“He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

This week and next are mainly taken up by house visits. I'm going with my promoters to their homes, so they can practice doing the census. It's all images of course, because most of them can't read, they simply have to mark the box that most resembles the house they are visiting.

For example, the roof, is it lamina, adobe or block. There are three images. They have to mark the on that looks the most like what the family has.

Therefore this week I am going to the houses of the promoters, I've divided them up into groups of about three people who live near one another, and together we're going to go over the census for their house, seeing if any of them live in poor conditions. Those who do will be receiving projects, those who don't will not.

The idea is for them to then go out into their community and do the census to their neighbors and friends and find out those with the most need in their communities. The difficult thing will be making sure they don't just go to the homes of those related to them, ensuring projects for their friends and family. But I've been reiterating the fact that this project is FOR the community as a whole, and I keep reminding them, that by bettering their community will help them in the long run and I hope it sinks in.

I just have trouble finding the balance point of where do I step in and take over, without taking the project out of their hands. I want the promoters to feel as though this is their project, they have to work for what they are receiving, and what the community will receive, I'm not going to swoop in, do projects and swoop out, like so many NGOs have done before. I want them to feel in control, like they have important choices to make about this project. It is because of that, that I think I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt, and let them be in charge of the initial batch of recipients. Obviously, I will re-visit all the houses recommended and if there is no need there, they will not a receive a project.

The Fund-raising has Started!

So I've finally gotten my act together and I have set up a website for all of my fund-raising efforts. it is: http://southofthemexicanborder.webs.com/ please check it out, and if you are able, please donate!

This website talks about the projects I hope to do, the details of my site and work and how you can help by donating money. I would really appreciate any donations (of course) but also if you could please forward this link on anyway you can (post it in your facebook status, twitter it, email it to your family and friends) I would really appreciate it.

This week I've been head down and working in site, finishing up paper work for my promoters, getting my "promoter wall" in the Centro de Salud finished and working on the schedule for FBT. I think I have everything almost under control, so nothing will jump up on me while I am unprepared, but you never know.

I had a meeting with some people from the Area de Salud in Totonicapan who were SESAN representatives (Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional, they work with woman and families in Momostenango to help improve the malnutrition rate here in our department) to see how they can work with my promoter groups. It was quite successful, but as they're government workers, they have their own agenda and so I think we're going to be treading carefully.

As a shout out, (as I forgot to put it in my last post) I had a GREAT birthday party in Santa Maria Chiquimula two weekends ago, it was great fun so thanks to all who participated! I can't believe I was 22 when I got here, I am now 24 and I won't leave here until I am 25! There goes my early twenties, you're welcome Guatemala.

Mother's Day Hot Mess

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Mother's Day in Guatemala is a HUGE ordeal. Right now, I am sitting in a cafe, and outside there is a Marimba band playing for mother's day. People go out for lunch (similar to the US) make food, cards and gifts for their moms and generally spend the whole day celebrating (one Guatemalan tradition is to go to Pollo Campero for dinner or have it delivered - this way mom doesn't have to cook - Pollo Campero is like the Guatemalan McDonalds- dream big).

However, ONE day is not enough to celebrate the wonderful-ness of our mothers. Therefore in Guatemala Sunday is spent in a family celebration, and Monday is spent celebrating in schools. Therefore the schools all put on skits, performances, events etc. this week for mother's day. Even the Centro de Salud wants to have a mother's day event. - I'm not sure what, as I was super vague about my participation as I have TONS of paper work/ schedules to figure out and don't really want to spend my time at an event where I get gross food, and kids sing at me for hours and hours and hours (did it last year, I can put a big check next to THAT cultural experience).

Honestly though, I will be lucky to get one or one and a half good work days out of this week, I may have to hide in my house and not come out for anything but charlas. - Even then, I may be seen and dragged to some sort of mother's day event. This week is going to be interesting.

Time goes by

After a great weekend at San Marcos la Laguna with the rest of my training group to celebrate one year in country, I am starting to freak out at how little time I have left here (only 15 months!) and how much I have to do. (See photos below)





I've recently been elected to the Peace Corps Gender and Development (GAD) Committee, as our project representative. I am therefore the 'go to' person for all the healthy homes volunteers (we now have about 30 trainees in our program!) for questions on gender/development either personal or regarding work. For this, I will have to try to attend GAD meetings (as many as I can make) and do presentations for all volunteer conferences as well as to the trainees at the Peace Corps office in Antigua.

This week my friend Anna and I will be heading to Flores Costa Cuca to visit Katy and Joe again. This time we will be building cement floors, so hopefully more photos will follow. In addition, this Saturday is my Birthday party, being hosted by the wonderful Andrea and organized by my friend Adrian. I can't believe that I arrived in Guatemala when I was 22, and now I am turning 24! How time flies!