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Published: November 7th 2008
I had one of those moments where you realize that what you are saying or doing is absolutely absurd or incomprehensible to those around you. I was out in the community of Libertad to give a couple of presentations and then to take GPS data points for a project. As I wandered from house to house to take data points I had to introduce myself to those who did not know me and then ask if I could take GPS data for their house and their outhouse. It didn’t even cross my mind to consider that most of these “country” folk had never heard of GPS. Never mind that though, as I awkwardly took data points I finally put two and two together and eased their concerns by telling them that the piece of equipment I had in my hand read information from satellites. They gave me a smile and a nod and in these parts that usually means I have no idea what you are saying, but you seem to be determined to hold that piece of equipment over my outhouse so maybe it is a device that eliminates odors - yeah that would be nice - go ahead take
Beer Pong
This is the table that Ryan and Marcie made.all the “data” you want.
So that has been the last few weeks of my life. I have been spending a lot of time in the FRATES communities working on my projects out there. I enjoy the time out of the office, but often wonder how effective my work is. In the end, we are going to take the data points to make community maps and then work to develop some semblance of a zoning plan to help them conserve their natural resources.
As well, the 3rd phase of the water fund has started and this means that I am out in the high schools and elementary schools giving presentations about human impacts on the environment and on our water resources. In all, I will probably present to some 2000+ students over the course of the next couple of months. I enjoy the time in the schools as well, and as my Spanish has grown, I am able to joke around with the kids more and that is my specialty - I try my best to make learning fun and meaningful.
Susan and I have also spent some time away from Puyo on the weekends. A promise
The city of Macas
The view from above the town. we made to each other to try and explore more of Ecuador in the remaining months here. The second weekend of October we went down to Macas for a little get together with the two volunteers that live there. Together, they, Susan, Matt, Casey, and I make up the Puyo Volunteer Cluster and we are a tight group. Each of us has a very different personality, however, when together we operate like a well-oiled machine. The joke that “jungle” volunteers share is that we are supposed to let each other know if we become weird. Many volunteers who serve in the jungle often go native during their service. You know that you are in trouble when eating endangered species, drinking chicha, painting your body with natural dyes and taking cold showers becomes enjoyable and part of your everyday life. So far, we think that none of us have gone off the deep end, but when comparing the behavior and appearance of one volunteer to yourself, you often miss the obvious indicators.
Macas was beautiful. I had been there before, but it was the first visit for Susan. Macas is a little smaller than Puyo and its setting in a
Resting
After the hike up to the mirador for Macas, we all needed a rest. river valley is quite scenic. While in Macas, three of Marcie’s (she is a volunteer in Macas) friends from World Teach came to hang out with us, as did a friend of Ryan (other volunteer from Macas). Ryan and Marcie had built a beer pong table so we played a lot of pong that night. It was my first time playing beer pong, and I have to say that I am a natural. While I didn’t win every time, I did hold my own against seasoned veterans. We also played flip-cup, I didn’t care much for this game, no real challenge in it.
Later that night, after we had torn down the barriers and let our guards down, we thoroughly embarrassed ourselves by having our own micro dance party at Ryan’s house. We danced for a good 4 hours until we both exhausted ourselves and ran out of new moves. The party died down around 2:00am.
The next morning we had breakfast and then took a hike up to a point that looks out over the city of Macas. It was stunning to say the least. The hike was straight uphill for about an hour and it was
Susan and Manuela
Eating deviled eggs at our cocktail party. tiring given the fact that it was a bright sunny day.
The ride back from Macas was moderately annoying as we seemed to be on the slow bus from hell. It took much longer than it should have and we had to deal with a lot of people getting on and off the bus the entire way back to Puyo. We also managed to start and watch the first 5 minutes of 5 different movies - each time the movie would freeze and the driver would put in another one. One of the movies, ironically enough, was Cliffhanger and it cut out right at the part where a woman is holding on to a rope about to fall to her death - talk about a cliffhanger when the movie cut out. We finally did reach Puyo and were glad to be back. Coming back to Puyo is always a nice thing.
The weekend before my birthday, Susan and I hosted a cocktail party at the apartment. We invited my office and her office. We had a similar party last year before Christmas. I made sloppy joes (first time here in Ecuador) and deviled eggs. Susan made sandwich rolls,
Our Cocktail Party
My office mates at the party. Casey and Matt made guacamole. The party was a success. We had around 30 people - most really liked the sloppy joes and where asking for recipes. Ecuadorians do not like deviled eggs, which was fine, it meant more for Susan, Matt, Casey, and I.
At one point in the evening I busted out one of my Guinness beers that Frank brought me. I shared it with whoever wanted to try it. Most of them hated it. I was hurt, Guinness is the nectar of life. One could live solely off Guinness if he was so inclined. The only non-gringo that liked it was Bolivar’s wife; I knew that I respected her for a reason; a fine quality woman with obvious excellent taste.
Later in the weekend, Susan and I helped Casey paint her new apartment. It is cute, but on the other end of town. I hope it doesn’t mean that we will see less of her. She is so much fun and I really enjoy spending time with her. Susan and she are already becoming fast friends.
My birthday was October 20 and I had planned on going to dinner with my lovely wife. As
Being Silly
Karina, Willman, myself, and Casey hanging out on our couch. the day wore on, I wore out and asked Susan if we could just spend the evening at home. She was cool with that, but my office had other plans. Last year they took me out for pizza and this year they wanted to do the same. I didn’t really want to go, but I did the culturally appropriate and polite thing and accepted their invitation. The pizza was good, though I spent most of the time there on the phone with my brothers. These things happen from time to time. My birthday passed with little fanfare and I am glad for that. 34 really is not any kind of milestone. My parents did send some money so that Sue and I could go out to dinner, which we will do at another time. Though, I have to question my parents on this one. They sent a card to me that said happy birthday, we love you, and we put $50 in your account - $25 for you and $25 for Susan. Since when do you get a birthday gift that you are instructed to share with someone else. Don’t get me wrong, I love my wife and I love
The Real Puyo Crew
Matt, Casey, Susan and I at the cocktail party with our get in da cah t-shirts. Can´t explain this in writing. my parents, I am grateful for the generous gift to provide me with a fine meal, but…next year I expect to share Sue’s gift from my parents. I have thought for the longest time that they like her more - I can’t say that I blame them, she is pretty cool.
The weekend after my birthday, Susan BC came down to Puyo for a visit. She will be doing training and this is one of the last times that she could come down. We had a good time hanging out with her in Puyo and spent a good deal of the weekend working with Casey to make our costumes for Halloween. Unfortunately, Susan was not going to be able to go to Halloween because she had a work obligation, but she helped us design our costumes. Casey was going to be the booze fairy and Susan a box of our favorite wine - CLOS. My costume I will talk about later.
I made doughnuts one of the mornings - my first go at it here and they were incredibly good. I don’t understand why I have waited so long to make my own doughnuts. However, if I make them on a weekly basis, Sue and I may return weighing 300lbs.
Last weekend, we were in El Chaco for the Peace Corps Halloween party and the 3rd Annual rafting competition. If you remember, last year my rafting team was second in the competition out of 36 teams. We were in the lead until the last seconds when we hit a large rock in the river. Well this year, more of the same BS. We started the final day of rafting in last place in our heat which meant that we got the worst starting position, in the back. We battled our way to the front, gained a commanding lead with seconds left in the race and then hit another damn rock - it held us up for 30 seconds and we thus finished last in our heat and in the middle overall. How disappointing, we could feel the $300 prize and trophy in our hands. These things happen though and there is very little that one can do - The rock was hidden enough to be unavoidable and nearly half the rafts in the competition hit it - with many rafts losing people in the process. We all stayed in the boat and should win an award for that.
The Halloween party was a lot of fun. We had about 70 volunteers and some Ecuadorians there and 100 cases of beer. We had rented a hostal out to host the party and it worked really well. I went as Ron’s Radar - I had a hat with a radar dish, a shirt with a radar screen that had all the names of the volunteers who had gotten in trouble with Ron “Cisco” Ruybal, our country director. Our country director, from day one, has always talked about how he has a radar and that you better stay off of it or else. Oh well. To Cisco’s credit, being a leader and being a Country Director is not an easy task. Volunteers tend to be a whiny group and we demand resources and services when they are not warranted. In some ways managing Peace Corps is like managing 8th period study hall with a group of seniors who have two weeks to go before graduation. It is a nearly impossible task - however, how you go out managing that speaks volumes about your character and ability as a leader.
How about the election? I have never been more proud of my country. Who would have thought that a black man with the name of Obama could be elected president of our country, and not just elected, elected with a majority of the popular vote? INCREDIBLE!!!
McCain was as graceful as could be in his speech - had he shown that kind of honesty, integrity, and caring during the campaign he probably would have won. He is a great man and an honorable man. Unfortunately, he fell victim to his advisors and Sarah Palin and they somehow convinced him to abandon his greatest strengths. What we saw on Tuesday night was the McCain of 2000, the McCain who really understands, the McCain who would give his life for his country.
Obama was certainly not without his faults during the campaign, however, his relaxed, take it as it comes approach was functional. We now have to see if he actually can put details on the generalities he spoke of during the campaign and we must see if he practices what he preaches. He has the world behind him; let’s see what he can do. If his speech on election night is any kind of indicator he is going rally us to achieve a higher standard - we are all Americans and we live in the greatest country in the world.
In the previous few weeks I read Obama’s books and McCain’s book. These guys are great men. I was especially moved by Obama’s ideas in the Audacity of Hope. My fear is that Washington will continue to corrupt as it usually does and that our politicians will continue to look out for themselves instead of us.
While I am on this train of thought, I was reminded by a close friend just a few days ago about how dividing politics can be. We often form an opinion and refuse to sway from it no matter the circumstances. For example, I often find myself annoyed with those on the right who refuse to even listen to someone once they realize that person is a democrat or liberal. I wonder how someone can be so close-minded. The mistake I make is that they probably view me the same way. This example is repeated over and over by thousands if not millions of us each election cycle. We talk but don’t listen, we hear but ignore, we remain steadfast in our views no matter how whacked they can become.
I really feel that if we took the time to really listen to those with different views, if we respect their views, if we chose to work towards a common understanding then we could really start to make meaningful change in our world. It annoys me beyond all ends that as a society we still continue to make abortion, gay rights, and gun control three of the main issues that shape who we vote for and who we follow. Wouldn’t be more productive if look to other issues that are far more pressing and have the ability to mold and shape the other three? For instance we can preach morality and use it to justify that homosexuality and abortion are evils, but then as a country we toss our morality aside and ditch the poor, support dictators, overthrow governments, steal from companies and shareholders and fight wars for oil. We claim our constitutional rights to own a gun and then deny others their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It seems that most of our moral fabric, most of our sense of justice is held up in contradictions and hypocrisy. I for one am tired of it. I am ready for a change, I am ready to share and celebrate my differences with others.
So, before you ignore someone with opposing views and ideas - take a good hard look inside yourself. How much do you really care? If you are one of the people who feels you must change everyone else to believe what you believe then you are part of the problem and not part of the solution.
As they say in Blazing Saddles: Now go do the voodoo that you do so well. Or perhaps more fitting given the recent elections: The USA has got a black sheriff.
Friends, Susan and I are down to 5 months. It has been an incredible journey and we could not have done it without you. I thank all of you for your support, your care packs, your time, and your friendship. Sue and I have no idea where post Peace Corps life will lead us, but be rest assured that we will take the time to visit with of you and share how our lives and your lives have changed. Besides, we have about 20 new nieces, nephews, cousins, and other new kids of friends to meet.
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chris
non-member comment
happy Birthday
happy Belated Birthday. Sorry, I feel like a turd for forgetting, but you don't have to split my wishes with anyone. Screw susan, take her share of the fitty, and get blitzed. You are old.