It is getting harder and harder to write these blogs because my life is pretty unexciting now. I am actually quite happy here and really feel a part of the community so my day to day life is not really out of the ordinary. I went to a cacao farm on the cost a couple weeks ago to learn about national cacao (the variety of cacao that has the better taste and aroma) rather than the genetically altered variety we have here in BA. It was interesting to see because the national cacao normally doesn’t produce as well as the altered variety but at this farm they really had their act together and the trees were perfect and producing lots. It was cool to see, but I don’t think that I will be able to convince anyone to switch over to national. I have been working with the cacao organization in my town. They are starting to buy and sell cacao so I am helping with the bookkeeping, money, and business side of things. Although they aren’t profitable yet it is good that they are willing to learn how to properly manage the organization to avoid problems and/or corruption in the future.
I am still working with the gardens, but I really am not doing that much. Jefferson is being controlling again and I can’t start my classes until people are less busy he says. But there are a few gardens where the people really got into it and are producing some pretty awesome veggies.
I started a recycle club with the kids. So far we have made some super cool wallets out of juice boxes and chip bags. And we set up an irrigation system with plastic bottles. The kids in the club have been showing people around town the things they have made, thus lots more people have been showing up to my house asking how to make things. And I have seen kids around town picking up and saving trash to make more stuff. It is just a little project but the kids are actually into to it. I keep hinting that they should make more and more to try and sell, we shall see if they get into that or not.
I met with the muni again about working on the sewage project. I sent in an oficio for the workspace and did all the official stuff they asked of me but they are still being difficult. I feel as though they haven’t even started the study like they said and are trying to buy time so that they can catch up to the point that they claimed they were at. We shall see if anything comes of that, but I am not holding my breath.
Other than that, I have been tubing with the kids in the river on the weekends, helping harvest cacao and corn, and I went to visit another volunteer in her site for her birthday last week. Sorry that wasn’t the most exciting post, but here are some pictures! https://picasaweb.google.com/100931733724063278429/October182011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKuJncfI3svHiQE&feat=directlink
Random Thoughts:
· BA seemed to be the beginning of lots more fiestas because since our fiestas there has been a number of them in the neighboring communities. Thus, I have gone to more bullfights and more moto races.
· I pay about $5 a month for electricity and $1 for water.
· Bucay has a huge veggie, fruit, and meat market on Sundays and I have my certain people that I go to each week to buy my food. My veggie lady brings me special zucchinis every two weeks because nobody else has them. Next week I am bringing her zucchini bread.
· My cat basically lives with the neighbors now.
· The guy that harvests snake venom got my number and won’t stop calling me.
· New neighbors moved in a couple of weeks ago. The 50ish year old dad ran with me one day and ran me into the ground. I guess he used to run for hours and hours every day.
· My host-mom broke my Kindle with her butt implants.
· I see a new type of bird in my yard every day.
· The drunk has shown up at the house a few more times asking for beer money. I have remained strong and told him no.
· It has gotten quite a bit colder here. I actually wear pants and a long sleeve shirt in the mornings.
· My neighbors joke that they are going to grill my cat for Christmas dinner.
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