Every Day I´m Shovelin´

We dug a micro-relleno at the health post!  They’re going to put all their medical waste inside.  It was extra incredible because I approached the doctors and was all, “Hey, a micro-relleno would be really great for the health post.”  And they were like, “Ok, let’s do it this week.”  Things are never ever that easy.  I didn’t have to argue or write several letters and project plans.  I just brought a pick and shovel over.

It’s also one of the specific things I’m supposed to be doing in Peace Corps.  Our three main areas are reforestation, environmental education, and solid waste management.  Reforestation doesn’t really apply to the pampa and I’m spending most of my time on environmental ed.  We’re supposed to dig 10 micro-rellenos as part of the waste management goal.  So I’m 10% there!  My family wants to dig one at our house as well. 

We also got the mamas from my healthy cooking class to help.  

It was nice to chat with them and some of them were really strong.  Notice some of the rocks we had to haul out of there.  I’d say I did 50% of the work, but it made me happy to do so.  When I was alone, I listened to old This American Life podcasts and dug away.  I really like that kind of work and haven’t had as much outside labor as I’d hoped in the Peace Corps.  Though it got tough on the old back to lift shovelfuls of rocks over my shoulders and out of the hole.  Maybe that explains my face in this photo.

Hooray for working together and getting things done!  

La Libertad

Things to be Happy About

Oftentimes, the Peace Corps is a grind.  But there are always things to be joyful and grateful about when I stop to look.

-Pomegranate season.  2 soles per kilo.

-Avocado season.  Palta veggie sandwiches every day.  

-Elka learned how to sit and go down stairs. 

-I made some progress on my thesis.  I wrote a well-received paper for my advisor, and look at these lovely pressed medicinal plants.

-And I get to go hiking with my family to find them.

-Sunshine!  In between frosty nights and hailstorms. 

-A 10 day trek for 4^th of July with my friends. 

-Finding a lady at the market who sells bags of ground coffee for 2 soles that last me over a week. 

-Someone actually said “thank you” for my work.  Usually I feel like I’m putting people out when I try to get things done.

-The continuing trend of dressing babies in hats with animal ears.  

Moving On

I was on Facebook the other day and there was an influx of updates of people who were graduating with doctorates.  It makes sense since it’s been a few years since college.  There’s a new crop of Drs. and JDs.  It made me sit back in my chair.  A bunch of folks I knew in college are now doctors.  Other folks are moving into houses they’ve bought, my childhood best friend is getting married, it makes me think about where I am.

I don’t regret the route I’ve taken.  I’m generally happy and feel lucky for how my life has been developing.  Since college, every year has been better than the one before.  But still, seeing where everyone else is makes me reflect.  I’m working really hard, but these community development shenanigans are slow going.  I organize, teach, and dig in the dirt, but I feel like I spend most of my time picking sheep turds out of the treads of my boots.  It’s going to take me years to get my master’s degree.  When I come back, I’ll be way too poor to afford a house anytime soon.  I’m single and my best prospects are the fellows that yell and stare at me on the street.  I’m not sure what I want to be when I grow up.  But I think that’s ok.

I think I was a late bloomer.  I had a good time at Villanova and made friends I’ll keep forever, but it wasn’t a place that cultivated the best parts of me.  Going out west changed a lot for me.  It turns out I love farming!  And spending most of the day outside!  And there are other people who like the exact things I like!  It was crazy to find out.  I still can’t get over that I had friends who would forgo staying out late on Friday to get up early and go hiking or skiing with me on Saturday.  In June, I’m going to a 3 day bicycle maintenance workshop.  I really enjoy doing things with my hands, but never had much of an opportunity to learn when I was younger.  Now I’ll be able to take care of my own bike!  Little things like that feel so good to me. 

I’m mystified by and a little jealous of folks who knew what they wanted to be since they were little.  It seems so much easier.  Though it is dangerous.  What if something goes against the plan?  But all those newly minted doctors probably wanted to be that since childhood. 

It seems like I just have to keep following my windy path and try not to compare myself to folks zipping along on their highways.  I hope that it’ll lead me to meaningful work and a loving partner and family one day.  Maybe not.  Though it hasn’t led me astray so far.

Now I Ain´t Sayin He A Gold Digger...

All I Wanted

Was to get a tina to wash my dishes.  Too bad it was occupied.

My blogging has been more infrequent lately.  I apologize.  Part of it is that I’ve recently been getting over another bout of giardia.  Parasites don’t encourage any extra effort.  It’s also a function of Peace Corps being my normal life now.  If I opened a cupboard in my house in Abington and found an alpaca head, I would’ve had some sort of hysterics.  But the other day, I just thought, “Yeah ok.  Where’s the other bucket?”  There are fewer feelings that things are really strange or exotic and I should blog about it.  It’s just my life now.  Human adaptability is incredible. 

The alpaca head is currently skinned and hanging from the clothes line to dry out.  If you come to visit me, I’ll introduce you   

Quotable

Talking with my little brother in the states:


Little Brother:  We´ve both got the same shit, different day.  Except my shit is stuff like going to work and yours is usually literal shit.  




I ran into a little fellow in his schoolyard today:


Little Fellow: Are you in the circus?