Namaste all! Things were crazy hectic the last few weeks. We have officially completed the book writing workshop with the 41 sixth graders! Whew. One weekend we had a workshop on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday back-to-back while library trainings were occurring. The library trainings were multipurpose and taught teachers and a handful of students how to catalogue the books in the library as well as discussed uses of the library and fun activities they can do. The trainings were Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of that same week. In the middle of all of this I got sick again, but this time with the worst sore throat I can remember having in a long time. One night I woke up and thought I couldn’t breath. Because we were so busy I knew it was important to get well quickly so I went to a local clinic, got lots of medicines and within two days I was back to normal! Oh in the midst of all of this we were running around the city taking pictures of different professions for the children’s book about profession in Nepal. Thankfully when I was sick Sneha’s friend, Nistha, accompanied Sneha to take the pictures. I am very grateful that she did that!
Now we are working on getting the three books published. We are mainly concentrating on the kid’s workshop book because we need copies of it for the inauguration of the library. We are also trying to finish taking pictures of all the professions for the professions book because it will be easy to put together. Then Sneha can concentrate on the illustrations for the cow book. I’m working on budget and preface and acknowledgements for the books as well as getting excited about job interviews and filling out lots of job applications. Hopefully I’ll get a bite somewhere! I’m also very very excited to see my mom and aunt who are arriving August 2nd. It’ll be nice to have some downtime after lots of work!
24.7.09
13.7.09
Reading and Reflection Nepal: Libraries, Reading, Writing
Much has happened since our last post! The library is now fully carpeted and painted a beautifully sky blue. The library furniture has also been made and delivered by a local carpenter and a few boxes of books have also arrived. The library is finally starting to take shape and just in time for the book writing workshop!
We selected the sixth grade class (all forty students) to participate in a book writing workshop. Altogether there are six workshops held Fridays and Saturdays for the children to explore different art mediums and writing as means of self expression. The first workshop was just an hour of games to break the ice. The next week we started intensive workshops where the kids got to create five different pieces of artwork using crayons, pastels, colored pencils, paint, and cutting paper. The next day was a mixture of reflection, writing, and drawing. This day, the kids discussed which mediums they enjoyed using the most, the winners were: colored pencils and paint! Then we shared what makes us sad and afterwards the children got the opportunity to write more in depth about this topic. Next, the kids drew what makes them happy. The drawings had a lot of detail and were very diverse in topics. After a lunch break, the kids finished their drawings and wrote about what they drew and what makes them happy. We will use these writing samples next week to help them decide what their final topic and picture will be for the book.
Another aspect of our project is writing, illustrating, and publishing two of our own children’s books so that a percentage of the royalties can go back to the library over a period of five years to help it grow. We have decided on the themes and topics of both books and now are in the process of illustrations. One will be an environmentally based book with animals looking for a new home because of dirt, pollution, deforestation, etc. The other one will be a picture book with different professions. Sneha, the photographer, will be taking real-life pictures to illustrate this book! We have lots of work to do and not that much time, but if Gettysburg has taught us anything it would be how to work under pressure.
We selected the sixth grade class (all forty students) to participate in a book writing workshop. Altogether there are six workshops held Fridays and Saturdays for the children to explore different art mediums and writing as means of self expression. The first workshop was just an hour of games to break the ice. The next week we started intensive workshops where the kids got to create five different pieces of artwork using crayons, pastels, colored pencils, paint, and cutting paper. The next day was a mixture of reflection, writing, and drawing. This day, the kids discussed which mediums they enjoyed using the most, the winners were: colored pencils and paint! Then we shared what makes us sad and afterwards the children got the opportunity to write more in depth about this topic. Next, the kids drew what makes them happy. The drawings had a lot of detail and were very diverse in topics. After a lunch break, the kids finished their drawings and wrote about what they drew and what makes them happy. We will use these writing samples next week to help them decide what their final topic and picture will be for the book.
Another aspect of our project is writing, illustrating, and publishing two of our own children’s books so that a percentage of the royalties can go back to the library over a period of five years to help it grow. We have decided on the themes and topics of both books and now are in the process of illustrations. One will be an environmentally based book with animals looking for a new home because of dirt, pollution, deforestation, etc. The other one will be a picture book with different professions. Sneha, the photographer, will be taking real-life pictures to illustrate this book! We have lots of work to do and not that much time, but if Gettysburg has taught us anything it would be how to work under pressure.
1.7.09
Wedding Season Has Begun!
Not only are there billions of weddings happening state side, but it’s also wedding season in Nepal! Weddings are very very different here and take place over a week’s time with a different party, gathering, or task almost everyday. This week there have been two weddings in Sneha’s family. One wedding we were on the groom’s (a distant cousin) side and attended the two main parties, both held in beautiful five star hotels. Events vary depending on family and caste traditions. An interesting part of this cousin’s wedding is that the groom is from the Nawar caste and the bride is Tibetan so there were some differences in traditions which made for a slightly different wedding in terms of traditions. The first party was the engagement and when the groom came to get the bride. The timing of this event is very important and a priest is consulted so that the right date and time of engagement is used. The next party we went to for this wedding was three days later and is a huge celebration for both the bride and groom. The highlight of this party was GREAT food. We turned it into a four course meal that included falafel and hummus…need I say more?
Now onto the more exciting wedding: Shailee Di! Shailee is Sneha’s first cousin on her mom’s side. Her mom’s side is super close so it makes for some exciting (and sometimes dramatic) events. The really great thing about these events is that I’ve really been accepted as part of the family, given little tasks to do to help out, and just be a part of everything. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how well I can explain all the events, but I’ll tell you more or less what I saw and who was there. Where to begin? Before the wedding there are lots of parties and preparation on both the groom’s and bride’s side. So on Shailee’s side we started off with receiving gifts from the groom’s side. These gifts are received but returned to the groom’s house later in the week (except for the perishables) with even more gifts. Next, was a very informal mehndi or henna party with all the ladies on the bride’s side. We all got beautiful designs all over our hands that will last about a week or more. That night we went to one of Shailee’s uncle’s house and had a very small dinner party with some of the closest cousin’s and friends. The food was absolutely delicious especially with fresh sushi! A few days later the engagement took place between 2 and 5AM, which I definitely slept through. The next morning the groom came to get the bride at the Army Club. There were lots of traditions and pujas for the bride, groom, and family to complete so it lasted all morning and afternoon. One of the traditions is for the bride’s family (especially the girls) to hide the groom’s shoes and then bargain a price with the groom to get them back. That happened on this day too while Shailee was accepting gifts from family and friends. The day ended with the bride and groom getting into a horse drawn carriage. The guests are supposed to start crying for the bride as she leaves and follow the carriage out onto the road. It was such a long, warm day, however, that there weren’t too many tears. Then that night we (some of the closest girl cousins and friends) went to visit Shailee at her new home, which is at her in-laws. It was a long and exhausting day. Other events of the wedding week is a party hosted by the groom’s family when all the gifts are returned and the final party where everyone attends, eats great food, drinks great drinks, and dances all night long. That’s this upcoming Saturday and I’m really excited to wear my second saree!
Now onto the more exciting wedding: Shailee Di! Shailee is Sneha’s first cousin on her mom’s side. Her mom’s side is super close so it makes for some exciting (and sometimes dramatic) events. The really great thing about these events is that I’ve really been accepted as part of the family, given little tasks to do to help out, and just be a part of everything. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how well I can explain all the events, but I’ll tell you more or less what I saw and who was there. Where to begin? Before the wedding there are lots of parties and preparation on both the groom’s and bride’s side. So on Shailee’s side we started off with receiving gifts from the groom’s side. These gifts are received but returned to the groom’s house later in the week (except for the perishables) with even more gifts. Next, was a very informal mehndi or henna party with all the ladies on the bride’s side. We all got beautiful designs all over our hands that will last about a week or more. That night we went to one of Shailee’s uncle’s house and had a very small dinner party with some of the closest cousin’s and friends. The food was absolutely delicious especially with fresh sushi! A few days later the engagement took place between 2 and 5AM, which I definitely slept through. The next morning the groom came to get the bride at the Army Club. There were lots of traditions and pujas for the bride, groom, and family to complete so it lasted all morning and afternoon. One of the traditions is for the bride’s family (especially the girls) to hide the groom’s shoes and then bargain a price with the groom to get them back. That happened on this day too while Shailee was accepting gifts from family and friends. The day ended with the bride and groom getting into a horse drawn carriage. The guests are supposed to start crying for the bride as she leaves and follow the carriage out onto the road. It was such a long, warm day, however, that there weren’t too many tears. Then that night we (some of the closest girl cousins and friends) went to visit Shailee at her new home, which is at her in-laws. It was a long and exhausting day. Other events of the wedding week is a party hosted by the groom’s family when all the gifts are returned and the final party where everyone attends, eats great food, drinks great drinks, and dances all night long. That’s this upcoming Saturday and I’m really excited to wear my second saree!
23.6.09
Reading and Reflection Project: off to a great start
Our first meeting with our community partner (SPA) took place on June 10th. The meeting lasted from 6:30pm to 8pm. Everyone was friendly and most importantly, eager to contribute to our project. We started off by explaining to the SPA people what our project is about. SPA explained what and how they work. Jackie and I got introduced to all the members who will be directly involved with helping us with the project. Each of them have expertise in their special areas and it was helpful to sketch out their responsibilities. The most helpful and satisfying part of the meeting personally for me, was probably realizing our link with our partner organization, SPA.
SPA is a budding organization working to help students who are having difficulties in class. The director of SPA, Praveena said that they have about 20 children at the moment that they counsel, meet with their teachers and family and try to make everyone work towards helping the student. Working with SPA, we are not only involving the local community partner in this project, but we are also providing SPA with a stepping stone to further their goals in reaching out to an additional school and establish themselves even more in the community. Although in the beginning the members of SPA weren’t sure what exactly their role would be in the project, we explained to them the importance of this Reading and Reflecting project in a broader context in the future. Once this project is complete, Jackie and I hope to create a bridge between SPA in Kathmandu and CPS in Gettysburg College so that Gettysburg students can volunteer or work further with SPA and projects in Nepal. SPA would be an integral partner in directing volunteers and helping them in their projects. SPA would be the direct link from Gettysburg to Kathmandu and so it is important for them to be directly involved in every step of the project to understand the objectives of the project.
At the end, Jackie and I both left the meeting very satisfied. This is going to be a learning process for all the partners involved. Yay!
-Sneha
On June 18, we had an all exclusive meeting where the community partners (SPA, a local and newly formed NGO) and we put forward our conditions for the library project to the school’s management committee and other teachers and staff. We explained the project in detail and were pleased to receive their support, time, and dedication. Many times meetings start late and there is little turnout but much to our surprise we were very impressed by the 19 teachers and staff that attended the meeting on time at eight o’clock in the morning. The hour and a half meeting was very energetic and dynamic. There were lots of questions and concerns about future sustainability from the teachers and staff. Specifically, they wanted to know how SPA would be supporting them in five years and where future funds would come from for the library. Other concerns of the teachers and staff were the size of the room, the time table of the set-up, and the type of books that will be included in the library. We answered these questions explaining in greater detail about our sustainability plan that includes extensive trainings and ten percent of the royalties from the books we will publish. After these lively discussions, the school agreed to do the first part of carpeting and painting the future library within two weeks time. A Library Management Committee (LMC) was also formed during the meeting and consists of five teachers/staff members and two students. Challenges we foresee for the school are working on a tight timeline, ensuring teacher’s attendance at the trainings, registering books, and making sure the library is used to its full capacity by the teachers and students.
Other than that, I’ve been heavily immersed into Nepali culture and by the end of this week even more so…because it’s the wedding! Sneha’s cousin is getting married and it’s a big deal. Five days of parties and lots of different outfits for each. Also, I finally began Nepali classes because I just can’t be in a country without being able to speak (or try) to people. So I found an institute within walking distance of Sneha’s home and I’ll take 24 hours of classes to hopefully become “conversational.” My professor is Muna and it’s just her and me one-on-one which is a really nice way to learn quickly, but it’s a little overwhelming at times because you always have to be on your toes, no day dreaming there! More to come!
-Jackie
SPA is a budding organization working to help students who are having difficulties in class. The director of SPA, Praveena said that they have about 20 children at the moment that they counsel, meet with their teachers and family and try to make everyone work towards helping the student. Working with SPA, we are not only involving the local community partner in this project, but we are also providing SPA with a stepping stone to further their goals in reaching out to an additional school and establish themselves even more in the community. Although in the beginning the members of SPA weren’t sure what exactly their role would be in the project, we explained to them the importance of this Reading and Reflecting project in a broader context in the future. Once this project is complete, Jackie and I hope to create a bridge between SPA in Kathmandu and CPS in Gettysburg College so that Gettysburg students can volunteer or work further with SPA and projects in Nepal. SPA would be an integral partner in directing volunteers and helping them in their projects. SPA would be the direct link from Gettysburg to Kathmandu and so it is important for them to be directly involved in every step of the project to understand the objectives of the project.
At the end, Jackie and I both left the meeting very satisfied. This is going to be a learning process for all the partners involved. Yay!
-Sneha
On June 18, we had an all exclusive meeting where the community partners (SPA, a local and newly formed NGO) and we put forward our conditions for the library project to the school’s management committee and other teachers and staff. We explained the project in detail and were pleased to receive their support, time, and dedication. Many times meetings start late and there is little turnout but much to our surprise we were very impressed by the 19 teachers and staff that attended the meeting on time at eight o’clock in the morning. The hour and a half meeting was very energetic and dynamic. There were lots of questions and concerns about future sustainability from the teachers and staff. Specifically, they wanted to know how SPA would be supporting them in five years and where future funds would come from for the library. Other concerns of the teachers and staff were the size of the room, the time table of the set-up, and the type of books that will be included in the library. We answered these questions explaining in greater detail about our sustainability plan that includes extensive trainings and ten percent of the royalties from the books we will publish. After these lively discussions, the school agreed to do the first part of carpeting and painting the future library within two weeks time. A Library Management Committee (LMC) was also formed during the meeting and consists of five teachers/staff members and two students. Challenges we foresee for the school are working on a tight timeline, ensuring teacher’s attendance at the trainings, registering books, and making sure the library is used to its full capacity by the teachers and students.
Other than that, I’ve been heavily immersed into Nepali culture and by the end of this week even more so…because it’s the wedding! Sneha’s cousin is getting married and it’s a big deal. Five days of parties and lots of different outfits for each. Also, I finally began Nepali classes because I just can’t be in a country without being able to speak (or try) to people. So I found an institute within walking distance of Sneha’s home and I’ll take 24 hours of classes to hopefully become “conversational.” My professor is Muna and it’s just her and me one-on-one which is a really nice way to learn quickly, but it’s a little overwhelming at times because you always have to be on your toes, no day dreaming there! More to come!
-Jackie
16.6.09
An Intoduction to Life in Ktm
Namaste all!
Thanks for your patience…I didn’t want to write until I had good stories of Ktm and Nepal. Well by now I have quite a few! After the first week of being very very sick we have had many adventures, wonderful meals, good conversations, and our project has started! Highlights include:
- Me biking in the city and the outskirts, trying to keep up w/mountain bike pro Sneha, I was exhausted
- Holding hands because crossing the road is just that scary
- Saree shopping!
- Relaxing in the Garden of Dreams
- Bowling and Java
- Meeting our community partners and visiting the school
where we’ll be working
- Bandhs and Spa Days
- Reggae happy hours
- The gym, breath of fire, and long hot showers
- Grasshopper’s burrito and Ktm Dubar Square
- Snowman’s cake and milkshakes….
Tomorrow we have our official meeting with the school, teachers, and community partners. Let’s get this thing rollin’!
Thanks for your patience…I didn’t want to write until I had good stories of Ktm and Nepal. Well by now I have quite a few! After the first week of being very very sick we have had many adventures, wonderful meals, good conversations, and our project has started! Highlights include:
- Me biking in the city and the outskirts, trying to keep up w/mountain bike pro Sneha, I was exhausted
- Holding hands because crossing the road is just that scary
- Saree shopping!
- Relaxing in the Garden of Dreams
- Bowling and Java
- Meeting our community partners and visiting the school
where we’ll be working
- Bandhs and Spa Days
- Reggae happy hours
- The gym, breath of fire, and long hot showers
- Grasshopper’s burrito and Ktm Dubar Square
- Snowman’s cake and milkshakes….
Tomorrow we have our official meeting with the school, teachers, and community partners. Let’s get this thing rollin’!
20.5.09
The Adventure Continues: Nepal for the summer
Namaste! Hi!
Thanks for keeping up with Sneha and my summer adventures and project. If you are interested in what our project is about here is a description:
Our “Reading and Reflection Project” will be based in Kathmandu, Nepal in conjunction with a Nepali based non-governmental organization, Socio-Perspective Alliance (SPA), to create a sustainable library for the students of Bidhyoda School, facilitate a six-week book workshop entitled “My Dream” “Mero Sapana,” and publish two culturally relevant bi-lingual children’s books through Kathaalaya Publications. This multidimensional project, which encourages literacy and provides children with an educational outlet to express and reflect on their dreams during instability in the country, is especially essential in Nepal. The children are currently the ones in the middle of the chaos and confusion remaining after ten years of civil war in the country; numerous schools have been shutdown, many students are forced to work to support their family’s financial situation and with everyday school disturbances caused by unpredictable violent riots, being motivated to be students is ever more difficult. In a country where more than 80% of the population live under less than a dollar and over 45% is illiterate, the country cannot afford to lose its educated youths, who will be the future of the country. There is a need to encourage the youth of Nepal to read and get educated for a brighter Nepal.
This project will address these issues on several levels by working in a collaborative endeavor with the community of Jhonchhen where Bidhyoda School is located. First, we will work with SPA to create a first-time library in Bidhyoda School. Second, we will hold six-weekend book workshops for fourteen at-risk students from Bidhyoda School. These innovative workshops are not only essential in allowing children to express themselves creatively during bleak times, but will also develop a template for a future SPA projects as it works with young troubled individuals. Finally, the two of us will work together to write and illustrate two culturally relevant bi-lingual children’s picture books, one being about pertinent environmental issues regarding pollution in Kathmandu. These books will be published by Kathaalaya Publications with ten percent of the royalties returning to Bidhyoda School. The funds granted will mainly go towards buying books and furniture for the library, craft materials and snacks for the book workshop, and publishing two bi-lingual books.
Keep coming back for more details! Sneha arrives today, May 20th and I leave next Tuesday, May 26th! The project must be completed by the end of August. Currently, I don’t have a set return ticket. If I don’t get a job for the fall I will probably be traveling around Asia for awhile…
Shanti
Peace
Thanks for keeping up with Sneha and my summer adventures and project. If you are interested in what our project is about here is a description:
Our “Reading and Reflection Project” will be based in Kathmandu, Nepal in conjunction with a Nepali based non-governmental organization, Socio-Perspective Alliance (SPA), to create a sustainable library for the students of Bidhyoda School, facilitate a six-week book workshop entitled “My Dream” “Mero Sapana,” and publish two culturally relevant bi-lingual children’s books through Kathaalaya Publications. This multidimensional project, which encourages literacy and provides children with an educational outlet to express and reflect on their dreams during instability in the country, is especially essential in Nepal. The children are currently the ones in the middle of the chaos and confusion remaining after ten years of civil war in the country; numerous schools have been shutdown, many students are forced to work to support their family’s financial situation and with everyday school disturbances caused by unpredictable violent riots, being motivated to be students is ever more difficult. In a country where more than 80% of the population live under less than a dollar and over 45% is illiterate, the country cannot afford to lose its educated youths, who will be the future of the country. There is a need to encourage the youth of Nepal to read and get educated for a brighter Nepal.
This project will address these issues on several levels by working in a collaborative endeavor with the community of Jhonchhen where Bidhyoda School is located. First, we will work with SPA to create a first-time library in Bidhyoda School. Second, we will hold six-weekend book workshops for fourteen at-risk students from Bidhyoda School. These innovative workshops are not only essential in allowing children to express themselves creatively during bleak times, but will also develop a template for a future SPA projects as it works with young troubled individuals. Finally, the two of us will work together to write and illustrate two culturally relevant bi-lingual children’s picture books, one being about pertinent environmental issues regarding pollution in Kathmandu. These books will be published by Kathaalaya Publications with ten percent of the royalties returning to Bidhyoda School. The funds granted will mainly go towards buying books and furniture for the library, craft materials and snacks for the book workshop, and publishing two bi-lingual books.
Keep coming back for more details! Sneha arrives today, May 20th and I leave next Tuesday, May 26th! The project must be completed by the end of August. Currently, I don’t have a set return ticket. If I don’t get a job for the fall I will probably be traveling around Asia for awhile…
Shanti
Peace
8.8.08
El Ultimo Capitulo (The Last Chapter)
This title derives from what I’m doing at this present moment as I write this blog on my computer that is worlds away from wireless internet. I’m watching TV with my host family like every night: telenovelas, which translates into soap-operas. But these are like the ones we have in the US where the characters of Hope and Brady from Days of Our Lives never (including their faces that are hard as rocks from botox) change, believe me I started watching that as a newborn. So unlike some soap-opera’s in the US that stay running for twenty or more years the ones here are written for a much shorter period of time, around 4-6 months. They come in “chapters” and tonight (yes tonight) is the last chapter of Madre Luna. And here is my last “chapter” of Nicaragua.
A lot has happened since you’ve last read I’m sure. I’ve dined at the fine TGI Fridays with the press secretary of President Daniel Ortega, Dr. Paul we call him. I’ve entertained my mom and aunt for a week. I’ve pulled a few all nighters or something close to that. I’ve tried to work. I’ve sent a lot of text messages…
The story I really want to tell you and write it down for future use is an experience I had just last week. I get to work at 9am like always and my supervisor is not there so I sit and wait. I’m not waiting one minute and the boss of the environmental department comes in and says, “Jackie you want to do something?” Of course I quickly agree and next thing I know I’m in a truck with another man who works in the office with me. We go to an elementary school called Enrique Schmitt and round up about 30 ten year olds. We only had the one truck which had a front and back seat as well as the empty bed in the back. In the front seat with me were four girls. In the backseat were easily ten if not more girls. The back of the truck was overflowing with the rest of them. I still have no idea what we are doing but the truck takes off and keep a pretty slow pace as to not loose any kids. We ended up driving to the highway at the entrance of Ciudad Sandino. Now this is a major four lane highway that has a thin median separating the two lanes from the other two lanes. The kids feel out of the truck quite literally while unloading and ran across the highway while truck drivers slammed on their breaks. All down the median strip someone had dug holes about four feet apart for about a fourth of a mile. The kids came to plant trees that were dumped at different intervals along the median. The trees are baby trees that are planted in a black plastic bag for with soil. The kids ripped off the bad filled the hole with the little tree and in some cases filled the hole with extra dirt. The kids were being kids, going crazy and running up and down the median in some cases stepping all over the newly planted trees. Another fault to this project was the black plastic bags the trees came in every single one was left next to the newly planted tree not one kid thought of picking it up. A man who works with me and I started picking the bags up. I thought: Well, we can’t teach the kids how to pick up trash but at least someone is doing it. So we put all the little plastic black bags into a larger clear bad to condense the trash. All good so far…wrong. Next thing I know this man hurls the bag of bags over the two lane highway into a bush. Time literally stopped as I watched this bag fly over my head and the highway into this bush. My jaw dropped, I put the most quizzical look on my face and I noticed that the main boss of the environmental department was also watching. I didn’t say anything I just turned around in disgust, hoping someone noticed my silent reaction. I kept picking up the black plastic bags in another type of silent protest.
I think this story is a good example of how people here really only have their jobs because they get a pay check. I talked to my project coordinator about it and she agrees that is usually the case but assured me my supervisor (who wasn’t at the tree planting site) is very different. I agree with her. I’ve been with my supervisor for eight weeks and she always looks for a trashcan to throw her trash into even though I must admit it’s very inconvenient, always. In summary if I can summarize a whole country’s environmental condition and problem is that of trash pure and simple. It is a part of the culture, no one is taught to use a trashcan. It is a part of the culture that needs to change but saying and doing are two separate things. This will take decades to change.
As for the infamous absorption tanks…the holes have been dug by a majority of the beneficiaries but we have been sitting and waiting for the hormigon (red sand filter) for three, count them, three weeks. I literally heard “tomorrow” “tomorrow” for three weeks. Maybe I should have been more forceful, but that’s easier said then done when you are also trying to build a repertoire with the people with whom you work. I sit here on the eve of my last day working at the Alcaldía who today told me “tomorrow” …again. My supervisor and a friend of ours also invited me out to a farewell lunch on my last day. I accepted with the pretense of: I will only eat if the hormigon is delivered; otherwise I’m going on a hunger strike. Humor with a touch of sincerity may just do the trick?
A lot has happened since you’ve last read I’m sure. I’ve dined at the fine TGI Fridays with the press secretary of President Daniel Ortega, Dr. Paul we call him. I’ve entertained my mom and aunt for a week. I’ve pulled a few all nighters or something close to that. I’ve tried to work. I’ve sent a lot of text messages…
The story I really want to tell you and write it down for future use is an experience I had just last week. I get to work at 9am like always and my supervisor is not there so I sit and wait. I’m not waiting one minute and the boss of the environmental department comes in and says, “Jackie you want to do something?” Of course I quickly agree and next thing I know I’m in a truck with another man who works in the office with me. We go to an elementary school called Enrique Schmitt and round up about 30 ten year olds. We only had the one truck which had a front and back seat as well as the empty bed in the back. In the front seat with me were four girls. In the backseat were easily ten if not more girls. The back of the truck was overflowing with the rest of them. I still have no idea what we are doing but the truck takes off and keep a pretty slow pace as to not loose any kids. We ended up driving to the highway at the entrance of Ciudad Sandino. Now this is a major four lane highway that has a thin median separating the two lanes from the other two lanes. The kids feel out of the truck quite literally while unloading and ran across the highway while truck drivers slammed on their breaks. All down the median strip someone had dug holes about four feet apart for about a fourth of a mile. The kids came to plant trees that were dumped at different intervals along the median. The trees are baby trees that are planted in a black plastic bag for with soil. The kids ripped off the bad filled the hole with the little tree and in some cases filled the hole with extra dirt. The kids were being kids, going crazy and running up and down the median in some cases stepping all over the newly planted trees. Another fault to this project was the black plastic bags the trees came in every single one was left next to the newly planted tree not one kid thought of picking it up. A man who works with me and I started picking the bags up. I thought: Well, we can’t teach the kids how to pick up trash but at least someone is doing it. So we put all the little plastic black bags into a larger clear bad to condense the trash. All good so far…wrong. Next thing I know this man hurls the bag of bags over the two lane highway into a bush. Time literally stopped as I watched this bag fly over my head and the highway into this bush. My jaw dropped, I put the most quizzical look on my face and I noticed that the main boss of the environmental department was also watching. I didn’t say anything I just turned around in disgust, hoping someone noticed my silent reaction. I kept picking up the black plastic bags in another type of silent protest.
I think this story is a good example of how people here really only have their jobs because they get a pay check. I talked to my project coordinator about it and she agrees that is usually the case but assured me my supervisor (who wasn’t at the tree planting site) is very different. I agree with her. I’ve been with my supervisor for eight weeks and she always looks for a trashcan to throw her trash into even though I must admit it’s very inconvenient, always. In summary if I can summarize a whole country’s environmental condition and problem is that of trash pure and simple. It is a part of the culture, no one is taught to use a trashcan. It is a part of the culture that needs to change but saying and doing are two separate things. This will take decades to change.
As for the infamous absorption tanks…the holes have been dug by a majority of the beneficiaries but we have been sitting and waiting for the hormigon (red sand filter) for three, count them, three weeks. I literally heard “tomorrow” “tomorrow” for three weeks. Maybe I should have been more forceful, but that’s easier said then done when you are also trying to build a repertoire with the people with whom you work. I sit here on the eve of my last day working at the Alcaldía who today told me “tomorrow” …again. My supervisor and a friend of ours also invited me out to a farewell lunch on my last day. I accepted with the pretense of: I will only eat if the hormigon is delivered; otherwise I’m going on a hunger strike. Humor with a touch of sincerity may just do the trick?
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