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Published: March 14th 2007
Sue and I had our first day of indigenous language training. We tried to learn the Shuar language. It was mostly an exercise in futility for me. I told our trainers that I need to stick with Spanish right now. As for Sue, Shuar is not the language that she will be dealing with in her work. She will be working with the Waorani women (they speak Huorani). We did learn some interesting cultural facts about the indigenous cultures and that was beneficial.
For those of you more interested in what my work will be like, here is some info peace corps gave me about my ¨job.¨ As for how my work will operate. My counterpart is an organization called CODEAMA. They have a website somewhere. They are an international organization. It is a foundation for the conservation and development of the Amazon. My primary activities with them will include: developing conservation projects (ecotourism) with an emphasis on zones of high vulnerability, assist in the management of protected areas, work in local communities and schools on environmental education, and some small-scale agroforestry and forestry projects. Many of the projects involve indigenous people. I should spend a good amount of time wandering around the rainforest, this should be fun. I´ll also get the chance to work in smaller communities on income-generation projects and ways to make money from the rainforest while conserving it at the same time.
Since we will be living in Puyo, we will be encouraged by PC to do secondary projects working with the local government and with local schools. Who knows what those projects will be.
We found out yesterday what we will earn as volunteers. In reality, we don´t make money, we receive a living stipend. Our stipend is $7.67 per day. This money is used to pay for our utilities, food, transpertation, toiletries, clothes, etc. etc. etc. Not much, but we should be able to live off that with no problem. try doing that back in the states. Peace Corps will also pay our rent for our apartment which is $50 per month. It is kind of exciting to think at how we will be living on such little cash flow. We will be pulling in about 7% of what we were just a couple of months ago.
Anyhow, chao for now!!!
Jeremy
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Efrum Imler
non-member comment
Howdy!
Wow, it sounds like from this blog that y'all will have a heck of a time. I make around $7.50 an hour at work, so really shows how little you are making. I hope everything is going good for both you and your wife. Here in the states we expereinced two nice days of the soon to come season, but now its around 40 and moist. Everyone I can think of misses you, and so does Truman. Actually, I got accepted into OSU's school of music, so Truman and I will deffinetly have an adventure coming this Fall! I wish the both of you luck, and hope you learn that language well! -Efrum P.S. Don't forget about our experation date Spam delight dinner plans!