Little info about my project on the PC site

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whatvol.earthday.environmentprojects
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Semilla de cantores

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2706621&id=3204872&l=c9f06bd477

My little host sister Ana Iris is in a nation wide kids singing competition (cantadera/decima.. A traditional type of song/poetry)

The family organized a trip out there and took about 30 ppl. I met them there b/c i had a meeting in the morning but will go with them tmrw. First round was no elimination, she got 9th out of 11. I'll get some better pictures and video up later

I definitely was on tv a few times. heres a pic from their website and one i snapped from my phone

2nd round she did a lot better.. lots of 9s and 9.5s, ended up in 6th. I'll probably go with them every Wednesday until she.. wins!


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Whats been going on this month..

At first I regretted not staying in the states for new years. As soon as the festivities began, I remembered why I came back. I'm sure that I won't have another campo new years, so I'm glad I didn't miss it.

It started around 1:30 AM the morning of the 31st when bangs on my door woke me up to help (watch) an almost 400 pound pig be killed. I asked if I could go so I knew it was coming. We started hiking to where the pig was and Nando said "oh I actually don't like watching, so go up ahead and I'll be there later" It ended up being his brothers from another town who do the killing. It was a little awkward at first since I was just some lame white guy with a camera and didn't know anyone.

It took about an hour to get the thing tied down, it was screaaaming and jumping and obviously did not like the idea of laying down with its legs tied together. Strangely though, they had to tickle the side of its belly for it to lay down on the own. So anyway they stabbed it and drained probably more than 3 gallons of blood (which someone ended up buying). It was probably 3:30 by now and they still had to shave the thing which took another hour. Long story short, they cut it up and started dragging the meet up to their house around sun rise. I cut a little piece off and made puerco asado and bought a pound for later on. The meat was sold so quickly.. head, feet, blood, everything at 1.50 a pound.

About this time I was getting a second wind and went next door to make my viejo to blow up at midnight. I used an old cuerpo de paz shirt and torn up jeans. I had brought down an old belt I had bought on the street for 2 bux that didn't fit but someone said "what are you doing burning this??" and kept it, fine by me. Once it was stuffed with dried banana trunk and firecrackers, it looked alright except the coco head didnt want to stay on. It fell off as soon as it went up in flames.

I finally got a nap in around 6 and went to Victor's later for the party. Same old tipico house party plus fireworks, good times. Needless to say, I got home late and then was woken up at 8 to go visit someones grandma in another town. For some reason I said yes (I was in the do everything possible mindset) and had a miserable hike over there but after coffee food and a nap in the hammock, the goma was gone.

There will be other chances to go to Vegas for new years.. definitely not going to be killing a pig and burning a straw man again.

The rest of the pictures you'll see are from a river in Aguadulce, a 1 yr olds birthday party up top with first host family and a party waaaay up top to celebrate a baptism.

Good news is I finally got my grant money in, but am realizing I only have 5 months left here. We'll see how many stoves I can get put in, I haven't been able to contact Cosecha yet but I will see them at a meeting this week to figure it out. Another idea came up to build water filters for 2 families who drink straight out of the river.

I'm also studying for the GRE which I'm taking on Feb 12, then my mom comes in, then I'm potentially hiking through the Darien to Kuna Yala for the Feb 25 independence/revolution day, then I have to come back to the city for a follow up appt w/ a dermatologist, THEN carnaval. Oh ya, by then school will have already started. busy!

new years

1st bday party

other randoms