Hey everybody!
This upcoming week I will celebrate one year at my site in the Comarca Ngabe Bugle. The days can sometimes go by slowly but the year has flown by. It is definitely a blessing to have my wife Sarah with me. She has made this Peace Corps experience even better and I am very thankful to share this experience with her. You can follow her experiences at http://www.boja-cudubu.blogspot.com/
In the past month, we have done quite a bit of ¨pasearing¨, or visiting house to house. Everyone loves to have us over and share a drink or food with us as we tell stories of our wedding and hear them chat about life in their household. With over 700 people in our area, some people have asked us why we haven´t reached their house yet. ¨We´ll visit soon¨ is our common reply.
After school, some of the students found out that we have Uno. We made the jump to English, which has been a great way for them to practice numbers and colors.
I had a dangerous latrine experience last week, as I entered the latrine and sat down only to hear a swooshing sound and a black flapping animal emerge. I emerged safely, with my heart thumping as I saw a bat fly into the night. We have recently added a new lid to try and make sure this experience is not repeated.
The president of the water committee accompanied me last week to buy and install a chlorinator, which is a way to add chlorine to the aquaduct system. I will be testing the chlorinator as a part of my Master´s thesis.
Recently our group celebrated our one year anniversary as Peace Corps Volunteers at a nice resort for two nights. Then we had an all-volunteer conference, where we had training on HIV/AIDS and more Environmental Health Training. It was great to see everyone and learn more about the exciting things other volunteers are doing across Panama.
Tomorrow we start our first after school English classes for the fifth and sixth graders. We will be having class twice a week, speaking only in English to supplement their English class during the day. We just got some paint to start a World Map on the school wall.
Thanks for reading!
Kevin
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Married Life
Greetings!
I hope all is well with everyone. The big news from Panama is that I'm here with my wife! We got married on September 4th in Daytona Beach and had our honeymoon in Charleston. We are heading back to site on Saturday after I finish up some medical checkups here in Panama City.
Let me update you on the past month or so!
August 12-29: Panama
In the middle of August I talked with the school director and we hosted a talk on waste management to both the parents and to the students. We talked about waste prevention, reuse, and reduction, as well as talked about ways to deal with garbage. The plan is to build a sanitary dump since the other, unhealthier, option is burning it.
Another highlight was participating in the election of a new parent teacher committee. I got to help with the voting process and tally up the votes at the end. Also, the local health agency said there might be funds available to help construct more latrines, so maybe we can start on construction in January! We shall see.
After saying goodbye to people from my community, telling them I would return with my wife very soon, I went to Panama City to help train the new Peace Corps trainees. I told them about my own experiences as a volunteer and what roles a volunteer has (facilitator, trainer) and what roles a volunteer does not have (money provider). I also had a couple days to hang out with my host family from training.
August 29-September 18: Wedding Time!
And the time to return to Sarah finally arrived. The week before the wedding was quite hectic, but all the logistics fell into place and we had a great time being with friends and family. It felt like I didn't have enough time to talk with everybody, but Sarah and I were super thankful for all the people who made it.
Our afternoon wedding on September 4th was beautiful. Pictures can be found on the link on the right. The photographer will be posting pictures here.
After a couple days in Daytona Beach, we traveled to Charleston, where we went to some fun restaurants, had a trip to the beach, enjoyed a carriage ride around the city, and took a tour of Boone Plantation and the famous 3/4 mile of oaks and included in the film The Notebook.
We also came back to Panama City for a few days at The Marriot, enjoying the wonderful food from the concierge lounge and touring Casco Viejo.
September 18-September 24: Back to Panama
Before heading back to site, Sarah and I travelled to the Darien to help facilitate the field tech week for incoming volunteers. I facilitated the topics of PVC Bridge Crossings, Building Tapstands, and Tank and Springbox Cleaning. During the evenings, some of the facilitators presented some pictures and stories about their experiences in different parts of Panama.
Right now Sarah and I are in Panama City for my one-year medical checkups. The always fun stool samples were mixed in with a couple shots and a dentist appointment. Hopefully my good health will continue for the next year! After beginning my Peace Corps experience at 170 pounds, I dropped to 147 at one point, now sitting comfortable at 157 pounds. I think a couple weeks in the States were a big help in gaining some of that weight back!
The next few weeks we will be back on site catching up with everyone and telling them about our wedding. We'll stop by the school, maybe play some soccer, and then head to an All Volunteer Conference in the middle of October.
Thanks for reading!
Kevin
I hope all is well with everyone. The big news from Panama is that I'm here with my wife! We got married on September 4th in Daytona Beach and had our honeymoon in Charleston. We are heading back to site on Saturday after I finish up some medical checkups here in Panama City.
Let me update you on the past month or so!
August 12-29: Panama
In the middle of August I talked with the school director and we hosted a talk on waste management to both the parents and to the students. We talked about waste prevention, reuse, and reduction, as well as talked about ways to deal with garbage. The plan is to build a sanitary dump since the other, unhealthier, option is burning it.
Another highlight was participating in the election of a new parent teacher committee. I got to help with the voting process and tally up the votes at the end. Also, the local health agency said there might be funds available to help construct more latrines, so maybe we can start on construction in January! We shall see.
After saying goodbye to people from my community, telling them I would return with my wife very soon, I went to Panama City to help train the new Peace Corps trainees. I told them about my own experiences as a volunteer and what roles a volunteer has (facilitator, trainer) and what roles a volunteer does not have (money provider). I also had a couple days to hang out with my host family from training.
August 29-September 18: Wedding Time!
And the time to return to Sarah finally arrived. The week before the wedding was quite hectic, but all the logistics fell into place and we had a great time being with friends and family. It felt like I didn't have enough time to talk with everybody, but Sarah and I were super thankful for all the people who made it.
Our afternoon wedding on September 4th was beautiful. Pictures can be found on the link on the right. The photographer will be posting pictures here.
After a couple days in Daytona Beach, we traveled to Charleston, where we went to some fun restaurants, had a trip to the beach, enjoyed a carriage ride around the city, and took a tour of Boone Plantation and the famous 3/4 mile of oaks and included in the film The Notebook.
We also came back to Panama City for a few days at The Marriot, enjoying the wonderful food from the concierge lounge and touring Casco Viejo.
September 18-September 24: Back to Panama
Before heading back to site, Sarah and I travelled to the Darien to help facilitate the field tech week for incoming volunteers. I facilitated the topics of PVC Bridge Crossings, Building Tapstands, and Tank and Springbox Cleaning. During the evenings, some of the facilitators presented some pictures and stories about their experiences in different parts of Panama.
Right now Sarah and I are in Panama City for my one-year medical checkups. The always fun stool samples were mixed in with a couple shots and a dentist appointment. Hopefully my good health will continue for the next year! After beginning my Peace Corps experience at 170 pounds, I dropped to 147 at one point, now sitting comfortable at 157 pounds. I think a couple weeks in the States were a big help in gaining some of that weight back!
The next few weeks we will be back on site catching up with everyone and telling them about our wedding. We'll stop by the school, maybe play some soccer, and then head to an All Volunteer Conference in the middle of October.
Thanks for reading!
Kevin
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Tenth Month on Site
Hello!
I hope you are all well. Things have been very busy here as seminars, presentations, and training gets wrapped up before I head back to Florida for the wedding on September 4th!
Here´s an update on what´s been going on this past month:
1. English Class
I´ve had a fairly low number of students, but have moved on to more advanced topics. Some can now conjugate verbs and form sentences and questions. One young male, being in the company of a young female he was interested in, asked me what the word for girlfriend was and proceeded to write, ¨Do you want to be my girlfriend?¨. ¨Yes!¨ the girl responded. I´m glad to see that the teaching is being put into practice to produce some immediate positive results!
2. Aquaduct Work
We´ve had construction of aquaducts in two communities. In one, we had two workdays to fix tube, fill the tank, and send water down the pipe. Water has reached all but one house now. Hopefully with the installation of a sediment release valve the last house will receive water and then we will move on to installing more houses to the line.
In another community we installed about 500 meters of tube and five new faucets, only to find out that the original land owner objected to the installation because hadn´t been contacted and that the residents have been squatting on his land for 40 years. The local authorities have been contacted and we will see what results! Such drama!
3. Waste Management Talk
I talked to the school parents about prevention, reusing, and reducing the amount of waste in the community. Many students receive cookies in a plastic bag every day, which seem to end up scattered on the ground all around the community. Because waste isn´t collected, we are looking to have build a hole to deposit the garbage since burning causes some personal and environmental health problems.
4. Train the Trainer
I am all set to head to Panama City to help train the new trainees, who are arriving in the next week. I will be helping facilitate conversations on the role of the volunteer and also teaching some technical topics as well.
5. Thesis Topic!
After lots of conversation, it looks like my thesis topic will be Chlorine Disinfection in Aquaduct Systems. I will be looking at the effectiveness of chlorine against pathogens in Panama and then model the concentration of chlorine in an aquaduct system. More details to come!
6. I´m getting married!
I am getting married in 23 days! It will be so nice to finally be with my love and not have to say goodbye every three weeks! Preparations continue and it will be nice to see friends and family in September.
Thanks for reading!
Kevin
I hope you are all well. Things have been very busy here as seminars, presentations, and training gets wrapped up before I head back to Florida for the wedding on September 4th!
Here´s an update on what´s been going on this past month:
1. English Class
I´ve had a fairly low number of students, but have moved on to more advanced topics. Some can now conjugate verbs and form sentences and questions. One young male, being in the company of a young female he was interested in, asked me what the word for girlfriend was and proceeded to write, ¨Do you want to be my girlfriend?¨. ¨Yes!¨ the girl responded. I´m glad to see that the teaching is being put into practice to produce some immediate positive results!
2. Aquaduct Work
We´ve had construction of aquaducts in two communities. In one, we had two workdays to fix tube, fill the tank, and send water down the pipe. Water has reached all but one house now. Hopefully with the installation of a sediment release valve the last house will receive water and then we will move on to installing more houses to the line.
In another community we installed about 500 meters of tube and five new faucets, only to find out that the original land owner objected to the installation because hadn´t been contacted and that the residents have been squatting on his land for 40 years. The local authorities have been contacted and we will see what results! Such drama!
3. Waste Management Talk
I talked to the school parents about prevention, reusing, and reducing the amount of waste in the community. Many students receive cookies in a plastic bag every day, which seem to end up scattered on the ground all around the community. Because waste isn´t collected, we are looking to have build a hole to deposit the garbage since burning causes some personal and environmental health problems.
4. Train the Trainer
I am all set to head to Panama City to help train the new trainees, who are arriving in the next week. I will be helping facilitate conversations on the role of the volunteer and also teaching some technical topics as well.
5. Thesis Topic!
After lots of conversation, it looks like my thesis topic will be Chlorine Disinfection in Aquaduct Systems. I will be looking at the effectiveness of chlorine against pathogens in Panama and then model the concentration of chlorine in an aquaduct system. More details to come!
6. I´m getting married!
I am getting married in 23 days! It will be so nice to finally be with my love and not have to say goodbye every three weeks! Preparations continue and it will be nice to see friends and family in September.
Thanks for reading!
Kevin
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:19-21
Friday, July 16, 2010
Ninth Month on Site
Hello!
Thanks for keeping in touch with my Peace Corps experience. Below you will find some updates from the Comarca Ngabe Bugle.
But first...Only 50 days to the wedding!
I have restarted my english classes. During my first meeting, we had about 15 people. Lots of interest currently, but we will see if they will do the homework!
In one community, we will be working on an addition to the aquaduct in August, spending about $500 to protect the spring source, add valves, and add five houses to the system.
In another community, I will be hosting a series of presentations on latrines, talking about how to construct, maintain, and plan for pit and compost latrines. The plan is to build in the dry season in January.
At the school, I have been dropping in a couple times a week to help out in the sixth grade class. One day when the English teacher couldn´t make it in, I lead the class in ¨Idoli says¨, based off the game Simon says. I used that game to help teach the various body part names in English. I´m scheduled to give a waste management class next week, however no recycling exists, so we will be talking about how to compost organic material and how to bury inorganic and toxic material rather than throw it on the ground. Last week I also gave a presentation on household water disinfection.
On the 4th of July I made it to the beach for a day to celebrate with the other volunteers with football, swimming, and the card game sheepshead. There aren´t too many people in my community who celebrate 4th of July--weird!
Later that week I traveled to a nearby volunteer´s site to help present on sexual education. Not many people have received too much instruction on this topic, so I think many people came away with a much better idea of their bodies and their functions. The topics included sex and gender roles, sexual rights, anatomy, menstrual cycle, and pregnancy. The next session later this month will talk about STDs, HIV, and AIDS.
After finishing up the sexual education presentation, I hiked up the hill to another volunteer´s site to help facilitate another water seminar. We had eight communities participate and had great participation and unusual punctuality as well!
During the water seminar we received a text saying that we were on ¨Standfast,¨ meaning that we had to stay on site until some unrest died down within the country. Strikes were happening related to the right to strike in streets, better wages, less taxes, and the loosening of environmental testing regulations. During the wait, many games of Settlers of Catan were played. I think all of the volunteers in my part of the country know how to play now!
Coming up, I will be hosting more english classes, aquaduct and waste management meetings, and then heading to Panama City for Train the Trainer at the end of the month in preparation for the arrival of the new volunteers in August.
Blessings to you!
Kevin
Thanks for keeping in touch with my Peace Corps experience. Below you will find some updates from the Comarca Ngabe Bugle.
But first...Only 50 days to the wedding!
I have restarted my english classes. During my first meeting, we had about 15 people. Lots of interest currently, but we will see if they will do the homework!
In one community, we will be working on an addition to the aquaduct in August, spending about $500 to protect the spring source, add valves, and add five houses to the system.
In another community, I will be hosting a series of presentations on latrines, talking about how to construct, maintain, and plan for pit and compost latrines. The plan is to build in the dry season in January.
At the school, I have been dropping in a couple times a week to help out in the sixth grade class. One day when the English teacher couldn´t make it in, I lead the class in ¨Idoli says¨, based off the game Simon says. I used that game to help teach the various body part names in English. I´m scheduled to give a waste management class next week, however no recycling exists, so we will be talking about how to compost organic material and how to bury inorganic and toxic material rather than throw it on the ground. Last week I also gave a presentation on household water disinfection.
On the 4th of July I made it to the beach for a day to celebrate with the other volunteers with football, swimming, and the card game sheepshead. There aren´t too many people in my community who celebrate 4th of July--weird!
Later that week I traveled to a nearby volunteer´s site to help present on sexual education. Not many people have received too much instruction on this topic, so I think many people came away with a much better idea of their bodies and their functions. The topics included sex and gender roles, sexual rights, anatomy, menstrual cycle, and pregnancy. The next session later this month will talk about STDs, HIV, and AIDS.
After finishing up the sexual education presentation, I hiked up the hill to another volunteer´s site to help facilitate another water seminar. We had eight communities participate and had great participation and unusual punctuality as well!
During the water seminar we received a text saying that we were on ¨Standfast,¨ meaning that we had to stay on site until some unrest died down within the country. Strikes were happening related to the right to strike in streets, better wages, less taxes, and the loosening of environmental testing regulations. During the wait, many games of Settlers of Catan were played. I think all of the volunteers in my part of the country know how to play now!
Coming up, I will be hosting more english classes, aquaduct and waste management meetings, and then heading to Panama City for Train the Trainer at the end of the month in preparation for the arrival of the new volunteers in August.
Blessings to you!
Kevin
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Eighth Month on Site
Greetings from Panama!
I hope this post finds you well. It is hard to believe that I have already been here for over a third of my two-year stint. Lots has been done but there are lots of things yet to do.
I´ll include some highlights from the past month.
*In one community, we are almost done with patching up some burned tube. The community hasn´t had water for over a year, so we´re really excited to finish up the repairs and send water to everyone again.
*One day I hauled firewood for about 1/2 a mile. The others were carrying twice the weight of what I was carrying--yikes!
*I´m expanding my food repetoire. Recent meals have included Breakfast Potato Hash, Patacones (fried plantains), Potato Soup, Hojaldre (fried bread), Barbecue Baked Beans, French Toast, and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Cooking options are limited without a grocery store next door and zero electricity!
*I attended a Padres de la Familia (Parent Teacher) meeting that lasted from 8 until 2. I was able to present some information about environmental health work as well as a quick English lesson. I might have to give an ¨Effective Meetings¨presentation next time so it doesn´t last for 6 hours!
*Twice I went to another volunteer´s site to present the water seminar. It is way off the beaten path, taking about 3 hours in the back of a pickup truck to get there. The seminar was great, and I got to bathe in the river and hike up a mountain ridge as well. Very fun!
*A school from the neighboring town wants me to install a flush toilet. I´ve never done this, but they think that I´m their only hope. We´ll see whether it gets installed correctly or not.
*I also got chosen to help lead training for the incoming group of Peace Corps volunteers. I´ll head to ¨Train the Trainer¨in July and help lead training after that. I always enjoy passing on experiences and meeting the new volunteers.
I get married in about two months! I´m super excited to be with Sarah and share experiences with her. I think my cell phone bill will be significantly less after September!
Grace and peace to you all,
Kevin
I hope this post finds you well. It is hard to believe that I have already been here for over a third of my two-year stint. Lots has been done but there are lots of things yet to do.
I´ll include some highlights from the past month.
*In one community, we are almost done with patching up some burned tube. The community hasn´t had water for over a year, so we´re really excited to finish up the repairs and send water to everyone again.
*One day I hauled firewood for about 1/2 a mile. The others were carrying twice the weight of what I was carrying--yikes!
*I´m expanding my food repetoire. Recent meals have included Breakfast Potato Hash, Patacones (fried plantains), Potato Soup, Hojaldre (fried bread), Barbecue Baked Beans, French Toast, and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Cooking options are limited without a grocery store next door and zero electricity!
*I attended a Padres de la Familia (Parent Teacher) meeting that lasted from 8 until 2. I was able to present some information about environmental health work as well as a quick English lesson. I might have to give an ¨Effective Meetings¨presentation next time so it doesn´t last for 6 hours!
*Twice I went to another volunteer´s site to present the water seminar. It is way off the beaten path, taking about 3 hours in the back of a pickup truck to get there. The seminar was great, and I got to bathe in the river and hike up a mountain ridge as well. Very fun!
*A school from the neighboring town wants me to install a flush toilet. I´ve never done this, but they think that I´m their only hope. We´ll see whether it gets installed correctly or not.
*I also got chosen to help lead training for the incoming group of Peace Corps volunteers. I´ll head to ¨Train the Trainer¨in July and help lead training after that. I always enjoy passing on experiences and meeting the new volunteers.
I get married in about two months! I´m super excited to be with Sarah and share experiences with her. I think my cell phone bill will be significantly less after September!
Grace and peace to you all,
Kevin
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Seventh Month on Site
Hello!
It has been over a month since I last updated, and much has happened. I'm thankful for all the comments and people staying in touch--thank you! As I write, I'm also a bit sad as I had to say goodbye to my fiancee Sarah yesterday. I can look forward to the fact that we'll be getting married in about 100 days!
I'll comment on a few different topics during this post:
1. Water Seminar, Part 2
2. Trip Back to the States
3. Back to Panama with Sarah!
4. A Look Ahead
1. Water Seminar, Part 2
After finishing up the first 3 day session, I traveled up to each community to complete a small analysis on their aqueduct and attend any meetings they had during the week. One community had organized a talk on household water disinfection and community water usage.
Below is a quick overview of the topics we discussed.
Day 1: Homework Review, Roles in an Effective Water Committee, How to Develop an Effective Water Committee, Effective Meetings, Thermoforming Endcaps
Day 2: How Much Should Your Monthly Water Payment Be, User Accountability, Expenditures and Collections, How to Collect Payments in Your Community, Yearly Work Plans
Day 3: How to Write Formal Letters, How to Talk to Government Agencies, Review, and Closing Ceremony
Overall, it was a great way to be in conversation with the people I'm working with about lots of important topics that will be discussed during my time here. We should be equipped with knowledge to handle the current challenges we are facing in regards to water system management.
2. Trip Back to the States
It was quite the whirlwind trip back to the States. It was a five day trip packed full of activities. Thankfully it included a date night with Sarah and getting together with her family and some friends from USF.
Here are some other things that happened in only five days: Premarital counseling, Sarah's graduation from USF, Advisor Meeting with Dr. James Mihelcic and his wife Karen, Church at Holy Trinity, Visit to the church, reception hall, and beach pavilion for our wedding, and also got to do some wedding registry, tux fitting, and wedding bands. Whew!
3. Back to Panama with Sarah
Thankfully, Sarah was able to come back with me to Panama for two weeks. During this time, we got her situated at the house, cooked some tasty meals, and visited the school a couple times. Each classroom would give her an applause, it was very neat.
After being on my site for a few days, we visited a volunteer in Bocas. Sarah participated in her first official spanish presentation, presenting the idea of the Lorena Stove. The next day we worked on the aqueduct, adding a sediment release valve and cleaning out the water tank and collection tank. It was a great trip, but we could do without the crazy curvy bus trip over the mountains at 60 miles per hour. It does not make for a happy stomach!
We returned from Bocas to go to our Regional Meeting. We met up with about 15 other volunteers at the Country Director to talk about things going on in our communities and in Peace Corps as a hole. It was a great way to reconnect with everybody and get informed.
Upon returning to site, house repairs were in order. We added some fabric above the bed so that pollen from the roof won't fall all over the bed and make us sneeze. Another project was filling the old latrine that had been open to whatever frogs, mosquitoes, and cats that wanted to go in. Being an environmental health volunteer, that pit had to go. We also added some rocks to make our dish cleaning area outside a little less treacherous.
Sadly, Sarah left to the airport yesterday. It was sad to see her go, but the next time she'll return to my site we'll be married, so that's comforting. Come back soon!
4. A Look Ahead
In the next month, I'll be helping facilitate the water seminar at two other volunteers' sites. Fit in will also be a project management and leadership seminar to a government agency near me. Yay seminars! On site will also be continuing the aqueduct improvements and latrine solicitude.
Thanks for reading all this and blessings to you and yours!
Kevin
It has been over a month since I last updated, and much has happened. I'm thankful for all the comments and people staying in touch--thank you! As I write, I'm also a bit sad as I had to say goodbye to my fiancee Sarah yesterday. I can look forward to the fact that we'll be getting married in about 100 days!
I'll comment on a few different topics during this post:
1. Water Seminar, Part 2
2. Trip Back to the States
3. Back to Panama with Sarah!
4. A Look Ahead
1. Water Seminar, Part 2
After finishing up the first 3 day session, I traveled up to each community to complete a small analysis on their aqueduct and attend any meetings they had during the week. One community had organized a talk on household water disinfection and community water usage.
Below is a quick overview of the topics we discussed.
Day 1: Homework Review, Roles in an Effective Water Committee, How to Develop an Effective Water Committee, Effective Meetings, Thermoforming Endcaps
Day 2: How Much Should Your Monthly Water Payment Be, User Accountability, Expenditures and Collections, How to Collect Payments in Your Community, Yearly Work Plans
Day 3: How to Write Formal Letters, How to Talk to Government Agencies, Review, and Closing Ceremony
Overall, it was a great way to be in conversation with the people I'm working with about lots of important topics that will be discussed during my time here. We should be equipped with knowledge to handle the current challenges we are facing in regards to water system management.
2. Trip Back to the States
It was quite the whirlwind trip back to the States. It was a five day trip packed full of activities. Thankfully it included a date night with Sarah and getting together with her family and some friends from USF.
Here are some other things that happened in only five days: Premarital counseling, Sarah's graduation from USF, Advisor Meeting with Dr. James Mihelcic and his wife Karen, Church at Holy Trinity, Visit to the church, reception hall, and beach pavilion for our wedding, and also got to do some wedding registry, tux fitting, and wedding bands. Whew!
3. Back to Panama with Sarah
Thankfully, Sarah was able to come back with me to Panama for two weeks. During this time, we got her situated at the house, cooked some tasty meals, and visited the school a couple times. Each classroom would give her an applause, it was very neat.
After being on my site for a few days, we visited a volunteer in Bocas. Sarah participated in her first official spanish presentation, presenting the idea of the Lorena Stove. The next day we worked on the aqueduct, adding a sediment release valve and cleaning out the water tank and collection tank. It was a great trip, but we could do without the crazy curvy bus trip over the mountains at 60 miles per hour. It does not make for a happy stomach!
We returned from Bocas to go to our Regional Meeting. We met up with about 15 other volunteers at the Country Director to talk about things going on in our communities and in Peace Corps as a hole. It was a great way to reconnect with everybody and get informed.
Upon returning to site, house repairs were in order. We added some fabric above the bed so that pollen from the roof won't fall all over the bed and make us sneeze. Another project was filling the old latrine that had been open to whatever frogs, mosquitoes, and cats that wanted to go in. Being an environmental health volunteer, that pit had to go. We also added some rocks to make our dish cleaning area outside a little less treacherous.
Sadly, Sarah left to the airport yesterday. It was sad to see her go, but the next time she'll return to my site we'll be married, so that's comforting. Come back soon!
4. A Look Ahead
In the next month, I'll be helping facilitate the water seminar at two other volunteers' sites. Fit in will also be a project management and leadership seminar to a government agency near me. Yay seminars! On site will also be continuing the aqueduct improvements and latrine solicitude.
Thanks for reading all this and blessings to you and yours!
Kevin
The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:20-21
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Sixth Month on Site
Good morning!
I hope you are all well. It´s hard to believe, but I´m finishing up my sixth month on site already. Including training, I´ve been in Panama for 8 months! Time goes by very fast.
A couple updates from the past month:
1. Visit from the Family!
2. Water Management Seminar
1. Visit from the Family!
It was very nice to have my family (mom, dad, and brother) here for a week. We were able to visit the Panama Canal at Miraflores Lock, watching ships go through the lock from the observation deck and walking through four floors of exhibits (I especially appreciated the exhibit on the importance of watersheds!).
Later in the day we visited the Amador Causeway, watching ships enter the canal and enjoying a wonderful picnic lunch.
We drove all the way to my site, only to find that the car wouldn´t make it from the paved road to my house because of the rocky road. We got out and hiked all of our stuff in, getting ourselves nice and sweaty for the nice bucket shower upon our arrival.
Throughout the week, we hiked up to a springbox, had a dinner together with my US Family and my Panama Family, and equipped the house with a new table, plastic bins, and pots and pans. The house is slowly approaching readiness for a married couple :)
We made a sidetrip to Boquete, enjoying the many flowers, bubbling brooks, and cool temperatures. Our highlight was Finca Lerida, a beautiful restaurant, hotel, and farm. It´s one of the greenest places I´ve ever seen! A return trip will be in order.
We rounded out the trip with a night at Las Lajas, enjoying the radiant sunset and crashing waves. What a great way to end the trip!
2. Water Seminar
Along with five other volunteers, my community hosted a three-day water seminar entitled, ¨Managing a Rural Aquaduct System.¨ I invited each of the four communities I´m working with to invite four participants, mostly members of their water committee. Each day we would have breakfast together, have sessions in the morning, lunch together, and then a few afternoon sessions.
Here are the topics we covered:
Aquaduct Maps
Water & Health
Aquaduct Theory
Molding PVC w/ Vegetable Oil
Environmental Health Laws
How much water is enough?
Watershed Management
Aquaduct Contamination
Community Water Usage
Clean House Water
More Aquaduct Theory
We´ll have three more days of the water seminar at my site in May, and then give the same seminar at other sites in June and July.
In other exciting news, I get to see Sarah again in about two weeks! I´ll be watching her graduate and then we´ll come back down together to Panama for two weeks. We´ll be talking to the English Teacher and Director at the school and giving a Lorena Stove demonstration as well. Should be a fun time!
I hope you are all well. It´s hard to believe, but I´m finishing up my sixth month on site already. Including training, I´ve been in Panama for 8 months! Time goes by very fast.
A couple updates from the past month:
1. Visit from the Family!
2. Water Management Seminar
1. Visit from the Family!
It was very nice to have my family (mom, dad, and brother) here for a week. We were able to visit the Panama Canal at Miraflores Lock, watching ships go through the lock from the observation deck and walking through four floors of exhibits (I especially appreciated the exhibit on the importance of watersheds!).
Later in the day we visited the Amador Causeway, watching ships enter the canal and enjoying a wonderful picnic lunch.
We drove all the way to my site, only to find that the car wouldn´t make it from the paved road to my house because of the rocky road. We got out and hiked all of our stuff in, getting ourselves nice and sweaty for the nice bucket shower upon our arrival.
Throughout the week, we hiked up to a springbox, had a dinner together with my US Family and my Panama Family, and equipped the house with a new table, plastic bins, and pots and pans. The house is slowly approaching readiness for a married couple :)
We made a sidetrip to Boquete, enjoying the many flowers, bubbling brooks, and cool temperatures. Our highlight was Finca Lerida, a beautiful restaurant, hotel, and farm. It´s one of the greenest places I´ve ever seen! A return trip will be in order.
We rounded out the trip with a night at Las Lajas, enjoying the radiant sunset and crashing waves. What a great way to end the trip!
2. Water Seminar
Along with five other volunteers, my community hosted a three-day water seminar entitled, ¨Managing a Rural Aquaduct System.¨ I invited each of the four communities I´m working with to invite four participants, mostly members of their water committee. Each day we would have breakfast together, have sessions in the morning, lunch together, and then a few afternoon sessions.
Here are the topics we covered:
Aquaduct Maps
Water & Health
Aquaduct Theory
Molding PVC w/ Vegetable Oil
Environmental Health Laws
How much water is enough?
Watershed Management
Aquaduct Contamination
Community Water Usage
Clean House Water
More Aquaduct Theory
We´ll have three more days of the water seminar at my site in May, and then give the same seminar at other sites in June and July.
In other exciting news, I get to see Sarah again in about two weeks! I´ll be watching her graduate and then we´ll come back down together to Panama for two weeks. We´ll be talking to the English Teacher and Director at the school and giving a Lorena Stove demonstration as well. Should be a fun time!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phillippians 4:6-7
Blessings to you!
Kevin
Kevin
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