Hello everyone. Well...work is off to a running start and things are by no means calm around here. It is something new every single day, its very hard for me to keep up with the blogs and explain details when every day something new is thrown at me! So, as usual, I will talk about what happened today!
Today was my first day of actual work. I think I explained where/with who I was working? If not, I am working for the Patronato del Municipio which is the social work sector of the local government here in Santo Domingo. The projects that I will be working in are:
Sonando por un cambio (dreaming for a change): a nonprofit organization that works with kids that live/spend time in the street and are involved in drugs, alcohol, bad habits. We put on postitive activities for kids and try to get them help.
Working with women sex workers: meeting with prostitutes two or three times a week to give talks about self-esteem, nutrition, sex education. Eventually I want to set up a small business with these women to have them sell sheets/mosquito nets/clothing to earn income. Today I met with 15 women, we gave eachother a big group hug and laughed. It was interesting.
El ancionato: working in an elderly home a couple times a week, passing out food, building a garden so that they can produce their own food to eat, putting on activities for them (dance, music, reading groups)
Playing with 5 years olds in a school to relax and have fun!
Those are the activities that I will be working on. Its alot..but most of these programs are already set up and organized so I am just assiting for now. Later, I will create my own projects.
The things that I am most excited/nervous/passionate about it the project Sonando por un cambio. There are only 5 people in the organization. They are all super cool, young, positive, and interesting. They have adopted me into their group and are excited about me helping them. The problem is, they think I am a specialist in microfinance. Everyone does...I keep TRYING to explain that it was only my MAJOR and am I no means a specialist, but that does not seem to be translating. Two of the people grew up living in the street, they are awesome and really inspiring. Tomorrow, one of them is going to take my to his neighborhood to introduce me to his kids. Needless to say, I'm really nervous.
So my friends all is well. Its tough, because this city is really really poor, dirty, dangerous, and I hate having to always worry about where when how to get anywhere. But, eventually this will get easier I hope.
Thats all for now. Much love.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Las Tsachilas
I am very sorry for this long overdue blog. I finally feel, for the first time in two months, that I have time to stop and think about what is actually going on. I dont know where to begin, so I will just start with what has happened most recently.
Yesterday may have been one of the best days I have ever had. First, i am now in Santo Domingo, city of 500,000, where I will be living for the next two years. It is a busy, dirty, poor city about three hours southeast of Quito. Driving from Quito to Santo Domingo is interesting. In three hours you go from the snowpeaked mountains, down through windy roads until you get to a tropical jungle, filled with trees and fruit and flowers. That is Santo Domingo, a tropical, muggy city.
Santo Domingo is home for alot of people from all over the country, and alot of people from Colombia. They say that the city is about 60 percent Colombian, but I'm not sure if that is entirely true. Regardless, when I tell people where I am living, they respond.."que peligroso." Its dangerous, but honestly its starting to feel easier and easier every day.
So- back to my amazing day yesterday. A Peace Corps volunteer, Laura, who has been living here for the past two years invited us to go to visit "las Tsachilas," who are the famous indigenous tribe that live about a half hour outside of Santo Domingo. I was extremely excited, because I have heard alot about these Tsachilas and have been wanting to meet them ever since I found out my site location. We travelled about an hour and a half to get there, as they live far far into the jungles of Santo Domingo. The drive was gorgeous, as it was filled with banana trees and we travelled on a small dirt road through the jungle.
We arrived at one of the Tsachilas communities, which was vacant when we arrived because they were all playing soccer, but since Laura knows them personally she was able to show us around with there permission. The community consisted of about three grass huts, made on stilts, and a bathroom (which was incredible) that was made by previous Peace Corps volunteers. It was beautiful, and it was like nothing I had ever seen before. In this community lives a shaman and his wife and kids. Next Friday I am going to go meet with them to see about working with them in the future.
We continued our drive through the jungle until we got to a soccer field with tons of Tsachilas watching the game, drinking cervezas and relaxing. Las Tsachilas are famous for their appearance. They dye their hair red with a special type of dye from plants, and paint their faces. (if you can, google them.) In modern times, many Tsachilas dont dress up in traditional clothing, but some did. I didnt take photos because I don't yet have their permission or trust, but once I do you will see!
It was funny to see the Shaman, with bright red hair, playing goalie in the soccer match. He spoke with us after and offered us to come back to see him next week.
So that was that. Other than this, I have only been in my site for 2 days now. Its strange, its a completely different vibe down here. The people are alot crazier, and more outgoing. I like it though. People in the Sierra can be very introverted and cold, where as here everyone is screaming, dancing, singing, laughing.
My host family is great, but very very into me being their "hija (daughter)." They want me to do everything with them, all the time. Last night we laid on hammocks and drank a bottle of "Pajarito Azul," some sort of liquor from the coast. It was nice to be with them. My house is great. It is 4 stories, there is internet, I have my own room and bathroom, and everything is really clean and cozy. Other Peace Corps volunteers that are living in the middle of nowhere in little huts like to make fun of us "city folk" and say that we are living in "Posh Corps," not "Peace Corps." I beg to differ...but, maybe they are right.
Work will be challenging, tomorrow is my official first day but I am having some stresses about it which I will talk about later.
I miss my friends! I made such good friends during these past two months. My friend Ali and I spent our weekends hiking the mountains around Cayambe, hiking next to waterfalls and eating peanutbutter and jelly sandwhiches (dad I told her about our PB&J's on our hikes.) So many great friends, everyone here is really inspiring and are going to do great things.
So, thats all for now folks! Whose planning to come see me? How about sending me letters? I would just love that! Here is my new address:
Morissa Pertik
Casilla 17-24-116
Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas
Ecuador
I love you all. Sorry again about taking so long to write I hope this makes up for it. Besos enormes!
Yesterday may have been one of the best days I have ever had. First, i am now in Santo Domingo, city of 500,000, where I will be living for the next two years. It is a busy, dirty, poor city about three hours southeast of Quito. Driving from Quito to Santo Domingo is interesting. In three hours you go from the snowpeaked mountains, down through windy roads until you get to a tropical jungle, filled with trees and fruit and flowers. That is Santo Domingo, a tropical, muggy city.
Santo Domingo is home for alot of people from all over the country, and alot of people from Colombia. They say that the city is about 60 percent Colombian, but I'm not sure if that is entirely true. Regardless, when I tell people where I am living, they respond.."que peligroso." Its dangerous, but honestly its starting to feel easier and easier every day.
So- back to my amazing day yesterday. A Peace Corps volunteer, Laura, who has been living here for the past two years invited us to go to visit "las Tsachilas," who are the famous indigenous tribe that live about a half hour outside of Santo Domingo. I was extremely excited, because I have heard alot about these Tsachilas and have been wanting to meet them ever since I found out my site location. We travelled about an hour and a half to get there, as they live far far into the jungles of Santo Domingo. The drive was gorgeous, as it was filled with banana trees and we travelled on a small dirt road through the jungle.
We arrived at one of the Tsachilas communities, which was vacant when we arrived because they were all playing soccer, but since Laura knows them personally she was able to show us around with there permission. The community consisted of about three grass huts, made on stilts, and a bathroom (which was incredible) that was made by previous Peace Corps volunteers. It was beautiful, and it was like nothing I had ever seen before. In this community lives a shaman and his wife and kids. Next Friday I am going to go meet with them to see about working with them in the future.
We continued our drive through the jungle until we got to a soccer field with tons of Tsachilas watching the game, drinking cervezas and relaxing. Las Tsachilas are famous for their appearance. They dye their hair red with a special type of dye from plants, and paint their faces. (if you can, google them.) In modern times, many Tsachilas dont dress up in traditional clothing, but some did. I didnt take photos because I don't yet have their permission or trust, but once I do you will see!
It was funny to see the Shaman, with bright red hair, playing goalie in the soccer match. He spoke with us after and offered us to come back to see him next week.
So that was that. Other than this, I have only been in my site for 2 days now. Its strange, its a completely different vibe down here. The people are alot crazier, and more outgoing. I like it though. People in the Sierra can be very introverted and cold, where as here everyone is screaming, dancing, singing, laughing.
My host family is great, but very very into me being their "hija (daughter)." They want me to do everything with them, all the time. Last night we laid on hammocks and drank a bottle of "Pajarito Azul," some sort of liquor from the coast. It was nice to be with them. My house is great. It is 4 stories, there is internet, I have my own room and bathroom, and everything is really clean and cozy. Other Peace Corps volunteers that are living in the middle of nowhere in little huts like to make fun of us "city folk" and say that we are living in "Posh Corps," not "Peace Corps." I beg to differ...but, maybe they are right.
Work will be challenging, tomorrow is my official first day but I am having some stresses about it which I will talk about later.
I miss my friends! I made such good friends during these past two months. My friend Ali and I spent our weekends hiking the mountains around Cayambe, hiking next to waterfalls and eating peanutbutter and jelly sandwhiches (dad I told her about our PB&J's on our hikes.) So many great friends, everyone here is really inspiring and are going to do great things.
So, thats all for now folks! Whose planning to come see me? How about sending me letters? I would just love that! Here is my new address:
Morissa Pertik
Casilla 17-24-116
Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas
Ecuador
I love you all. Sorry again about taking so long to write I hope this makes up for it. Besos enormes!
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