Monday, November 15, 2010
back home
Well, I am writing this blog post from Rockville. I finished up my service on November 1st. I left the next day for Costa Rica, spent a few days there, and then arrived stateside on the 5th. I'm very glad I made the decision to serve my country (and the country of Panama) with the Peace Corps. I got to learn a lot about reality, myself, and some new skills as well. I know sometimes people complained that I didn't update this blog enough, but most of what I was living cannot be summed up in words for a public internet space. Thanks to those of you who actually followed this, and now I look forward to catching up in person!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Despedidas
As you know, I have now officially left my community. But, they've had some good-bye parties for me. Some before I left, and a few where they invited me back to enjoy the food and gifts.
In my schools, they had despedidas, and gave me that personalized teacher polo shirt (very official)
One community put on an event for me in the library, giving me that amazing personalized shirt (if you can't read, it says "Abby Rovira (heart) you"
My environmental group put on a farewell party, even gifted me an engraved silver platter.
Then they invited me back to main school I worked at. First, there was a little presentation "acto"
People got to say some words
There was some delicious food (that's my follow-up volunteer with me)
Some dancing
And some gifts (my personal favorites...a garfield backpack and an orange tube top)
Overall, a great time of good feelings and warm memories. Now, before I leave I have to go say the real goodbyes....
Thursday, August 12, 2010
a little something I wrote
When I saw that the theme for the next issue would be Gender Issues, I thought many of you would write about helping empower girls in your community, or forcing men to wash their own clothes, or educating about domestic violence or sex ed. But, I have to say....my Peace Corps experience has empowered and educated me. My community had to do a GAD project on me, empowering me from the mousy gringa into my full power of femininity.
When I arrived in my community, it seems every guy driving a truck down the road I was walking on had a great appreciation for my feminine qualities, but the women were less convinced. I'm sure my khaki pants, desire to help with the farm, perceived inability to cook anything besides PB&J, and hopeless hair brought them sadness. Once they saw my in rubber boots and all laughed and asked if I'd bought a dairy farm. Thus, when my first summer rolled around, they began to develop “Proyecto Feminize La Gringita.” They insisted I participate in an INADEH course being offered in the community in manicures and pedicures. I insisted that only Panamanian citizens count in INADEH attendance, but they told me that it wasn't true and I had to come. I thought it was because they needed 15 people, now I feel it was my desperate state that made them insist in my participating. Since it was the summer, I obliged. Better to compartir with the women in the community than to read books, right? So, I sat through many hours of hand massages, nail design, aerobics sessions, and lots of lectures about positive thinking, taking care of yourself, and coming to the class even when your husband tells you you can't. We had to put on a beauty salon. At some point in the summer I went to the river with some community members. I was wearing my Tevas. They were all wearing those jelly ballet flats that were popular last summer. They looked at disgust at my shoes and told me I had to get some like theirs.
But, at some point during the summer, something happened. I walked into Podoroso and bought some bedazzled jean shorts, and some plastic ballet flats for 1.69. When I took those shoes into my beauty school class, all the women admired them. I started buying Avon products from those women entrepreneurs of the community. I received free pedicures (from those wanting to “practice”).
And my community noticed the results and the change. While pasearing one day, a girl told me I had started looking better (se arregla mejor) since being in the class. Now I have carried on 30 minute discussions comparing styles of those rubber Grendha style flip flops that are in style (I personally own like 6 pairs). I have gotten myself a boyfriend. And I have laughed along as a women in my community asked “What's up with those gringas you always see in David in khakis and chakaras?” As I look down at my nice fake pink Puma purse from the frontera, and think how I used to be, I smile. So, my fellow volunteers, does your community need to do work on you? Maybe they don't listen to your advice, not because of your horrible Spanish, but because of your wornout REI clothing and Chacos. My community might not remember all the projects I did, but I'm sure they'll all remember how they helped me out, hoping their project will be sustainable and bear results in the future as I go back in the U.S..
My kids making me pose:
When I arrived in my community, it seems every guy driving a truck down the road I was walking on had a great appreciation for my feminine qualities, but the women were less convinced. I'm sure my khaki pants, desire to help with the farm, perceived inability to cook anything besides PB&J, and hopeless hair brought them sadness. Once they saw my in rubber boots and all laughed and asked if I'd bought a dairy farm. Thus, when my first summer rolled around, they began to develop “Proyecto Feminize La Gringita.” They insisted I participate in an INADEH course being offered in the community in manicures and pedicures. I insisted that only Panamanian citizens count in INADEH attendance, but they told me that it wasn't true and I had to come. I thought it was because they needed 15 people, now I feel it was my desperate state that made them insist in my participating. Since it was the summer, I obliged. Better to compartir with the women in the community than to read books, right? So, I sat through many hours of hand massages, nail design, aerobics sessions, and lots of lectures about positive thinking, taking care of yourself, and coming to the class even when your husband tells you you can't. We had to put on a beauty salon. At some point in the summer I went to the river with some community members. I was wearing my Tevas. They were all wearing those jelly ballet flats that were popular last summer. They looked at disgust at my shoes and told me I had to get some like theirs.
But, at some point during the summer, something happened. I walked into Podoroso and bought some bedazzled jean shorts, and some plastic ballet flats for 1.69. When I took those shoes into my beauty school class, all the women admired them. I started buying Avon products from those women entrepreneurs of the community. I received free pedicures (from those wanting to “practice”).
And my community noticed the results and the change. While pasearing one day, a girl told me I had started looking better (se arregla mejor) since being in the class. Now I have carried on 30 minute discussions comparing styles of those rubber Grendha style flip flops that are in style (I personally own like 6 pairs). I have gotten myself a boyfriend. And I have laughed along as a women in my community asked “What's up with those gringas you always see in David in khakis and chakaras?” As I look down at my nice fake pink Puma purse from the frontera, and think how I used to be, I smile. So, my fellow volunteers, does your community need to do work on you? Maybe they don't listen to your advice, not because of your horrible Spanish, but because of your wornout REI clothing and Chacos. My community might not remember all the projects I did, but I'm sure they'll all remember how they helped me out, hoping their project will be sustainable and bear results in the future as I go back in the U.S..
My kids making me pose:
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
updates
Well, for those of you who didn't know. I'm obviously not back in the states yet. My official close-of-service date was June 24. But, I am still here in Panama working with Peace Corps! I decided to extend (for 4 months only) to continue my work as Regional Leader in Chiriqui. I finished up in site the end of June, like planned, and moved my stuff down to David. It was kind of hard to leave my site, but not as hard as could have been if I was leaving for real. I promised the town I'd "dar la vuelta" occasionally to come and visit. I didn't say my goodbyes yet. Moving my stuff was chaotic. I don't know how I accumulated so many things. It took 2 carloads!! Though, that was probably because I took almost everything. I mean, I have to furnish a new house and I still make very little money. So, now I am living in my beautiful home in David with my lovely roommate Joanna. Though, we both travel so much we almost never see each other. Now its time to work and start thinking about reentry in November
Monday, June 7, 2010
being an environmental volunteer
So, I’m finishing up my 2 years as a community environmental conservation extentionist in Panama. But, if I ever felt I could teach these people something about the environment, I’m a fool. Yeah, they don’t really understand how global warming works, but they’ve noticed temperatures and water patterns change drastically over the last few years. They might not understand complex forest ecology and ecosystem services, but they’ve seen how bad drought can be in deforested areas. Since they actually live close to wildlife, they notice wildlife populations dropping. And they might not be granola, organic Whole Foods types, but they’ve seen family members die from cancer from agrochemicals.
If anything, I’ve learned from them. I’ve learned how to get everywhere I want by walking or taking a bus. I’ve learned what its like to not throw things away, to truly fix or reuse anything you have, so you can still use the same TV for 25 years, and store all your food in plastic ice cream containers. And I’ve learned what it’s really like to eat local. I think most things in the typical meal, from the rice to beans to veggies to meat to spices, to coffee to fruit juices, can all be found in my town or at least in my province. I bought a box of “comfort food” Kraft Mac and Cheese, while my neighbor eats her own free range chicken, her own beans, and drinks juice from her own orange trees and sugar cane, and I call myself the environmentalist? Afterwards, she will compost her organic waste. I’ve had to learn how to live in tune with the environment. I intentionally don’t buy plastic bottles. I guard rain water so I won’t waste too much from the town aqueduct. My electricity bill is like $3 because I don’t have a washer, dryer, air conditioning, or washing machine. When it gets hot, you just open the doors for some breeze, and dry your clothes in the sun. Yes, there are some problems people see down here you don’t get in the U.S., like trash in the streets and non-existant emissions standards for cars. But there’s also no dead-zone the size of New Jersey in any of their gulfs, there’s no rivers that run dry before reaching the ocean because of over-irrigation, and there aren’t coal powered power plants.
I just realized I can’t really be a true environmentalist when I go back. I won’t be able to eat local, like I do here. I won’t be able to air dry my clothes (apparently home owner’s associations have nasty rules against that). I won’t have an efficient bus or public transport system to use, and thus will be forced to own and drive a car. I’m a fool if I ever thought I was here to teach these people something. And I can understand why the global south rises up angry everytime the U.S. tries to act like a global environmental leader.
If anything, I’ve learned from them. I’ve learned how to get everywhere I want by walking or taking a bus. I’ve learned what its like to not throw things away, to truly fix or reuse anything you have, so you can still use the same TV for 25 years, and store all your food in plastic ice cream containers. And I’ve learned what it’s really like to eat local. I think most things in the typical meal, from the rice to beans to veggies to meat to spices, to coffee to fruit juices, can all be found in my town or at least in my province. I bought a box of “comfort food” Kraft Mac and Cheese, while my neighbor eats her own free range chicken, her own beans, and drinks juice from her own orange trees and sugar cane, and I call myself the environmentalist? Afterwards, she will compost her organic waste. I’ve had to learn how to live in tune with the environment. I intentionally don’t buy plastic bottles. I guard rain water so I won’t waste too much from the town aqueduct. My electricity bill is like $3 because I don’t have a washer, dryer, air conditioning, or washing machine. When it gets hot, you just open the doors for some breeze, and dry your clothes in the sun. Yes, there are some problems people see down here you don’t get in the U.S., like trash in the streets and non-existant emissions standards for cars. But there’s also no dead-zone the size of New Jersey in any of their gulfs, there’s no rivers that run dry before reaching the ocean because of over-irrigation, and there aren’t coal powered power plants.
I just realized I can’t really be a true environmentalist when I go back. I won’t be able to eat local, like I do here. I won’t be able to air dry my clothes (apparently home owner’s associations have nasty rules against that). I won’t have an efficient bus or public transport system to use, and thus will be forced to own and drive a car. I’m a fool if I ever thought I was here to teach these people something. And I can understand why the global south rises up angry everytime the U.S. tries to act like a global environmental leader.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
World Map finished!!
Okay, I´ll say its finished. Actually, it could use some detailing, but one thing I´ve never been is a perfectionist-
Now, its time to put it to work. My idea right now, is little soccer balls for every country in the World Cup...Take advantage of something they´re paying attention to
Now, its time to put it to work. My idea right now, is little soccer balls for every country in the World Cup...Take advantage of something they´re paying attention to
Friday, May 21, 2010
World Map-part 2
The next step is, of course, painting. With oil paints, this took quite a while, with pacience, small brushes, and some diesel to clean up the mistakes.
Then, write in the names and do the detailing.
Then, write in the names and do the detailing.
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