pasta that is eaten within a single meal
3. Having to yell “vendame” (“sell to me”) when I go to a store/tienda to get service
4. People actually talk to eachother in the street
5. The horrible smell of chicken and turkey feathers for fertilizer
6. Having to hold bread or rocks for protection from the dogs (along with the amount of dogs)
7. The mistreatment of animals
8. Domestic violence on the streets
9. Raw meat left in the open air until it is sold or cooked
10. How much stuff Chollitas can fit in their blankets and carry on their backs.
11. The number of times Nayra makes me rinse my clothes after I wash them, and how long it takes.

Things I have pretty much gotten used to:
1. A luke warm electric shower above our toilet
2. Sleeping in a bed tent
3. The freezing mornings and nights, the hot days
4. Going to bed eaaaarly and getting up eaaaaarly
5. Getting shots every week
6. My Bolivian family and their worries about me.
7. The long days of classes
8. Crowded trufi rides
9. Running on the worst kind of cobblestone streets imaginable