mmm empanadas
they make the day so delightful
quick update for those in the dark. Peace Corps was evacuated from Bolivia Sept. 14th 2008 after president Evo Morales kindly asked the ambassador of the US to leave the country. Amazing things going on in Bolivia these days, quite interesting in fact, but maybe not the best place to try and get work done amidst road blocks, gas shortages and consolidations. In my eight months of service we had, I believe, 6 EAP's (emergency action plans), 2 consolidations, and 1 evacuation. Quite the record.
So for those wondering, yes I am still in Peace Corps, but have moved to Peru, the northern province of Piura. Really terrible to leave Bolivia and my Bolivia volunteers, but now we have many people to visit all over the world! Today I am going to site for the first time. It is about four hours on the bus, up in the mountains where i hear it smells like roasting coffee half the year and the other half it rains. I will be living in a much larger community than in Bolivia which will be a change, in a good way. Looking forward to getting settled again and not feeling like I am floating around in PC limbo. The paperwork and transfer process was not the most fun thing to do. But that is done now and I LOVE Bolivia, so much, I cant wait to go back and visit and see all the things I planned to see and do. Someday soon. For now I will concentrate on getting to know Peru. I changed projects from Ag to youth development and am excited to play with kids but still have plans for a community garden and to hang out with the coffee growers some.
new mailing address:
Lebo Moore
Cuerpo de Paz
Apartado Postal 066
SerPost Piura
Piura, Peru
South America
looking to get some postcards out soon! Hope everyone is well. Prayers to Mittens and Grandma and Grandpa are comming from me from across the Panama canal. Maybe I'll see some of you done here soonish, you know Lima has Starbucks....crazy!
will post again with news of the rainforest, maybe I can have a monkey as a pet....?
love
lebo
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
and the beet goes on
It’s been a while. My apologies. I find myself now listening to the varied music collection on the schools computer, backstreet boys for the moment, I might put it on repeat…just saying. I never thought I’d do it, but I made it two consecutive weekends in site and really enjoyed myself. Read two books on worms and spent the days dozing in my room or at the river while all the kids did homework. Had two really great productive, in a peace corps way, weeks and think, if I needed to i.e. more bloqueos kept me from going to Sucre I could probably stay again. In would only need someone to bring me some chocolate. I am embarrassed to recount the number of glasses of chocolate milk I have made. I almost finished 1800g of powdered milk in 14 days! But before I get carried away let me briefly update.
End of June and July was all a mess but nowhere to go but up….
Regional meeting rescheduled but good
Made honey shampoo with some Ag peeps for a fair
Visited some friends for a mental vacation and re-inspiration
First ultimate game midst the chuqui gang and first annual Eduardo Sureña hands
(Sureña being the local brew)
Visitors to site from Cordoba, one being an Argentine George Michael, which I loved (Arrested Development not the singer)
Work wise kinda a bust since three weeks were vacation but I planted a seed bed! Woot!
August arrived
All PC Bolivia (120 of us) got together for a conference, project meetings, open space etc…really enjoyable to meet everyone share ideas, projects what not, it felt like a well deserved vacation. Though work in site isn’t really going yet, I still sleep 10 hours a night and am exhausted from trying to learn everyone’s names and roles and my role and possible projects and ahhh felt good to go swimming multiple times a day, charps* the saunas, beach volleyball and dance my heart out at the all vol cross dressing ball oh and sing about Quinoa with Misahy.
*Meghan and I are slowly translating slang into Spanish
Charps:
Origin: aprovechar pues
Meaning: make use of that, pues, or preferably, tap that
After the all vol came back to site and had those two great weeks. Reason being, well I actually did some stuff. The first week the administrator, the Ag teacher and the fruitculturist and I all made a FODA, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, for the Ag program in the center. We also budgeted for all the projects and made a yearly calendar. It felt really good to be on the same page with everyone and agreeing on things we need to collaborate on. So I guess it gave me a sense of justification, that I really can be a part of the team and make some changes, so that felt good.
Also I made a compost pile, which seems so small, but was so exhilarating. We, the fruit guy and I gave a little lesson on compost and made a demonstration pile and in a day things were heating up and wowed everyone. We are spending way too much money on manure when we can make compost for free. I forgot too that I have started with a school garden in a community a half hours walk up the mountain. I also gave a lesson there on compost and am learning a few Quechua words every time I go. My plan is to go once a week with kids from my site who can teach all the beautiful things they are learning about vegetables.
Instead of just observing the kids in class I actually feel like I have something to contribute and I’m uber stoked about worms now. Actually I have decided to dedicate myself to soil seduction. I don’t just want one box of worms I want lots to harvest eggs from and plant in our soil so little by little we introduce wormy worms who are gonna make us better soil and tastier veggies and fruits. Because the peaches and apples and plums are all flowering now and they are so beautiful I can’t wait to bite into them!
But I have to be careful. I have learned two things
One: The center has had a plethora of people projecting. But nothing has lasted once the volunteer has left. The grapes and olives are dried up almost, the Apiary lost six colonies of bees, the rabbits are in sad shape and the chicken coop was built two years ago with not one penny in the budget to actually buy chickens! Que Marcan! So I am not going to start on a new project until what we have is working well and organized and I’m sure it will continue once I leave.
Two: The changeover in staff and teachers at the center and in the foundation is so quick that I’m actually starting to question if anything is sustainable if the people I work with and teach leave. The kids don’t stay either so who can manage? Just today I was telling my work partner that we found an entire drop irrigation system in the garage that we could totally charps for the vineyards. Because they are dying of thirst and the canal system is a waste of resources, ¨Oh yeah¨ she says ¨they installed that when they planted the grapes and the peach trees but then administration changed and we took it all out¨ Now what do I do with that? It sure doesn’t give much hope for anything I do. That’s why I’m starting from the ground up; literally, I will be the queen of worms, able to bait my own hook next time I’m at the lake!
That pretty much brings us to the here and now. Many more thoughts, feelings, doubts etc have all surfaced and I am ever thankful for skype and being able to talk to mom and dad and Nora for some perspective. Life goes on and my room feels like home, really and I after four months this is what I have learned….
I know that the third bell at 8 means I have two minutes to get in line for Breakfast
That at least once a week we have cow stomach or pig skin and I have to find a way to scalp it to the dog or to the students saying it’s too spicy
I know that if I don’t show up for a meal someone will come find me
And that Don Mario always has cookies or chicha
I know when I go to Sucre I can vent and drink litres of yogurt which I always crave and have tea with Roxanna at our hostel and loose myself at the cinesas in a movie
I know when the padre says we leave Monday morning at 7 it really means 830
And that when someone tells me ahorita me vengo it could be 2 hours or tomorrow
I know all the students and staffs names and they call me yvonniendo and always want their picture taken or a piece of fruit, because they know I buy it for them
I know that it has only been four months and I have twenty to go but I’m not even counting down the days and I love myself in this place and want to share it with any and all who will listen and or visit.
Peas
Love
Lebo
End of June and July was all a mess but nowhere to go but up….
Regional meeting rescheduled but good
Made honey shampoo with some Ag peeps for a fair
Visited some friends for a mental vacation and re-inspiration
First ultimate game midst the chuqui gang and first annual Eduardo Sureña hands
(Sureña being the local brew)
Visitors to site from Cordoba, one being an Argentine George Michael, which I loved (Arrested Development not the singer)
Work wise kinda a bust since three weeks were vacation but I planted a seed bed! Woot!
August arrived
All PC Bolivia (120 of us) got together for a conference, project meetings, open space etc…really enjoyable to meet everyone share ideas, projects what not, it felt like a well deserved vacation. Though work in site isn’t really going yet, I still sleep 10 hours a night and am exhausted from trying to learn everyone’s names and roles and my role and possible projects and ahhh felt good to go swimming multiple times a day, charps* the saunas, beach volleyball and dance my heart out at the all vol cross dressing ball oh and sing about Quinoa with Misahy.
*Meghan and I are slowly translating slang into Spanish
Charps:
Origin: aprovechar pues
Meaning: make use of that, pues, or preferably, tap that
After the all vol came back to site and had those two great weeks. Reason being, well I actually did some stuff. The first week the administrator, the Ag teacher and the fruitculturist and I all made a FODA, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, for the Ag program in the center. We also budgeted for all the projects and made a yearly calendar. It felt really good to be on the same page with everyone and agreeing on things we need to collaborate on. So I guess it gave me a sense of justification, that I really can be a part of the team and make some changes, so that felt good.
Also I made a compost pile, which seems so small, but was so exhilarating. We, the fruit guy and I gave a little lesson on compost and made a demonstration pile and in a day things were heating up and wowed everyone. We are spending way too much money on manure when we can make compost for free. I forgot too that I have started with a school garden in a community a half hours walk up the mountain. I also gave a lesson there on compost and am learning a few Quechua words every time I go. My plan is to go once a week with kids from my site who can teach all the beautiful things they are learning about vegetables.
Instead of just observing the kids in class I actually feel like I have something to contribute and I’m uber stoked about worms now. Actually I have decided to dedicate myself to soil seduction. I don’t just want one box of worms I want lots to harvest eggs from and plant in our soil so little by little we introduce wormy worms who are gonna make us better soil and tastier veggies and fruits. Because the peaches and apples and plums are all flowering now and they are so beautiful I can’t wait to bite into them!
But I have to be careful. I have learned two things
One: The center has had a plethora of people projecting. But nothing has lasted once the volunteer has left. The grapes and olives are dried up almost, the Apiary lost six colonies of bees, the rabbits are in sad shape and the chicken coop was built two years ago with not one penny in the budget to actually buy chickens! Que Marcan! So I am not going to start on a new project until what we have is working well and organized and I’m sure it will continue once I leave.
Two: The changeover in staff and teachers at the center and in the foundation is so quick that I’m actually starting to question if anything is sustainable if the people I work with and teach leave. The kids don’t stay either so who can manage? Just today I was telling my work partner that we found an entire drop irrigation system in the garage that we could totally charps for the vineyards. Because they are dying of thirst and the canal system is a waste of resources, ¨Oh yeah¨ she says ¨they installed that when they planted the grapes and the peach trees but then administration changed and we took it all out¨ Now what do I do with that? It sure doesn’t give much hope for anything I do. That’s why I’m starting from the ground up; literally, I will be the queen of worms, able to bait my own hook next time I’m at the lake!
That pretty much brings us to the here and now. Many more thoughts, feelings, doubts etc have all surfaced and I am ever thankful for skype and being able to talk to mom and dad and Nora for some perspective. Life goes on and my room feels like home, really and I after four months this is what I have learned….
I know that the third bell at 8 means I have two minutes to get in line for Breakfast
That at least once a week we have cow stomach or pig skin and I have to find a way to scalp it to the dog or to the students saying it’s too spicy
I know that if I don’t show up for a meal someone will come find me
And that Don Mario always has cookies or chicha
I know when I go to Sucre I can vent and drink litres of yogurt which I always crave and have tea with Roxanna at our hostel and loose myself at the cinesas in a movie
I know when the padre says we leave Monday morning at 7 it really means 830
And that when someone tells me ahorita me vengo it could be 2 hours or tomorrow
I know all the students and staffs names and they call me yvonniendo and always want their picture taken or a piece of fruit, because they know I buy it for them
I know that it has only been four months and I have twenty to go but I’m not even counting down the days and I love myself in this place and want to share it with any and all who will listen and or visit.
Peas
Love
Lebo
Sunday, July 13, 2008
sorry i have not been so vocal lately much has happeed. wrote a lot down but my computer doesnt want to turn on for me to upload anything. kinda knew it would happen at some point, wasbanking on it lasting more than six months though. amazing how it is the last thing on my mind though. Six months! amazing and I can tell you what a crazy ride. I have been up and down this rollercoaster of emotions high high up and far far down as some have had the pleasure to hear, my experience is all over the place.
a little frazzled to write much we shall try to coax my comp to be kind and let me use her a bit more. wont be in for a while but ill try and find a way to keep updated.
really hope you are all doing well and being very good to yourselfs.
i love you dearly
lebo
a little frazzled to write much we shall try to coax my comp to be kind and let me use her a bit more. wont be in for a while but ill try and find a way to keep updated.
really hope you are all doing well and being very good to yourselfs.
i love you dearly
lebo
Sunday, June 1, 2008
and that is why you eat pancakes with a friend
May 25th
Today is a great day. I knew it waking up too. Not only have I decided that at this point for me Rubber Soul is the greatest Beatles album ever, but two things happened today. I was reminded of life before Bolivia (LBB) and it made me realize why I am so happy here.
One: Mom and Dad sent me some pictures I had taken last summer and fall of school friends and ropes course buddies in NY. I hung them on my wall and it was like I had forgotten everything I had been doing last year. Sad, but it made me happy to have a reminder and made me feel settled here in my room with pictures of my friends and of things past that were lovely. I realized I was busy and happy enough to be well involved in my work here, which is a really stupendous thing.
Two: After lunch today I helped with the bread. We make it once a week, enough to last the week. That’s a lot of bread, one roll per person twice a day. A lot of bread. Anyway, amidst the rolling, placing, transporting to the clay oven up the hill, quickly baking and testing the warm doughy goodness I somehow got to thinking about dance. And I decided I was quite lucky to be in this little valley as the sun was setting making bread and jokes with my friends and though I miss dance it just is a lot better this way. Plus I bought this felt bell shaped hat this weekend. It is so rad.
“ The future still looks good
And you’ve got time to rectify
all of the things you should
Do what you want to do
Go where your going to
Think for yourself ”
- Think for yourself, The Beatles, Rubber Soul
One problem with those lyrics is the word “should”. I don’t like it. I think that it has a negative connotation. Think about it, anytime you say “I should do this or that” “you should go here or there” it implies something that you don’t necessarily want to do but have to. The only time I can see the word doing any good is when you are working on something and out of confusion you use it. Example: this should work. But then again if it doesn’t work and you want it to that can be negative as well. So lately I have been trying to use the word less. Unfortunately it seems to be similar to when you learn a new word, it pops up everywhere. So now I think I am saying it more than I used to, I really should stop…haha see negative vibe, I know you felt it. Now what makes it negative? Seems to me this linguistic dilemma of mine stems from my recent adjustment to la hora Boliviana. Knowing that things will happen in good time and not worrying if they aren’t finished in time. In time for what? In what time? Is how the Bolivians live. Anyway I don’t limit myself and certainly don’t do anything I don’t want to. That is all. I still like the song.
I thought about “should” more. I guess it can be useful in some ways as a sort of motivator. Hmmm now I am torn.
Spotted: on a brisk fall morning, 7:30 am in the chapel. The Annunciation by Fra Angelico, tucked into a corner illuminating a small space with the glory of the angel Gabriel’s multi-colored wings.
June 1 2008
Don Hugo asked if I wanted to give art history classes! How awesome would that be little cultural sessions on Saturdays of course starting with the Venus of Willendorf all the way to what…anything I suppose, though I would probably load up on all my favorites! Not so sure it is something that would interest the gatos, but if I had enough pictures it may work. Really I just want to emulate Ms. Glynn, my high school humanities teacher who instilled the love for art in me. I remember her asking if we could own any piece of art what would it be. I said a Della Robbia blue ceramic piece from the Della Robbia factory in Florence. They made white ceramic busts and sculptures that had this deep blue background. No one could ever replicate the blue. They are gorgeous. I would still want that and a Matisse.
Made banana bread for mothers day somehow managed to feed 120 people that showed up
Danced barefoot circles in a maroon toga
Noticed excellent improvement in two bee hives
Started a community bank with the graduating class
Made pasta for the teachers who drenched it in ketchup and mustard
Managed the phone in site for a week, something I refuse to do again
7 layer dip with Helen for the potluck
Pancakes with syrup and jam
Chocolate with coffee
Today is a great day. I knew it waking up too. Not only have I decided that at this point for me Rubber Soul is the greatest Beatles album ever, but two things happened today. I was reminded of life before Bolivia (LBB) and it made me realize why I am so happy here.
One: Mom and Dad sent me some pictures I had taken last summer and fall of school friends and ropes course buddies in NY. I hung them on my wall and it was like I had forgotten everything I had been doing last year. Sad, but it made me happy to have a reminder and made me feel settled here in my room with pictures of my friends and of things past that were lovely. I realized I was busy and happy enough to be well involved in my work here, which is a really stupendous thing.
Two: After lunch today I helped with the bread. We make it once a week, enough to last the week. That’s a lot of bread, one roll per person twice a day. A lot of bread. Anyway, amidst the rolling, placing, transporting to the clay oven up the hill, quickly baking and testing the warm doughy goodness I somehow got to thinking about dance. And I decided I was quite lucky to be in this little valley as the sun was setting making bread and jokes with my friends and though I miss dance it just is a lot better this way. Plus I bought this felt bell shaped hat this weekend. It is so rad.
“ The future still looks good
And you’ve got time to rectify
all of the things you should
Do what you want to do
Go where your going to
Think for yourself ”
- Think for yourself, The Beatles, Rubber Soul
One problem with those lyrics is the word “should”. I don’t like it. I think that it has a negative connotation. Think about it, anytime you say “I should do this or that” “you should go here or there” it implies something that you don’t necessarily want to do but have to. The only time I can see the word doing any good is when you are working on something and out of confusion you use it. Example: this should work. But then again if it doesn’t work and you want it to that can be negative as well. So lately I have been trying to use the word less. Unfortunately it seems to be similar to when you learn a new word, it pops up everywhere. So now I think I am saying it more than I used to, I really should stop…haha see negative vibe, I know you felt it. Now what makes it negative? Seems to me this linguistic dilemma of mine stems from my recent adjustment to la hora Boliviana. Knowing that things will happen in good time and not worrying if they aren’t finished in time. In time for what? In what time? Is how the Bolivians live. Anyway I don’t limit myself and certainly don’t do anything I don’t want to. That is all. I still like the song.
I thought about “should” more. I guess it can be useful in some ways as a sort of motivator. Hmmm now I am torn.
Spotted: on a brisk fall morning, 7:30 am in the chapel. The Annunciation by Fra Angelico, tucked into a corner illuminating a small space with the glory of the angel Gabriel’s multi-colored wings.
June 1 2008
Don Hugo asked if I wanted to give art history classes! How awesome would that be little cultural sessions on Saturdays of course starting with the Venus of Willendorf all the way to what…anything I suppose, though I would probably load up on all my favorites! Not so sure it is something that would interest the gatos, but if I had enough pictures it may work. Really I just want to emulate Ms. Glynn, my high school humanities teacher who instilled the love for art in me. I remember her asking if we could own any piece of art what would it be. I said a Della Robbia blue ceramic piece from the Della Robbia factory in Florence. They made white ceramic busts and sculptures that had this deep blue background. No one could ever replicate the blue. They are gorgeous. I would still want that and a Matisse.
Made banana bread for mothers day somehow managed to feed 120 people that showed up
Danced barefoot circles in a maroon toga
Noticed excellent improvement in two bee hives
Started a community bank with the graduating class
Made pasta for the teachers who drenched it in ketchup and mustard
Managed the phone in site for a week, something I refuse to do again
7 layer dip with Helen for the potluck
Pancakes with syrup and jam
Chocolate with coffee
pulling back the curtain
May 22 2008
Don Hugo of course has a burly semi cholita wife. Don Hugo is the administrator of the center. He is new, only has been working for about a year but a real whippersnapper of a guy. Mid sixties I would say, real skinny and well dressed. Today he was wearing a camel v neck sweater with a blue, gray and white plaid scarf tucked nicely into the front. His jeans are always clean and he always wears his hat, always. And he looks kind of like a cartoon character. Oh and he loves his pocket knife. Always finding reasons to use it and I think enjoying those moments quite simply. Sometimes he stresses me out, other times I am so glad we sit at the same table in the dinning room. Often I feel like everyday he has a new project for us to work on.
“Sabes que” (you know) he will say, “ a tourist agency contacted me we can work with them”
or, “ I talked to the mayors office they could buy part of our harvest for the meal programs in the schools”
“ oh and did you know that with the five rabbits we have now we could have fifty in six months,”
Of course I agree enthusiastically, really I am excited but then the list gets longer everyday and I don’t know where to start working. Good news is though that I finished the project proposal for the bees to be presented to the Foundation so we may get some funding sooner than I thought. Plus this means I already have a project written for when I can submit to Peace Corps! Yeah! And I am eating raspberry jam by the spoonful as I write because well it is raspberry jam and I don’t have any bread, am sick of moraditas which here is a whole sixth food group and I wanted something sweet after lunch, besides the chocolate milk. First glass of the day, sometimes it is only one, other days its three. Why is powdered milk so good, you tell me, I just couldn’t live without it. Couldn’t live without Don Hugo at my table either because without him awkward silence especially since the gatos changed seats so we have a new group. They don’t talk and when I ask questions always one worded answers even though outside the dining room we converse normally. I don’t get it. And Luisa she is great, really invested in her work, but she’s so funny she gives Guillermo her potatoes out of her soup everyday but then eats the ones in the second plate because she says they taste better??. I don’t get it they taste the same to me, like a potato. So Don Hugo’s wife is here for her first visit and she is exactly the impressive big personality one would expect to accompany such a strict determined guy. And she has pink crocs!
Saturday we get to march in a parade for the anniversary of Chuquisaca. Last night we spent an hour marching around the cancha (sports court) in the cold. I didn’t march I guess the teachers just walk behind the students. I have to buy a light pink dress shirt and black pants for the occasion. Odd choice of colors since the flag is red yellow and green. Speaking of colors the Bolivians are mad for red and navy blue. Like every other piece of clothing they have is one of those colors. One day Nabel wore a lime green shirt and it floored me. I kind of forgot about green. I love green. So I went out and bought a green paper lantern to hang over my bare light bulb. Miiiiistake. Once I finally found a ladder to reach my very high ceiling I was doused in a eerie hospital twilight zone glow. Awful. I think because the walls are so white the light just has nothing to blend with, its creepy I need to change it but the ladder was so scary I have to wait a few days.
When I first read my site description, I was so excited about being around high school kids, learning from them and being there in case they needed to talk. That’s what Pepe told me at first was that being so far from home they often need someone to talk to. Great sign me up.
So two things.
They have sought out my advice which is awesome and so soon. After a month I have people coming to my room after dinner to talk get help with homework etc.. Problem is that I just don’t have the words in Spanish yet. I keep giving the same advice over and over again because I don’t know how to say anything more in depth. Very frustrating. And the problems are so sad. Nothing kids this age need to deal with. It all leads back to money, money for tuition, money for their sick family members, money for the baby they just had etc.. breaks my heart cause I can’t give them money and then what I am doing seems rather trivial even though I know its not and really is better in the end but it is so hard to listen to their stories and to empathize and understand and not feel guilty. Especially since they are my friends and I would do anything for them.
Second problem.
They are high school students. I knew this but didn’t remember what that meant. The foundation works with university students studying psychology so twice a month they come for a few days to give presentations to the teachers and talk with and observe the kids. Last week we had presentations all about relationships and identity and all the awkwardness of adolescents I soo quickly forgot about even though it isn’t that far behind me. So then that led into thoughts and discussions about behavior and discipline. It seems like after every meal the principle has something to say to all or some of the students some punishment or lecture and so we sit on stools without backs for a half an hour sometimes listening, feeling worse and worse about our behavior. Thankfully the psychologists said this had to end because we were beginning to associate the end of a meal with a lecture and negative feelings. So that’s good, but things keep happening. Cell phones are stolen at least once a week. Why? There is no where to go, 60 people is not that big and someone is gonna get caught, where do they think they will hide it???
A couple weeks ago some kids stole vegetables from a neighbors garden. Turns out the neighbor is the one helping us build the canal we so desperately need for all of our dried up gardens, orchards and vineyards. So then the gatos had to pay, of course they couldn’t round up the 80 Bs so then they had to work, keeping them out of school, giving the school a bad reputation round the hood and the guy didn’t want to continue helping. Machetes are missing everyday after agriculture classes and are found under the pile of potatoes in the garage! I don’t know if they are bored or tired, definitely hunger is a reason for stealing veggies. I don’t want to think what it will be like once we have honey, pretty soon all the honey will be gone, nothing to sell nothing for the bees to eat. it’s a rough time. I don’t envy them and I am scrapping my brain for things to keep them busy. I really want to play sardines and kick the can but its sooo cold at night might have to wait.
Not all of what goes on round here, but a few examples. My mornings are still time for cleaning and working on my own things and the afternoons are Ag classes. Throughout the week I will stop in on Dona Marina and help with lunch or dinner. We gave our first bee class on Monday, simple theory stuff to start while we wait for materials to actually get the gatos working with the bees. I go to the morning prayer twice a week. Sundays and Wed. sometimes Friday for a whole mass when the priest comes. I have some favorite songs and on the days I don’t go I like laying in my bed listening to them sing. I have fire now so I planned 12 menus. 12 Wednesdays when I will invite a group of four to make our own dinner and get to know each other better. Quite amazed at how quickly the time is passing and love the days when I can sit in my balcony open all three sets of doors in my room and let the afternoon sun make it all nice and cozy for the cold nights. That’s when I read or write letters and watch the gatos go swimming, too cold for me still.
Weird how it feels like this is exactly where I want to be right now. Good. Though I think of NY all the time and Backus and summers on the porch in my house on Niles on the futon spending a whole day reading cause I know that’s what Nora does on the weekends and everyone is going up to the lake at some point and the summer movies and concerts in the parks are starting and central park picnics can’t be beat. But then again, I am going to Sucre soon and will explode with all the English words I have been wanting to say and eat brownies and Chinese food and maybe the SAS (grocery store) has brought back the Dr. Pepper or fountain Fanta and we can go see a movie and people will call me Lebo. I don’t mind Yvonne, just not used to it and well my attempts at changing it haven’t taken.
Don Hugo of course has a burly semi cholita wife. Don Hugo is the administrator of the center. He is new, only has been working for about a year but a real whippersnapper of a guy. Mid sixties I would say, real skinny and well dressed. Today he was wearing a camel v neck sweater with a blue, gray and white plaid scarf tucked nicely into the front. His jeans are always clean and he always wears his hat, always. And he looks kind of like a cartoon character. Oh and he loves his pocket knife. Always finding reasons to use it and I think enjoying those moments quite simply. Sometimes he stresses me out, other times I am so glad we sit at the same table in the dinning room. Often I feel like everyday he has a new project for us to work on.
“Sabes que” (you know) he will say, “ a tourist agency contacted me we can work with them”
or, “ I talked to the mayors office they could buy part of our harvest for the meal programs in the schools”
“ oh and did you know that with the five rabbits we have now we could have fifty in six months,”
Of course I agree enthusiastically, really I am excited but then the list gets longer everyday and I don’t know where to start working. Good news is though that I finished the project proposal for the bees to be presented to the Foundation so we may get some funding sooner than I thought. Plus this means I already have a project written for when I can submit to Peace Corps! Yeah! And I am eating raspberry jam by the spoonful as I write because well it is raspberry jam and I don’t have any bread, am sick of moraditas which here is a whole sixth food group and I wanted something sweet after lunch, besides the chocolate milk. First glass of the day, sometimes it is only one, other days its three. Why is powdered milk so good, you tell me, I just couldn’t live without it. Couldn’t live without Don Hugo at my table either because without him awkward silence especially since the gatos changed seats so we have a new group. They don’t talk and when I ask questions always one worded answers even though outside the dining room we converse normally. I don’t get it. And Luisa she is great, really invested in her work, but she’s so funny she gives Guillermo her potatoes out of her soup everyday but then eats the ones in the second plate because she says they taste better??. I don’t get it they taste the same to me, like a potato. So Don Hugo’s wife is here for her first visit and she is exactly the impressive big personality one would expect to accompany such a strict determined guy. And she has pink crocs!
Saturday we get to march in a parade for the anniversary of Chuquisaca. Last night we spent an hour marching around the cancha (sports court) in the cold. I didn’t march I guess the teachers just walk behind the students. I have to buy a light pink dress shirt and black pants for the occasion. Odd choice of colors since the flag is red yellow and green. Speaking of colors the Bolivians are mad for red and navy blue. Like every other piece of clothing they have is one of those colors. One day Nabel wore a lime green shirt and it floored me. I kind of forgot about green. I love green. So I went out and bought a green paper lantern to hang over my bare light bulb. Miiiiistake. Once I finally found a ladder to reach my very high ceiling I was doused in a eerie hospital twilight zone glow. Awful. I think because the walls are so white the light just has nothing to blend with, its creepy I need to change it but the ladder was so scary I have to wait a few days.
When I first read my site description, I was so excited about being around high school kids, learning from them and being there in case they needed to talk. That’s what Pepe told me at first was that being so far from home they often need someone to talk to. Great sign me up.
So two things.
They have sought out my advice which is awesome and so soon. After a month I have people coming to my room after dinner to talk get help with homework etc.. Problem is that I just don’t have the words in Spanish yet. I keep giving the same advice over and over again because I don’t know how to say anything more in depth. Very frustrating. And the problems are so sad. Nothing kids this age need to deal with. It all leads back to money, money for tuition, money for their sick family members, money for the baby they just had etc.. breaks my heart cause I can’t give them money and then what I am doing seems rather trivial even though I know its not and really is better in the end but it is so hard to listen to their stories and to empathize and understand and not feel guilty. Especially since they are my friends and I would do anything for them.
Second problem.
They are high school students. I knew this but didn’t remember what that meant. The foundation works with university students studying psychology so twice a month they come for a few days to give presentations to the teachers and talk with and observe the kids. Last week we had presentations all about relationships and identity and all the awkwardness of adolescents I soo quickly forgot about even though it isn’t that far behind me. So then that led into thoughts and discussions about behavior and discipline. It seems like after every meal the principle has something to say to all or some of the students some punishment or lecture and so we sit on stools without backs for a half an hour sometimes listening, feeling worse and worse about our behavior. Thankfully the psychologists said this had to end because we were beginning to associate the end of a meal with a lecture and negative feelings. So that’s good, but things keep happening. Cell phones are stolen at least once a week. Why? There is no where to go, 60 people is not that big and someone is gonna get caught, where do they think they will hide it???
A couple weeks ago some kids stole vegetables from a neighbors garden. Turns out the neighbor is the one helping us build the canal we so desperately need for all of our dried up gardens, orchards and vineyards. So then the gatos had to pay, of course they couldn’t round up the 80 Bs so then they had to work, keeping them out of school, giving the school a bad reputation round the hood and the guy didn’t want to continue helping. Machetes are missing everyday after agriculture classes and are found under the pile of potatoes in the garage! I don’t know if they are bored or tired, definitely hunger is a reason for stealing veggies. I don’t want to think what it will be like once we have honey, pretty soon all the honey will be gone, nothing to sell nothing for the bees to eat. it’s a rough time. I don’t envy them and I am scrapping my brain for things to keep them busy. I really want to play sardines and kick the can but its sooo cold at night might have to wait.
Not all of what goes on round here, but a few examples. My mornings are still time for cleaning and working on my own things and the afternoons are Ag classes. Throughout the week I will stop in on Dona Marina and help with lunch or dinner. We gave our first bee class on Monday, simple theory stuff to start while we wait for materials to actually get the gatos working with the bees. I go to the morning prayer twice a week. Sundays and Wed. sometimes Friday for a whole mass when the priest comes. I have some favorite songs and on the days I don’t go I like laying in my bed listening to them sing. I have fire now so I planned 12 menus. 12 Wednesdays when I will invite a group of four to make our own dinner and get to know each other better. Quite amazed at how quickly the time is passing and love the days when I can sit in my balcony open all three sets of doors in my room and let the afternoon sun make it all nice and cozy for the cold nights. That’s when I read or write letters and watch the gatos go swimming, too cold for me still.
Weird how it feels like this is exactly where I want to be right now. Good. Though I think of NY all the time and Backus and summers on the porch in my house on Niles on the futon spending a whole day reading cause I know that’s what Nora does on the weekends and everyone is going up to the lake at some point and the summer movies and concerts in the parks are starting and central park picnics can’t be beat. But then again, I am going to Sucre soon and will explode with all the English words I have been wanting to say and eat brownies and Chinese food and maybe the SAS (grocery store) has brought back the Dr. Pepper or fountain Fanta and we can go see a movie and people will call me Lebo. I don’t mind Yvonne, just not used to it and well my attempts at changing it haven’t taken.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
The Sound of Silence wakes me every morning as the gatos sing their own Spanish version...
May 8th 2008
Almost another weeks has passed and I am in awe. Though I have experienced in the thousands moments in which I don’t really know what to do with myself , I have read almost three books and have reflected a lot. On everything under the hot sun set against the blue blue blue sky so blue you cant breathe if you think about the blueness for too long. I really felt like I was drowning in blue one day and I couldn’t pull myself out. I used to think the blue in NY was awesome because on clear days the numerous skyscrapers reaching up into the endless sky made the blue seem like the background of a painting we in our busy goings and comings were stuck inside. It was awesome but creepy. Here in Bolivia the blue is much purer and there is nothing even trying to breach its shores. That’s frightening. And the night sky, a whole different story. The stars are brilliantly endless. Anyway, lots of conversations and being silly so we can laugh together. Slightly swollen arm from some bee stings but sweet honey to taste away the bother.
The problem with my little home here is the number of projects available, I don’t know where to start. The bees are good, but it is a slow process especially since we lack materials. So then I got to thinking why wait to buy suits and smokers and hive tools and boxes when we have sewing, carpentry and metal works classes. We can make our own. That lead to the realization that Sucre doesn’t have a store where bee keepers can buy supplies. You need to go to Santa Cruz or Cochabamba. If we are going to make our own materials, then couldn’t we also make them to sell…? So that on top of managing the colonies and teaching the Gatos about beekeeping.
Gardens are also in need of improvement, mostly intercropping and better watering systems. But then I realized that during the summer, the growing season, all the kids leave. So who is going to water and harvest etc.. me and Don Mario? Not so much. Plus that’s when all the honey harvests are too, the summer, duh. So my idea here is to research a bit about WWOOFING. Willing Workers on Organic Farms. An Australian organization that is quite global, I think. People sign up and are sent around the world to work on farms. No pay but room and board and the chance to live and work somewhere else for a stint. So my idea is to combine the garden problem with our lack of tourism. Make a whole eco green tourist hot spot. Bring the tourists in the summer months to help with the bees and gardens and such. We have plenty of rooms and a communal kitchen/dining room….the wheels are a turning, merely ideas but like I said soooo much time to think. Though two years is a long time I may need to think more realistically about the way things move, but aim big right.
There are countless opportunities to have exercise classes, English lessons, art and dance classes. These Gatos soak up everything with twinkles brewing in their eyes. So far their only form of entertainment is football and on special occasions they get stuck in front of the TV. Best so far the principle of the school said today that they couldn’t watch a movie with any violence in it, but that they could watch the news. For any of you who have seen the Bolivian news it is rather like an action film with nothing but dramatized stories about murders and blockades, riots and scandals. I laughed to myself!
Excellent part last night for may birthdays we even got to dance to our own music! Wanting to return to site so I can work on settling in. Figured out a color scheme for the room got a wardrobe to make some paper lanterns to hang and a budget proposal to work on for the bee project. Went fabric pricing with the sewing teacher yesterday to figure out how much it would cost to make our suits, real fun and now I know where the fabric stores are for any other projects I might dream up!
More musings as they come to me.
later
May 1, 2008
Today there was ropa interior stolen from the girls dormitory and tacked to the backboard of the basketball hoop in the cancha. Before that was addressed, however, we raised the Bolivian flag and sang the national anthem. I expect to have it memorized within these first strange three months. Strange for it seemed like I was on vacation as I had my coffee and plums on my balcony, my supplementary breakfast, while everyone was getting ready for classes to start.
Moved on to plant broccoli and utilized the gravity fed irrigation trenches we dug to water. Tomorrow to the bees if I don’t die from eating cow stomach again. My own gas tank is imminent as asking to boil water for a single cup of green tea everyday is taxing. Loft has been approved and may even be finished before I put up the sleeping cage. Can’t wait to have somewhere to plop down, to couch, if you will. Bolivians don’t plop. They don’t perch either. They slouch, I think, sink, and saunter. What do you think? I am proud of my patience so far. I can sit and watch for hours nothing in particular and once I am tired of asking questions, silent dinners pass less awkwardly. The best of today came at dusk as I finished helping someone level their garden plot. I looked up and the remaining bits of sun filtered through the mountains uncovered all the tiny specks of dust. Millions of particles floating along in no particular direction reacting somehow to whatever came their way paying no attention to amazed me.
You know the ever reliant mound of rice. Well today instead of rice it was quinoa, sweet right, guess again because well instead of potatoes or pasta on the side it was more quinoa, a protein Everest. Unfortunately, I couldn’t even use the energy in the soccer tournament because our team played our games in the morning. I was goalie won and then lost, so I helped make bread for the rest of the day. Fascinating experience though, last night, trying to organize the tournament. Four guys teams three girls not that hard right. Well it took the kids about an hour to get everything straight, I was so tired I slept for ten hours, and felt oh so good this morning. Oh but during the game one girl twisted her ankle pretty bad and I spent fifteen minutes trying to convince the groundskeeper that she needed to elevate it and put something cold on it, he insisted that mule grease was sufficient, end of story.
Loft fell through, not literally, that would be sad, plaster all over my magenta shower curtain. Did you know that my shower curtain is magenta? With silver spirals to boot, and I didn’t even pick it out. I did however pick out a matching towel without even knowing. My bathroom is pink, it is a beautiful thing. But yeah the top of the bathroom isn’t finished, the ceiling is but above it is not covered. I need some plywood or planks of sorts then mattresses. Ahh well TIB.
I spent a day gluing rice to a wall. Actually it was more like flinging rice at the wall hoping it would stick to the sugary paste we applied beforehand. Brother Hector, from Chile, is constructing a pub, for the non existent tourists. Before I thought his interior design couldn’t get anymore wonderfully tacky the rice happened, and then we spray painted the rice multicolor, oh yeeah! And the rest of the room has a border of horses and bulls and lizards and chickens and elephants and there are these little vignettes of campo like scenes and every color imaginable is represented except purple which saddens me because it is such a soothing color. Who knew it would feel so satisfying to fling rice, though I may have inhaled a bit too much of the paint, it was worth it to pass the time while my new friends were in their academic classes.
The gardens are growing, and we turned compost piles the other day, almost ready for worms! My main job has been to check in and out tools, lame but it helps me learn names and plus I don’t want to do the work for the kids, that’s even lamer. Yo, we have like an uber population of bees that are outta control. Miriam, my counterpart, and Jose, the guy who is writing his thesis on bees, and I checked out the hives a few days back. Three really strong colonies with honey even in the alzas but there weren’t enough frames so we had to attach comb and add frames and well they need a lot of work but super stoked to start having bee classes. I want to have a bee song, suggestions welcome….And I want to teach the kids football and Jose Limon’s modern dance technique. It is all about fall and recovery and these kids are doing such while playing soccer falling so gracefully so as not to hurt themselves too badly on the concrete. In Limon you gather up energy till you can’t hold it in any longer and swoosh out it goes in a turn, jump, fall, mmm satisfying.
Almost another weeks has passed and I am in awe. Though I have experienced in the thousands moments in which I don’t really know what to do with myself , I have read almost three books and have reflected a lot. On everything under the hot sun set against the blue blue blue sky so blue you cant breathe if you think about the blueness for too long. I really felt like I was drowning in blue one day and I couldn’t pull myself out. I used to think the blue in NY was awesome because on clear days the numerous skyscrapers reaching up into the endless sky made the blue seem like the background of a painting we in our busy goings and comings were stuck inside. It was awesome but creepy. Here in Bolivia the blue is much purer and there is nothing even trying to breach its shores. That’s frightening. And the night sky, a whole different story. The stars are brilliantly endless. Anyway, lots of conversations and being silly so we can laugh together. Slightly swollen arm from some bee stings but sweet honey to taste away the bother.
The problem with my little home here is the number of projects available, I don’t know where to start. The bees are good, but it is a slow process especially since we lack materials. So then I got to thinking why wait to buy suits and smokers and hive tools and boxes when we have sewing, carpentry and metal works classes. We can make our own. That lead to the realization that Sucre doesn’t have a store where bee keepers can buy supplies. You need to go to Santa Cruz or Cochabamba. If we are going to make our own materials, then couldn’t we also make them to sell…? So that on top of managing the colonies and teaching the Gatos about beekeeping.
Gardens are also in need of improvement, mostly intercropping and better watering systems. But then I realized that during the summer, the growing season, all the kids leave. So who is going to water and harvest etc.. me and Don Mario? Not so much. Plus that’s when all the honey harvests are too, the summer, duh. So my idea here is to research a bit about WWOOFING. Willing Workers on Organic Farms. An Australian organization that is quite global, I think. People sign up and are sent around the world to work on farms. No pay but room and board and the chance to live and work somewhere else for a stint. So my idea is to combine the garden problem with our lack of tourism. Make a whole eco green tourist hot spot. Bring the tourists in the summer months to help with the bees and gardens and such. We have plenty of rooms and a communal kitchen/dining room….the wheels are a turning, merely ideas but like I said soooo much time to think. Though two years is a long time I may need to think more realistically about the way things move, but aim big right.
There are countless opportunities to have exercise classes, English lessons, art and dance classes. These Gatos soak up everything with twinkles brewing in their eyes. So far their only form of entertainment is football and on special occasions they get stuck in front of the TV. Best so far the principle of the school said today that they couldn’t watch a movie with any violence in it, but that they could watch the news. For any of you who have seen the Bolivian news it is rather like an action film with nothing but dramatized stories about murders and blockades, riots and scandals. I laughed to myself!
Excellent part last night for may birthdays we even got to dance to our own music! Wanting to return to site so I can work on settling in. Figured out a color scheme for the room got a wardrobe to make some paper lanterns to hang and a budget proposal to work on for the bee project. Went fabric pricing with the sewing teacher yesterday to figure out how much it would cost to make our suits, real fun and now I know where the fabric stores are for any other projects I might dream up!
More musings as they come to me.
later
May 1, 2008
Today there was ropa interior stolen from the girls dormitory and tacked to the backboard of the basketball hoop in the cancha. Before that was addressed, however, we raised the Bolivian flag and sang the national anthem. I expect to have it memorized within these first strange three months. Strange for it seemed like I was on vacation as I had my coffee and plums on my balcony, my supplementary breakfast, while everyone was getting ready for classes to start.
Moved on to plant broccoli and utilized the gravity fed irrigation trenches we dug to water. Tomorrow to the bees if I don’t die from eating cow stomach again. My own gas tank is imminent as asking to boil water for a single cup of green tea everyday is taxing. Loft has been approved and may even be finished before I put up the sleeping cage. Can’t wait to have somewhere to plop down, to couch, if you will. Bolivians don’t plop. They don’t perch either. They slouch, I think, sink, and saunter. What do you think? I am proud of my patience so far. I can sit and watch for hours nothing in particular and once I am tired of asking questions, silent dinners pass less awkwardly. The best of today came at dusk as I finished helping someone level their garden plot. I looked up and the remaining bits of sun filtered through the mountains uncovered all the tiny specks of dust. Millions of particles floating along in no particular direction reacting somehow to whatever came their way paying no attention to amazed me.
You know the ever reliant mound of rice. Well today instead of rice it was quinoa, sweet right, guess again because well instead of potatoes or pasta on the side it was more quinoa, a protein Everest. Unfortunately, I couldn’t even use the energy in the soccer tournament because our team played our games in the morning. I was goalie won and then lost, so I helped make bread for the rest of the day. Fascinating experience though, last night, trying to organize the tournament. Four guys teams three girls not that hard right. Well it took the kids about an hour to get everything straight, I was so tired I slept for ten hours, and felt oh so good this morning. Oh but during the game one girl twisted her ankle pretty bad and I spent fifteen minutes trying to convince the groundskeeper that she needed to elevate it and put something cold on it, he insisted that mule grease was sufficient, end of story.
Loft fell through, not literally, that would be sad, plaster all over my magenta shower curtain. Did you know that my shower curtain is magenta? With silver spirals to boot, and I didn’t even pick it out. I did however pick out a matching towel without even knowing. My bathroom is pink, it is a beautiful thing. But yeah the top of the bathroom isn’t finished, the ceiling is but above it is not covered. I need some plywood or planks of sorts then mattresses. Ahh well TIB.
I spent a day gluing rice to a wall. Actually it was more like flinging rice at the wall hoping it would stick to the sugary paste we applied beforehand. Brother Hector, from Chile, is constructing a pub, for the non existent tourists. Before I thought his interior design couldn’t get anymore wonderfully tacky the rice happened, and then we spray painted the rice multicolor, oh yeeah! And the rest of the room has a border of horses and bulls and lizards and chickens and elephants and there are these little vignettes of campo like scenes and every color imaginable is represented except purple which saddens me because it is such a soothing color. Who knew it would feel so satisfying to fling rice, though I may have inhaled a bit too much of the paint, it was worth it to pass the time while my new friends were in their academic classes.
The gardens are growing, and we turned compost piles the other day, almost ready for worms! My main job has been to check in and out tools, lame but it helps me learn names and plus I don’t want to do the work for the kids, that’s even lamer. Yo, we have like an uber population of bees that are outta control. Miriam, my counterpart, and Jose, the guy who is writing his thesis on bees, and I checked out the hives a few days back. Three really strong colonies with honey even in the alzas but there weren’t enough frames so we had to attach comb and add frames and well they need a lot of work but super stoked to start having bee classes. I want to have a bee song, suggestions welcome….And I want to teach the kids football and Jose Limon’s modern dance technique. It is all about fall and recovery and these kids are doing such while playing soccer falling so gracefully so as not to hurt themselves too badly on the concrete. In Limon you gather up energy till you can’t hold it in any longer and swoosh out it goes in a turn, jump, fall, mmm satisfying.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
There are more people who believe they are Napolean, than have done Peace Corps
April 23 2008
my dear friend Ben is an inspiration. His crackpot ideas always make me laugh and thanks to him we have this lovely blog title.
So I am here stuck in Sucre waiting for transport to my site. Tuesday the Priest said he would call and update me on the condition of the truck, it is in the shop. No word until today when I found out that yes I probablly wouldn't leave until Friday.
TIB (this is Bolivia)
Stuck am I without my fellow B-47's to hang with, but thats cool I can finally upload pictures. And I will use these extra days to get a coffee maker, a good pillow and some paint to make my space comfortable, my own little nest. Then off to site for a few weeks to start the PDA-ing looking for projects and integrating. The plan is to break the kids into groups and invite a group a week to cook with me. The reasons for this are threefold.
One: I get to eat some variety.
Two: The kids get to try something different
Three: We become friends faster and I can learn their names
other preliminary projects seem to be worm composting, English classes, planting gardens, and working with the University student on our bee colonies. I believe he is writing a thesis on Apicultura. Vamos a ver ( we will see). Quick wins are what we are looking for at this moment so I don't feel totally useless and the school recognizes my abilities and dedication. Don Hugo, the administrator of the building has grand plans for starting a nursery and fish farming. And I am interested in cleaning up the olives and grapes, but must figure out the growing seasons and such. There is such a market in Sucre for organic and locally grown products because of all the tourists and the restaurants that cater to tourists. So I think we will be looking at marketing the products the kids make which is just totally rad. We can design a label and everything, t-shirts even.
Speaking of t-shirts the Sucre crew has grand plans. Said plans I can not divulge at this time due to some surprises for IST (in service training) in three months when we all return to Coch for two weeks. But I will say the Sucre band will definitely have a shirt, or two or three. You see the band has many names for we shall play many types of music and need different Alias'.
So far we are
The Albino Cockroaches: our grunge soundings
The Chicken Burgers: our classic rock musings and
Los Perezosos de Cinco Dedos (The five fingered Sloths/lazies): our Bolivian creations
Not much else to say since I was all pumped to get to site and am now stuck...but i have no doubt the next two weeks will pass like molasses and before I know it I will be back in Sucre to celebrate my birthday and will bring with me long long posts since I will have so much time to write an think these upcoming days. Actually maybe I will have a short story, I was thinking of writing one about two tree stumps we chanced upon one night at Marqa. I shall work on a draft.
Till then keep well all of you. Me I am doing just that for I am realizing, re-learning, understanding that there is nothing better than patience and knowing that time just happens and what you do in it is reliant only on what you wish to do most. Doing something that you know will work instead of worrying about what is stuck makes life a whole lot easier. With that said, I love that I am in Sucre and look forward to whats next.
peas and love and beets, always beets to eat and jam to
lebo
my dear friend Ben is an inspiration. His crackpot ideas always make me laugh and thanks to him we have this lovely blog title.
So I am here stuck in Sucre waiting for transport to my site. Tuesday the Priest said he would call and update me on the condition of the truck, it is in the shop. No word until today when I found out that yes I probablly wouldn't leave until Friday.
TIB (this is Bolivia)
Stuck am I without my fellow B-47's to hang with, but thats cool I can finally upload pictures. And I will use these extra days to get a coffee maker, a good pillow and some paint to make my space comfortable, my own little nest. Then off to site for a few weeks to start the PDA-ing looking for projects and integrating. The plan is to break the kids into groups and invite a group a week to cook with me. The reasons for this are threefold.
One: I get to eat some variety.
Two: The kids get to try something different
Three: We become friends faster and I can learn their names
other preliminary projects seem to be worm composting, English classes, planting gardens, and working with the University student on our bee colonies. I believe he is writing a thesis on Apicultura. Vamos a ver ( we will see). Quick wins are what we are looking for at this moment so I don't feel totally useless and the school recognizes my abilities and dedication. Don Hugo, the administrator of the building has grand plans for starting a nursery and fish farming. And I am interested in cleaning up the olives and grapes, but must figure out the growing seasons and such. There is such a market in Sucre for organic and locally grown products because of all the tourists and the restaurants that cater to tourists. So I think we will be looking at marketing the products the kids make which is just totally rad. We can design a label and everything, t-shirts even.
Speaking of t-shirts the Sucre crew has grand plans. Said plans I can not divulge at this time due to some surprises for IST (in service training) in three months when we all return to Coch for two weeks. But I will say the Sucre band will definitely have a shirt, or two or three. You see the band has many names for we shall play many types of music and need different Alias'.
So far we are
The Albino Cockroaches: our grunge soundings
The Chicken Burgers: our classic rock musings and
Los Perezosos de Cinco Dedos (The five fingered Sloths/lazies): our Bolivian creations
Not much else to say since I was all pumped to get to site and am now stuck...but i have no doubt the next two weeks will pass like molasses and before I know it I will be back in Sucre to celebrate my birthday and will bring with me long long posts since I will have so much time to write an think these upcoming days. Actually maybe I will have a short story, I was thinking of writing one about two tree stumps we chanced upon one night at Marqa. I shall work on a draft.
Till then keep well all of you. Me I am doing just that for I am realizing, re-learning, understanding that there is nothing better than patience and knowing that time just happens and what you do in it is reliant only on what you wish to do most. Doing something that you know will work instead of worrying about what is stuck makes life a whole lot easier. With that said, I love that I am in Sucre and look forward to whats next.
peas and love and beets, always beets to eat and jam to
lebo
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