Latrine Luck

Part of our work as environmental health volunteers is promoting sanitation by education about disease transmission and encouraging the use of latrines. I've been helping my friends Carolyn and Kayla with latrine building projects in their communities. The projects provide interested and dedicated community members with resources to construct latrines for their families. 

The day I returned from hiking around the mountains of the comarca between our sites my latrine building skills were put to the test. My next door neighbor was 2 meters deep in a hole he was digging for a new latrine. He had the materials to build a reinforced concrete platform but told me he wasn't confident in how to set it up and of the concrete mix proportions. It just so happened that I was a latrine building expert after those past few days. To me, this is my ideal work: community members using their own motivation to do projects and drawing on my technical resources. 

We built the platform or plancha and a few days later I used a mold to make a toilet seat or taza for the latrine.  I had some help from a visitor friend. Hopefully I will be able to assist more of my community members in a community wide latrine building project in the next year. 

The plancha, with rebar handles so that when the latrine is full, it can be moved and placed on top of a new hole.

The center and sides of this taza were removed and it was moved on top of the plancha, creating a toilet seat.

UFO

One evening I was spending time at my neighbor's house. Her husband had come home from working in another town for the night and I always make sure to go by and say hello to him. Their family is so nice to me. The woman, Gillermina, while lounging in her hammock, was looking for insight on a very strange occurrence she had witnessed the night before. She told me about a peculiar light, like a star but not, that was oscillating repeatedly a short distance in the sky. "About the size of that jug..." she said and pointed. That didn't help me. I tried to explain shooting stars but that didn't fit the bill. I then explained people living in outer space, aliens, and sometimes they will come visit earth. She remarked that those those people were my family. Verrry funny. We all were still confused but the family told me they would come get me in the night if it happened again.

Sure enough, at about midnight I was woken up from my sleep. "Erica, the light!", the girls urgently cried. I didn't grab my glasses and hoped whatever light was out there was bright enough to be seen by my foggy vision. Another neighbor also came, comparably more annoyed at being woken up. I was curious. When I saw it in the sky I immediately knew what was happening. You see, their house faces out of the mountains where we live, towards the city of David. Right now in David there is a fair. How do you say "search light" in Spanish? I struggled to describe. The other neighbor confirmed my hypothesis. We all went back to bed. I was disappointed it wasn't a real UFO. 

Dorado the Squirrel

Like a proud mom I'll give you all an update on my cat. Dorado is spastic, to say the least. The past few days he has turned into my 6 AM alarm clock, only this alarm clock playfully (and painfully) attacks me while I'm trying to sleep. If I don't respond he goes for my face! I repeatedly throw him off my bed, which he apparently takes as playful as well. Other than that he is a model-kitty. He loves to be the center of attention, playing with the kids. He runs fast where-ever he goes and the people constantly refer to him as an ardilla or squirrel, with his long tail whipping behind him. Overall, he's pretty fun to have around.

Cabbage, Corn, Beans.

Frijoles Follow-Up


Since I talked so enticingly about the beans we have right now in a post a few weeks ago, I thought I should include some photos to back up my description. Even my most flowery language couldn't do justice to beauty of these beans! During a recent bean de-shelling session with my neighbor-grandma and the kids, grandma took a call on her cell phone and the kids and I messed around taking pictures for awhile.

Finished!

Maiz


Corn. I've already raved about the corn here, how beautiful and tasty it is. I decided to make popcorn. Healthy snack, fun to make - right? I got some dried corn from my neighbor and tried to pop it in oil on my stove. No success, it burned and didn't pop! Neighbors inquired about the smell coming from my kitchen and I tried to explain to them what I was doing. I think there was a mis-communication, though, with the word for popcorn. First, I don't think anyone has actually ever eaten popcorn. Second, the word my dictionary gave me for popcorn is palomita. The root ("paloma") of which means bird in their vocabulary, and -ita means something small. They all thought I was cooking little birds of corn. That's cute, right? A literal descriptive translation. One women suggested the solution was to toast the corn, then cook it in oil. I had my neighbor-grandma toast it for me and I tried again. No better success. I'm about to Google it, but does anyone have any experience with making home-made popcorn? I don't understand what form of corn it takes to "pop!".

Cabbage Rolls

One night while thinking about what to make for dinner, I realized I had all the ingredients necessary to make cabbage rolls! I leaned how to make them last year, honing in on my German heritage. I improvised only a little (Enchilada seasoning? Sure!). They tasted a little like home. 

Arts & Crafts

Kra

One of the crafts of the Ngabe women is to make chakras, or bags. These bags are looped from any sort of string. The traditional way uses a hand dyed plant fiber. The bags come in all sizes- from large enough to carry firewood, to bitty-sized for a cell phone. Both men and women use them as purses. When carrying a large chakra with cargo the strap is placed on the forehead and the bulk is carried on the back. This takes a very strong neck! I decided to try my hand at making a chakra with some ugly plastic string I had. I made a bag for my yoga mat. The women were so enthusiastic about helping me, but they couldn't understand what a yoga mat was (I finally called it a sleeping map) or why I would make a bag for it. 

Compost

I'm trying to make compost out of my food scraps. I'm using a 5-gallon bucket with holes punched in the bottom. Everyone in my community thinks I'm crazy. They wander by the outside of my house to sneak a peak inside the bucket. They just don't get it. It's been about 2 weeks and I'm patiently waiting for something exciting to happen, to show them I'm not more crazy than I know they already think I am. I scanned a few how-to compost sites online to get started. I'm now soliciting advice from my green-friends (you all, if it applies) to see if I'm on the right track. The physical characteristics of my compost are: dark in color, smelly, attracts flies, has maggots. To keep it moist I add coffee & grounds every morning and occasionally some urine (nitrogen, right?). I set it in the sun every day to make sure it stays hot. I've added dried leaves for a carbon input. Recently it has become more consistent in color and I can tell the material is breaking down. How long should it take? Does it sound like I'll have myself come rich compost soon? 

No Peace

Do you remember the last time the government took away your cell phone service to deter you from demonstrating against their agenda?

The last time the police dispersed unarmed protesters and people were killed from gunshot wounds?

This is not the first time being here reminds me how much I appreciate the USA.

Our staff had sequestered us volunteers to our sites to avoid the protests of the indigenous people with whom I live. They were protesting the unauthorized development of a copper mine and hydroelectric dams on their land. Visit The Prensa website for more articles. Everything has calmed down, cell phone service restored, and I'm free to come and go now.

The (White) Girl Next Door

New House

After five months of living with host families, little to zero privacy or space of my own, I moved into a house generously provided for me by my community. We spent two days fixing up an old log and zinc structure. The men skillfully used machetes, a hand saw, hammers and nails to strategically place hand-sawed wood board and split bamboo stalks to the frame. The women provided food and drink and offered useful suggestions. I wanted shelves and let the women know, and they made sure it got done. The "studio" has a dirt floor and space for a bed and cooking area. It was fun to finally fully unpack my things and decorate. It was also wonderful waking up on the first morning on my own and make my own strong coffee in my french press and cook a bowl of oatmeal.

The house is located pretty much in the middle of town. As of now, I consider my privacy to be increased by 25%. That is, up from zero. So, 75% of my life is watched by peering eyes through the windows or slots in the siding. I've been so cheery about having my own place, though, I've enjoyed having the people around. My lovely sister Kimberly send me some toys for the children that they can play with when the come over.

My best attempt (terrible) at a panorama of the inside of the house

This is the building crew. They're really a happy bunch even if they don't smile for pictures. 

Dogs in the Night


I was sleeping the first night in my newly finished house. It felt great, privacy and comfort. The sounds of radios and roosters still waved outside but for the most part it was peaceful. The excitement kept me awake for a little while but eventually I fell asleep with Dorado snuggled at my side.

Early, early in the morning I woke suddenly in the dark to the sound of fighting dogs just outside my house. Then I shot up in bed to my loosely secured door flying violently open and the dogs fighting beside my bed. Instead of taking the fight outside, these dogs chose to take it inside. My house. As Dorado darted out of bed all I could do was clap and shout, "Vaya afuera!" or "Go outside!". They left and I sat in shock for a few more moments before re-securing my door, tightly. I eventually fell asleep and Dorado reappeared in the morning. For this reason I sleep with my machete close by.

Frijoles


It's bean season here in Duima. I LOVE this season. The fashionable pass-time currently is shelling beans. Since living on my own I've been gifted many cups of beans to cook. Everyone is talking about and eating beans. Guandu, habichuela (kidney bean), and other various types.