Life

Well hello there. How are you doing?

Me? Oh I am doing well. Just trying to trudge through the life that is Peace Corps.

What? My project? It is gong well. I have run into a few problems here and there but still pushing along.

What problems you ask? Well initially I was trying to obtain funding from the government agencies here in order to complete my project. I was working with Panamanian equivalents of the EPA and the Health Administration. Both of the agencies told me all of these steps I had to take in order to obtain the funding needed in order to enlarge my aqueduct and therefore bring clean water to the larger population of the community. Well after jumping through all of these hoops they both told me the money had "disappeared" and therefore they were unable to help me.

Disappeared? Yeah I know. What the heck does that mean? In my opinion it means that some official that has the powers of magic made the money disappear into his pocket. That or into the new rims that are on his car. Just a thought but highly likely.

Can I write you a check? No, thanks though. I don't believe in giving gifts to my community. I want my project to be sustainable and therefore I can't take money from you guys in order to compete something the host country or community should be able to do by themselves.

What now? We have already started to raise money within the community. We have also separated the the one large aqueduct project into smaller goals that we are more likely to be able to accomplish. Therefore we are on our way. Little by little we are raising the money to buy the tubes we need to bring water to hundreds of people. Also I am slowly training the people in my town how to work together and that if the work hard they can accomplish the goals they set. Sustainability is my goal and hopefully when I leave we will have a lot new families with clean water and a functioning group that works well together.

Huh, what did you say? Why Thank you. I know it is a noble thing to do. Thanks for being so proud of me. Yes, yes it is really hard having to work with people that don't know the basics of organization or group dynamics. No, I won't give up. Yes I do look forward to being home and I will be home soon.

Life

The countdown

T- minus 10 months.

I have reached the hump and am on the down hill slide. The first year flew by and I have no doubts that the final ten months will feel like a week. As of right now my official Close of Service date is June, 30 2011. Although that is the official date I will be able to get out as early as the 7th of June. This is good news for me. I am not dying to go home or get out of Panama but the earlier I get home the longer I can work at the beach. Weird I know, I am trying to be able to work longer. But lifeguarding is such a great job and I miss the beach so mush that I am looking forward to a summer on the sand. Surf, sun and waves. Nothing better right.

WORK WORK WORK

The Peace Corps is not all fun and games. I am continuously finding more and more projects to perform during my two years of service here in Panama. My projects range from building rainwater catch systems to bringing groups of dentists from the United States to my site in order to do free dental work.

The final project that I posted pictures of is a stove that is made from natural products; clay, cow poop, sand, and water all mixed together and then let dry in order to form a clay mold. We then cut holes in the mold to make a more efficient stove than the camp fires they are currently using to cook. Other benefits of the stove include less fire wood being harvested, less smoke entering the house and lungs of the families, and finally minimizing the heat that is emitted and effecting the mothers that are cooking all day.

I am continuing to find more projects that include education to building the aqueduct to bring clean water to the larger portion of the community. Stay tuned for future projects and fun from Panama.

Burn Panama Burn

Changuinola is actually burning. There are photos and news footage of Ngobe Indians throwing maltov cocktails through the windows of banks. Yup that is right the Indians that I work with and are usually so docile have decided to go crazy. A few of them have died and they have also managed to kill a police officer. I thought that I lived in a country that was stable and I wouldn't have to worry about any national problems that would affect my service.

So here are the facts as I have collected them. The President of the country, Ricardo Martinelli is actually a huge idiot and has decided to pass a law that would have caused large problems in the U.S.. The law states that Unions are not allowed to collect dues and therefore weakens their ability to negotiate with the large companies of Panama (aka Chiquita Banana). The law also takes away citizens rights to protest while increasing the laws on police brutality. Citizens that fall victim to Police brutality are unable to file legal charges against them. This I believe is one of the reasons that things got out of hand so fast in Changuinola. People will protest when they are treated unfairly. The Indians have been pushed around for many years and the President finally pushed them past their breaking point.

As for what I have been doing while these dangerous protests have been going on. I am in what is called a Standfast. This means that I am not allowed to move from where I am until the situation calms down and it is safe for me to travel. I am stuck in David the second largest city because I was out to celebrate my one year with my group. Therefore I am an a hotel with Gretchen and several other volunteers who daily try and find new things to keep ourselves entertained. Well here goes day 7 of standfast, I am trying to enjoy it rather than get down.

Office Space

I live out on one edge of the country of Panama. The office which is located in Panama City is a twelve hour bus ride from my closest town. Therefore I do not make it to the office all that often. In fact I just visited the office for the first time in a year during my mid term medical check up. This visit made me come to a few realizations.

The first of these realizations was one that I knew well before I even joined the Peace Corps. I will never be able to work in an office setting. The hierarchy laid out by office size, cubicles, florescent lights, business casual attire, robots typing away in front of a computer and the overall business structure. All of theses things turn me away from the office setting.

One reason I enjoy my job is that I work outside in the shit, sometimes metaphorically and sometimes literally shoveling shit for compost. I don't have to worry about a stain on my new Calvin Klein shirt. In fact a stain is more fitting and leads to more acceptance among the people within my town. I also visually get to see the progress and outcome of my projects. I am not looking at printed statistics to confirm that my job is making an influence.

Something that I am upset at realizing is that in the office setting people only look out for themselves. It is all about getting ahead and making more money. The Peace Corps is about helping others. Volunteers help people in their towns and the office helps the volunteers. Being in the office made me realize that the office isn't upholding their end of the bargain. When you put a salary on a volunteer organization you change the goal of the people's jobs. They are looking for things that only make them look better. This isn't true for all people in the office but some of the more important ones are definitely at fault. It should be; What do the volunteers need? not, How can I look good? or, What can we do to make the program look good? Somehow people that sit in an office in front of a computer know what we need without asking us.

The second reason I like my job is my site location. I am good at what I do and don't seek approval or praise for the things I accomplish. I am here to help people that can't help themselves. I don't have some staff member looking over my shoulder and trying to claim my successes as their own in order to receive a raise or promotion. The office leaves me alone and I leave them alone... just the way I want it.

The final reason I like my job is that there is nobody to blame but myself. I chose my project, schedule, hours, and house. If something doesn't happen it is all on me. Nobody to point the finger at and nobody to point the finger at me when they don't do their job.

I know when I go home I will have to adjust to a more structured work schedule. I know I will be able to adjust. I have done well here and know I will continue to be successful. But no reason I can't enjoy my freedom while it lasts.

Technology

I live without electricity in my site. Living without electricity really makes you realize how much you rely on stupid stuff like the internet and outlets to just do basic things like charge your phone.

So since I am in Panama City for the next couple of days I am obsessed with the internet. There is unlimited mindless entertainment to be found on the internet. I mean, I forgot how much funny stuff you can find while messing around on youtube. George Washington rap is f@*$ing hilarious. Facebook is a black hole. I can just stalk all of my friends for hours and have fun the entire time. Since all of my friends have jobs they go to 5 days a week, it is like they are obsessed, they are all on G-Chat so I can catch up on all of the events in the good old U S of A.

As well as the internet I get to see sporting events. I got to watch Ron Artest win the game as the buzzer sounded. I will also be able to see the first two games of the finals. The celtics are going down.

I love technology!

I love to read, but from time to time I want to be able to turn my brain off and watch stupid TV. Horrible MTV shows like Jersey Shore.

I can deal without it and am probably better off without it. But I really enjoy technology and easy access internet and TV.