Sorry I’m a little behind, we’re kind of into Week 3 here, but no matter.
With the engineers doing the trash study
Last Monday I went around with the Engineers from the Ministry of the Environment to help with their trash study. It was pretty cool realizing how much I could help them out, and how much I’ve figured out about Rio Grande; though obviously I still have a ton to learn.
Tuesday I was supposed to go to La Isla with my water system people, but of course that did not happen. Instead my water system operator bought me a papa rellena (filled potato) and some jugo de cebada (juice) and drew me a map of the water system, so no biggie. I did my first 3 encuestas/surveys! Woot woot! I still want to change mine, but I’ve also printed a bunch, so I want to use those, and I just plain want to get started. I also went with the engineers to the caserios of Santa Rosa and La Rancheria to check out the trash situation, which looks to be worst in Santa Rosa (people in Rio Grande often complain about how little people in Santa Rosa care for the environment).
Wednesday I visited the “oxidation lagoon”, where the sewage of Rio Grande goes. It is not so much an oxidation lagoon as a giant lagoon of sewage. There’s not a lot of oxidizing going on, and the place is completely inaccessible because of the amount of brush, trees, plants and animals there. Also, apparently, the river infiltrates the “lagoon” everywhere. Not at all a public health hazard…
I also did laundry, which is no small feat if you’ve ever done your laundry by hand, especially in a situation with limited water and with a healing broken pinkie. And cleaned my room. Booyah.
Charla on Tratamiento de Agua en Casa and Reciclaje y Compostaje in the Rio Grande Comedor
Thursday I basically spent all day planning the most amazing charla/talk in the world. I felt my previous cocina charlas (talks for my cocinas mejoradas project) could have been a lot better, so I wanted to really knock this one out of the park. It was on tratamiento de agua en casa (treatment of water at home) and reciclaje and compostaje (recycling and composting). Though Maria Bautista, my socia, couldn’t make it (again), the engineers from Lima came to the charla, and one of them even helped me present! And, I am not going to lie, we were a huge hit. The ladies at the Rio Grande Comedor Popular Virgen de Fatima were so impressed; they bought us a 3 liter bottle of Inca Kola, high praise. These ladies are just awesome. They actually come to the charlas, they participate enthusiastically, and by the end of the meeting they were already talking about getting all their materials together! (Usually things don’t happen so quickly here in Peru.) Highlight of the week for sure. My favorite parts:
- I had them do a blindfolded taste test of the three different kinds of treated water (boiled, chlorinated, and SODISed – left out in direct sun for 6 hours – it works!).
- I also brought a bunch of objects and had them guess how long they would take to decompose. They guessed nothing would take longer than a month – including the plastic bottle, so boy were they surprised to learn it would take 500 million years to decompose…
Where Rio Grande's trash goes...an archaeological site.
Friday I rode around with the engineers in the trash truck. Turns out all the trash in Rio Grande (that is lucky enough to get collected), is dumped in a botadero (aka just dumped), which also happens to be an archeological site.
Saturday we had our Regional Meeting in Ica. It’s always a blast to see the other volunteers and to pick up my mail – a huge THANK YOU to: Elizabeth, Joeli, Becca, Mom and Marie & Bud!!!
Then it was off to Lima. We’re not supposed to leave Ica for our first 3 months of PC service, but the doctors wanted me to get my pinkie checked out, and, yup, looks like I’m going to rehab! (Physical therapy.) For the rest of my life, I will always have an awkward, fat, malformed pinkie to remind me of my PC service! I also learned that my teeth have been developing sensitive spots because of the lack of fluoride in the water here. That trip ate up a bunch of time, so I am glad to be back on the grind in Rio Grande. Yesterday I did more encuestas/surveys, and today I met with the Director of the high school about starting my English teaching for summer vacation classes (vacaciones utiles). I also did my last charla at the Comedor in Rio Grande! The ladies have almost all their materials for their cocina together! (I can’t believe how quickly they’ve moved along with this project – super exciting!) And they want to do exercise classes with me haha. Love them. Looks like I’ll be heading to Palpa tomorrow in the hopes of purchasing cocina materials!
Tash, would it make sense to send you flouride toothpaste? Joeli got your email today and happily she let me read it. I continue to be in awe of you — the work you are doing is so worthwhile, your enthusiasm is fabulous, and overall you are totally impressive. Let us know when our next little package arrives. On our end — Joeli’s and mine — it feels as if we are conencting to you when we go to the post office to mail these envelopes. Areyouaround this weekend? Could we reach you by phone? For now, sending you many hugs and much love from Riverside Dr. Tia C
You two are so sweet! Thanks, but not to worry, I have fluoride toothpaste here
If you think sending packages feels good, imagine how awesome I feel receiving them! I am so lucky to have such supportive and loving family!
This weekend I’ll be in Lima all day Saturday buying a bike (!), but I think I’ll be around Sunday. Weeknights are generally best, but try me any time! Sending much love