MERRY CHRISTMAS and God bless you and your family!!
Im down in Sea Isle celebrating with my family!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Jungle videos
Heres a video i took- among many- of the amazingly gorgeous surroundings throughout our time on the Samiria river in the national reserve of iquitos!
Grant takes voer the paddle from Klever! annnd look what happens
Random videos on the viaje
This video is a random parade that local school kinds were involved in on the streets of tarapoto.. i have no clue about what tho. but I have long ago stopped asking
This is a video from one of the 2 times it rained thru our journey, lucky for us!!! We were on a boat from Yurimuaguas to Lagunas. we decided to play some cards and drink to pass the time. it was glorious! The rain storm lasted a total of 5 minutes
These are videos of the scenery on the road from Tarapoto to Yurimuagas
This is a video after we had left Tarapoto at 4 am and are heading to Yurimaguas to catch the boat to Lagunas! This is a cloud forest en route.
On the road later in the trip 10 minutes from Yurimuaguas
Jumping off the Waterfall...
This is the footage I shot when we were in Tarapoto and went up to the Waterfalls...I dont have the name with me but I will update fotos on fb with the name. This is Grant doing his second jump, followed by Alex and Glenn. It was AWESOME!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Preparing dinner
cleaning the pig you heard from the previous post..
This is the chicken we are cleaning for the mornign after where we will host the muscians you heard on the video in teh procession. each house has its turn hosting them to eat. we started cleanign and cooking at 6 at night then woke up at 4 am to continue cooking for an 8 am breakfast. I know that the video is in spanish but its just a basic shoot the shit convo except they are mocking me bc im too scared to slit the chickens throat so my sister does it . i also asked since there are dead chickens on the tabel and the other chicken is right next to him, does the chicken really not have the mental capacity to understand waht is about to happen. response no!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Sr. Milagros Festivities
This is what we put up in front of our house for the Procession of Señor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles) I will also be DL the videos of the procession!
Night Procession...actually got teary eyed when this happened because while standing next to my sister she goes this is your last Senor de los Milagros Procession ever
This video is of the day procession. They bring the statue of the Lord of Miracles through each street at this insanely slow pace.
Night Procession...actually got teary eyed when this happened because while standing next to my sister she goes this is your last Senor de los Milagros Procession ever
This video is of the day procession. They bring the statue of the Lord of Miracles through each street at this insanely slow pace.
My local ACME
This video is of a neighbors store where the community goes to buy their daily supply of meat. I think I speak in both spanish and english here to explain things and that is only so the women in the video didnt think I was crazier then they already believe! But note that no there are no refrigerated meat here it just sits on the counter with all the other food sitting out... sanitary :)
Pig Cries
This is the sound of a pig being slaughtered for the party and bleeding to death. They mostly do this in the dawn of the day to have it ready to sell by 8 am.
Monday, October 26, 2009
A Long walk
Our 1 45 min hike up to a site of another volunteer who wasnt there so we ended up turning around and walking back
Videos from my travels
Here are some videos I grabbed on my recent trip to another volunteers site while doing a Marketing Workshop!
Friday, October 2, 2009
A great videotaping done by yours truly
This is a video that is a walk through of the store and workshop. I can´t believe it has taken me this long to film it! ENJOY! REMEMBER NOTHING IS BETTER TO GIVE A GIFT THAT TRULY GIVES BACK FOR YOUR HOLIDAY PURCHASES THIS YEAR. BUY PAJA TOQUILLA !!!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
a very long week...
September 30, 2009
This week has been one of my busiest yet, or maybe it just seems that way. I have a bunch of projects that are lined up to do on top of my daily computer classes and work with the association. The director of small business has asked me to do a workshop for all the artisans and the volunteers on selling and stand presentation before the annual pc fair in Lima. This won´t be that difficult bc I´ll be using the materials from the volunteers who presented this past year, but I def still have to tweak it a bit. Also my friend Vince called me and wants me to come to his site and help him facilitate a 2 day workshop on product design and marketing. I have a prior compromiso to do a workshop on youth career planning with another volunteer, in his site the same week as Vince´s. Also I was asked to write up an article for Washington on a work success I have experienced during my service with my artisans. This is all going on right after site visit when my boss came to go over the projects I have done, the ones I am doing, and what I am going to focus on my 2nd year of service.
Speaking of which, on a suggestion from Alfredo, I have decided to do a pc artisan shop in Piura. This will include all the products from the different groups that small business volunteers of Piura are working with. There is another shop like this in Cajamarca that a Peru 2 volunteer set up. This is going to be a mountain of a project that if I can develop will be an amazing accomplishment. I kinda think that this is what I could leave behind as the mark of my service. I have gone over the idea with Iris and she said she would be more than willing to help me. So we have to start with getting an oficio written up, which is basically our plan of what we want to do and send it out to the other artisan associations to see if there is an interest and by how many groups. This wills tart the ball rolling. From there we have to figure costs, requisites to put products in the store and then also how to get the startup capital. The previous volunteer who undertook this venture used a spa grant that pc offers. I might be doing that. (…then I will def be contacting my Aunt Ba!!)…We shall see how this idea of mine unfolds.
I am also in charge, well technically I put myself in charge, of making the despedida shirts for Peru 10 who will be leaving in November. I need to get that done in order to give the t-shirt making company plenty of time to mess up and re-do. (Not that they would…)
The most exciting thing I am trying to plan is the jungle trip I´ll be taking with my brother, grant in November! I can´t wait! We´re going to go inside the Amazon´s National Reserve where you can hold monkeys, sloths and see the rare pink dolphins! Which reminds me, I have to call the man who will be our guide tomorrow to reserve the dates I want.
And last but not least on this short blog entry… I took some footage of the women I work with weaving, another on the taller where I work and finally one on how the women dye the straw.
Pardon my spanglish on the tapes, but I think you all are used to it from these entries
Miss you all
Elizabeth xoxo
This week has been one of my busiest yet, or maybe it just seems that way. I have a bunch of projects that are lined up to do on top of my daily computer classes and work with the association. The director of small business has asked me to do a workshop for all the artisans and the volunteers on selling and stand presentation before the annual pc fair in Lima. This won´t be that difficult bc I´ll be using the materials from the volunteers who presented this past year, but I def still have to tweak it a bit. Also my friend Vince called me and wants me to come to his site and help him facilitate a 2 day workshop on product design and marketing. I have a prior compromiso to do a workshop on youth career planning with another volunteer, in his site the same week as Vince´s. Also I was asked to write up an article for Washington on a work success I have experienced during my service with my artisans. This is all going on right after site visit when my boss came to go over the projects I have done, the ones I am doing, and what I am going to focus on my 2nd year of service.
Speaking of which, on a suggestion from Alfredo, I have decided to do a pc artisan shop in Piura. This will include all the products from the different groups that small business volunteers of Piura are working with. There is another shop like this in Cajamarca that a Peru 2 volunteer set up. This is going to be a mountain of a project that if I can develop will be an amazing accomplishment. I kinda think that this is what I could leave behind as the mark of my service. I have gone over the idea with Iris and she said she would be more than willing to help me. So we have to start with getting an oficio written up, which is basically our plan of what we want to do and send it out to the other artisan associations to see if there is an interest and by how many groups. This wills tart the ball rolling. From there we have to figure costs, requisites to put products in the store and then also how to get the startup capital. The previous volunteer who undertook this venture used a spa grant that pc offers. I might be doing that. (…then I will def be contacting my Aunt Ba!!)…We shall see how this idea of mine unfolds.
I am also in charge, well technically I put myself in charge, of making the despedida shirts for Peru 10 who will be leaving in November. I need to get that done in order to give the t-shirt making company plenty of time to mess up and re-do. (Not that they would…)
The most exciting thing I am trying to plan is the jungle trip I´ll be taking with my brother, grant in November! I can´t wait! We´re going to go inside the Amazon´s National Reserve where you can hold monkeys, sloths and see the rare pink dolphins! Which reminds me, I have to call the man who will be our guide tomorrow to reserve the dates I want.
And last but not least on this short blog entry… I took some footage of the women I work with weaving, another on the taller where I work and finally one on how the women dye the straw.
Pardon my spanglish on the tapes, but I think you all are used to it from these entries
Miss you all
Elizabeth xoxo
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
September 22
MY COMPUTER CRASHED!
Yes, I know, it`s devastating!! I don´t know exactly what I am going to do, though I do have a plan. I REFUSE to buy a new computer bc that is my treat to myself next August upon completion of my service, and although my mom would like to get me a used one and ship it down, that seems like too much of a hassle. Therefore, I´m sending emails out to Peru 10 volunteers who are COS in October/November to see if any of them were planning on leaving behind/donating their computers, so I can take it for the next year and then I´ll give it to whomever they wanted to give it to. Also I was thinking of this plan working till I come home in December for Christmas and I can look into buying one of those mini computers.
The worse part about my computer crashing is that I lost ALL my videos from Cusco and Ancash and all over parts of Peru. It´s def upsetting but I still have all my photos so that's okay. And yes I should have bought another external hard drive after my first one got stolen but I completely forgot when I came home in July!! grrr!!! What a way to start a week!!
Right now I'm sitting in Catacaos in the cabina where I teach my computer classes. The guy here loves me, thank god, so he lets me use the computer for free, so now I´m def going to start taking advantage of his offer so I can get my work done!!
I also have begun planning a career planning course to teach not only in my site but also up in the mountains at another volunteers site. Its great timing for the course because 5th grade of the secondary school (equivalent to Senior year in high school) graduates in December.
Okay well I have to get ready for my class! Also, another exciting thing about tonight is that it will be the first interview with the grad school course (Univ of Colorado) that is doing a case analysis on the artisans I work with!! Genial, no??
Chao,
ekh
Yes, I know, it`s devastating!! I don´t know exactly what I am going to do, though I do have a plan. I REFUSE to buy a new computer bc that is my treat to myself next August upon completion of my service, and although my mom would like to get me a used one and ship it down, that seems like too much of a hassle. Therefore, I´m sending emails out to Peru 10 volunteers who are COS in October/November to see if any of them were planning on leaving behind/donating their computers, so I can take it for the next year and then I´ll give it to whomever they wanted to give it to. Also I was thinking of this plan working till I come home in December for Christmas and I can look into buying one of those mini computers.
The worse part about my computer crashing is that I lost ALL my videos from Cusco and Ancash and all over parts of Peru. It´s def upsetting but I still have all my photos so that's okay. And yes I should have bought another external hard drive after my first one got stolen but I completely forgot when I came home in July!! grrr!!! What a way to start a week!!
Right now I'm sitting in Catacaos in the cabina where I teach my computer classes. The guy here loves me, thank god, so he lets me use the computer for free, so now I´m def going to start taking advantage of his offer so I can get my work done!!
I also have begun planning a career planning course to teach not only in my site but also up in the mountains at another volunteers site. Its great timing for the course because 5th grade of the secondary school (equivalent to Senior year in high school) graduates in December.
Okay well I have to get ready for my class! Also, another exciting thing about tonight is that it will be the first interview with the grad school course (Univ of Colorado) that is doing a case analysis on the artisans I work with!! Genial, no??
Chao,
ekh
September 15th posted really late...
September 15, 2009
End of August Recap…
Finished up with the PROMOPERU 5S’s competition though the women were supposed to come to judge each of the 5 different associations participating the 28th of August, it is now the 15th of September and they still have not come nor called. So who knows what exactly is happening with that…
I got back from my one year med checks in Lima on Sunday. I got the Flu shot and also had to do a stool sample. Surprisingly, it was my first in country, which is EXTREMELY uncommon for a volunteer, so I’m lucky. It came back negative which means I am living without any strange and tiny friends inside my intestines. Gross but true. I also went to the dentist for a check up and he said I had perfect teeth. Honestly he told me that I have wonderful teeth and I take care of the beautifully then he proceeded to tell me that the doctor who did my root canal was an artist and ask who did it. It was a bit unusual but I told him he could always contact Dr. Mario Gebia in Haddonfield NJ if he wanted some advice! That was unusual.
While in Lima, I also had an IST on Promotional Materials. This was a 3 day workshop that each business volunteer from group 11 attended with their community partner. It was nice to go because we went over everything that I just did for a year with my artisan, so while most would think it was a waste of time, it was actually extremely beneficial because it showed my artisan that I do know what I’m talking about and that I’m an amazing volunteer having done all of this with her as compared to everyone else who hadn’t. (It also didn’t hurt my self-esteem) haha Topics that we covered were how to create a email account, blog, picasa photo account, promotional CD, business card and labels. The only thing that I hadn’t done yet, which I am working on, is the Association’s logo. Well, to be truthful, I’m not working on it as much as my mom’s magazine designer Thanks Toby!
Today was the second day of my computer classes. I started yesterday with the weavers from each association and today I was with the jewelers teaching basic computation. Tomorrow starts my new addition to the classes, the intermediate course. When I put this up it’ll be right before I start my class! (Fingers crossed!) The intermediate course is with all the artisans who participated previously and have completed the basic level course. The turnout wasn’t as high as I had hoped but this is quite common. I predict that by the start of next week we’ll be filled, as word gets out about free computer classes, more people make the effort to come.
The best part about computer classes is that I get to see an immediate result. I teach them how to move a mouse in the first hour of class and then by the end of class they can move a mouse and click, double click, and drag! It’s so fulfilling. (Okay, I hear you all giggling to yourself, but honestly it’s the little things as a volunteer that keeps us going, through all the failures!!)
Other than these couple things, I’m not doing too much, I think I’m going to join a gym in piura but haven’t decided, I just really need to start exercising more as a way to release some steam and tension. Though, today washing some of my delicates by head helped too! Lol. Though I think I was just overwhelmed in August because I wasn’t busy therefore had wayyy too much time on my hands, where as for the next two months I’ll be busy with my daily computer class and starting up a business English class as well as replicating the aids workshop in the surrounding communities.
Right now I have to go because I have to actually prepare the first class for my intermediate group! Yes, procrastinating, not my fault, I blame Lima!
End of August Recap…
Finished up with the PROMOPERU 5S’s competition though the women were supposed to come to judge each of the 5 different associations participating the 28th of August, it is now the 15th of September and they still have not come nor called. So who knows what exactly is happening with that…
I got back from my one year med checks in Lima on Sunday. I got the Flu shot and also had to do a stool sample. Surprisingly, it was my first in country, which is EXTREMELY uncommon for a volunteer, so I’m lucky. It came back negative which means I am living without any strange and tiny friends inside my intestines. Gross but true. I also went to the dentist for a check up and he said I had perfect teeth. Honestly he told me that I have wonderful teeth and I take care of the beautifully then he proceeded to tell me that the doctor who did my root canal was an artist and ask who did it. It was a bit unusual but I told him he could always contact Dr. Mario Gebia in Haddonfield NJ if he wanted some advice! That was unusual.
While in Lima, I also had an IST on Promotional Materials. This was a 3 day workshop that each business volunteer from group 11 attended with their community partner. It was nice to go because we went over everything that I just did for a year with my artisan, so while most would think it was a waste of time, it was actually extremely beneficial because it showed my artisan that I do know what I’m talking about and that I’m an amazing volunteer having done all of this with her as compared to everyone else who hadn’t. (It also didn’t hurt my self-esteem) haha Topics that we covered were how to create a email account, blog, picasa photo account, promotional CD, business card and labels. The only thing that I hadn’t done yet, which I am working on, is the Association’s logo. Well, to be truthful, I’m not working on it as much as my mom’s magazine designer Thanks Toby!
Today was the second day of my computer classes. I started yesterday with the weavers from each association and today I was with the jewelers teaching basic computation. Tomorrow starts my new addition to the classes, the intermediate course. When I put this up it’ll be right before I start my class! (Fingers crossed!) The intermediate course is with all the artisans who participated previously and have completed the basic level course. The turnout wasn’t as high as I had hoped but this is quite common. I predict that by the start of next week we’ll be filled, as word gets out about free computer classes, more people make the effort to come.
The best part about computer classes is that I get to see an immediate result. I teach them how to move a mouse in the first hour of class and then by the end of class they can move a mouse and click, double click, and drag! It’s so fulfilling. (Okay, I hear you all giggling to yourself, but honestly it’s the little things as a volunteer that keeps us going, through all the failures!!)
Other than these couple things, I’m not doing too much, I think I’m going to join a gym in piura but haven’t decided, I just really need to start exercising more as a way to release some steam and tension. Though, today washing some of my delicates by head helped too! Lol. Though I think I was just overwhelmed in August because I wasn’t busy therefore had wayyy too much time on my hands, where as for the next two months I’ll be busy with my daily computer class and starting up a business English class as well as replicating the aids workshop in the surrounding communities.
Right now I have to go because I have to actually prepare the first class for my intermediate group! Yes, procrastinating, not my fault, I blame Lima!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
catching uppp
August 15th thru 21st
Saturday I went into the city to tie up some loose ends that were STILL dangling after finishing up a boys camp in June called VALOR. Then at 6 I headed to a wedding in Piura with another volunteer Alex. He was invited to attend the wedding of a girl from his site. We went to ceremony at a really pretty church and felt like we weren’t in the right place when the ceremony started sans the bride. The mass continued until at last 5 minutes before communion the bride walked up the isle, no pomp or music. IT was … awkward. I couldn’t stop giggle at the absurdity. No one else commented on it either, it was like the white elephant that only Alex and I saw. Anyway then we headed to the after party. They didn’t know when they invited him that they would be getting two gringos at their ceremony, weren’t they elated! It was like Disney World Piura version. I was invited, though knowing neither the bride nor the groom, to be in every photo with them and be filmed and toast to them and also included in the honor of dancing with the groom after the first dance which is normally given only to the immediate family. My popularity astounds me. I also was forced to be apart of the tossing of the bouquet, ehhh that was embarrassing, I never want to be single and look desperate at a wedding. Anyway while Alex got to dance with all the good looking girls 25 and younger I got stuck dancing with men 65 and older. I wanted to beat him. At one point I pinched him bc the guy I was dancing with had some wandering hands, needless to say Alex didn’t save me. When the song ended I yelled at him and asked why he didn’t cut in and he said that he thought the pinch meant that I was jealous of the girl he was dancing with and wanted him to dance with me which he thought was rude. I told him that he thought a lot about himself! It was a bunch of fun though. Neither of us had a watch nor cell, so we had no idea what time it was or how long we had been there. WE decided that after dinner since normally dinner is served at 11:30 during celebrations to leave, we danced out the door so that no one could stop us and prevent our exit with more drinking. When we got out we took a taxi back to the hostel to see what the other volunteers were up too. Everyone was in bed but since Alex and I used the wedding as a pre-game we were ready to head out and decided to do Casino night. The casinos here are all electronic and smell like stale cigs and trashy people. I has a blast though because, I mean I can entertain myself anywhere. Alex and I played roulette and won about 10 soles in 2 hours by placing 10 centavo bets. Yes we are pathetic. We ended up leaving at about 2:30 ish or 3 I forget now, because he was going to kill me. I get to nervous in casinos bc I don’t like to gamble. I think casinos sound like a fun idea but when the betting starts I like freak out and act like I’m loosing my right arm.
Sunday didn’t do much, skyped with the family and then headed back to site to catch up on sleep. Monday came around and I spent the day with my artisans and also I spent some time firming up the dates to start computer courses again in September with artisans from the associations of Paja Toquilla and Plata. Also, since I sold the design of my purse to a bunch of my friends I had to light a match under my artisans to finish up 2 purses that I had to hand over by the end of the week. They pissed me off right good because they had nothing done, even though I gave them the order about 2 weeks ago. They knew I was pissed but I couldn’t say much because this week one of the daughters of my counter part was really sick so she was really worried about her daughter and I didn’t want to be that bitchy person bugging her about work. It’s really hard to separate work from family when the whole business is inside the house. I know this before I came here though, considering how my mom works. So I was really stressed about whether the artisans would finish the purses on time and whether the quality would be up to par. Now, being Friday and having given the purses out I feel a lot calmer, but there was one point this past week that I just wanted to yell, but I kept my cool, thank God. Always in retrospect it doesn’t seem that bad. Tuesday I headed to the monthly mass that is given for my host father that passed in 98.
Wednesday I spent all day working on more inventories with my artisans. It is such a big project; I can’t wait till it’s done! Also I got a call from another volunteer in Piura, Vince who lives in the Sierra asking if my artisan and I would go up to his site and talk with artisan group about formation and getting started. Also, we were preparing the taller for Friday because Friday Grupo Romero Foundation came to film the taller and women. This was a really big deal for my artisans because in the past they didn’t get as much help as the other associations in the area, so hopefully after this visit GR will start putting more funds into helping our development.
Today I went to Piura to have lunch with Vince and his sister who came from the states for a week long visit, we went to Fresco Mar to have her taste the most Peruvian platter, ceviche! She not only was willing to try it but also enjoyed it! After lunch, I headed to my artisans to meet up with the Grupo Romero people. They filmed all the women weaving and also filmed the taller and store, bought some things, ate the ceviche that my artisans prepared and then headed on their way. I headed home shortly after.
I’m heading up the Vince’s site with my artisan tomorrow, so hopefully that goes well. Though I hope I make the bus at least; it leaves at 7:30, so that means I have to be up and out of the house by 6 to get there on time.
chauuuuuuu
Saturday I went into the city to tie up some loose ends that were STILL dangling after finishing up a boys camp in June called VALOR. Then at 6 I headed to a wedding in Piura with another volunteer Alex. He was invited to attend the wedding of a girl from his site. We went to ceremony at a really pretty church and felt like we weren’t in the right place when the ceremony started sans the bride. The mass continued until at last 5 minutes before communion the bride walked up the isle, no pomp or music. IT was … awkward. I couldn’t stop giggle at the absurdity. No one else commented on it either, it was like the white elephant that only Alex and I saw. Anyway then we headed to the after party. They didn’t know when they invited him that they would be getting two gringos at their ceremony, weren’t they elated! It was like Disney World Piura version. I was invited, though knowing neither the bride nor the groom, to be in every photo with them and be filmed and toast to them and also included in the honor of dancing with the groom after the first dance which is normally given only to the immediate family. My popularity astounds me. I also was forced to be apart of the tossing of the bouquet, ehhh that was embarrassing, I never want to be single and look desperate at a wedding. Anyway while Alex got to dance with all the good looking girls 25 and younger I got stuck dancing with men 65 and older. I wanted to beat him. At one point I pinched him bc the guy I was dancing with had some wandering hands, needless to say Alex didn’t save me. When the song ended I yelled at him and asked why he didn’t cut in and he said that he thought the pinch meant that I was jealous of the girl he was dancing with and wanted him to dance with me which he thought was rude. I told him that he thought a lot about himself! It was a bunch of fun though. Neither of us had a watch nor cell, so we had no idea what time it was or how long we had been there. WE decided that after dinner since normally dinner is served at 11:30 during celebrations to leave, we danced out the door so that no one could stop us and prevent our exit with more drinking. When we got out we took a taxi back to the hostel to see what the other volunteers were up too. Everyone was in bed but since Alex and I used the wedding as a pre-game we were ready to head out and decided to do Casino night. The casinos here are all electronic and smell like stale cigs and trashy people. I has a blast though because, I mean I can entertain myself anywhere. Alex and I played roulette and won about 10 soles in 2 hours by placing 10 centavo bets. Yes we are pathetic. We ended up leaving at about 2:30 ish or 3 I forget now, because he was going to kill me. I get to nervous in casinos bc I don’t like to gamble. I think casinos sound like a fun idea but when the betting starts I like freak out and act like I’m loosing my right arm.
Sunday didn’t do much, skyped with the family and then headed back to site to catch up on sleep. Monday came around and I spent the day with my artisans and also I spent some time firming up the dates to start computer courses again in September with artisans from the associations of Paja Toquilla and Plata. Also, since I sold the design of my purse to a bunch of my friends I had to light a match under my artisans to finish up 2 purses that I had to hand over by the end of the week. They pissed me off right good because they had nothing done, even though I gave them the order about 2 weeks ago. They knew I was pissed but I couldn’t say much because this week one of the daughters of my counter part was really sick so she was really worried about her daughter and I didn’t want to be that bitchy person bugging her about work. It’s really hard to separate work from family when the whole business is inside the house. I know this before I came here though, considering how my mom works. So I was really stressed about whether the artisans would finish the purses on time and whether the quality would be up to par. Now, being Friday and having given the purses out I feel a lot calmer, but there was one point this past week that I just wanted to yell, but I kept my cool, thank God. Always in retrospect it doesn’t seem that bad. Tuesday I headed to the monthly mass that is given for my host father that passed in 98.
Wednesday I spent all day working on more inventories with my artisans. It is such a big project; I can’t wait till it’s done! Also I got a call from another volunteer in Piura, Vince who lives in the Sierra asking if my artisan and I would go up to his site and talk with artisan group about formation and getting started. Also, we were preparing the taller for Friday because Friday Grupo Romero Foundation came to film the taller and women. This was a really big deal for my artisans because in the past they didn’t get as much help as the other associations in the area, so hopefully after this visit GR will start putting more funds into helping our development.
Today I went to Piura to have lunch with Vince and his sister who came from the states for a week long visit, we went to Fresco Mar to have her taste the most Peruvian platter, ceviche! She not only was willing to try it but also enjoyed it! After lunch, I headed to my artisans to meet up with the Grupo Romero people. They filmed all the women weaving and also filmed the taller and store, bought some things, ate the ceviche that my artisans prepared and then headed on their way. I headed home shortly after.
I’m heading up the Vince’s site with my artisan tomorrow, so hopefully that goes well. Though I hope I make the bus at least; it leaves at 7:30, so that means I have to be up and out of the house by 6 to get there on time.
chauuuuuuu
9 August 2009
This weekend didn’t go as I had planned. I ended up not heading to Motupe or the walk of 14 crosses in Chiclayo bc the car of my artisans broke-down. Therefore, right now I’m just hanging out and reading. I did get some work down of little things that I have been putting off. And now that they are done, I actually have nothing to do. Though not having anything to do really urks me, I know that this week I’ll be busy again with work and organizing the taller via 5S’s. Also I have to present my cronograma for the 2 computer classes I’m going to start in September to the NGO who pays for the room we use for the class. I’ll be doing the basic class again as well as starting up an intermediate class 2x a week, which will help the artisans learn how to send formal emails to clients and also how to create brochures and catalogues. Should be interesting considering I just learned how to do it and I’m not that good at it.
Fri night I we all went out and danced after having drinks and taps with the ambassador. It was a really cool experience and I got to sit next to him! We got to speak with him about the relationship between the States and Peru, as well as, Peru’s internal development issues and about basic world news, that we volunteers are probably in the dark about. He also had some great advice and ideas for after PC work.
Saturday was nice, I laid around and watched tv all day in the hotel and then I went to the bus station to say good bye to Karrie and the new girl Kerry. Kerry will be back in about 3 weeks. I just have to keep myself busy for the next 3 weeks, which should prove to be hard.
I can’t believe that a month ago I was home in the states. I feel like it never happened, like it was a whirlwind. I’m planning on heading home for Christmas, which will no doubt be a blast, but could be more of a cyclone than the last visit, because I’m planning on only coming home for 6 days. Flights are really expensive too, if anyone enjoys looking for flights help me out and search for a non-stop below 500. Thanks!
This week will be easy I think and then this weekend I’m invited to attend a wedding in Piura with another volunteer. That should be good and my artisans want to re-try for this trip to Chiclayo. Maybe I’ll convince them to go on Friday instead of Saturday so I can have a day to rest before the wedding. Other than that there is nothing going on.
PS if anyone wants any straw products made for them, basket sets, purses, jewelry, hats, Christmas decorations, please let me know what you would like so I can bring home things people want during Christmas. REMEMBER they make REALLY cheap/unique gifts! I’m finishing a Christmas catalogue and when I do ill post it online for you all to see. Also, check out the blog that has a bunch of fotos of our products. It is not finished, so bare with me.
Nariwalac.blogspot.com
Un besito,
Elizabeth
This weekend didn’t go as I had planned. I ended up not heading to Motupe or the walk of 14 crosses in Chiclayo bc the car of my artisans broke-down. Therefore, right now I’m just hanging out and reading. I did get some work down of little things that I have been putting off. And now that they are done, I actually have nothing to do. Though not having anything to do really urks me, I know that this week I’ll be busy again with work and organizing the taller via 5S’s. Also I have to present my cronograma for the 2 computer classes I’m going to start in September to the NGO who pays for the room we use for the class. I’ll be doing the basic class again as well as starting up an intermediate class 2x a week, which will help the artisans learn how to send formal emails to clients and also how to create brochures and catalogues. Should be interesting considering I just learned how to do it and I’m not that good at it.
Fri night I we all went out and danced after having drinks and taps with the ambassador. It was a really cool experience and I got to sit next to him! We got to speak with him about the relationship between the States and Peru, as well as, Peru’s internal development issues and about basic world news, that we volunteers are probably in the dark about. He also had some great advice and ideas for after PC work.
Saturday was nice, I laid around and watched tv all day in the hotel and then I went to the bus station to say good bye to Karrie and the new girl Kerry. Kerry will be back in about 3 weeks. I just have to keep myself busy for the next 3 weeks, which should prove to be hard.
I can’t believe that a month ago I was home in the states. I feel like it never happened, like it was a whirlwind. I’m planning on heading home for Christmas, which will no doubt be a blast, but could be more of a cyclone than the last visit, because I’m planning on only coming home for 6 days. Flights are really expensive too, if anyone enjoys looking for flights help me out and search for a non-stop below 500. Thanks!
This week will be easy I think and then this weekend I’m invited to attend a wedding in Piura with another volunteer. That should be good and my artisans want to re-try for this trip to Chiclayo. Maybe I’ll convince them to go on Friday instead of Saturday so I can have a day to rest before the wedding. Other than that there is nothing going on.
PS if anyone wants any straw products made for them, basket sets, purses, jewelry, hats, Christmas decorations, please let me know what you would like so I can bring home things people want during Christmas. REMEMBER they make REALLY cheap/unique gifts! I’m finishing a Christmas catalogue and when I do ill post it online for you all to see. Also, check out the blog that has a bunch of fotos of our products. It is not finished, so bare with me.
Nariwalac.blogspot.com
Un besito,
Elizabeth
Friday, August 7, 2009
skipping along the plaza/singing in a boat
yes I might be a 23 yr old attempting to do good in this world, but who doesnt love a good round of row row row your boat on a glacier lake or skipping, singing mientras holding hads with a friend through a plaza in a foreign country.
Some memories are just one of a kind.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
the last couple of weeks
5 August 2009
This week has been a tough one, though not for the amount of work, but rather from all the emotional weight it brought. This is my “site-mate” Karrie’s last week in site, she leaves on Saturday. I can not express to you in words all that she has done for me this past year. When I came home and said how lucky I was and am in site and how happy I truly am, she has 70% to do with that happiness. Every volunteer looks to something that can stabilize them and help them get back up after each fall, someone who will sit and listen to your deepest fears and superficial worries, Karrie was mine. I just don’t think its real that she is leaving and I can’t pick up the phone and call her at a moments notice or better yet walk 10 minutes down the road to her house. To be lucky enough to find a friend like her in the situation I’m in, is a once in a lifetime chance, I got that chance and I’m so blessed to have had her in my life and my first year of service. I believe that this is the reason I’m okay with her leaving, because her being here in the first place was almost unimaginable. So I will be running after the bus she boards heading to Lima on Saturday night trying to hold on to not only her but also my sanity.
Other than this depressing news, these past couple of weeks has been a real treat. I headed up to Ancash for fiestas patrias, which is Peru’s Independence Day or better yet independence week lol. I grabbed a lot of videos and will be posting them. All other fotos are on facebook. They included the going out at night fotos too, which when you get that many gringos together, it gets a bit wild. We took 2 big day hiking trips up to a glacier which I did eat a piece of (video) Pasteroti (I don’t know how to spell it, surprised? But I did film the sign so you can see how it is really spelled.) We hiked up higher than 15,000 ft. We also did a trip to the glacier lake at the base of Huascaran. I forget its name but I did film the group I went up to the lake with signing “row row row your boat”… so I make up for forgetting the name. I had a wonderful time on the trip and it was great to see all the girls from my group again, but with the group 9’s despedida following the end of the trip, I was excited to get back to Piura and hang out with the gang. We had a great time at Colan. We had shirts made that I designed, I sent my mom one home so you if you see her walking around in a shirt that says Piura Vida that is from yours truly. There we danced the night away then followed it up with a long night/morning on the beach with a big bonfire, telling ghost stories. It was a great time and we are all really sad to see group 9 heading out. Heading back to site proved even more difficult after being treated to night in our nicest hotel of Piura city, courtesy of my dear momma. Buuuuuut, I did make it back and heading right into another party, my host mom’s 78th birthday party. It was a something. We had a huge party with more than half of the family all at my house from 11 am till about 9 that night. We ate, we danced, we ate some more, we sang, we ate some more, we danced a bit more, than ate one last time for good health and then everything came to a close with the breaking of the Hanna Montana piñata. Yes, I did say that. It was a great time, and that night I slept like the dead. Monday morning I was up and headed to my artisans house to help out with even more inventory and workshop organization with the 5 S’s. This is just getting plain old boring at this point. Though it is extremely beneficial for them.
Ohhh, I did skip one part, Monday morning I headed into the city to mail some things annnnd to have lunch with the new volunteers of Peru 13! Piura got 6 girls, 3 business, 3 youth volunteers. Karrie’s site will have a replacement, Kerry. I got to speak with her briefly, she seems like a very nice girl, though very timid, I think we’ll be fast friends. Or at least this is what I am hoping for! I also ate the most amazing soup that I never knew about before, but so happy I finally encountered, Chupe de Langostinas. Its like clam chowder on crack, which is basically amazing.
Tuesday followed with more artisan things and in the afternoon I worked on some report while watching the Lord of the Rings the Return of the King with my host family. At night I finished working on my resume which is now being corrected by my amazing aunt, all so I don’t come home and die from readjustment shock. (Plse keep fingers crossed that a some great company or good school accepts me!!)
Wednesday I headed to the market to pick up a bunch of materials for this purse I designed that we got a bunch of orders on. (it was the purse I brought home with me). I also went into the city to take out more money to pay rent and mail some other things. Then in the afternoon Karrie came to my site and we had spaghetti chicken and rice. Yes and rice. Weird I know, I told them I will eat awful spaghetti sauce but I refuse to have my great Italian grandparents turn over in their grave by eat rice with my spaghetti. And no, I wasn’t that elegant when I said it. Jk… Karrie then whipped out her bottle of SoCo and we had a brindis to her with my artisans followed by the Michael Jackson dvd and a few beers. Now I am back at site doing some computer work, which has obviously included this, very horribly written, though written blog entry.
Tomorrow, I am headed to Karrie’s site to eat breakfast burritos and to finish cleaning her room, prob shed a few tears then prob stop by the new girls house to say hi and make sure she is still alive. Then Friday I’ll do a bit of work in the morning then around 4:30 head into the city because at 6 the American Ambassador is speaking at a local hotel and we were invited to go and do a meet and greet then listen to him speak on American trade with Peru.
…And then finally, one last hoorah with Karrie, before she heads out on Saturday night. Then on Saturday night I’ll be heading to my artisans house to stay w them bc at 3 am we are going to head to Chiclayo for the walk of 14 crosses. In which, you head up a mountain, where they said on top a miracle was performed. Yes sounds interesting and will find out more and take pictures to post when that day comes!
Love you all … sorry this was rushed, hope it gives you a nice, but brief, update.
This week has been a tough one, though not for the amount of work, but rather from all the emotional weight it brought. This is my “site-mate” Karrie’s last week in site, she leaves on Saturday. I can not express to you in words all that she has done for me this past year. When I came home and said how lucky I was and am in site and how happy I truly am, she has 70% to do with that happiness. Every volunteer looks to something that can stabilize them and help them get back up after each fall, someone who will sit and listen to your deepest fears and superficial worries, Karrie was mine. I just don’t think its real that she is leaving and I can’t pick up the phone and call her at a moments notice or better yet walk 10 minutes down the road to her house. To be lucky enough to find a friend like her in the situation I’m in, is a once in a lifetime chance, I got that chance and I’m so blessed to have had her in my life and my first year of service. I believe that this is the reason I’m okay with her leaving, because her being here in the first place was almost unimaginable. So I will be running after the bus she boards heading to Lima on Saturday night trying to hold on to not only her but also my sanity.
Other than this depressing news, these past couple of weeks has been a real treat. I headed up to Ancash for fiestas patrias, which is Peru’s Independence Day or better yet independence week lol. I grabbed a lot of videos and will be posting them. All other fotos are on facebook. They included the going out at night fotos too, which when you get that many gringos together, it gets a bit wild. We took 2 big day hiking trips up to a glacier which I did eat a piece of (video) Pasteroti (I don’t know how to spell it, surprised? But I did film the sign so you can see how it is really spelled.) We hiked up higher than 15,000 ft. We also did a trip to the glacier lake at the base of Huascaran. I forget its name but I did film the group I went up to the lake with signing “row row row your boat”… so I make up for forgetting the name. I had a wonderful time on the trip and it was great to see all the girls from my group again, but with the group 9’s despedida following the end of the trip, I was excited to get back to Piura and hang out with the gang. We had a great time at Colan. We had shirts made that I designed, I sent my mom one home so you if you see her walking around in a shirt that says Piura Vida that is from yours truly. There we danced the night away then followed it up with a long night/morning on the beach with a big bonfire, telling ghost stories. It was a great time and we are all really sad to see group 9 heading out. Heading back to site proved even more difficult after being treated to night in our nicest hotel of Piura city, courtesy of my dear momma. Buuuuuut, I did make it back and heading right into another party, my host mom’s 78th birthday party. It was a something. We had a huge party with more than half of the family all at my house from 11 am till about 9 that night. We ate, we danced, we ate some more, we sang, we ate some more, we danced a bit more, than ate one last time for good health and then everything came to a close with the breaking of the Hanna Montana piñata. Yes, I did say that. It was a great time, and that night I slept like the dead. Monday morning I was up and headed to my artisans house to help out with even more inventory and workshop organization with the 5 S’s. This is just getting plain old boring at this point. Though it is extremely beneficial for them.
Ohhh, I did skip one part, Monday morning I headed into the city to mail some things annnnd to have lunch with the new volunteers of Peru 13! Piura got 6 girls, 3 business, 3 youth volunteers. Karrie’s site will have a replacement, Kerry. I got to speak with her briefly, she seems like a very nice girl, though very timid, I think we’ll be fast friends. Or at least this is what I am hoping for! I also ate the most amazing soup that I never knew about before, but so happy I finally encountered, Chupe de Langostinas. Its like clam chowder on crack, which is basically amazing.
Tuesday followed with more artisan things and in the afternoon I worked on some report while watching the Lord of the Rings the Return of the King with my host family. At night I finished working on my resume which is now being corrected by my amazing aunt, all so I don’t come home and die from readjustment shock. (Plse keep fingers crossed that a some great company or good school accepts me!!)
Wednesday I headed to the market to pick up a bunch of materials for this purse I designed that we got a bunch of orders on. (it was the purse I brought home with me). I also went into the city to take out more money to pay rent and mail some other things. Then in the afternoon Karrie came to my site and we had spaghetti chicken and rice. Yes and rice. Weird I know, I told them I will eat awful spaghetti sauce but I refuse to have my great Italian grandparents turn over in their grave by eat rice with my spaghetti. And no, I wasn’t that elegant when I said it. Jk… Karrie then whipped out her bottle of SoCo and we had a brindis to her with my artisans followed by the Michael Jackson dvd and a few beers. Now I am back at site doing some computer work, which has obviously included this, very horribly written, though written blog entry.
Tomorrow, I am headed to Karrie’s site to eat breakfast burritos and to finish cleaning her room, prob shed a few tears then prob stop by the new girls house to say hi and make sure she is still alive. Then Friday I’ll do a bit of work in the morning then around 4:30 head into the city because at 6 the American Ambassador is speaking at a local hotel and we were invited to go and do a meet and greet then listen to him speak on American trade with Peru.
…And then finally, one last hoorah with Karrie, before she heads out on Saturday night. Then on Saturday night I’ll be heading to my artisans house to stay w them bc at 3 am we are going to head to Chiclayo for the walk of 14 crosses. In which, you head up a mountain, where they said on top a miracle was performed. Yes sounds interesting and will find out more and take pictures to post when that day comes!
Love you all … sorry this was rushed, hope it gives you a nice, but brief, update.
Monday, July 20, 2009
I love giving presents
josie gettin at the sidewalk outside of the fair in Piura
Sandro practicing his name (forgot the R)
Here they are together w their gifts
sandro getting his gifts... then 2 sec later changing into his new Phils gear
Josie and Sandro with thier gifts.. she also put on her dress in .2 sec flat
loviiing her gifts
back from my stateside vaca and back to the grind
July 20, 2009
I have been back in country since Tuesday and it has been busy as ever. I arrived in Lima thinking I would be there for a fair with my artisans only to get a call on Wed that my artisans decided to do a more local fair instead of traveling to Lima. So at 4:30 I grabbed a bus and headed up to Piura arriving about 8 the next morning. During the day I went to see the new Harry Potter movie with Karrie and spent some of the day with my artisans at the fair and decided to stay the night with a few other volunteers. We went out that night (so much for my 13 mo detox) to a local club and danced the night away. The next morning I headed back to site surprising my family since they thought I wouldn’t be home till after the Lima fair on Sat. I got to give them their gifts which they loved and also put the flea collars on my cats and dogs, which means I can pet them again. Lol. I passed out at about 4:30 in the afternoon and slept straight thru till 8:30 the next morning. From there I headed to the fair in Piura with my artisans. I got to give my artisans their presents and their kids, Sandro and Josie their cute outfits. I grabbed a video of Sandro cheering “Go Phillies!” with his new shirt on (Howard 6). I was at the fair till about 10 that night. But I did get away from the stand for a bit to dine with my good friend Marian who was down from her mountain site in upper Piura, Frias. Heading back to the fair, I hung out with my artisans and we talked about how my trip was. I got home at 10:30 pm and I thought my sister and mom were going to have a heart attack because it was “so” late. But I was safe because my artisan’s husband owns a car so I wasn’t using public transportation. Then went to bed waking up at 8:30 on Sunday and headed back to the fair this time with a notebook and cards to occupy my time. I also was able to go watch a movie and lunch with a few other volunteers who were in the capital that day. I headed back to the fair and we again were out till 10:30 but this time my family was okay with it. My brother Cesar was waiting at the house to say hello to me with his wife Meche and their kids CJ and Socorro. I gave the kids their gifts, sidewalk chalk, which they then preceded to use on all the walls and floors in my house. Believe it or not they do not have sidewalk chalk here.
I headed to bed about 11 and woke up this morning at 10, ate breakfast, and finally began to tackle my room which embarrassingly looks like a tornado hit it. Then I began to catalog my photos from my vaca home and here I am now writing this blog entry, since I got enough shit while I was home to start it again.
This week I will be working on writing a briefing of my artisan group for the Leeds School of Bus (Univ of Col, Boulder) I applied and was chosen to work with a MBA class this coming fall semester. They will be doing a case study on my artisans. I am extremely excited about this opportunity and want to do everything possible for my artisans to get the most out of this experience.
Also, I have a lot to do as far as working on my resume and emailing a few leads I have looked into for a job next year. Though some of you may think it’s too early to put focus on this area of my life, trust me its not. And even if it is, the number one difficulty in being a volunteer (as polled by RPCVs) is the reentry into the American Culture. There is a reverse culture shock that some volunteers can’t deal with, so I figure my best bet to avoid this situation is to have a job waiting for me when I get back, if not, at least a list of interviews… Okay I have to go eat lunch with my family because I have dared not to for the past 4 days and they are about to beat me. Then heading to my artisans, then Catacaos, which is where I will post this blog!
Love you all- ekh
I have been back in country since Tuesday and it has been busy as ever. I arrived in Lima thinking I would be there for a fair with my artisans only to get a call on Wed that my artisans decided to do a more local fair instead of traveling to Lima. So at 4:30 I grabbed a bus and headed up to Piura arriving about 8 the next morning. During the day I went to see the new Harry Potter movie with Karrie and spent some of the day with my artisans at the fair and decided to stay the night with a few other volunteers. We went out that night (so much for my 13 mo detox) to a local club and danced the night away. The next morning I headed back to site surprising my family since they thought I wouldn’t be home till after the Lima fair on Sat. I got to give them their gifts which they loved and also put the flea collars on my cats and dogs, which means I can pet them again. Lol. I passed out at about 4:30 in the afternoon and slept straight thru till 8:30 the next morning. From there I headed to the fair in Piura with my artisans. I got to give my artisans their presents and their kids, Sandro and Josie their cute outfits. I grabbed a video of Sandro cheering “Go Phillies!” with his new shirt on (Howard 6). I was at the fair till about 10 that night. But I did get away from the stand for a bit to dine with my good friend Marian who was down from her mountain site in upper Piura, Frias. Heading back to the fair, I hung out with my artisans and we talked about how my trip was. I got home at 10:30 pm and I thought my sister and mom were going to have a heart attack because it was “so” late. But I was safe because my artisan’s husband owns a car so I wasn’t using public transportation. Then went to bed waking up at 8:30 on Sunday and headed back to the fair this time with a notebook and cards to occupy my time. I also was able to go watch a movie and lunch with a few other volunteers who were in the capital that day. I headed back to the fair and we again were out till 10:30 but this time my family was okay with it. My brother Cesar was waiting at the house to say hello to me with his wife Meche and their kids CJ and Socorro. I gave the kids their gifts, sidewalk chalk, which they then preceded to use on all the walls and floors in my house. Believe it or not they do not have sidewalk chalk here.
I headed to bed about 11 and woke up this morning at 10, ate breakfast, and finally began to tackle my room which embarrassingly looks like a tornado hit it. Then I began to catalog my photos from my vaca home and here I am now writing this blog entry, since I got enough shit while I was home to start it again.
This week I will be working on writing a briefing of my artisan group for the Leeds School of Bus (Univ of Col, Boulder) I applied and was chosen to work with a MBA class this coming fall semester. They will be doing a case study on my artisans. I am extremely excited about this opportunity and want to do everything possible for my artisans to get the most out of this experience.
Also, I have a lot to do as far as working on my resume and emailing a few leads I have looked into for a job next year. Though some of you may think it’s too early to put focus on this area of my life, trust me its not. And even if it is, the number one difficulty in being a volunteer (as polled by RPCVs) is the reentry into the American Culture. There is a reverse culture shock that some volunteers can’t deal with, so I figure my best bet to avoid this situation is to have a job waiting for me when I get back, if not, at least a list of interviews… Okay I have to go eat lunch with my family because I have dared not to for the past 4 days and they are about to beat me. Then heading to my artisans, then Catacaos, which is where I will post this blog!
Love you all- ekh
Saturday, May 9, 2009
The Hike.. duh duh duh
ohhh hellllooo it was freeeezing
cool tree
the donkey carrying our things
the eight of us on a bridge
our guide, I dont remember his name
group of us at base camp
group shot on the enterance to the park
YEH!! SNOW!! besides that reaction, I had the "oh shit-we are as high as snow"
Ancash trip and more Fair Fotos
5in the morning boarding the bus to the base of the mountian
I found lemons!
Just arriving in Ancash after a 30 sole bus for 10 hours, that means i spent 10 dollars for a 10 hour bus ride, imagine how shitty the bus was...
very delicious bagel and french pressed coffee, found only in cafe in Ancash called California Cafe (1 block from the plaza de armas) now i understand why ancash is better :)
more fotos to shiwyou a 360 view of where our stand was
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
April went by so fast
Some photos
A mom weaving in her house
me and esther taking a photo after we completed the Pepfar workshop
Me, Naqui, and Mari at my brothers house for some food after we went to the mass for my dad at the cathedral
This is the enterance to fair.. pretty cool right
A mom weaving in her house
me and esther taking a photo after we completed the Pepfar workshop
Me, Naqui, and Mari at my brothers house for some food after we went to the mass for my dad at the cathedral
Me and Iris
Iris with a client at the fair
This is the enterance to fair.. pretty cool right
Well it has been awhile sorry about that. My mom yelled at me so I guess I should write some things to apease her. April was really busy for me. The first week was getting into the swing of things after my vacation and trying to set up dates for the new session of computer course with the artisans as well as preparing for the Peru Gift Show fair 22-24 of April.
Semana Santa was a blast, I went up to Ancash and climbed a 15,000 ft mountain with 4 other volunteers! That was insane and prob not the best idea for a first time hiker to attempt. We did 60 km, in 3 days of hiking and my feet can prove it. I{m officially minus 2 toenails with 2 more on their last leg. My feet look like dunkin donuts glazed munchins...its really ugly and i have to wear gauze around my toes and use socks and sneakers... that part sucks bc its so hot and sneakers are the last thing i would like to put on my feet. Plus my sneakers dont match any of my outfits so ive been wearing my yoga pants everyday or shorts. I know, who cares what i put on my feet, but i ask you people to allow me that vanity when i have so little in this line of work! So when i got back from Ancash, I had the Pepfar workshop, which was a weeklong conference on Aids in Peru. I went to this with 2 people from my town. It was really informative and I actually start work with these people tomorrow to do workshops for my town and in Narihaula (which is the town over). The Pepfar workshop lasted till SAturday adn then Monday I was on the bus again, but this time heading toward Lima, for the fair. Tuesday, we spent all day setting up the stand for the fair. Wed, Thurs, and Fri from 8 am till 7 we were at the fair selling. I had a great time because I stayed at an embassay house that was 1 block from where the fair was being held. I got to walk to work everyday and make dinner with a real stove, pack a lunch and eat cereal!! It was a perfect minivaca! Right now im sitting in the cabina as she writing back to clients from the fair itself. Okay thats the update for now, ill write more another time!!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
31 de Marzo
Helloooooo... sorry it has been so long since i have written... ive been travelling around Peru with the family and then busy with getting my life and work back on schedule! My trip was absolutely amazing and i took over 500 photos alogn with the 500 that my mom took and 400 that Grant took!! I really have to upload them and I promise I will when I put them on my USB but for those of you that have facebook, I did put up 3 albums (which includes all the photos i look good in!!) The sad part is that was a serious comment! lol ... anyway lately Ive been getting my group ready for the fair in April in Lima called THe Peruvian Gift Show-Peru MOda... this year they are combining the two fairs (because of the economy) ...which I mean can be for the good or worse.. we´ll see how our sales go.
Yesterday I did a inventory check for the molds that we have for the products can you believe the figures totalled to 6,000 soles thats 2,000 dollars of wooden figures... it really adds up and most of it is bought by the artisans and not the assoc. In the afternoon I did a Color Charla. Which is basically a presentation of the colors, what the mean, what they indicate and also what kind of combinations you can do inside the color reel (monocromatic, analogo...etc) This to help with the product collections we are bringing to the fair. THis year instead of doign a bunch of products from the house, we are going to plan what we want to bring and actually do those designs, well at least that is the plan... as far as the realization of this plan, ill let you know in a few weeks.
Okay well I have to get home for lunch, miss you all!!! Sorry about the delayed post!
Love,
Elizabeth
Yesterday I did a inventory check for the molds that we have for the products can you believe the figures totalled to 6,000 soles thats 2,000 dollars of wooden figures... it really adds up and most of it is bought by the artisans and not the assoc. In the afternoon I did a Color Charla. Which is basically a presentation of the colors, what the mean, what they indicate and also what kind of combinations you can do inside the color reel (monocromatic, analogo...etc) This to help with the product collections we are bringing to the fair. THis year instead of doign a bunch of products from the house, we are going to plan what we want to bring and actually do those designs, well at least that is the plan... as far as the realization of this plan, ill let you know in a few weeks.
Okay well I have to get home for lunch, miss you all!!! Sorry about the delayed post!
Love,
Elizabeth
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
3 de Marzo
I am over the moooon right now!! K emocion! Family comes in 4 days and by the time I post this 3 days!! I can’t wait!! I haven’t seen them in 9 months, 9 MONTHS!! I feel like it’s been years!! Thank God, Grant is basically done growing or I’d prob being sentimental about that as well! Well, nothing new here, I’m working really hard and trying to tie up all the loose ends so no one calls me on vacation, I would love to turn my cell off during my vacation, but I think PC would have safety/security issues with that.
Well other than boring day to day I have a really funny story for you, that I wish I had captured on video but I ddin’t have battery!! Grrr!! Well my mom has been killing a lot of animals lately to mail to relatives and give as gifts for those who have visited for vacations. So this week she killed 4 birds, 1 turkey, 3 chickens. Well of the 4, three I had the luck of missing the killing, bleeding and defeathering of. But the 4th I didn’t escape, it was today and one of her stepsons was leaving to Lima 2 weeks early and she didn’t have a chicken prepared for himto take with him, so obviously she had to kill one. As we go into the corral she called me to help her, with what I wasn’t too sure, but excited to help. So I get out there and immediately the chicken we need to corral has like a 6th sense and knows God is calling him home therefore frantically running around. Well a neighborhood boy, Marvid is helping to gather it and it was my job to get it my the wings as it was cornered toward me, so I’m thinking I can do this right, I mean its only a chicken, I’m not a priss, I was a pretty hardcore tomboy when it came to outdoorsy things. Well, the second that crazy chicken was headed in my direction I gave a scream and started running from it, which only antagonized the thing to come at me!!! I was in fact having the chicken chase me instead of me chasing the chicken, all the while screaming like a little girl! (pause to imagine it)
It was one of the funniest experiences I have had here, now that I look back on it, at the time, it was the scariest.
PS my mom was so ashamed I couldn’t corral the mad chicken, I mean honestly, I’ve adapted to feeding and then 1 day later eating these animals, seeing them hang from our clothes line and have eaten out of the same bowl they use for draining… I think I have done enough “acustombrar-ing”, they can stuff it. (haha i guess they could actually do that with the chicken they killed)
Well other than boring day to day I have a really funny story for you, that I wish I had captured on video but I ddin’t have battery!! Grrr!! Well my mom has been killing a lot of animals lately to mail to relatives and give as gifts for those who have visited for vacations. So this week she killed 4 birds, 1 turkey, 3 chickens. Well of the 4, three I had the luck of missing the killing, bleeding and defeathering of. But the 4th I didn’t escape, it was today and one of her stepsons was leaving to Lima 2 weeks early and she didn’t have a chicken prepared for himto take with him, so obviously she had to kill one. As we go into the corral she called me to help her, with what I wasn’t too sure, but excited to help. So I get out there and immediately the chicken we need to corral has like a 6th sense and knows God is calling him home therefore frantically running around. Well a neighborhood boy, Marvid is helping to gather it and it was my job to get it my the wings as it was cornered toward me, so I’m thinking I can do this right, I mean its only a chicken, I’m not a priss, I was a pretty hardcore tomboy when it came to outdoorsy things. Well, the second that crazy chicken was headed in my direction I gave a scream and started running from it, which only antagonized the thing to come at me!!! I was in fact having the chicken chase me instead of me chasing the chicken, all the while screaming like a little girl! (pause to imagine it)
It was one of the funniest experiences I have had here, now that I look back on it, at the time, it was the scariest.
PS my mom was so ashamed I couldn’t corral the mad chicken, I mean honestly, I’ve adapted to feeding and then 1 day later eating these animals, seeing them hang from our clothes line and have eaten out of the same bowl they use for draining… I think I have done enough “acustombrar-ing”, they can stuff it. (haha i guess they could actually do that with the chicken they killed)
Friday, February 27, 2009
Carnavales
February 26, 2009
Well today I started off good and motivated then all of sudden, I got horrible stomach pains and have been sick all day which sucks and think I have a fever too. Which I have concluded is a combination of the cold that Maria, Iris and the kids had last week combined with eating at their house this week. Sometimes, when families invite volunteers, we get sick because that family didn’t get the talk about our weak stomachs and also how to prepare foods so we don’t get sick. (Which host families get).
Yesterday I was busy making CDs for ALMA, finally the last thing for the camp from January. I’m glad to finally have that done annnnd just in time for the camp of VALOR (which is the boy version of ALMA) to start their committees and planning. I already got a call to help out and I was like umm, I will but what I do shall be limited. It was just too much work laid on top of me the last time, with me being the closest to the city and all. And I know that if I get too included in the beginning the same thing could happen again and I don’t want to deal with that much stress and responsibility.
Later in the afternoon, I had the business plan course in Piura but my artisans called and said they weren’t going so I didn’t have too, therefore I just went to the market bought paint to finish my world map on Friday (tomorrow). I also got some letters in the mail and an amazing birthday gift from my great uncle dave, a book about the Emperors of Rome. This is perfect for a history person like me. Speaking of good books, my aunt ba sent me a bunch of classics which I’ve been reading and have gotten into. It’s ironic that some of the most enjoyable writing I have read recently has been classics and not so much the so called Chic Lit. I’ve also been reading a lot of British Historical Fiction, which I always find fascinating. Secretly, I think, entering their world, I get to be part of that royal family or high level of society, which I always fantasized I would live like, if I had been born then. But isn’t that the point of books, to escape and enter an entirely different world and experience line for line the lives of these characters. And many times believing these personalities are parallel our own and discovering ourselves, in each character, of every novel. I read a really interesting book called the Yellow Light-Lighted Book Shop. This book goes in depth about the pastime of reading, historically and presently. Also, the book disputes the current belief of the “dying” hobby of reading books, as is stated through facts and figures, not only are libraries and bookstores more apparent than any other time in history, more books are being bought, published and written than ever before.
I’ve just been so busy and can barely get everything that has been happening all on paper, nor do I want to sit and write on my free time that I have! But, here are a bit of the details from the weekend.
I went to Carnavales in Catacaos with my sobrina (niece). Carnavales, they say, is the real version of Mardi Gras. I don’t know if I agree, personally I think it is like Spirit Week (from high school) on crack! Catacaos divides up into 6 bandillas (gangs) of colors. The separation is according to the streets that you live on. I participated in the Bandilla Roja (Red gang). This is considered the best one of the bunch, because the neighborhood is the wealthiest, thus can obviously prepare the biggest and most extravagant performance in the concorso and largest floats in the desfile. The concorso of bailes was on Saturday. I went with Lichy my niece and sat in the red section. There we watched each color compete, each color was a certain traditional theme of Peru and they danced the traditional dance of the culture/place they represented. I did take fotos, so I will explain each group a little more when I do the foto captions. Yellow went first which are our biggest competition every year, they did the local ruinas of Narihuala with a marinara. Then next was Red, we did Cusco and did a cusquena traditional mountain dance. Then went the Multi-color who did another costal ruin and did a dance with a machete…. I looked intense and dancing with sharp machetes just made me close my eyes thinking an arm was going to be the next thing getting flung thru the air instead of their dance partner. The green group from monte sullon did the same thing. The other green group did a dance from the selva (jungle) and even built a house during their dance, it was amazing, and they should have won. And then the other groups were small in comparison and did do that great of a display of fireworks or presentation. There seem to be some scandal (as always) and the red team didn’t win, didn’t even place in top 3 (first time ever) and came in 4th. This the judges said was because they weren’t dancing, they were just jumping. I think it was a completely ignorant thing for them to say. I’d like to see the judges go to Cusco and tell the people there that their ancestral and traditional dance isn’t a dance and just people jumping. They also made the same comment about the dance that the selva group did. Now, I have seen videos of these traditional dances done by professional dancers and also by the people of these locals themselves, and trust me ask them and they will tell you that this is their traditional dance. Therefore I think these judges were in no place to decide what a dance is and what isn’t. Okay well after that ended at about 11:30 pm I went out to chifa (Chinese food) with my sister her husband their kids, Lichy and Diego. It’s like common on the weekends for people to go out and then eat at like 11:30 at night... kinda like college students and late night eating, but family style.
I slept there on Sat bc there are no cars back to Pedregal after 8:30, then woke up amidst a rain storm (crazy, right?!) …cancelled plans to head up to the beach for the day for sophies bday and went with my old plans of participating in carnavales with my niece and nephew. I was clean for about umm 2 blocks of walking from their house to the plaza… within 2 feet inside the plaza some guy ran up to me and put shoe grease all over my face…then 2 feet after I was sprayed head to toe with water. And it begun… lol I was out all day playing. The point is either to throw paint at other people or have it on your hands and rub it on their faces. Then as you walk past houses the people inside throw water from the roofs on top of you. Then by 8 I was in the house again and done with the games. By the time night came, people were getting pretty drunk and ruff with their contact. So I went to my sisters, stayed there for the night then headed to a meeting on Monday at 9 till 2 at Cite about preparing our groups for the fairs in 2009 and also creative ideas for stand preparation. Then had my LAST computer’s course with the artisans, it was nice because we gave out certificates to those who completed the course and those that finished the exam advanced to intermediate, the others get a certificate but also are encouraged to take the class over. It was a proud moment for me!
Okay I’m tired, will write more another time and will put up the pics probably sat or Monday from carnavales. 1 week and 1 day till my familyyy comes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So excited!
Xoxo elizabeth
Well today I started off good and motivated then all of sudden, I got horrible stomach pains and have been sick all day which sucks and think I have a fever too. Which I have concluded is a combination of the cold that Maria, Iris and the kids had last week combined with eating at their house this week. Sometimes, when families invite volunteers, we get sick because that family didn’t get the talk about our weak stomachs and also how to prepare foods so we don’t get sick. (Which host families get).
Yesterday I was busy making CDs for ALMA, finally the last thing for the camp from January. I’m glad to finally have that done annnnd just in time for the camp of VALOR (which is the boy version of ALMA) to start their committees and planning. I already got a call to help out and I was like umm, I will but what I do shall be limited. It was just too much work laid on top of me the last time, with me being the closest to the city and all. And I know that if I get too included in the beginning the same thing could happen again and I don’t want to deal with that much stress and responsibility.
Later in the afternoon, I had the business plan course in Piura but my artisans called and said they weren’t going so I didn’t have too, therefore I just went to the market bought paint to finish my world map on Friday (tomorrow). I also got some letters in the mail and an amazing birthday gift from my great uncle dave, a book about the Emperors of Rome. This is perfect for a history person like me. Speaking of good books, my aunt ba sent me a bunch of classics which I’ve been reading and have gotten into. It’s ironic that some of the most enjoyable writing I have read recently has been classics and not so much the so called Chic Lit. I’ve also been reading a lot of British Historical Fiction, which I always find fascinating. Secretly, I think, entering their world, I get to be part of that royal family or high level of society, which I always fantasized I would live like, if I had been born then. But isn’t that the point of books, to escape and enter an entirely different world and experience line for line the lives of these characters. And many times believing these personalities are parallel our own and discovering ourselves, in each character, of every novel. I read a really interesting book called the Yellow Light-Lighted Book Shop. This book goes in depth about the pastime of reading, historically and presently. Also, the book disputes the current belief of the “dying” hobby of reading books, as is stated through facts and figures, not only are libraries and bookstores more apparent than any other time in history, more books are being bought, published and written than ever before.
I’ve just been so busy and can barely get everything that has been happening all on paper, nor do I want to sit and write on my free time that I have! But, here are a bit of the details from the weekend.
I went to Carnavales in Catacaos with my sobrina (niece). Carnavales, they say, is the real version of Mardi Gras. I don’t know if I agree, personally I think it is like Spirit Week (from high school) on crack! Catacaos divides up into 6 bandillas (gangs) of colors. The separation is according to the streets that you live on. I participated in the Bandilla Roja (Red gang). This is considered the best one of the bunch, because the neighborhood is the wealthiest, thus can obviously prepare the biggest and most extravagant performance in the concorso and largest floats in the desfile. The concorso of bailes was on Saturday. I went with Lichy my niece and sat in the red section. There we watched each color compete, each color was a certain traditional theme of Peru and they danced the traditional dance of the culture/place they represented. I did take fotos, so I will explain each group a little more when I do the foto captions. Yellow went first which are our biggest competition every year, they did the local ruinas of Narihuala with a marinara. Then next was Red, we did Cusco and did a cusquena traditional mountain dance. Then went the Multi-color who did another costal ruin and did a dance with a machete…. I looked intense and dancing with sharp machetes just made me close my eyes thinking an arm was going to be the next thing getting flung thru the air instead of their dance partner. The green group from monte sullon did the same thing. The other green group did a dance from the selva (jungle) and even built a house during their dance, it was amazing, and they should have won. And then the other groups were small in comparison and did do that great of a display of fireworks or presentation. There seem to be some scandal (as always) and the red team didn’t win, didn’t even place in top 3 (first time ever) and came in 4th. This the judges said was because they weren’t dancing, they were just jumping. I think it was a completely ignorant thing for them to say. I’d like to see the judges go to Cusco and tell the people there that their ancestral and traditional dance isn’t a dance and just people jumping. They also made the same comment about the dance that the selva group did. Now, I have seen videos of these traditional dances done by professional dancers and also by the people of these locals themselves, and trust me ask them and they will tell you that this is their traditional dance. Therefore I think these judges were in no place to decide what a dance is and what isn’t. Okay well after that ended at about 11:30 pm I went out to chifa (Chinese food) with my sister her husband their kids, Lichy and Diego. It’s like common on the weekends for people to go out and then eat at like 11:30 at night... kinda like college students and late night eating, but family style.
I slept there on Sat bc there are no cars back to Pedregal after 8:30, then woke up amidst a rain storm (crazy, right?!) …cancelled plans to head up to the beach for the day for sophies bday and went with my old plans of participating in carnavales with my niece and nephew. I was clean for about umm 2 blocks of walking from their house to the plaza… within 2 feet inside the plaza some guy ran up to me and put shoe grease all over my face…then 2 feet after I was sprayed head to toe with water. And it begun… lol I was out all day playing. The point is either to throw paint at other people or have it on your hands and rub it on their faces. Then as you walk past houses the people inside throw water from the roofs on top of you. Then by 8 I was in the house again and done with the games. By the time night came, people were getting pretty drunk and ruff with their contact. So I went to my sisters, stayed there for the night then headed to a meeting on Monday at 9 till 2 at Cite about preparing our groups for the fairs in 2009 and also creative ideas for stand preparation. Then had my LAST computer’s course with the artisans, it was nice because we gave out certificates to those who completed the course and those that finished the exam advanced to intermediate, the others get a certificate but also are encouraged to take the class over. It was a proud moment for me!
Okay I’m tired, will write more another time and will put up the pics probably sat or Monday from carnavales. 1 week and 1 day till my familyyy comes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So excited!
Xoxo elizabeth
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
A few pics...
This was a charla/visit done by a designer fromLima, who is in front of the computer. The guy is Hernan, he is the guy from Cite that we work with a lot to do courses and sponsor fairs for the artisans.
Watching the designer lady ...
Group of the women from the PC group. On the far left is Iris she is the daughter of the woman in blue, Maria, who is the Presidentof the association.
Pics of the artisans working
The line of the died paja.. ready to use
Two girls wetting the paja before they can start on the badeja... which is the bowl mold in the middle of the table
This is an artisan working inher home on a small cofre.
This is actually a lady working on something i bought. This is one of the 3 piece straw basket juego I got to but my shower things in, makeup, lotions, and jewelry....etc.
Taking some picsof the artisans working in their houses
another lady working on a sombrero
Some recent pics
some of the girls making bandejas during a meeting we had about product design
The is Yosi the daughter of Iris an artisan from the group whose mom is the President... shes in the background with the paja
This is the store of Pedregal Chico... the group that im working with
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Back to Businessssss
Okay to give a bit of a recap... the meeting didn´t happen on monday but thats okay because I know that the directiva is seeing the issue and when/if they handle martha is up to them, but I would be more than willing to work with them...just without her.
Things have been going well with the other artisans, I have my meeting today with the asemblia from ped chico, were going to take a vote on whether to start the code system which will prob be yes and also we are participating in this business plan exportation course and I have researched a couple custom shops along the east coast (they specialize in Peruvian or South American artisan importation). Today before the meeting we are goign to write an email to each of them seeing if they would be interesting in our catalogue and/or purchasing our products. We´ll see where that lead goes. As for everything else, its pretty tranquila.
The director of artesania from Piura called me to ask if I could bring along one of her interns to help with registration I said yes that would have been nice a month ago, esp since I finished yesterday, she goes well I´m sure you missed a couple artisans so why don´t you just walk aroudn and find some, the intern only needs to register 3 or 4. ??? I was like seriously could that be a bit more ridiculous, what did she want me to do walk down the street and yell ¨If I missed you could you come out so that this intern can write your name and id number for a photo-op!!!¨???? lol so I told her that I was busy this morning, which I was, I was washing my clothes! Though id she calls again I tell her to come on over and we´ll just go register my neighbors again lol!! (That was my sisters idea)
Okay well I just wanted to get a few things done in town before I head back for lunch adn the meeting this afternoon I hope it goes well, we´ll see!!
will write soon...
Things have been going well with the other artisans, I have my meeting today with the asemblia from ped chico, were going to take a vote on whether to start the code system which will prob be yes and also we are participating in this business plan exportation course and I have researched a couple custom shops along the east coast (they specialize in Peruvian or South American artisan importation). Today before the meeting we are goign to write an email to each of them seeing if they would be interesting in our catalogue and/or purchasing our products. We´ll see where that lead goes. As for everything else, its pretty tranquila.
The director of artesania from Piura called me to ask if I could bring along one of her interns to help with registration I said yes that would have been nice a month ago, esp since I finished yesterday, she goes well I´m sure you missed a couple artisans so why don´t you just walk aroudn and find some, the intern only needs to register 3 or 4. ??? I was like seriously could that be a bit more ridiculous, what did she want me to do walk down the street and yell ¨If I missed you could you come out so that this intern can write your name and id number for a photo-op!!!¨???? lol so I told her that I was busy this morning, which I was, I was washing my clothes! Though id she calls again I tell her to come on over and we´ll just go register my neighbors again lol!! (That was my sisters idea)
Okay well I just wanted to get a few things done in town before I head back for lunch adn the meeting this afternoon I hope it goes well, we´ll see!!
will write soon...
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
and as the hour glass turns...
WOW! can i just say how different a week can be! I have finally gotten out of the horrible assoc that was with the crazy lady and now am continuing to work with Ped Chico assoc and the new one startign in my town, on top of that the courses 2x a week at the university with the art from PC to help set up business plans for the year, my comp class 2x a week and my jov. emp. charlas on sunday. okay class is about to start I will write more later about all!!
But soo exciting tomorrow I start my code system for the products and artisans with ped chico!! woo hoo!
okay chau
But soo exciting tomorrow I start my code system for the products and artisans with ped chico!! woo hoo!
okay chau
Monday, February 9, 2009
little bit o that
February 8, 2009
Well, I did have a meeting of some sort, I met with one of the other members of the directiva, at Martha’s house, and talked with her, she really didn’t have an opinion either way of having a meeting or about having me help the association. But I credit that to the side remarks Martha was making throughout the conversation about how she doesn’t support me and she will not be participating in any of courses or charlas I would give in the future. Not to mention that fact that she voice multiple times her desire not to work with me. I told her that I understand and that me not working with her is my job, me helping the women in the association is my job. And whether I can do my job or not is up to them, and for them to decide, the women must know what I can help them with. So we set the meeting for the 16th at 3. This is a meeting only for the active socias, not the “300” she claims to have.
I should also mention here that this is the second meeting I tried to have, unsuccessfully with the directiva, Friday’s meeting only one showed up, because Martha didn’t inform anyone. The only reason that one showed up is because she was passing by on her way to the health post and saw us talking. We did reschedule the meeting, in order to have the whole directiva in attendance, for Sunday morning at 8. I went to that as well and somehow again, Martha swore up and down that she told them and their non-attendance was because they didn’t want to hear what I had to say. Well either way, I said it was up to all the socias to tell me that they didn’t want to hear what I had to say, not just her.
After I left the meeting on Sunday I went to the treasurer’s house to talk with her and ask why she skipped the meeting when she put the hour to it. She was busy buying fish to prepare lunch for her sons who were going to the chacra for the day. I relayed to her what happened in the reunion and said that I felt like I was being belittled by Martha and I think she is talking bad about me to discredit me to other socios, which hello, duhh. But I also told her the date of meeting as well as the fact that again Martha said she didn’t want to work with me and I told her that I planned on mentioning that at the meeting with the socias on the 16th as well as, the things that the association is missing that I proposed to help her with and by rejecting my help she is denying the association of having an accounting book, finance book, sales book and book of actas. These are things that every business/association in Peru has not to mention in the world, minus the actas, and I wasn’t sure why Martha was being so hostile about keeping books and records for all artisans to see what was being sold and for how much, inside the association. I will also mention that even though I will not be working with Martha, through her choice, I will continue to help them in order to give the socias charlas of family accounting, fair prices, product designs. I also mentioned something to Isidoro that I could create a type of contract for every artisan to have that says when they give their product to her to sell, it is obligatory for Martha to show the artisan after her sales sheet from the fair and the price it went for. Yes, I know she can forge it and make one up after, I know, but honestly I can’t think any other way around Martha as of right now.
I did do something I don’t deem to be playing fairly, Isidoro was commenting that she remembers seeing me and Martha writing down the prices for each fair and I agreed and said I know, therefore you know she has the price sheet and I know for a fact she does, and I had the book that I wrote it in. Well, I normally I ripped out the sheet and gave it to her for what I assumed were her records or something, but I overlooked ripping out the one sheet that had the prices from a recent pedido to the man from NY. Noticing that I had this, I mentioned I have right here a copy. Now she did mention before in the convo that Martha has been giving her 20 soles for her sombrero and I mentioned that right here it says that she sold it for 40. Yes, I know I stooped down, but I honestly and sincerely wasn’t going to tell her, but I ended up flipping through my notebook and the page popped out I couldn’t just overlook it. I don’t think it was place to tell her the price difference and I told her that and I also mentioned that telling all the women this would anger them and then they wouldn’t come to the meeting, so she can freely approach Martha about this after the meeting if she would like and tell the other women about the obvious price difference, but after.
And I guess I should mention, as a way to purge my conscious, I was at that point really angry because Isidoro told me Martha gave the artisans 20 soles for sombreros from the last feria we went too, by saying that I sold the products and I sold them cheaply. When I know I wrote down the prices for each product and sold them accordingly and told her Martha has the paper work for each product and how much and I know I did not sell one sombrero for less than 30-35.
I can’t help but feel partly guilty and can see myself getting future blame and deservingly so because I was ignorant and didn’t keep copies of papers or prices, because they were all hand written. We were supposed to be starting a finance book to put them into or so I foolishly believed.
But good news is I am feeling lighter everyday. Now that this situation is getting settled for better or worse, it lifts a huge stress off of me. Today was also a successful day because I had my second class in San Clemente with Jovenes Emprendedores and it went well with 14 of the 18 showing up. Annd I’m semi famous now, well not really but in one Temple U English classroom people will watch an interview done by the future famous filmmaker Grant Hutchinson! I was very honored that my brother choose me when I feel like the last person in our lives to deserve that status. Thank you G, you have my heart.
Tomorrow I’m helping another local artisan group do registration and then in the afternoon I have my 4 hour class which is when I will upload this! Woo hoo!
love <3 the “small victories” princess
Well, I did have a meeting of some sort, I met with one of the other members of the directiva, at Martha’s house, and talked with her, she really didn’t have an opinion either way of having a meeting or about having me help the association. But I credit that to the side remarks Martha was making throughout the conversation about how she doesn’t support me and she will not be participating in any of courses or charlas I would give in the future. Not to mention that fact that she voice multiple times her desire not to work with me. I told her that I understand and that me not working with her is my job, me helping the women in the association is my job. And whether I can do my job or not is up to them, and for them to decide, the women must know what I can help them with. So we set the meeting for the 16th at 3. This is a meeting only for the active socias, not the “300” she claims to have.
I should also mention here that this is the second meeting I tried to have, unsuccessfully with the directiva, Friday’s meeting only one showed up, because Martha didn’t inform anyone. The only reason that one showed up is because she was passing by on her way to the health post and saw us talking. We did reschedule the meeting, in order to have the whole directiva in attendance, for Sunday morning at 8. I went to that as well and somehow again, Martha swore up and down that she told them and their non-attendance was because they didn’t want to hear what I had to say. Well either way, I said it was up to all the socias to tell me that they didn’t want to hear what I had to say, not just her.
After I left the meeting on Sunday I went to the treasurer’s house to talk with her and ask why she skipped the meeting when she put the hour to it. She was busy buying fish to prepare lunch for her sons who were going to the chacra for the day. I relayed to her what happened in the reunion and said that I felt like I was being belittled by Martha and I think she is talking bad about me to discredit me to other socios, which hello, duhh. But I also told her the date of meeting as well as the fact that again Martha said she didn’t want to work with me and I told her that I planned on mentioning that at the meeting with the socias on the 16th as well as, the things that the association is missing that I proposed to help her with and by rejecting my help she is denying the association of having an accounting book, finance book, sales book and book of actas. These are things that every business/association in Peru has not to mention in the world, minus the actas, and I wasn’t sure why Martha was being so hostile about keeping books and records for all artisans to see what was being sold and for how much, inside the association. I will also mention that even though I will not be working with Martha, through her choice, I will continue to help them in order to give the socias charlas of family accounting, fair prices, product designs. I also mentioned something to Isidoro that I could create a type of contract for every artisan to have that says when they give their product to her to sell, it is obligatory for Martha to show the artisan after her sales sheet from the fair and the price it went for. Yes, I know she can forge it and make one up after, I know, but honestly I can’t think any other way around Martha as of right now.
I did do something I don’t deem to be playing fairly, Isidoro was commenting that she remembers seeing me and Martha writing down the prices for each fair and I agreed and said I know, therefore you know she has the price sheet and I know for a fact she does, and I had the book that I wrote it in. Well, I normally I ripped out the sheet and gave it to her for what I assumed were her records or something, but I overlooked ripping out the one sheet that had the prices from a recent pedido to the man from NY. Noticing that I had this, I mentioned I have right here a copy. Now she did mention before in the convo that Martha has been giving her 20 soles for her sombrero and I mentioned that right here it says that she sold it for 40. Yes, I know I stooped down, but I honestly and sincerely wasn’t going to tell her, but I ended up flipping through my notebook and the page popped out I couldn’t just overlook it. I don’t think it was place to tell her the price difference and I told her that and I also mentioned that telling all the women this would anger them and then they wouldn’t come to the meeting, so she can freely approach Martha about this after the meeting if she would like and tell the other women about the obvious price difference, but after.
And I guess I should mention, as a way to purge my conscious, I was at that point really angry because Isidoro told me Martha gave the artisans 20 soles for sombreros from the last feria we went too, by saying that I sold the products and I sold them cheaply. When I know I wrote down the prices for each product and sold them accordingly and told her Martha has the paper work for each product and how much and I know I did not sell one sombrero for less than 30-35.
I can’t help but feel partly guilty and can see myself getting future blame and deservingly so because I was ignorant and didn’t keep copies of papers or prices, because they were all hand written. We were supposed to be starting a finance book to put them into or so I foolishly believed.
But good news is I am feeling lighter everyday. Now that this situation is getting settled for better or worse, it lifts a huge stress off of me. Today was also a successful day because I had my second class in San Clemente with Jovenes Emprendedores and it went well with 14 of the 18 showing up. Annd I’m semi famous now, well not really but in one Temple U English classroom people will watch an interview done by the future famous filmmaker Grant Hutchinson! I was very honored that my brother choose me when I feel like the last person in our lives to deserve that status. Thank you G, you have my heart.
Tomorrow I’m helping another local artisan group do registration and then in the afternoon I have my 4 hour class which is when I will upload this! Woo hoo!
love <3 the “small victories” princess
little bit o this
5 of February
What a week. Well after that whole registration fiasco, things went pretty well, because I was told not to deal with her till my bosses came on Wed to have the meeting with her. I continued with my weekend as planned doing the cevichara with the new association and did the Young Entrepreneurs charla in San Clemente with the youth group of another volunteer, Erin. That was a success and as far as I know they will all be attending this Sundays class. On the down side of that mass actually got changed from 6 am (with the old priest) to 11:30 am! Therefore, I will prob now go, minus the days I have this Jovenes Emprendedores class. Monday went well, the piura volunteers had their monthly meeting with Wilfredo then in the afternoon I left to go teach computer classes in Catacaos. Tuesday I made firm the times of the meetings for Wednesday and really didn’t do much else, I considered Tuesday my Sunday now I’ve decided until these classes are over. Then Wednesday came around and I went again to make sure that people would be at the meetings. But of course, since alfredo and wilfredo came late no one waited and the alcalde couldn’t meet with them which was kinda embarrassing though I told him, and I told Alfredo that I really tried to make sure. But, he said as long as I wasn’t have any issues with him and everything was good, don’t worry about it. Then we ate lunch at my house and talked about what projects I tried to start, why they failed, and what could be done to better them. Right now, I’m writing some proposals for the colegio to teach there comp and JE courses to quinto grado which is basically like juniors in high school. Which I think would be a useful tool, since they have to attend, being a part of the class and during the school day. We’ll see…
Then the most anxious part of my day had arrived, the meeting with Martha. Of course, before we went over Alfredo asked me what exactly I wanted to get out of this meeting. I told him I’m having a lot of difficulties actually making a difference in the association itself. I feel as if I am only working with Martha or should I use the term for her. So to make a long story short, during the meeting, the most patient man I have ever meet and one of the kindest, Alfredo, I swear almost choked the woman. Haha!! I was like *revelation* I am not crazy!! He came up with a tentative schedule of meetings where I have to meet with the board members you know the secretary and treasurer who can not write or read. (Not saying anything negative about that, but when they have been in the board for 14 years, you have to wonder what exactly is the secretary or treasurer doing.) So I will meet with them tomorrow at 9 am to go over what the goals of the assoc are and what I can do to help and do they want me, then we shall meet with the active socias, which Alfredo determined, from the 300 she claims the assoc to have, only 20 are active. This meeting should pass in February around the 19th and if Martha does not comply with the terms said above, I shall not be working with her anymore.
Although my mom, who is very excited about this parting, would say this is the break I should want, I still secretly hope that she changes. (I guess I’m like that pathetic girlfriend always wanted the boyfriend to change, and you as a friend watching the train wreck realize, that is never going to happen, may seem like it at times to the g.f. aka me, but the boy is just running tricks behind her back.) I know, I know! So why, you must ask, am I torturing myself?..the glory that may come if just this once that this man will change! Do not mock me, I am a volunteer and thus it is my job to try, try and try again.
It’s all about reaching the people =) < I was def being sarcastic with that line even when you say it you should add, in a bit of a hippy voice, “man.” Though in truth that is el punto of why I pursue this horrible situation with this malicious lady.
Wish me luck! Though by the time you read this it will have been done and over with and I will be teaching comp in Catacaos! The joys of the 4 hour class…
Elizabeth
What a week. Well after that whole registration fiasco, things went pretty well, because I was told not to deal with her till my bosses came on Wed to have the meeting with her. I continued with my weekend as planned doing the cevichara with the new association and did the Young Entrepreneurs charla in San Clemente with the youth group of another volunteer, Erin. That was a success and as far as I know they will all be attending this Sundays class. On the down side of that mass actually got changed from 6 am (with the old priest) to 11:30 am! Therefore, I will prob now go, minus the days I have this Jovenes Emprendedores class. Monday went well, the piura volunteers had their monthly meeting with Wilfredo then in the afternoon I left to go teach computer classes in Catacaos. Tuesday I made firm the times of the meetings for Wednesday and really didn’t do much else, I considered Tuesday my Sunday now I’ve decided until these classes are over. Then Wednesday came around and I went again to make sure that people would be at the meetings. But of course, since alfredo and wilfredo came late no one waited and the alcalde couldn’t meet with them which was kinda embarrassing though I told him, and I told Alfredo that I really tried to make sure. But, he said as long as I wasn’t have any issues with him and everything was good, don’t worry about it. Then we ate lunch at my house and talked about what projects I tried to start, why they failed, and what could be done to better them. Right now, I’m writing some proposals for the colegio to teach there comp and JE courses to quinto grado which is basically like juniors in high school. Which I think would be a useful tool, since they have to attend, being a part of the class and during the school day. We’ll see…
Then the most anxious part of my day had arrived, the meeting with Martha. Of course, before we went over Alfredo asked me what exactly I wanted to get out of this meeting. I told him I’m having a lot of difficulties actually making a difference in the association itself. I feel as if I am only working with Martha or should I use the term for her. So to make a long story short, during the meeting, the most patient man I have ever meet and one of the kindest, Alfredo, I swear almost choked the woman. Haha!! I was like *revelation* I am not crazy!! He came up with a tentative schedule of meetings where I have to meet with the board members you know the secretary and treasurer who can not write or read. (Not saying anything negative about that, but when they have been in the board for 14 years, you have to wonder what exactly is the secretary or treasurer doing.) So I will meet with them tomorrow at 9 am to go over what the goals of the assoc are and what I can do to help and do they want me, then we shall meet with the active socias, which Alfredo determined, from the 300 she claims the assoc to have, only 20 are active. This meeting should pass in February around the 19th and if Martha does not comply with the terms said above, I shall not be working with her anymore.
Although my mom, who is very excited about this parting, would say this is the break I should want, I still secretly hope that she changes. (I guess I’m like that pathetic girlfriend always wanted the boyfriend to change, and you as a friend watching the train wreck realize, that is never going to happen, may seem like it at times to the g.f. aka me, but the boy is just running tricks behind her back.) I know, I know! So why, you must ask, am I torturing myself?..the glory that may come if just this once that this man will change! Do not mock me, I am a volunteer and thus it is my job to try, try and try again.
It’s all about reaching the people =) < I was def being sarcastic with that line even when you say it you should add, in a bit of a hippy voice, “man.” Though in truth that is el punto of why I pursue this horrible situation with this malicious lady.
Wish me luck! Though by the time you read this it will have been done and over with and I will be teaching comp in Catacaos! The joys of the 4 hour class…
Elizabeth
Thursday, January 29, 2009
the latest
lJanuary 27, 2009
Me cansé! Yesterday and today I think have killed me. Yesterday I started off the day extremely annoyed because like good to herself Martha style, she promised to help me with the registration of the artisans that is due Friday and wasn’t home. She “had” to go to Lima and didn’t even let me know she couldn’t do the registration. I was so angry and my sister (who is always my voice of reason) told me to go and do it sola. I knew I could but looking back on it I was hesitant because I was scared to do it for many reasons. One, Asking for peoples names and DNI which is like their identification number as a gringa is always questionable, because what exactly am I using it for. Two, many of the artisans aren’t part of the Assoc of Martha and since I work with her, might think that it’s a survey for her. Three, I have no idea where anyone lives, not to mention only know like 15 on a first name basis. After saying all this to Mari she told me to just do it or it won’t get done regardless if it pisses off Martha (which was my 4th concern). She took me to the first artisan’s house then to the second’s and there I met Eudocia. She was extremely nice and help me on Monday morning to do the south side of Calle Comercio and Calle Carmen. We went house to house, explaining what the registration was for and taking down each artisan’s information. Then in the afternoon I had my 4 hour classes of computation. There I teach an artisan from Pedregal her name is Mary. I told her my dilemma of not knowing anyone in Calle Carmen who weaves as well as the rest of Calle Comercio. She kindly offered to help me on Tuesday morning. Then by 8 I was in bed.
This morning I woke up and went to Martha’s house to ask her what happened to our meeting Monday morning to register the artisans, she had the NERVE to scold me and ask why I never went to her house. What a b****. Just like everything else, she is a liar!! I told her exactly how I felt about our situation and I’m only working for her and I’m not doing anything productive for the artisans or the people, just basically her and her relatives. I can not express to you all who are reading the frustration and problems I am having with her right now. Not to mention she loves to talk in circles and blame me for not somehow “knowing” when she needs me to do something. I’m not telepathic. Whatever, I’m in a good mood right now and writing about that is making me annoyed all over again!! SOO I left her house.
Mary came at 9 on time, because she attends my computer class she knows I like people on time lol. We headed north up Calle Comercio and looped around Calle Carmen to finish off. It was sooo hot out. I did get to talk to her though about the assoc and the issues it has. She wants the changes and to have a more open assoc, especially because she told me the “real” prices of Martha. For a sombrero that Martha shipped on a recent pedido the artisans got 20, Martha sold them for 40…where did the other 20 go… Martha’s pocket, (more accurately her daughters’ Piura apartment and University tuition). She told them that she uses the money for shipping. HELLO, the client paid for the shipping!! The artisans are so blind to how they are being robbed, it’s absurd. It’s one thing to be a bitch to me but to cheat a whoel assoc is too low and plus now that I have the knowledge of it ohhh ohhh there will be something done, even if it means not working with her anymore. That is just too unjust for me to deal with. (And this isn’t the first time that I could prove these price “gaps”). Uhhh if you people only knew!!
Anyway another thing that is bringing down… moving on. Okay I remember mentioning in October something about another assoc forming with the people unhappy in the assoc of Martha. They actually stopped forming it because no one got their act together besides one of the women, Maria. She ended up forming La Assoc Imaculeta Concepcion (Because the formed it on December 14, obviously). When I was registering more women in the afternoon at her house, I was able to talk with her and she would like my help to form the assoc, do fund raisers with her and also start the assoc open with codes and all so artisans can know what their product sells for. I’m really excited about it and I hope it goes better than things with the witch. I have a meeting with the artisan of I.C. tomorrow at 4, after I finish registering the artisans of Molina Azul. And can you guess whose supposed to help me, La Martha. We shall see if she even has time for me… grr…
Okay that is all for tonight I’m going to pass out!!
Xoxo ekh
The day after…January 28
So Martha did come with me a whole30 after I told her I wanted to leave. This is important because it is so hot that you want to get everything done before mid-day sun. Because of her tardiness I was out till 12:30 and thus getting sun-burn, which I have managed to avoid my whole time here (minus once). What I realized as I was registering the artisans, there was a certain aspect different about today than the other two days. I had a variation of artisan groups. Some people belonged to the one in my town, others to the surrounding assoc, and then others were just selling to Catacaos directly. Buuuut, because I was with La Martha, everyone said her assoc. Which angered me, because I know that isn’t the truth, she was just so intimidating, after each artisan saying, they’re apart of my group. By 12 I wanted to choke her, because the registro didn’t even want which assoc. that information was just for me (Yes, I told her that, she is still the most annoying person on earth). I also once again, tried to explain my job with her and ask her why we cant do projects to better the assoc as well as get more money to the artisans. She just went on a tirade about how there are no pedidos (orders). I mentioned that she has 2 right now and that she had one a week since I’ve known her, she “informed” my business ignorant mind that those weren’t orders. Orders are 2,000 or 5,000 of one product. I told her those are big orders, but correct me if I’m wrong, but an order of 100 baskets is a pedido/order. And I know what you may think maybe it’s a language barrier..uhhu I checked. I said oh I’m sorry you’re right I don’t have any business knowledge whatsoever, you are always right, she responds, I know. Ohhh sarcasm. At this point, I am not lying to you, I thought I was gonna hit a bitch. I have never wanted to sucker punch someone so bad in my entire life. She just wants me to do her things, regardless of the others; I still have yet to tell her that I can’t work with her anymore. I’m waiting till site visit on Feb 4th when Wilfredo and Alfredo will come to see my site so they can handle it better than “calm” self could… PS there is like whoooaaa a lot more to this story but I’m not writing it, this was just a longtime coming.
After that lovely morning, I had tutoring that the kid again didn’t show up for though he sees me every other day… just don’t get it, I need to stop preparing things because when I don’t prepare, he comes. Of course! At 4 I had a meeting with the women from the new group. They are really excited and seem open to my suggestions and to each other. They are doing a cevichara on Sunday. Which is like our equivalent to a bake sale, but they are selling plates of raw fish. Lol. We did the whole cost analysis of the venture and determined that we would make 100 soles minimum. Which is good, I’ll be getting up at 5:30 to go and help them on Sunday before I head to the Jovenes Emprendedores (Youth Entrepreneurs) Charla in San Clemente, where a youth volunteer has asked me to teach the two month course to her youth group, because they want to form businesses. Of course, now that actually another town “dare” get this course, my town is like we want it too, I said and I gave it to you 2,no one came, call me in 2months if you’re still interested, no one will.
Tomorrow should be just as not fun as today, I have to get up early and head to Catacaos because I have filled the second stack of forms they gave me, then register the last part of Pedregal with the princess Martha, and of course I forgot to mention that Consuelo the dir of artesania for Piura, found out that I’ve advanced really far, more than others who did this in the past. Last time Martha told me it took 30 university students a month to do what took me what will be 4 days…ridic. So theyre comingto do a foto-opp and prob take some pics of them filling out 1 or 2 forms and of course Martha will prob take credit for what I enforced, uhhh. I am a volunteer, I do not get credit. (Must repeat in my mind, continuously.) Also, in the end all the artisans are registered which is what they wanted and I got to meet the majority of them, by meet have a convo with them. (Small Victories…Small Victories) Another phrase I find myself saying often.
Will post hopefully tomorrow and you all can read this while I’m experiencing the above, in 100 degree weather, ya… pray for me.
Peace ouuut - elizabeth
Me cansé! Yesterday and today I think have killed me. Yesterday I started off the day extremely annoyed because like good to herself Martha style, she promised to help me with the registration of the artisans that is due Friday and wasn’t home. She “had” to go to Lima and didn’t even let me know she couldn’t do the registration. I was so angry and my sister (who is always my voice of reason) told me to go and do it sola. I knew I could but looking back on it I was hesitant because I was scared to do it for many reasons. One, Asking for peoples names and DNI which is like their identification number as a gringa is always questionable, because what exactly am I using it for. Two, many of the artisans aren’t part of the Assoc of Martha and since I work with her, might think that it’s a survey for her. Three, I have no idea where anyone lives, not to mention only know like 15 on a first name basis. After saying all this to Mari she told me to just do it or it won’t get done regardless if it pisses off Martha (which was my 4th concern). She took me to the first artisan’s house then to the second’s and there I met Eudocia. She was extremely nice and help me on Monday morning to do the south side of Calle Comercio and Calle Carmen. We went house to house, explaining what the registration was for and taking down each artisan’s information. Then in the afternoon I had my 4 hour classes of computation. There I teach an artisan from Pedregal her name is Mary. I told her my dilemma of not knowing anyone in Calle Carmen who weaves as well as the rest of Calle Comercio. She kindly offered to help me on Tuesday morning. Then by 8 I was in bed.
This morning I woke up and went to Martha’s house to ask her what happened to our meeting Monday morning to register the artisans, she had the NERVE to scold me and ask why I never went to her house. What a b****. Just like everything else, she is a liar!! I told her exactly how I felt about our situation and I’m only working for her and I’m not doing anything productive for the artisans or the people, just basically her and her relatives. I can not express to you all who are reading the frustration and problems I am having with her right now. Not to mention she loves to talk in circles and blame me for not somehow “knowing” when she needs me to do something. I’m not telepathic. Whatever, I’m in a good mood right now and writing about that is making me annoyed all over again!! SOO I left her house.
Mary came at 9 on time, because she attends my computer class she knows I like people on time lol. We headed north up Calle Comercio and looped around Calle Carmen to finish off. It was sooo hot out. I did get to talk to her though about the assoc and the issues it has. She wants the changes and to have a more open assoc, especially because she told me the “real” prices of Martha. For a sombrero that Martha shipped on a recent pedido the artisans got 20, Martha sold them for 40…where did the other 20 go… Martha’s pocket, (more accurately her daughters’ Piura apartment and University tuition). She told them that she uses the money for shipping. HELLO, the client paid for the shipping!! The artisans are so blind to how they are being robbed, it’s absurd. It’s one thing to be a bitch to me but to cheat a whoel assoc is too low and plus now that I have the knowledge of it ohhh ohhh there will be something done, even if it means not working with her anymore. That is just too unjust for me to deal with. (And this isn’t the first time that I could prove these price “gaps”). Uhhh if you people only knew!!
Anyway another thing that is bringing down… moving on. Okay I remember mentioning in October something about another assoc forming with the people unhappy in the assoc of Martha. They actually stopped forming it because no one got their act together besides one of the women, Maria. She ended up forming La Assoc Imaculeta Concepcion (Because the formed it on December 14, obviously). When I was registering more women in the afternoon at her house, I was able to talk with her and she would like my help to form the assoc, do fund raisers with her and also start the assoc open with codes and all so artisans can know what their product sells for. I’m really excited about it and I hope it goes better than things with the witch. I have a meeting with the artisan of I.C. tomorrow at 4, after I finish registering the artisans of Molina Azul. And can you guess whose supposed to help me, La Martha. We shall see if she even has time for me… grr…
Okay that is all for tonight I’m going to pass out!!
Xoxo ekh
The day after…January 28
So Martha did come with me a whole30 after I told her I wanted to leave. This is important because it is so hot that you want to get everything done before mid-day sun. Because of her tardiness I was out till 12:30 and thus getting sun-burn, which I have managed to avoid my whole time here (minus once). What I realized as I was registering the artisans, there was a certain aspect different about today than the other two days. I had a variation of artisan groups. Some people belonged to the one in my town, others to the surrounding assoc, and then others were just selling to Catacaos directly. Buuuut, because I was with La Martha, everyone said her assoc. Which angered me, because I know that isn’t the truth, she was just so intimidating, after each artisan saying, they’re apart of my group. By 12 I wanted to choke her, because the registro didn’t even want which assoc. that information was just for me (Yes, I told her that, she is still the most annoying person on earth). I also once again, tried to explain my job with her and ask her why we cant do projects to better the assoc as well as get more money to the artisans. She just went on a tirade about how there are no pedidos (orders). I mentioned that she has 2 right now and that she had one a week since I’ve known her, she “informed” my business ignorant mind that those weren’t orders. Orders are 2,000 or 5,000 of one product. I told her those are big orders, but correct me if I’m wrong, but an order of 100 baskets is a pedido/order. And I know what you may think maybe it’s a language barrier..uhhu I checked. I said oh I’m sorry you’re right I don’t have any business knowledge whatsoever, you are always right, she responds, I know. Ohhh sarcasm. At this point, I am not lying to you, I thought I was gonna hit a bitch. I have never wanted to sucker punch someone so bad in my entire life. She just wants me to do her things, regardless of the others; I still have yet to tell her that I can’t work with her anymore. I’m waiting till site visit on Feb 4th when Wilfredo and Alfredo will come to see my site so they can handle it better than “calm” self could… PS there is like whoooaaa a lot more to this story but I’m not writing it, this was just a longtime coming.
After that lovely morning, I had tutoring that the kid again didn’t show up for though he sees me every other day… just don’t get it, I need to stop preparing things because when I don’t prepare, he comes. Of course! At 4 I had a meeting with the women from the new group. They are really excited and seem open to my suggestions and to each other. They are doing a cevichara on Sunday. Which is like our equivalent to a bake sale, but they are selling plates of raw fish. Lol. We did the whole cost analysis of the venture and determined that we would make 100 soles minimum. Which is good, I’ll be getting up at 5:30 to go and help them on Sunday before I head to the Jovenes Emprendedores (Youth Entrepreneurs) Charla in San Clemente, where a youth volunteer has asked me to teach the two month course to her youth group, because they want to form businesses. Of course, now that actually another town “dare” get this course, my town is like we want it too, I said and I gave it to you 2,no one came, call me in 2months if you’re still interested, no one will.
Tomorrow should be just as not fun as today, I have to get up early and head to Catacaos because I have filled the second stack of forms they gave me, then register the last part of Pedregal with the princess Martha, and of course I forgot to mention that Consuelo the dir of artesania for Piura, found out that I’ve advanced really far, more than others who did this in the past. Last time Martha told me it took 30 university students a month to do what took me what will be 4 days…ridic. So theyre comingto do a foto-opp and prob take some pics of them filling out 1 or 2 forms and of course Martha will prob take credit for what I enforced, uhhh. I am a volunteer, I do not get credit. (Must repeat in my mind, continuously.) Also, in the end all the artisans are registered which is what they wanted and I got to meet the majority of them, by meet have a convo with them. (Small Victories…Small Victories) Another phrase I find myself saying often.
Will post hopefully tomorrow and you all can read this while I’m experiencing the above, in 100 degree weather, ya… pray for me.
Peace ouuut - elizabeth
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Blogs from this weekend
17 de enero de 2009
Well today is the second day of Camp ALMA, which stands for Actividades Liderazgo para Mujeres Adolescentes (Leadership Activities for Adolescent Women). This camp is set up each year by the volunteers within each department that wants to participate. This year the volunteers of Piura were joined by 2 volunteers from Tumbes. Each volunteer can bring 1-3 girls in Secundaria. In the states Secundaria is about 7th grade till Junior year in high school. I brought 3 girls from Pedregal Grande. One girl is entering 3rd which is Freshman year (mas or menos), one girl entering 5th grado (Junior Year) and the third just graduated in December from Secundaria. (Remember we are on opposite seasons so December for them is the start of summer like our June, hence the end of the school year for them, like June is for us.
This weekend we planned all sorts of activities, (Icebreakers, Teambuilding, Trust-building, Self esteem, Brain teasers) and held speakers, (Talks of Auto esteem, Reproductive Health, Being a Woman, Taking Risks, Professional Woman in Today’s Workforce). The girls seem like they are taking in the information well and I hope this really motivates them to work hard to do better for themselves in their lives. Some of our speakers could really relate with the girls from poorer backgrounds, being someone who didn’t have money growing up, she worked in order to pay for college and go into med school. I really hope this hits the girls and they are excited to do more and try harder. I would be happy to help them along their path toward their dreams.
I have helped a lot in order to have this weekend go smoothly and I hope it continues to do so. (Ask my mom she knows I was constantly working on it!!) We did have some bumps though the first day and I def think that they were coming. We have issues in PC with the whole role of a Leader. Yes, I know, we are at a leadership camp, but that’s also the problem. Though all volunteers come from different backgrounds, with different experiences, and different education, there is one thing that links every volunteer together, the ability to lead, hence where our issue came from. When you have 20 people in the same room that lead and lead well, with each having amazing, creative ideas, and also the small factor of being head strong, it becomes a little difficult on the compromise issue and problem solving. Yesterday I think gave us all the realization that we need a bit more preparation than 2 meetings (with everyone in attendance) to go over the whole schedule and be done sooner, with more participation from all volunteers. But turns out that all is well in Camp ALMA now and things should be running rather smoothly for the duration.
Okay well I’m going to continue my main job this weekend filming and photo taking; therefore, unfortunately, I will prob be in one or 2 photos!! Will write more later.
18 de enero – Back at Site(Reflection)
As the weekend progressed things really began to mesh well and we didn’t have any more serious issues. I went to bed early on Saturday night because the food was awful and I got sick along with 5 other volunteers. Sunday morning the last speaker (which was my responsibility) came and actually did a great job with an activity as well. Then things for wrap up continued. Basically the focus on Sunday was how to replicate a mini-“Camp ALMA” in their home towns. If and when they do, they receive the cd from the weekend with the photos and videos that the volunteers and I took, that being my job to combine all the cd photos and film. Woo hoo! Still debating if I want to edit all the film to create a video of the weekend…bc that’s a lot of work. Especially by Tuesday when I have an appt with my laundry basket for like 6 hours then I have computer classes with the artisans in Catacaos from 3 till 7 tomorrow. All the volunteers are getting together Tuesday for the Inauguration and probably staying the night, going out. Right now I’m focus on how Not to melt from the heat and not to be eaten alive by the multitude of Mosquitos. Not to mention, trying not to inhale too much because I raided the shit out of my room, I think its bad to have too much contact with Raid, because my skin is tingling… woops… at least no bugs are biting me now =)
19 de enero de 2009
…Just got back from teaching computer classes. We had back to back session 3-5 for artisans of Paja Toquilla (Straw Weaving) and then 5-7 for artisans of Joyeria (Jewelry – Silver). It was really successful, both classes were filled. One issue that we had was the different levels that the artisans were on. In the paja class some were young and just wanted to do messenger the whole time and some people couldn’t move the mouse! So that was interesting, but everyone learned fast. The only people we are going to have serious issues with are the people that can’t see. I mean there are def 2 people (1 in each class) that could be on the border legally blind. But hey, if they want to learn and show up… why not? There was only 1 artisan who didn’t turn up, who do you think it was?...Martha… my counterpart. Que roche! I was so angry with her and I left her a message on her phone at about 3:30 and then she had the nerve to show up at5:30 to be like ohhh I had something urgent to do in Piura sorry. I was so angry and also I now have to teach her personally the lesson that she missed today. I was supposed to be at her house right now, but I feel really sick and my head hurts so I’m proud not going to head over. PS im soooo tired because of the 4 hour class and what I did earlier today!! What did I do earlier today… I know you all want to know…
WELL…. I woke up to do the laundry that I have been hiding from for 2 ½ weeks (yes, we do have a washing machine, but no desague, so that means I fill up a bucket or several and have to bring it back into the corral and empty it and I have to be next to the machine so the buckets don’t overflow and flood the house.. its annoying and a workout. While I was doing that I always dust and sweep my room like usual, but this time I decided to tackle… the bathroom. It is extremely dirty and I didn’t want to just start cleaning a room of the houses when I first got here, but I decided enough was enough and the nastiness had to go, so I filled up a bucket with bleach and went at it…3 buckets of bleach and water followed but just hot water bucket, not to mention the 4 hours it took… Ladies and Gentlemen we had a …semi-dirty bathroom. I’m not shitting you!! How awful!! I spent 4 hours scrubbing it but it just wasn’t enough. I’ll be getting back to it next week for sure. Anyway so back to the story, so I cleaned and then I Raided the bathroom to I could feel the poisonous liquid entering my bloodstream. When my sister came home, I asked her when the last time that bathroom was cleaned. She told me that it was when the bathroom was painted… which my friends was not this year nor last, it was January 2002. Yes, 7 years of filth. I feel gross that I went this long not cleaning it out of “respect”. Lol. But hey I cleaned it and now when I just went to the bathroom a few minutes ago…there were no bugs and no grime on the walls, in my book, a success.
Okay I’m going to rest my head it pounding.
Well today is the second day of Camp ALMA, which stands for Actividades Liderazgo para Mujeres Adolescentes (Leadership Activities for Adolescent Women). This camp is set up each year by the volunteers within each department that wants to participate. This year the volunteers of Piura were joined by 2 volunteers from Tumbes. Each volunteer can bring 1-3 girls in Secundaria. In the states Secundaria is about 7th grade till Junior year in high school. I brought 3 girls from Pedregal Grande. One girl is entering 3rd which is Freshman year (mas or menos), one girl entering 5th grado (Junior Year) and the third just graduated in December from Secundaria. (Remember we are on opposite seasons so December for them is the start of summer like our June, hence the end of the school year for them, like June is for us.
This weekend we planned all sorts of activities, (Icebreakers, Teambuilding, Trust-building, Self esteem, Brain teasers) and held speakers, (Talks of Auto esteem, Reproductive Health, Being a Woman, Taking Risks, Professional Woman in Today’s Workforce). The girls seem like they are taking in the information well and I hope this really motivates them to work hard to do better for themselves in their lives. Some of our speakers could really relate with the girls from poorer backgrounds, being someone who didn’t have money growing up, she worked in order to pay for college and go into med school. I really hope this hits the girls and they are excited to do more and try harder. I would be happy to help them along their path toward their dreams.
I have helped a lot in order to have this weekend go smoothly and I hope it continues to do so. (Ask my mom she knows I was constantly working on it!!) We did have some bumps though the first day and I def think that they were coming. We have issues in PC with the whole role of a Leader. Yes, I know, we are at a leadership camp, but that’s also the problem. Though all volunteers come from different backgrounds, with different experiences, and different education, there is one thing that links every volunteer together, the ability to lead, hence where our issue came from. When you have 20 people in the same room that lead and lead well, with each having amazing, creative ideas, and also the small factor of being head strong, it becomes a little difficult on the compromise issue and problem solving. Yesterday I think gave us all the realization that we need a bit more preparation than 2 meetings (with everyone in attendance) to go over the whole schedule and be done sooner, with more participation from all volunteers. But turns out that all is well in Camp ALMA now and things should be running rather smoothly for the duration.
Okay well I’m going to continue my main job this weekend filming and photo taking; therefore, unfortunately, I will prob be in one or 2 photos!! Will write more later.
18 de enero – Back at Site(Reflection)
As the weekend progressed things really began to mesh well and we didn’t have any more serious issues. I went to bed early on Saturday night because the food was awful and I got sick along with 5 other volunteers. Sunday morning the last speaker (which was my responsibility) came and actually did a great job with an activity as well. Then things for wrap up continued. Basically the focus on Sunday was how to replicate a mini-“Camp ALMA” in their home towns. If and when they do, they receive the cd from the weekend with the photos and videos that the volunteers and I took, that being my job to combine all the cd photos and film. Woo hoo! Still debating if I want to edit all the film to create a video of the weekend…bc that’s a lot of work. Especially by Tuesday when I have an appt with my laundry basket for like 6 hours then I have computer classes with the artisans in Catacaos from 3 till 7 tomorrow. All the volunteers are getting together Tuesday for the Inauguration and probably staying the night, going out. Right now I’m focus on how Not to melt from the heat and not to be eaten alive by the multitude of Mosquitos. Not to mention, trying not to inhale too much because I raided the shit out of my room, I think its bad to have too much contact with Raid, because my skin is tingling… woops… at least no bugs are biting me now =)
19 de enero de 2009
…Just got back from teaching computer classes. We had back to back session 3-5 for artisans of Paja Toquilla (Straw Weaving) and then 5-7 for artisans of Joyeria (Jewelry – Silver). It was really successful, both classes were filled. One issue that we had was the different levels that the artisans were on. In the paja class some were young and just wanted to do messenger the whole time and some people couldn’t move the mouse! So that was interesting, but everyone learned fast. The only people we are going to have serious issues with are the people that can’t see. I mean there are def 2 people (1 in each class) that could be on the border legally blind. But hey, if they want to learn and show up… why not? There was only 1 artisan who didn’t turn up, who do you think it was?...Martha… my counterpart. Que roche! I was so angry with her and I left her a message on her phone at about 3:30 and then she had the nerve to show up at5:30 to be like ohhh I had something urgent to do in Piura sorry. I was so angry and also I now have to teach her personally the lesson that she missed today. I was supposed to be at her house right now, but I feel really sick and my head hurts so I’m proud not going to head over. PS im soooo tired because of the 4 hour class and what I did earlier today!! What did I do earlier today… I know you all want to know…
WELL…. I woke up to do the laundry that I have been hiding from for 2 ½ weeks (yes, we do have a washing machine, but no desague, so that means I fill up a bucket or several and have to bring it back into the corral and empty it and I have to be next to the machine so the buckets don’t overflow and flood the house.. its annoying and a workout. While I was doing that I always dust and sweep my room like usual, but this time I decided to tackle… the bathroom. It is extremely dirty and I didn’t want to just start cleaning a room of the houses when I first got here, but I decided enough was enough and the nastiness had to go, so I filled up a bucket with bleach and went at it…3 buckets of bleach and water followed but just hot water bucket, not to mention the 4 hours it took… Ladies and Gentlemen we had a …semi-dirty bathroom. I’m not shitting you!! How awful!! I spent 4 hours scrubbing it but it just wasn’t enough. I’ll be getting back to it next week for sure. Anyway so back to the story, so I cleaned and then I Raided the bathroom to I could feel the poisonous liquid entering my bloodstream. When my sister came home, I asked her when the last time that bathroom was cleaned. She told me that it was when the bathroom was painted… which my friends was not this year nor last, it was January 2002. Yes, 7 years of filth. I feel gross that I went this long not cleaning it out of “respect”. Lol. But hey I cleaned it and now when I just went to the bathroom a few minutes ago…there were no bugs and no grime on the walls, in my book, a success.
Okay I’m going to rest my head it pounding.
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