The Week in Fotos

Alabama, Arkansas..... HOME!

  The song ‘Home’ by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros has naturally become a group favorite in the department of Alta Verapaz.  Whether sung with a guitar beside a bonfire, whistled down a dirt road, played on repeat via I-pod , or belted in harmony while out together during the state of siege, it has become a quasi- theme song over the past few months.  After an exhausting 65 days out of site, since December 20^th, I returned exactly there this past Wednesday- home to the Chirrepeco Tea Cooperative.  Only six volunteers will now remain, as a handful of others have returned stateside, moved to different departments, or taken on other work within the country.  One volunteer named Nick particularly enjoys loves the song Home, but unfortunately will not be permitted back to his site.  Fortunately, in the midst of two bottle-school projects (and being one of the funniest people I’ve ever met), he will be permitted to return back sporadically in the daytime to oversee the completion of these projects.  

Newly painted office

Finishing up the Chirrepec sign project

Over the two-month siege another volunteer’s mom had visited.  Unable to go visit their site, they explained that although it was great for her to see Guatemala and different tourist destinations within different areas, it was hard not to be able to show off their home- a place that will inevitably always be a part of them.  Over the past two months, despite moments of anxiousness and frustration, I thoroughly enjoyed  and benefited from various activities; Spanish classes, assisting build a school out of recycled bottles, youth development help with an ngo, mid-service medical check-up (TB FREE!),and  attending my first ladino wedding.  I undeniably enjoyed these experiences, yet they still were not home- I continually yearned to return.  Chirrepec has similarly and descreetly  become a part of me.

 Roof Inauguration 2,011

It is now a new year, there is a newly instated military presence in the region, a new group is soon to be sworn in (none will be sent to our region), and a handful of us remain—as always change is the only constant.  All one can do is roll with the punches moving forward.  In my short time back at site work is steadily moving forward.  I will be undertaking a SPA project (Small Project Assistance Program) of a volunteer who returned stateside.  Over the next few months, I will be overseeing a latrine project within a community located a little over a half an hour from Coban.  Upon returning to the Co-op, I found my co-workers painting the offices and salon, part of the yearly work-plan we had written up.  As part of Kamille’s Peace Corps Partnership project, a new lamina roof was put on the Chibulbut School while we were away.   Just weeks before, a number of openings and cracks allowed for rain to form puddles in the four classrooms.  New windows are set to be put in within March, as well.

           Likewise, The Viviente Verapaz tourism alliance held meetings while we were away.  Winfrey, from Alabama Arkansas, and I are the only two remaining tourism volunteers in the region/ working with the alliance.  Although this is a challenge, it is a good step towards sustainability and self-management into the future.  We are currently in the process of forming an alliance webpage, setting up a promotion event in Antigua, networking with a few new NGO’s, and organizing a training workshop in May.  A few of the activities for the upcoming weeks include a dental/floss workshop with a local school, tire-gardens, nutrition/ cooking sessions with the women’s group on International Women’s Day, sign projects in two neighboring communities, TEFL  classes in my two communities, putting the new windows into the school, and a 50^th year PC gathering at the ambassador’s home.

My training host family and I at the wedding

My godson- Selvin Jr.

I am elated to continue working with my community.  I am cognizant of how much I have —and how that can be taken away in the blink of an eye.  I am happy to see my godson, Selvin Jr. on a daily basis.  I have a lot of work to do.  I only have a year remaining.  I am ready. I am excited.  I am content.  I am home. 

Trent's Bottle School

To check out information on the project, go to www.hugitforward.com

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” --Mother Teresa

I have not posted in a month’s time and hope the holidays and New Year are treating everyone well.  As many of you may know throughout that month’s time a 30-day Military Siege of the Alta Verapaz region has been underway in an attempt to reinstate some sense of security and authority over the narcos and corrupted police force in the region.  During this time frame civil liberties are no longer valid and people can be detained without reason.   Over three-hundred new police officers will be sworn-in in the Coban and surrounding regions today.  As a cautionary measure Peace Corps has extended our evacuation from site for another week, until at least the 19^th.  Although no weapons have been fired as of yet, this will allow us all to see if there is any initial conflict with the new force in place.

Over the past months time I have been able to experience first-hand the amazing diversity and beauty this tiny country holds.  Each obstacle seems to present a unique opportunity.  These have included my first trip to the lake, my first hike up volcano Pacaya, and a stay at Trent-Guillermo’s site in Mañanitas, Escuintla on the Pacific Coast.  The visit to the coast included seeing Guillermo’s current sea turtle project and the release of  fifty newly born turtles into the ocean.  Only an estimated one in one-thousand turtles will survive to adulthood. 

Being able to flee my second home has produced a conglomeration of reassuring and saddening sentiments.  It is reassuring to know our security is one of the aspects at the forefront of importance as a volunteer.  Leaving behind local workmates, friends, family, my newly-born godson, Selvin Jr. ,  etc. can be disheartening knowing they don’t have the luxury of just getting up and moving.  Living in a country and region with a history of extreme violence makes the current events even more real- many locals shut-down and cringe at the idea of military presence and violence as they play out under current different circumstances. 

I now anxiously await the one week-seven days-168 hours to pass until I am hopefully able to return home to continue working on a variety of projects.   Like the baby turtles, only a select few things may flourish and grow, but  those select changes are worth the effort.

Trent's family with the daily catch

“Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me.”

--Albert Schweitzer

The Circle of Life- and the shapes in-between

When one thinks of the historical ‘bases’ in the game of life, the bases are often represented by birth, marriage, reproduction, and the home plate of death- with the reoccurring ‘high-five’ birthday celebrations along the way.  Over the past month I have attended and been a part of a few events celebrating and remembering these traditional stepping stones.

In an A-Rod/Texiera first-third double play, my neighbor Mary had her third child, Selvin Jr.  Celebrating new life and a legacy for the parents, Selvin Jr. is a healthy and happy baby and seems to be getting bigger each day I see him.

 

Besides birth, the only other unavoidable passing in life is death.  In memory of an important figure in the community who passed three years back, a mass and luncheon were held two Saturdays passed.  Having been the father of: the wife of the first PC volunteer in Chirrepec, Kamille’s neighbor and landlord, and ten children, it was evident the importance and respect this man  held within the community.  The gathering included ‘q’, a traditional chicken dish, tortillas, tamales, tea with cardamom, a full band, and handful of marimbas.  Christmas songs were even played.  Jingle Bells in Q’eqchi on the marimba was my Peace Corps equivalent of the warm feeling of hearing Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is you’ for the first time in the car and knowing the holidays are around the corner.

The son of one of my co-workers was recently married.   Kamille, in her traje, and I, in my pila-worn button down, trekked to the far-side of the Co-operative near the German ruins.  The sun was bright, the music was loud, and the baskets were full of tamales.  One thing my fellow volunteers and I have noticed at weddings is the seriousness of the newlyweds, including ‘mean mugs’ in virtually all photos taken at the celebratory occasion.  This couple seemed to be different, smiles brimming cheek to cheek and an clear feeling of elation to be getting married.  Seeing this change reminded me of gradual changes I have encountered throughout the past year with many of the youth in the campo.  For example, certain girls having education as their first priority, young men hoping to become doctors or architects, young women with self-confidence and hope for the future, and recognition there is more than just the path of the circle.

Gloria turns 22

Peace Corps is a journey of sharing, learning, and constant reflection.  Personal gratitude for our freedoms, access to education, ability to choose, diversity, and virtually endless opportunity were sentiments that seemed to ring true to a number of us volunteers as we shared what we were thankful for over our seafood dinners in Livingston.  Each testimony was followed by your best gobble gobble- I must say I think mine was the best.

Livingston is a prime example of diversity right here in Guatemala.  The black Caribbean community, or that of the Garifuna, came from an island in the eastern Caribbean.  Back in the 1630’s a pair of Spanish slave ships from Nigeria shipwrecked, creating a mixed culture of indigenous and West African traits.  During the late 18^th century the Spanish and British moved the Garifuna population to Honduras and parts of southern Belize, at which point the Garifuna moved from Belize to what is currently the Livingston community.  Undoubtedly a unique experience, Thanksgiving was full of culture, seafood, and heat!

street music

typical dress

me jumping

In relation to heat, tomorrow evening is the celebration of Bolas de Gas in San Cristobal, Alta Verapaz.  Groups of local men make soccer sized balls out of old shirts and wire and soak them in gasoline overnight.  These balls are then set on fire and kicked and launched around, initially one for each corner of the plaza- symbolic of community—or so I’ve heard.  No worries mom, I will not be in attendance this year but thought it was a unique local event to mention.  The holidays have begun with a spark.   

Miss you all,

Evan

"Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something. It's our goal in life to find it and to keep it lit."
-- Mary Lou Retton