Proyecto Reciclaje & Life 101

Week of November 14, 2010
This week has been extremely busy! As I was walking down the street the other day I realized that I have been working everyday for three weeks, haven’t had a single day off just to take a nap or listen to the chickens squawk. But then I thought, I am okay with that. After not having an “office job” for the last two years, I am totally re-energized and ready to take over the world again. Maybe everyone should have the opportunity to take off a few years and the world would be a much better productive workforce.
PROYECTO RECICLAJE



Orlin receives a large donation of sacos in the community

 First off, my recycling project has taken off like crazy. The energy has caught on like wildfire and people all over town are supporting it! I am so grateful that I have found a project in which both I enjoy and the people of the town enjoy. Since first showing the documentary put together by (Chad), another volunteer, two weeks ago, I have shown the documentary two more times. The students would follow me in the streets or shout at me through the calles (street) and say “Tomorrow is the pelicula, right Jen?” I was astonished that they were so excited. Each time I showed it, there were at least 30 students there. At times they seemed bored and texted on their phones, but they are high school students after all, and it doesn’t matter what country you are in, some students are all the same. So, after showing the documentary, the science teachers really jumped on board with the project as well. They asked students to volunteer for cleaning up the streets (tomorrow) this upcoming Monday, and begin the process of collecting the recyclable materials, as well as making Orocuina a cleaner and nicer place to live. Since school ended last Friday, I was amazed that any students said they would show up…I mean, it is “summer” break here and all. But, they are supposedly showing up tomorrow and we are beginning the process of cleaning the streets. Meanwhile, the student government was in charge of collecting the sacos (large white sacks that they also use to hold rice, beans, and other products here). This could be difficult since you are “fundraising” (especially in an already poor area). So, last Saturday (again, on a weekend), I set out with a couple of high school kids in the afternoon and went business to business to ask for donation of sacks, money to buy the sacks, or for them to begin holding their plastic bottles or aluminum cans for us. In one hour we collected 50 sacks! Wow! I was totally amazed, I am not going to lie. Then, three days later, the President of the Student Government showed up and handed me L50 to buy more sacks that another business had given him. This meant that we were up to 60 sacks. I must tell you that when we set out, (Orlin) the President held his head real low and could barely speak to the business owners. I told him he must stand up tall and present himself with confidence…it was difficult at first (not to mention he walks at a snails pace and what could have taken 30 minutes for me alone took 2 hours)…and three days later he is soliciting businesses by himself. I was very proud! This past week I also worked with another student, Carlos, to design a brochure that we will pass out door to door informing local residents of the benefits of recycling, as well as how our program works. Carlos and I spent an hour designing the logo, but I am a total moron when it comes to the computer and graphic design, so finally he said “Can you email it to me and I’ll fix it.” I mean, really…so sad when the colegio kid in Honduras knows more about graphic design than the PCV. However, it is their project anyway, and they are supposed to be taking the lead, I just oversee them. “Teach a man to fish…” you know…that way they will survive after I leave. Finally, this morning (Sunday) I got up bright and early at 5:40 am, after only five hours of sleep, to head to the radio station and discuss the whole recycling project. From 6-7 am I talked about the benefits and how everyone should join up tomorrow and how if I see them throwing their trash out of the bus one more time I am going to make the bus driver stop the bus and have them get out and go pick up their trash (this is a whole ‘nother part of the project, but the DJ seemed to like it and maybe we can implement it!). Tomorrow the TV station is supposed to come and cover our cleaning up of the streets, next week the Municipality and I are going to work on writing a letter to such business as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Yummies, etc and asking them to donate the recycling bins for the park and streets. I contacted Coca-Cola, but they referred me back to Coca-Cola Latin America, which hasn’t responded yet. I have a feeling that the recycling bin process is going to take a while.

STOVE PROJECT

The cook stove project is still going strong. Amanda just got back from an awesome conference in the USA where she made some contacts with universities there that are working on similar projects. On November 23 we are holding an “information” session for women’s groups here in our areas to see how many (and what kind) are interested in building the cook stoves. Two other PCV’s that live nearby are coming, and two NGO’s have been invited, as well as the Centro de Salud, to discuss the health benefits. Over the next few weeks I’ll be working on putting the PowerPoint presentation together. (Because that’s how we do here).

WWSP-JARDIN DE KINDER

So, on Friday it was the last day of school for my kinder here in Honduras. I spent the morning in class with them and Maestra Reina shared another project with me to send to my class at Vandora Springs Elementary in Garner, NC. In order to get some more cross-cultural experience out of the program, she shared the Honduras flag and national anthem (which I know the words to, thanks to having to learn them for our swearing in ceremony). The little kids learned how to draw the flag and the stars, learned what the colors are for (blue is for the water that flows through Honduras, in case you were wondering) and then they sang the first chorus of the anthem (which really, could stop there…it is SO long). I have now set up a YouTube account for all my PC adventures and you can click here to see the cuties singing. Afterwards everyone enjoyed awesome cupcakes, but not me, b/c I am back on my high protein, P90X diet plan!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_yFcsxIk6o
Here is the video of my WWSP kids singing the "Tu Bandera" National Anthem.NEW HOUSE



Have you joined my "Wall of the World?"

 I have been in my new house for about two weeks now. It is awesome and my quality of life has done a complete turn around. There are no crazy people yelling all the time, it is completely silent and I can practice yoga to find peace all I want. Which I need from all the critters that took up residence in my house during the previous PCV’s departure and my moving in. In the past two weeks I have swept away two dead rats, killed two tarantulas (with a third looming above my door each night…I see him, I think he’s the daddy), had maggots take over my trash (most likely my fault, but that WON’T happen again), had a bat fly way too close to my head while outside, an AMPLE amount of roaches that needed to die, Daddy Long Legs making one too many “casas” anywhere they please, lots of other little bugs I don’t know the names to (some with green eyes that light up at night, not to be confused with lightning bugs), fleas, and finally either rabbits or cats were seen darting across my yard last night and left me a little poopey surprise on my back patio. So, in order to COMBAT the other side of life, I did what any reasonable woman would do; I had my flip flop kill as many spiders/roaches/bugs as possible, then I busted out the broom and took out all the casas de aranas (spider webs) as possible before purchasing the biggest/baddest/most expensive can of bug spray that could be found in this country. Of course it wasn’t anywhere near my house, but the travel was worth it and once arriving back home, I put on my face mask (note, scarf wrapped up), then went to town and bug bombed my whole place. Since then, I have only seen one roach and he tried to climb up all the walls, only to be D-E-N-I-E-D and ran around in circles until I got tired of seeing him do that, so I killed him with my flip flop. Adios, sucker. Don’t come back to the Casa de Jen.



What I ended up buying; it is working so far





Just to be on the safe side I almost bought these too, until I learned you couldn't use them with the spray

 Slowly and surely, my house is also coming together. I will send more photos next week, when I have the rest of my furniture. The local carpenter is making furniture for me, b/c I figured if I was going to live here for two years, I might as well have nice stuff, and not just plastic crap that would fall apart as soon as someone set in it. So, for like $150 he is making me an armoire, a large dining table, a small nightstand, and two bookshelves. And, these are NICE things, too. I figured I could eat beans and oatmeal for a month, to have nice furniture, which I can sell when I leave, or give to a needy family/NGO. My “Map of the World” is coming along nicely. Many thanks to everyone who has sent in photos! On the other wall, I have put up all the cards and postcards people have sent and on another wall I am currently making a Christmas tree (out of traced hands and green paper). This week I also bought a nightlite, but not just any ordinary nightlite, I bought a Virgin Mary nightlite. Why? You ask. Because, that is the only nightlites they sell in this country. My house is so dark at night and with all the little critters that like to take up space in my vicinity, I want to be prepared when I wake up to go to the bathroom. But, I totally got ripped off b/c while you can buy one for only $1 at the Dollar Tree, here I had to pay a whopping $1.50 at the MaxiBodega (AKA Super-Walmart). She shines bright though and I haven’t seen any spiders since.



My armoire coming together



FOR FUN



Me &Amanda ready for a night out in Orocuina!

 Hmmmm….I haven’t really had time to have fun lately, b/c I have been so busy with work! But, the feria is coming to town! That is like the county fair back home and each town has one here. They have been setting up for over a month. Last night there was a big dance here in town to elect the new “reina” or queen. So, Amanda and I got all dressed up and headed over. We already stick out in town as the two gringas, but we really stick out when we go to a Honduran dance, which resembles a Junior High event, with all the boys on one side and the girls on the other (and a bar thrown up). We don’t drink b/c women who drink in public in Honduras are considered whores/sluts/worse, so we enter and immediately see everyone we know in town. After hugging and kissing on the cheek, we are ushered in front of the seven girls vying for reina this evening. Our friend tells us immediately to vote for #7, so that’s what we do. Sorry to the other girls, I didn’t even have a chance to see you. But, at least I did know #7. It wasn’t like I voted BLIND. You write your number on the back of a ticket and pop it in a box. By now it is 10:30 pm and they were supposed to start the crowning an hour ago. Amanda and I take a seat next to the wall (as to avoid being asked to dance by every man here). But, within five minutes I already have two dance proposals. Despues, despues, I say (later, later). Later turns out to be 10:35 pm and Amanda and I dance for an hour, until I see some guy getting a little too close to her, so I take her arm and we dance together. Then, we take a seat until the punta comes on and some guy pulls me back on the dance floor. If you’ve never seen the punta, it looks like this:

Insert video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZV14BUkFVs
REALLY GOOD GIRLS DANCING PUNTA

Even with all my M-A-D dance skills, I can not master the punta. I have been trying for five months and it ain’t working. Now it is midnight and I have to be on the radio in six hours, the music is going strong and the crowning of the reina is nowhere in site. Sorry, but I have to call it a night.



Casting my vote, but I don't know who won since I had to go home early for the radio the next day



All my local friends (2 of them own the Chinese restaurant)



We are probably dancing to Lady Gaga/Justin Bieber/Julio Iglesias

 HOW I ACCIDENTALLY WENT TO CHURCH INSTEAD OF A JUNTA DIRECTIVA MEETING

This is why I shouldn’t work on the weekends, I have decided. Yesterday, (Saturday), I was doing my duty as a PCV to investigate an aldea nearby and whether or not they should get a PCV to live in their town. They have been interested for some time in a business volunteer, so I have been meeting with them and giving them the papers to fill out. This has been a long process, b/c they cancel a lot of meetings (five to be exact) and what could take two days in the states has taken me five weeks. So, anyway, yesterday I was supposed to go meet with the junta directiva (or city council type people). I hop on the bus and go the 15 minutes to the next aldea, where I arrive at the supposed location 20 minutes early. I go into the building and only find one person so I ask him if the meeting is still in the salon. He tells me “Oh, no the meeting is over in the other salon, at the Centro de Salud.” I think there is something a little weird about this, but maybe I just wrote it down wrong. I go over to the Centro de Salud and meet up with a group of other people. They are sitting around waiting and at 3:00 pm a large group of people show up. I still don’t see the main person I am supposed to meet, so I call him and he tells me he’s not coming b/c he’s sick. (Of course he is! And, now I’m upset b/c 1. I didn’t want to work today b/c it’s Saturday and I’ve been working everyday 2. This project is taking up WAY too much of my time 3. He could have called to tell me he was sick before I came all the way up here) So, I ask him if his wife can bring me the information and he says yes. In the meantime I figure I’ll go to the meeting since I’m here. So, I go inside and take a seat where I can exit early (b/c this meeting could go for hours, let’s be serious). Next thing I know the lady in charge asks us to pray, then she starts the computer up with some music and people singing about God and how happy we should be for him. After the song she prays again, then more music then the word “Evangelical” comes across the screen and I realize I am at church, not a junta directive meeting. Now, I am outta here. Because as cool as it might seem that I would stay for a meeting where the guy I am supposed to meet isn’t even here, I am not staying for church. This is probably backfire for me buying the Virgin Mary nightlite when I’m not even Catholic.

I exit as swift as possible, don’t look back, go to the guy’s house and take the papers from him as fast as possible. Then, I walk the hour and a half back home.

EXERCISE AND LIFE IN GENERAL

I am really enjoying life in Honduras right now. With moving into my own place, I have found a much more peaceful and calming life, both professionally and personally. It is so enjoyable to cook for myself in a kitchen where people aren’t looking right over my shoulder telling me I’m not cooking it correctly (b/c there isn’t a pound of margarine or sugar inside). Seriously, Paula Dean would be SO popular in this country. My projects have started moving along and I have become a fixture in the community. I am welcomed into people’s home and when they see me on the street they know my name. It varies from “Jenn” to “Yen” to “Jenny” but for the most part they keep it straight. The weight I gained in FBT has begun to disappear; I work out everyday again b/c I have my own space in my house and a great back patio for practicing yoga and cardio. Between high-impact workouts/P90X/hot yoga, I am beginning to feel like my old self again. I have been trying out all kinds of new recipes with the local foods and recipes I pulled out of Women’s Health (like watermelon-cucumber salsa and baked bananas!). The mail and packages I get from you guy’s keeps my spirits super high! The lady’s at the post office say “We never seen anyone get so much mail!” I just laugh and say “I have some amazing friends back home!” I have been very blessed not to be sick recently and am just enjoying life and what the PC has brought my way. Hope you all are doing well, too!


Wonderful care package from my Phi Mu Sis Deanna; LOVE the loofah and Febreeze!!!