Monday, April 18, 2011
Eighteenth Month on Site
Good afternoon! The past couple weeks have been very eventful. Unfortunately, the first event was the onset of shingles on the left side of my body. I was stuck for seven nights in David while I recovered. Shingles, very similar in appearance to chicken pox, only affects one side of the body and is said to be dormant in the body, activating usually because of high levels of stress. Throughout the week I was able to get some research done on my thesis and watch the first week of the Minnesota Twins playing! In more positive news I just held a Project Management and Leadership seminar on site. 25 participants and 4 volunteers joined us each day for 4 days as we covered topics of values, money and time management as well as improving meetings, resolving conflicts, writing letters, and presenting in public. It was great to see people gaining confidence and getting a vision on how they can accomplish their goals. Also, field testing is starting! I installed chlorine tablets in two different aqueduct systems. For three days I will be testing free and total chlorine, pH, and wet weight of the tablet. Testing will continue throughout the next couple months. Thanks for reading and be well! Kevin
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Seventeenth Month on Site: Part 2
Good morning! I hope you all are well. Life has been busy, so I'll hop to the chase. The world map is pretty much done! We've finished the painting of he countries and the writing of all the country names. Soon will come some small geography lessons with the students. You can see the map on the Picasa link on the right hand side of the page. Water projects continue! Along with the water committee, we went to the regional environmental health office, where they helped organize a technical worker and transportation to build a spring box. It looks like this addition will dramatically increase the flow in the summer months. In two different communities I put on some latrine presentations. There are sometimes attitudes in communities of poverty that help is needed from the government for any type of larger project. My goal was to try to present an option of using local materials to build a nice looking latrine for under $10. Plus, the same materials can be used if the government does donate materials in the future. A neighbor of mine, about 19 years old, challenged me to a race from our community to the Pan American Highway. In between is about two miles of pasture, including ten gaes, three river crossings, and one big hill. He told me that he could run the whole way in twelve minutes. He clocked in at fourteen minutes, eight huge minutes before I finished in 22 minutes. It looks like I have some more exercising to do! The same neighbor has a fruit tree, which produces an 8 pound fruit called a guanabana. I bought about two pounds of it and Sarah and I proceeded to take the seeds out and make a delicious fruit drink. We offered this to about fifteen people who passed by our house in the afternoon. Another neat opportunity we had was frisbee day! A youth volunteer came by with about forty frisbees and we had an afternoon of fun learning how to throw the frisbee and having them track down my long tosses. Plenty of pictures are found on Picasa. In a couple weeks we are hosting a seminar for managing projects and leadership, so we've been busy sending out invitation letters and readying the lessons. Thanks so much for reading! Kevin
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Seventeenth Month on Site
Hello!
Time is flying by...Sarah and I just celebrated our six month wedding anniversary! We went to a baseball game on Thursday night, to find the home team Chiriqui walloping the opponent 18-3. It has been a joy to have her serving by my side here in Panama.
Another celebration re able to celebrate my birthday up in beautiful, cool Boquete, where we stayed at a beautiful place by a bubbling brook and toured flower gardens and tried out some new restaurants. A nice way to reengergize!
An exciting, but bit terrifying story, is that I got bit by a scorpion while underneath my mosquito net! The picture can be found in the Picasa album, with the link on the right margin. I was sleeping and moved my arm only to feel a large jolt, like a beesting, just above my right elbow. I turned to see the scorpion scurry away under the mattress. About 30 minutes later we were able to corral the scorpion to a place where I could spray it.
Our World Map is almost all painted, with the exceptions of Norway, Japan, and large amount of South Pacific islands. It has been a fun way to spend our time together. Lots of kids and parents alike have asked us if this was a map of their province or of Panama. When we point out where Panama is, they say it's so very small! We're planning on giving some fun classes on geography in the coming month.
In other news, a Rotary group from Kansas, working with an organization called Heart to Heart, helped install three biosand filters. The goal is that people can use this at the household level to improve their quality of water. It was a bit weird to see a pickup truck arrive and 5 white people pile out!
This morning Sarah is at a meeting for Girl Scouts to see if they have resources that we can use back on site. Lots of the kids are looking for things to do and would enjoy having an organized activity where they could learn and have fun.
That's the news from here! Thanks for reading!
Kevin
Time is flying by...Sarah and I just celebrated our six month wedding anniversary! We went to a baseball game on Thursday night, to find the home team Chiriqui walloping the opponent 18-3. It has been a joy to have her serving by my side here in Panama.
Another celebration re able to celebrate my birthday up in beautiful, cool Boquete, where we stayed at a beautiful place by a bubbling brook and toured flower gardens and tried out some new restaurants. A nice way to reengergize!
An exciting, but bit terrifying story, is that I got bit by a scorpion while underneath my mosquito net! The picture can be found in the Picasa album, with the link on the right margin. I was sleeping and moved my arm only to feel a large jolt, like a beesting, just above my right elbow. I turned to see the scorpion scurry away under the mattress. About 30 minutes later we were able to corral the scorpion to a place where I could spray it.
Our World Map is almost all painted, with the exceptions of Norway, Japan, and large amount of South Pacific islands. It has been a fun way to spend our time together. Lots of kids and parents alike have asked us if this was a map of their province or of Panama. When we point out where Panama is, they say it's so very small! We're planning on giving some fun classes on geography in the coming month.
In other news, a Rotary group from Kansas, working with an organization called Heart to Heart, helped install three biosand filters. The goal is that people can use this at the household level to improve their quality of water. It was a bit weird to see a pickup truck arrive and 5 white people pile out!
This morning Sarah is at a meeting for Girl Scouts to see if they have resources that we can use back on site. Lots of the kids are looking for things to do and would enjoy having an organized activity where they could learn and have fun.
That's the news from here! Thanks for reading!
Kevin
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sixteenth Month on Site
Hello!
A quick update from Panama.
This past month one water committee, in an attempt to raise funds for future projects, decided to sell over 50 cases of beer, buying them from a nearby town and hauling them on their shoulders 20 minutes to the town plaza. From there, they partied over 40 hours, with some people there the whole time. With the object of the water committee to improve the community's health, I'm not sure if people falling down drunk and fighting in front of their own children and using, possibly, their food and high school education funds for their children to do so. I'm hoping to promote a local soccer tournament idea in the future that probably won't raise as much money but would be much more healthy and beneficial for the community.
We also have been doing some aquaduct system improvement, installing a chlorinator, fixing air blocks, and cleaning two spring boxes. What first was to be a one hour installation of the chlorinator turned into a day and half of working--I should come to expect that by now.
In the most rural community I'm working with, they are about a year into repairing their main water line. Recently, a landslide caused by heavy rains and lack of soil stability from farming broke the main line above the tank. We went in with picks and shovels to find where the landslide took the tube--a great exercise regimen if you're looking for new ideas. I'm also hosting some presentations on latrine construction using local materials. We have finished the solicitud for latrines with concrete floors, but the response has not given a specific date, therefore the community should have some type of sanitation option in the meantime.
Sarah and I also went through some fairly intense home cleaning and repairs. We cleaned from top to bottom, from the palm branch roof to the dirt floor. We got rid of things we never used and got rid of many insect homes as well.
The progress on our World Map is going slowly, having finished over half of the horizontal grid lines, with the vertical ones waiting for us this next week. With these 3" boxes, we'll be outlining the countries box by box until we have our 14x7 foot map finished. If you're thinking this sounds like a great project, send me an email with days you'd be available to help out. That means all you people in the freezing cold Midwest, too, this invitation applies to you as well.
We're in the early planning stages of hosting a frisbee camp. One third year volunteer is going across Panama holding one day camps in various communities. Maybe we can get some leagues formed!
Anyways, hope you are well and feel free to send a quick email update if you have time.
Grace and peace,
Kevin
A quick update from Panama.
This past month one water committee, in an attempt to raise funds for future projects, decided to sell over 50 cases of beer, buying them from a nearby town and hauling them on their shoulders 20 minutes to the town plaza. From there, they partied over 40 hours, with some people there the whole time. With the object of the water committee to improve the community's health, I'm not sure if people falling down drunk and fighting in front of their own children and using, possibly, their food and high school education funds for their children to do so. I'm hoping to promote a local soccer tournament idea in the future that probably won't raise as much money but would be much more healthy and beneficial for the community.
We also have been doing some aquaduct system improvement, installing a chlorinator, fixing air blocks, and cleaning two spring boxes. What first was to be a one hour installation of the chlorinator turned into a day and half of working--I should come to expect that by now.
In the most rural community I'm working with, they are about a year into repairing their main water line. Recently, a landslide caused by heavy rains and lack of soil stability from farming broke the main line above the tank. We went in with picks and shovels to find where the landslide took the tube--a great exercise regimen if you're looking for new ideas. I'm also hosting some presentations on latrine construction using local materials. We have finished the solicitud for latrines with concrete floors, but the response has not given a specific date, therefore the community should have some type of sanitation option in the meantime.
Sarah and I also went through some fairly intense home cleaning and repairs. We cleaned from top to bottom, from the palm branch roof to the dirt floor. We got rid of things we never used and got rid of many insect homes as well.
The progress on our World Map is going slowly, having finished over half of the horizontal grid lines, with the vertical ones waiting for us this next week. With these 3" boxes, we'll be outlining the countries box by box until we have our 14x7 foot map finished. If you're thinking this sounds like a great project, send me an email with days you'd be available to help out. That means all you people in the freezing cold Midwest, too, this invitation applies to you as well.
We're in the early planning stages of hosting a frisbee camp. One third year volunteer is going across Panama holding one day camps in various communities. Maybe we can get some leagues formed!
Currently, we're in the big city of David getting work done. We watched the Super Bowl last night, enjoying the game but thinking that it should have been a different NFC North team playing, and that's not the Bears. Maybe next year.
Anyways, hope you are well and feel free to send a quick email update if you have time.
Grace and peace,
Kevin
Friday, January 21, 2011
Fifteenth Month on Site
Good afternoon!
I hope everyone is well and enjoying the cold winter. I tried sending some warm weather up north, but it didn't work. Sarah and I went back to Minnesota for ten days from December 23rd through January 3rd. We went from 90 degrees in the Panama airport and sandles to 15 degrees in Minneapolis and two feet of snow on the ground. Thankfully, my parents were there waiting with winter jackets, hats, and gloves for Sarah and I.
We celebrated Christmas with both the Orners and the Trulens and were able to visit my Grandma Bev in the hospital throughout the week. When we left, she was not doing well but recently she has started talking again and has said she wants to go out to eat. We are praying for her continued recovery.
Another highlight of the trip was our second reception on January 1st. My mother worked hard to plan out the delicious chinese food, great party favors, and beautiful decorations around the church. We had over 150 people show up, including family and high school friends who I hadn't seen in years.
After getting back to Panama on January 3rd, we visited my host family I had during training. We stayed two days, talking about the holidays, praying at the church, and heading to the waterfall with their grandchildren. Afterwards, we left to Cocle, a neighboring province, to help facilitate a water seminar. We talked about water conservation, health, and aquaduct theory for three days. It was way up in the hills, so it was windy and cool the whole time. Thanks to Kathryn and Aaron for hosting us!
Once we got back to site, we were reconnecting with the community and continuing our environmental health work. We installed a chlorinator, fixed some tube that had been destroyed by a fallen tree, and had an inauguration for a completed aquaduct. Also, baseball season has started, so I've been attending practice sessions in the field throughout the week.
Hope all is well with you and hope to see you soon.
Kevin
I hope everyone is well and enjoying the cold winter. I tried sending some warm weather up north, but it didn't work. Sarah and I went back to Minnesota for ten days from December 23rd through January 3rd. We went from 90 degrees in the Panama airport and sandles to 15 degrees in Minneapolis and two feet of snow on the ground. Thankfully, my parents were there waiting with winter jackets, hats, and gloves for Sarah and I.
We celebrated Christmas with both the Orners and the Trulens and were able to visit my Grandma Bev in the hospital throughout the week. When we left, she was not doing well but recently she has started talking again and has said she wants to go out to eat. We are praying for her continued recovery.
Another highlight of the trip was our second reception on January 1st. My mother worked hard to plan out the delicious chinese food, great party favors, and beautiful decorations around the church. We had over 150 people show up, including family and high school friends who I hadn't seen in years.
After getting back to Panama on January 3rd, we visited my host family I had during training. We stayed two days, talking about the holidays, praying at the church, and heading to the waterfall with their grandchildren. Afterwards, we left to Cocle, a neighboring province, to help facilitate a water seminar. We talked about water conservation, health, and aquaduct theory for three days. It was way up in the hills, so it was windy and cool the whole time. Thanks to Kathryn and Aaron for hosting us!
Once we got back to site, we were reconnecting with the community and continuing our environmental health work. We installed a chlorinator, fixed some tube that had been destroyed by a fallen tree, and had an inauguration for a completed aquaduct. Also, baseball season has started, so I've been attending practice sessions in the field throughout the week.
Hope all is well with you and hope to see you soon.
Kevin
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Home for Christmas!
Good afternoon!
I just want to wish everyone an early Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Sarah and I are heading out tomorrow afternoon for Minneapolis, where we will spend time with family over the holidays until January 3rd. We are really excited to see everyone again, yet a little worried about how different the temperature will be!
Here's a quick recap from the past couple weeks:
After being sick for most of the first days of December, I arrived back to site with my Environmental Health Director Timothy Wellman. It was good to get his insight as to how to sustain the work for years to come. We met with community leaders and discussed projects for the future.
We had a couple more English classes, with about 4 members attending. They were really excited to learn about family and directions. The group is small but we appreciate their enthusiasm to learn.
At the school we finished two base layers of light blue, on top of which we will paint the countries of the world.
It is also graduation time for the 6th graders. I got to attend two different graduations, give some encouraging words to the students, and eat some delicious chicken!
Sarah and I travelled to Panama yesterday and are at the Peace Corps office today before flying out tomorrow!
Best wishes to you all in this holiday season!
Kevin
I just want to wish everyone an early Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Sarah and I are heading out tomorrow afternoon for Minneapolis, where we will spend time with family over the holidays until January 3rd. We are really excited to see everyone again, yet a little worried about how different the temperature will be!
Here's a quick recap from the past couple weeks:
After being sick for most of the first days of December, I arrived back to site with my Environmental Health Director Timothy Wellman. It was good to get his insight as to how to sustain the work for years to come. We met with community leaders and discussed projects for the future.
We had a couple more English classes, with about 4 members attending. They were really excited to learn about family and directions. The group is small but we appreciate their enthusiasm to learn.
At the school we finished two base layers of light blue, on top of which we will paint the countries of the world.
It is also graduation time for the 6th graders. I got to attend two different graduations, give some encouraging words to the students, and eat some delicious chicken!
Sarah and I travelled to Panama yesterday and are at the Peace Corps office today before flying out tomorrow!
Best wishes to you all in this holiday season!
Kevin
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Fourteenth Month on Site
Hello!
Here I am, 14 months in, 10 months to go. I tell Sarah that the days can go by slow but the months go by fast!
Sarah and I visited a couple churches to visit some friends. One church doesn´t have walls, which I prefer, so I could worship seeing the beautiful green trees, bright flowers, and feel the warm breeze. We are thankful to worship in the beauty of nature.
After returning home from church, we had an English student from the University video interview Sarah and I regarding why we are here in Panama and what we are doing. ¨I am going to interview you, but do not worry about that¨ she said. And worry we didn´t . She said she was going to watch the video, write it out in English, and then present it to her class. We´re hoping not to see the video on tv!
The community has experienced the ups and downs of being ¨given¨a project of latrines. We requested help with materials, but the contract agreement the mayor made with a contractor was for them to build it too. The community´s part would be building the hole and then carrying materials in 20 minutes from the paved road over the dirt trial to their homes.
The community members were told that all the materials would arrive the first day at 9am. Men and women left the work in their homes, fields, and other paid work to arrive at 9am. Only a small portion of the materials arrived at 1pm with the promise that the rest would arrive tomorrow. This happened 6 more times, with one day waiting for 6 hours in the hot sun without food with no sign of the contractor arriving with the materials and no call saying that he would be late.
The good news is that the latrines are turning out quite well, but the bad news is that the community can´t say much to the contractor because they aren´t paying him and if they protest, they won´t receive any ¨gifts¨ of projects in the future.
Over Thanksgiving Sarah and I joined about 100 other volunteers in Cerro Punta, a community up in the mountains of Panama by Volcan Baru. Full of flowers, strawberries, brisk breezes, we enjoyed the company of friends, Settlers of Catan, and a scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner.
Recently we had meetings to organize committees for latrines, which will work together to solicit help for funding latrines. They are working well together and are excited to learn how to write formal letters.
Upcoming events:
Dec 8 Mother´s Day. The father´s cook for the mother´s, but then some fermented alcholic drinks are served and the mothers tend to take care of the fathers.
Dec 10 Environmental Health Director will come and visit
Dec 16 6th grade graduation. I was asked to be a special guest for one graduate.
Dec 23-Jan 3 Back to MN for Christmas!
Thanks for reading!
Kevin
Here I am, 14 months in, 10 months to go. I tell Sarah that the days can go by slow but the months go by fast!
Sarah and I visited a couple churches to visit some friends. One church doesn´t have walls, which I prefer, so I could worship seeing the beautiful green trees, bright flowers, and feel the warm breeze. We are thankful to worship in the beauty of nature.
After returning home from church, we had an English student from the University video interview Sarah and I regarding why we are here in Panama and what we are doing. ¨I am going to interview you, but do not worry about that¨ she said. And worry we didn´t . She said she was going to watch the video, write it out in English, and then present it to her class. We´re hoping not to see the video on tv!
The community has experienced the ups and downs of being ¨given¨a project of latrines. We requested help with materials, but the contract agreement the mayor made with a contractor was for them to build it too. The community´s part would be building the hole and then carrying materials in 20 minutes from the paved road over the dirt trial to their homes.
The community members were told that all the materials would arrive the first day at 9am. Men and women left the work in their homes, fields, and other paid work to arrive at 9am. Only a small portion of the materials arrived at 1pm with the promise that the rest would arrive tomorrow. This happened 6 more times, with one day waiting for 6 hours in the hot sun without food with no sign of the contractor arriving with the materials and no call saying that he would be late.
The good news is that the latrines are turning out quite well, but the bad news is that the community can´t say much to the contractor because they aren´t paying him and if they protest, they won´t receive any ¨gifts¨ of projects in the future.
Over Thanksgiving Sarah and I joined about 100 other volunteers in Cerro Punta, a community up in the mountains of Panama by Volcan Baru. Full of flowers, strawberries, brisk breezes, we enjoyed the company of friends, Settlers of Catan, and a scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner.
Recently we had meetings to organize committees for latrines, which will work together to solicit help for funding latrines. They are working well together and are excited to learn how to write formal letters.
Upcoming events:
Dec 8 Mother´s Day. The father´s cook for the mother´s, but then some fermented alcholic drinks are served and the mothers tend to take care of the fathers.
Dec 10 Environmental Health Director will come and visit
Dec 16 6th grade graduation. I was asked to be a special guest for one graduate.
Dec 23-Jan 3 Back to MN for Christmas!
Thanks for reading!
Kevin
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