Today we visted the site of a volunteer who is leaving soon. She is finishing up her 2 years of work and she really has done amazing things for her pueblo. It was our first opportunity to really see what our life is going to be like for the next 2 years.
It was really cool to see her walking down the streets and having little conversations with everyone in spanish...and to see how many people said hi to her... she really integrated with the community. You could see her contributions around town, such as the artwork on street poles and the jewelry that people were selling.
I am really impressed with Peace Corps dedication to the important of providing sustainability to the places we serve. I've learned a lot about the importance of human capacity building and how important it is. We explored case studies of how many times people have come to developing nations trying to help, but instead caused more problems. Most of the time, we don't know about these countries we are trying to help. We don't know about their problems and thinking styles and needs and wants. And yet we determine how we should help them.
Peace Corps works by learning about the community. We are merely facilitators in helping people (who want our help) to help themselves. And although it can be really tricky and difficult, we saw what amazing results can come today at our site visit. The people of the pueblo were so proud to show us their work and to teach us something. Nobody put in a water filter that would break and then the pueblo wouldn't have the means to fix it. Someobody inspired the people to do what the wanted and use their skills. Someone gave people something to be proud of. And seeing how pround the people of this pueblo were of themselves and their village, made me really excited to finish training and get out there!
Oh and at the end of the day we jumped off a little fishing boat and went swimming in the river! Everyone here swims in their clothes so it was a new experience but I didn't complain since I think the 2 loafs of bread that are put out at EVERY meal are starting to show...
Buenas Noches!
That's so great that you got to see a glimpse of where you'll be at over the course of the next 2 years! The peace corps truly is a phenomenal organization and i'm so proud to know someone who is a part of it! miss ya jaim... and happy valentines dayyY!
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