It’s been five weeks since I’ve been at my site, and I had my asamblea general. This is a meeting with the people from the community to explain what information I have gathered about what projects they want from me. The last update has what I think I will be doing, and that is the information I gathered mostly from the school director and teachers and little bit from a few other people in town. It was really hard gathering this information because I think people in El Salvador are not used to being asked for their opinion straight out. From what I’ve observed, they are given options and then they give their opinion. When I asked them directly for ideas, without any previous direction, it was very hard to get answers. The school had had a meeting with my Peace Corps bosses and the school has worked with Peace Corps Volunteers in the past from other sites nearby, so they had ideas about what they want, which was really good. They were the ones that suggested a small business enterprise and class for the older kids in the mornings when they don’t have school. Also, they requested English classes and computer classes, which is one of our main goals as Youth Development Volunteers in El Salvador.
This past week, I was really busy and was hardly at my house. I’m currently looking for another place to live, but its proving to be a bit difficult because either people don’t want to rent to me, there aren’t places, the houses don’t pass Peace Corps guidelines, or they are too expensive. I hope I can find something soon and get my furniture situation figured out before I get really busy with other stuff. Since I’ve been really busy, I’ve had a lot less time to stress and think about everything that sort of made it really difficult. Also, I have a few friends, or at least people I can hang out with so that’s good as well. It’s also been much easier because the sun has been out, and I’ve been able to do things. On Friday, I was walking to the beach and ran into the Kindergarteners. They all screamed my name, came running up to me, and gave be big hugs. For class, they were on a nature walk to the beach, about a 15 minute, so I walked with them and sat on the beach. It was pretty funny to see them chasing after crabs and what not. It was really fun, and it’s great to have unconditional love sometimes.
Also on Friday, I went to another cooperative that is trying to start a bee business and make honey. The project was started by another volunteer who is leaving in December, so we both hope that I can help these women continue on with their work and make it successful. So, I went and learned how the smoke the bees and change around their hives. We found some dead bees next to one of the boxes, and the two men giving the lesson were debating if it was from ants or pesticides being sprayed on the sugar cane from earlier in the week. It was a lot of fun and very interesting. I don’t really understand how the whole process works, but it was still a lot of fun and I’m really excited to work with them a little bit. Earlier in the week, I went to the other cooperative that makes jewelry and things with tin cans. I sanded pop canes for almost three hours. It was fun though, and I really enjoy hanging out with those women.
In a couple of weeks, I’m headed back for more training on technical information, which is good and makes me a little apprehensive because it will be a lot of information, and I will be overwhelmed with all of it. When I come back from training, I am going to paint a mural on the school wall one week and have art camp another two weeks until Christmas comes. I’m thinking these are going to be really fun and I’m excited about these projects. I’m a little nervous as well because they are my first ones, and I don’t know how they will go, but I think they will be good.
Well, I think that’s “all the news that’s fit to print” for today. I hope all is well on the home front!
No comments:
Post a Comment