January - Peace Corps Panama Friends

Transcription

From the Editors . . .
T
his La Vaina’s four day cycle of editorial work found
the office next to empty as staffers’ New Years vacations
dragged out into mid January and Panama observed the
Dia Nacional de los Martires. In lieu of celebrating the
festivities traditionally associated with this proud holiday (and
keep in mind, even Hillary Clinton joined in this year with a clip
of streaming tears uploaded to YouTube) several of the office
higher-ups made their ways to Bocas del Toro to participate in
the christening of a Peace Corps latrine project; or maybe it
was an acqueduct project ... we lost track. While we were busy
dirtying our hands in the political muck associated with the
upcoming Zonian Caucus (the only place where Dennis
Kucinich looks primed to place in the top three – you’ll find full
coverage on page 50 of this edition) your fearless leaders went
out there to go ... well, you know ... to Go. We hope you will
enjoy the captioned photos found throughout this quarter’s
La Vaina. They should help answer some of the common
questions traditionally posed immediately after regional
meetings thereby facilitating less communication between
Peace Corps Panama’s Volunteers.
Jacobo S.
And so, with no further adieu, please enjoy esa Vaina!
Fred, Meredith and Greg
Jacobo S.
Front Cover Photo: Jackson Taylor; Back Cover Photo: F. DeWorken
La Vaina
Table of Contents
January - March 2008
From the Suits...
4.................................Country Director’s Corner Peter Redmond
5........................ ................................Be a Leader Greta Mendez
6-8......................................................PTO Insights Greg Branch
9 ...................................................CED Update Cynthia Redwine
10-11.....................................................Gnaw Away Tim Wellman
12-13....................................................SAS Update Aimee Urrutia
14.............................................................TEA Time Pablo Garron
15.............................................. CEC News Francisco Santamaria
16-17.......................Curandera’s Notes Dra. Lourdes Rodriguez
18..........................................Man of the House Zack Barricklow
19......................................................Nombre Nuevo Tess Sparks
Noah D.
Next La Vaina deadline - March 5, 2008
Announcements, Articles, etc...
Noah D.
20-21...............................................................................GAD Udpate
22.......................................................................................VAC Update
23......................................................................................Panama Verde
24-25.................................................................Fourth Goal Centerfold
26-27...............................................................Radio Killed the Video Star
28-29..............................................................................Jokes for Ngabes
30-31...................................................................Preemptive Bicho Strike
32-33.................................................................Rice Tanks are a Comin’
34...................................................................................................Cribs
35.........................................................................Teach with your Hands
36-37....................................Cooking in Panama (an article about oil)
38-40............................................................Moving Beyond the Weather
41...........................................................................The Epic of Patricio
42..........................................................................Article from La Prensa
43-45...........................................................Erradicando with Two “R’s”
46-47.....................................................................I Used to Be Like You
Submission Policy: All subject matter is welcome. We cannot print articles which demean or slander Panama or Panamanians. We also cannot print exceptionally funny jokes, unless
they are ours. Keep in mind who might read La Vaina-Presidents, chiefs of state, and the like. We will try to correct spellin’, punc-tuation, and grammars, unless your article is really
long. We get tired. The content of the articles will not be touched unless it is deemed to go beyond the boundaries of decency. We at La Vaina have no natural sense of decency. This
newsletter is for the Peace Corps community, so it is what you make of it. Contribute, give suggestions, and SUBMIT! We appreciate your support!
Article Guidelines: All articles of various subject matter are welcome. You will make the editors’ job a lot easier if you would please adhere to these guidelines:
1. Please e-mail your articles to [email protected]. Do not handwrite your articles. We can no longer pay immigrant labor to type them.
2. Don’ t try to show off your sk1llz with WORD by formatting your article with ‘groovy’ fonts and ‘far out’ images. Pagemaker doesn’t dig that.
3. Please e-mail digital photos to [email protected]. Please also include a word document with captions that accompany your photos.
4. Please do not send submissions, especially pictures, to our personal email accounts. That’s why we have the La Vaina email account.
La Vaina
Country Director’s Corner
Peter Redmond (RPCV Honduras)
It is impossible to map a route to
success without first understanding the
terrain.
- Brian Fisher (RPCV Panamá, 2004-6)
H
appy New Year! I’ve spent the
last few weeks of the holiday
season doing something that
I consider to be one of the most important duties of my job —
completing letters of recommendation and references for the
many current and former Volunteers inspired to put their
practical development experience to work in academia or into a
post-Peace Corps profession.
While your Volunteer service has a definitive end with the
arrival of your COS date, the exciting truth is that you never
stop being a Peace Corps Volunteer. For many of you, your
life’s time line will be marked before and after Peace Corps. For
all of you, this life-changing experience will inform your world
view. And PC’s Third Goal is something we do formally and
informally in our after Peace Corps life.
Kevin K.
Now its off to create my own Redmond Chops It Up With G60
path with a week-long trip to Veraguas, Chiriqui and Bocas
where I’ll see Volunteers in site and meet with Peace Corps
friends and partners. I’m especially looking forward to meeting
Elizabeth Jones’ cooperative members in Veraguas,
inaugurating one of Joe Goesling’s aqueducts in Bocas, and
meeting Brian and Nancy Benn in Chiriqui.
One of the last and most difficult letters I had to write was for Safety and Security Visit – Peace Corps Safety and Security
Cocle/Panama Este Regional Leader Pete Caligiuri. It was Officer Dave Fleisig (RPCV El Salvador) will be driving through
Costa Rica and Panamá next month to meet with Volunteers.
difficult in two ways – first I didn’t want to admit that his
He’ll be in Panamá January 26- February 4 and will spend
service was coming to an end – he has been a terrific
his first few days meeting with Regional Leaders and
Regional Leader and his leadership and passion for
Do not
PCVs in David, Santiago and Penonome. He is very
follow where
the work will be sorely missed. Second, he has
interested by the Regional Leaders’ role in widening
the path may
done so much it was hard to articulate it all in one
lead, go instead
the net of our Volunteer support, so keep your eyes
page (so I used two!). In one of Pete’s admissions
where there is no
and ears open for a communiqué from Maria Elena
essays, he talked about Volunteers needing to heed
path and leave a
about meeting with Dave.
trail. – Ralph
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and learn to be toughWaldo
minded idealists. Pete is surely one of the toughest
Emerson
All-Volunteer Conference: We are still planning the
minds I’ve come across, and he retains his idealism
AVC
in Chitré the week of March 11-13, so be sure to
well into his third year of service. Few people, PCV or
contact
VAC
President Laura Gregory or PTO Greg Branch
Panamanian (even Franklin), know their region as
if
you
are
interested
in assisting the coordination committee.
thoroughly as Pete knows his, having logged hundreds of
The
conference
theme
will be Being a Leader, Creating
miles on foot in every nook and cranny in the hopes of finding
Leaders
and
will
focus
on
youth development and supporting
good work for other PCVs. Pete understood his terrain better
volunteerism
in
Panamá.
than most and has left a clear trail for all of us to follow. Thank
you for your service and your leadership.
45 Anniversary Celebration and RPCV Reunion: Peace Corps
The new year is also an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve Director Tschetter is scheduled to be inthPanamá June 25-27 to
accomplished this past year and to look ahead at where we join dozens of RPCVs marking the 45 anniversary of Peace
want to go. Groups 59 and 60 have all of 2008 to consolidate Corps’ arrival in Panamá. Director Tschetter likes to focus on
the gains they made in 2007. My 2008 wish for you is to spend PCVs and he will meet with the VAC, Regional Leaders and
as much time in your site and to recommit yourselves to what other PCVs – including an overnight home-stay at a PCV
brought you to Panamá. For Groups 57 and 58 – you’ve already site…more to come on this in future emails.
learned the importance of time in site and see the days and
months to COS closing in fast. My wish for you is to make the
most of those remaining days and set out a concrete workplan
for all of the things you want to complete before you leave.
4
Farewell to Jake Slusser – Jake is also COSing this month.
He’s another 55er whose leadership and dedication to
reforestation will be sorely missed. He singlehandedly revived
the Seeders Group and has inspired countless PCVs and
campesinos to collect and plant native tree species.
“The toughest revista you’ll ever love.”
January 2008
Be A Leader Out There!
Greta Mendez
C
uando empezamos algo en la vida debemos
comprometernos con terminarlo, porque esa experiencia
es importante para nuestra autoestima y crecimiento,
así como para las personas que dependen de ello. Ser un
Voluntario del Cuerpo de Paz debe ser una decisión bien pensada
ya que dicha experiencia amerita un compromiso contigo y
con el pueblo donde vas a servir, ya que ella cambiara tu vida
o la forma como ves la vida, así como también representa la
oportunidad de cambiar las vidas de muchas personas que
jamás hubieras pensado conocer de no haber sido por haber
tomado esa importante decisión.
El llegar a una comunidad pobre con gente que ve en ustedes
una esperanza de un mañana mejor, es una experiencia que
deja huellas en la comunidad como en ustedes.
Deben tener presente que la gente de la comunidad los ve a
ustedes como líderes que vienen a cambiar el futuro de sus
vidas y a resolver los problemas que hay en el lugar. Es bueno
entonces preguntarse: si estamos siendo el líder que ellos
esperaban; si a través de ustedes sus preguntas están siendo
respondidas.
Ser un líder no es tarea fácil, hay que
empezar por comprender su significado.
La Vaina
para mi, o es una experiencia que tenía
planeada para mi vida. Es importante
identificar la razón por la que estas aquí.
Como voluntario tienes la oportunidad de
aprender grandes cosas para la vida que esta
por venir después del voluntariado. Esta
maravillosa experiencia de estar en un lugar
desconocido, sólo, lejos de casa, sin nieve
en navidad, sin papá ni mamá cerca, esta forjándote como
persona, convirtiéndote en alguien mejor del que llego, en
una persona mas fuerte y madura. Es una transformación que
debes permitirte tener para llegar a ser alguien mejor.
Así como el hierro es forjado o como el carbón es golpeado
para transformarse en un diamante, así el ser un líder voluntario
en tú comunidad te hace llegar más lejos de lo que puedes
pensar.
Sufrir es bueno, porque ayuda a crecer. Llorar es bueno,
porque desahoga y sana las heridas. Y ser un líder, luchar por
serlo, aún cuando el miedo no te lo quiera permitir, a pesar de
las dudas si decides dar el siguiente paso aunque te cueste, te
ayuda a ser alguien que hará cosas
Y. Yisr´eal más grandes mañana. Cuando tengas
miedo de hacer algo, tienes entonces
que proponerte hacerlo para superar
los obstáculos, porque lo que no te
permite hacerlo en realidad son miedos
infundados, barreras imaginarias que
no te dejan caminar, eres tu mismo
quien no te permites avanzar y crecer.
Lo que hagas como voluntario es un
espejo que refleja la manera como
ejecutaras tus decisiones en la vida
porque como hagas todo es un reflejo
de cómo harás todo. La experiencia
de ser voluntario de cuerpo de paz te
trae el poder de vivir una vida con
coraje y decisión. Y esta es una
característica de los verdaderos
triunfadores.
Para mi, la mejor forma de comprender
su esencia es a través de la lectura de
vida de líderes como Abraham Lincoln,
Gandhi, Jesucristo, Mozart, Bethoven,
Van Gaugh, Picasso, Da Vinci, Newton,
Montesquieu, Rousseau o Einstein.
Como verás se encuentran líderes en
muchas vertientes como religiosas,
artísticas o científicas entre otras. La
vida de estos líderes es lo que yo llamo
LIDERAZGO EN ACCION. Y es
importante para comprender la esencia
del liderazgo. La esencia te ayuda a
ubicarte en como se debe ser en el
terreno en donde te encuentres. De Adam Gorski Building Latrines in Cerro Iglesias
nada sirve ser un doctor en la materia si
En este nuevo año que inicia son mis
tienes miedo a ser un líder. Se requiere valentía y coraje para deseos el ver más y más voluntarios triunfadores, con
serlo, para abrir el camino donde nada existe. Cada voluntario motivación y ganas de superar todos los obstáculos que se
debe ser un líder en la comunidad para realizar un real cambio presentan en su vida como voluntarios. Por esto quiero decirles
en ella y para que la comunidad se sienta respaldada. Muchos que no tengan miedo de ser líderes allá afuera. No tengan
de ustedes son muy jóvenes aún, algunos tendrán temores, peros para hacer lo que hay que hacer, decir lo que se tenga
dudas de cómo hacer las cosas bien, de cual es el siguiente que decir y demostrar porque están aquí hoy. Porque el tiempo
paso a seguir para no equivocarme. Si dudas, entonces te se va, este momento no dura para siempre y es en el hoy en
viene el miedo y la parálisis. Entonces, no haces nada, no que te tienes que enfocar para cumplir tu misión de Voluntario.
avanzas. Cuando se es muy jóven a veces no se sabe aún a Los exhorto a que trabajen hombro a hombro con su pueblo
ciencia cierta que deseamos hacer con nuestra vida. Es para llevarlos a ser grandes triunfadores ya que Panamá es
importante preguntarse si el ser voluntario sólo es un escape ahora la tierra de las oportunidades. Be a leader out there !!
[email protected]
5
La Vaina
PTO Insights
Goyo Branch (RPCV El Salvador)
B
uuueeeennnaass… How are ya doing out there?
So I am rolling up my sleeves and diving into my
PTO article, the
first of this new year. Summer
has blown in across the
“I know of no more
southern slopes of Panama,
encouraging act than the
whisking away the deep
unquestionable ability of
people to elevate their life
humidity with its determined
by a conscious endeavor”
wind and the sun bears
- Thoreau
down upon the earth. Round
these parts, I know whether
to say Buenas Dias or
Buenas Tardes just by which side of the street people are
walking. We seek relief from the heat of the concrete jungle
beneath the shadows from the soaring skyscrapers as the
summer sun lollygags its way across the sky.
I gave him and his
floppy sombrero a
big hug and we took
off for downtown.
Not surprisingly, and
I should have even expected it, Roberto had offered my
services, by means of a ride into town, to a man he met at the
baggage claim who recognized him from a mass he gave in
Mexico years ago. Roberto had me explain the mission of Peace
Corps Panamá and what we do here all the way to this man’s
hotel doorstep.
I wish to share an urban tale that graced my
path tonight. For the past few hours it has
left me pondering, wondering, peeling away
those layers of the onion.
Moments into our dinner a middle-aged
women, who wore the struggles of urban
poverty on her face and hands, came asking
us for money to help the street children of
Panama. She was equipped with a badge (no
photo) and a little can with a slot for your
donation that looked marginally official. I
admit to you reluctantly, I caught myself
immediately wanting to whisk her away and
continue our interrupted conversation. I let
go of that feeling as soon as Roberto began
engaging her. As he reached into his pocket
for some loose change, he asked her what
the organization did. A smile was soon
painted on her face as she spoke of the efforts
they were making. Seeing her reaction to
Roberto I told her that he was a Padre. Roberto then began to
explain that he worked in Mexico. The moment I revealed that
he was a Padre, I saw her change. It was clear through her
body language and expression that she was not listening and
his Spanish passed through her like white noise in a busy
“There is something to
learn from everyone you
meet” –written on one
of those wonderfully
magical fortune cookie
papers the size of your
pinky and revealed to me
in an email signature from
Kimberly Brummet at PC
Headquarters
Tonight I picked up Father Roberto
Cumberland at Tocumen Airport. For me, this
is an annual event that has taken place
every January for the past 6 years. Padre
Roberto is a Volunteer for WATERLINES, a
non-profit organization that has been
funding water systems around the world
and specifically in rural Panama for the past
17 years. Inside the airport, I stood amongst
the masses gathered outside of customs
people-watching (my favorite airport
activity). Then I spotted his silhouette walking behind those
smoked windows as unmistakably as I would spot a giraffe in
a herd of cattle.
Roberto is a little taller than I am, reaching about 6’5" into the
heavens, and is as lanky as a Slinky looking for the next carpeted
step below his feet. His passion for walking on dirt paths many
miles every day, over many years, around his various rural
northern Mexico Catholic missions, has made him thin and
taut and looking much younger than the decades that the sun
has graced his skin. During his visits to Panama, he will hike up
hills from communities to the toma and drink the water with his
hands to “test” its purity. He ascends and descends for 10-14
days in a row, masking his tiredness and putting a smile on for
every proud and hopeful community. For a stranger to pick him
out as a Padre would take a keen eye, as his wild beard matched
with casual dress and demeanor distracts from the enlightened
glimmer in his eyes.
6
Now finally getting to my urban tale as promised (I think I
might be incapable of telling a short story), we sat down to eat
at a humble, open-air restaurant as Roberto always requests…
fresh Panamanian Corvina… tipico style.
Panama Railroad Company
Vanessa K.
January 2008
La Vaina
early years and that may be how she feels closest to him.
Vanessa K.
She held onto every word. “Gracias Padre,” she said when
he was finished. Robert asked where she lived, and she
then spoke a littlemore about the troubles, the violence,
and the gang activity that plagues the barrios of San
Miguelito. She open-endedly asked why poor people steal
from other poor people. My mind reflected on the realities
of what the poor people in Panama City (many immigrating
from the campo to work) and other countless cities around
the world endure on a day-to-day and night-to-night basis.
As she walked slowly away from our table, I sat mesmerized
by the moment. I thought about my initial annoyance to
her “begging”, then what a difference it made not just to
give some money, but also to engage her as a person, and
finally how she reacted to Roberto once he was identified
as a holy man. I asked Roberto how often people approach
him that way looking for guidance.
“All the time when they find out I’m a priest” was his
response. “Sometimes it drives me crazy,” he added with
his spirit of being honest and human.
Darlene Yule Sips Agua de Pipa
vegetable market. It was clear
to me that she suddenly went deep into thought.
“Padre”, she interrupted him in mid-sentence, “(translated)
Both of my two sons
were murdered.” She Gringo Mud Man; El Valle, Cocle
paused then looked
him directly in the eye,
“My oldest son was
killed when he was 18
by his girlfriend’s exboyfriend. Padre, I can
only remember him in
my dreams as a small
little boy when he was
a child. I don’t know if
that is a problem.”
She stopped there and
awaited Roberto’s
response. Roberto
kindly and gracefully
explained to her that he
thought this was a
natural and normal way
to dream. As a mother
she nurtured him and
cared for him very
closely during those
So, that is the story. I continue to muse at the layers of
human behavior and how we as people seek reassurance
and where we seek it. I’ll spare going much further into my
philosophical onion and the personal thoughts that came from
this incidental encounter.
However I will type this… The thought that keeps arriving to
the forefront of my cranium is that I think we all can be and are
deep inside …
Padres. Hang
with me here, as I
know this might
sound ludicrous
and out there …
You and I and
that stranger you
pass on the
street, that child
that wants to help
you sweep your
house,
your
neighbors, your
family back in the
States,
the
people you work
with, even that
guy that sells the
duros, we are all
r e l u c t a n t
messiahs. That
Noah D.
reluctance
dissipates the
[email protected]
7
La Vaina
behind you or entertain yourself studying the candy bars you
have never eaten. You can choose to be frustrated that the
chiva is not there when it is supposed to, or take a more intimate
notice of the sky that is above or what is on the ground around
your feet. Know what you cannot change and work hard at the
things you can … for yourself and others.
F. DeWorken
I realized, remembered, and furthered that call to service tonight.
I realized that sometimes I am moving so fast I miss what is in
front me. Yes, I could spare some change. Yes, I was interested
in what she was going to do with the money. Yes, I am glad that
she was able to talk about something troubling her and find
comfort. And Yes, I am so thankful that I hear that drum beat
inside me. How rewarding that is.
For me, that is the core of Peace Corps, both on our behalf and
on behalf of the communities that receive and support us.
Together we not only make the world a better place by spreading
global peace and understanding, we ourselves are rewarded in
the riches of sharing our lives with meaning and intention.
Señora Taking a Rest Mariato, Veraguas
F. DeWorken
more
you respond to the call of service.
Service is the rent we
pay to be living. It is
the very purpose of
life and something you
do in your spare time”
–Marian Wright
Edelman
I think that if you are reading this Vaina
newsletter you have responded to that call
of service in your life to varying degrees.
Whether you are reading this via internet
as a member of Peace Corps Panama
Friends, or if you are an RPCV, or if you are
a currently serving Volunteer or staff
member, or this found its way to your eyes
in some curious manner, you hear the drum beat inside you.
You know what it feels like to reach out to someone and help
them, comfort them, teach them, be taught by them, to tell your
parents how grateful you are for the time, care, and attention
that they could afford to give you, making other people feel
good … It makes us feel good. Listen to that feeling. Follow
your own highest sense right.
Make the most of your position as a Padre de
Cuepro de Paz. Respond to your call to service
and make an impact.
Take care of yourselves everyone, make 2008 your
best year yet, enjoy each and every moment you
are given as they are limited and they are yours.
Peace!!!
Goyo
Diabolicos in Penonome, November 3
You don’t have to be ordained, licensed, sworn-in, have
successfully completed pre-service training, knighted by Raul,
or be volunteering/working for an official organization to offer
yourself to others. In fact, I believe the more you can blend
that spirit of service in everything you do, from how you look
at or approach the cashier at the grocery store, if you get to a
door and have the opportunity to open that door for someone
with a smile and a head-nod, simply find peace within yourself
and the world around you. Sympathize with those that are
struggling with life… lend a hand, but also know when it is
you that needs a hand and don’t be ashamed about asking for
one.
You get to choose in life. You can choose to be frustrated
about having to wait in line in a store or you can choose to take
that opportunity to start a conversation with the person waiting
8
Jacobo S.
La Vaina
January 2008
CED Update
Cynthia Redwine
surrounding oneself with great people …
and Peace Corps Panama is full of them!
Thanks to the sound input, thoughtful
reflection, and hard work of Zach Barriclow
and outstanding Volunteers Laura Miller,
Heather Love, Brandon Woods, Maria
Ruatto, and Fred DeWorken, the CED
program is getting its own set of New Year’s
resolutions. Following the Appreciative Inquiry session at the
CED sector conference, these Volunteers put in loooong hours
with representatives from IPACOOP, Junior Achievement, Girl
Scouts, and INADEH 12/13-14 to refine our project plan. This
work in progress reflects the vision I will continue to develop
for CED with input from Volunteers and agency partners.
T. Milstein
Bartola separating rice grains from the stalks. El Satro, Veraguas
H
appy New Year! I was working
at a bagel shop when I was
posed with the question by a
thoughtful customer: “What
three words would you use to sum up life?”
My response: laughing, loving and
learning. I was 17 then, and remain thankful for people like this
stranger who live life
thoughtfully
engaging
in
reflection. New Year
celebrations are
always a great
opportunity
for
reflection. While
resolutions can be
great, I contend that
each of us daily
makes decisions and
o n g o i n g
commitments about
our life purpose. I
can’t say that I do
this consciously, but
I do strive to this end.
This will be my first
year working as the
CED APCD, and I
love this job!
I will be off to Washington January 22 – February 15 to
participate in Overseas Staff Training. I look forward to being
c o l d ,
learning
more, and
hope
to
return with
the project
plan ready to share with all of you. I have visited all of Group
58, and admired the
Darlene Y. great work you guys
are engaged in. Your
second year flies by
even faster than your
first one, so remember
to appreciate where
you are and reflect
upon what you are
doing. I look forward
to visiting Group 60
upon my return to see
how
you
are
integrating in your new
communities
and
aspiring together with
them. The Peace Corps
is a phenomenal
commitment, and I trust
each of you to make the
very most of it, for
yourselves and your
communities.
Remember that my
door is always open
and I hope to share with
each one of you in your
reflections and resolutions during the coming year.
laughing, loving and learning
I am exactly where I
should be, doing
exactly what I should
be doing. I feel
blessed with the freedom to make these choices, and will
continue to reflect upon them. I find that the key to success is
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9
La Vaina
Gnawing Your Way to Productive
Happiness
H
owdy all and hope you are well. Happy New Year!
Did you know, according to the Chinese calendar,
this year will be the year of the Rat? According to
the Chinese Zodiac, the “Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity,
and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get
married, launch a product or make a fresh start. Ventures begun
now may not yield fast returns, but opportunities will come for
people who are well prepared and resourceful. The best way
for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly,
and make the most of every opening you can find.”
Holy Cow er... Rat! Does the
year of the Rat sound like the
year of the PCV? It does to
me. You are all out there
working hard to launch a new
product: community-based,
sustainable development. The
yield does not come quickly
or in large quantities (except
for those of you who will be
harvesting abono from your
composting latrine this year).
You are all well prepared and
resourceful, you would not
have applied for or been sworn
in as a PCV if you were not. In
the process, you are all finding
ways to be more patient (a
journey for all of us), letting
things develop slowly (the key
to sustainability), and you are making the most of every opening
you have (every encounter with a community member is the
opportunity to convey a new skill, thought or reflection.) Isn’t
it inspiring to know that an animal often despised for spreading
disease and keeping people up at night by chewing on wood is
actually the Chinese sign for a year of productive volunteering.
Darlene Yule Cooks It Up
Sarah K.
Tim Wellman (RPCV El Salvador)
I am glad we are talking about productive
volunteering. Since November, I have been
out visiting the EH-ers who have been here
in country for over a year. The productive
Group 58! I am thankful for the opportunity
to get out of the city to see Volunteers’
sites, talk with community members and get
to know the countryside. With each new
conversation, my feet are more firmly planted in Panamanian
soil. I am a geographer at heart and therefore I must experience
first hand the trails, roads, rivers, lakes or seas into your sites
and talk with the people that
live there. It is exciting to jump
in a vehicle and within hours
be out in the campo talking
with motivated folks about
health, potable water, latrines,
community history, crops …
the weather (I love talking
about the weather). I am truly
amazed by the beauty of your
communities and your
dedication to sustainable
community development. I
am also amazed by how many
of you cook delicious meals
for yourselves, always
allowing enough in case of a
visitor.
Of course the one-year site
visit is more than just conversations, talking to folks in the
community, and meals. It is an opportunity to talk in depth
with your APCD about projects, community commitments,
challenges and the future. It is an opportunity to make a plan
for success. It is critical that an APCD visits Volunteers to take
part in their journey in community development, sustainability,
productivity. The APCD also gains more understanding of
Volunteers’ personal journeys towards self awareness, self
respect, responsibility, emotional/psychological well-being, self
sufficiency, language adaptation, community respect.
Sitting here looking out at the ships moving through the locks
of the canal, I reflect on these site visits, my own personal
journey as a PCV and APCD, and this coming year of the Rat.
I believe one of the most common challenges of being a PCV
hinges on productivity and our Western world version of
success and its connection to our sense of accomplishment
and personal happiness. We seem to be intrinsically product
driven; we figure out the fastest way to get from point A to
point B (i.e. get blocks, build latrines). Our objective then, is to
complete the project, everything in between is a means to an
end. If we have projects going on, we tend to measure our
10
January 2008
productivity by this Western version of success. If
we don’t have tangible projects going on, it may
influence our own perception of our productivity.
Unfortunately, in this mindset we are missing out on
everything in between. We are forgetting to be creative
and think outside of our Western perception; to take
the time to feel grateful for everyday, every encounter,
every experience to learn, teach, and live. Most
important in our mission here, is to build capacity in
ourselves, community members, and all of the folks
who are important to us back home to live responsible,
respectful, sustainable lives.
La Vaina
F. DeWorken
I realize that we as APCDs push you all to work hard
to accomplish objectives of the project plan and that
our mindset then tends to be product oriented.
Actions turn into numbers to log in your quarter
reports and end of year reports. This is certainly part
of the work of a volunteer, however, don’t let the
numbers or the product of your work rule you. The
process is the most fulfilling part of volunteerism. The
connections you make with other people, your
opportunity to learn or teach, to help or be helped is
the experience! It is up to you to find these little gems
in everything that you do, and make everything that
you do tie into what you believe and the reason why
you swore in as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Happiness
leads to productivity and productivity leads to
happiness. The key is to figure out what your actual
product will be. Wishing you peace, happiness and
productivity in 2008: the year of the rat.
Julie A.
Top: Proud Madrina & Little Ocueña
Bottom: Pollera Princesses; Chitré, Herrera
[email protected]
11
La Vaina
SAS: Siempre Mejorando
The Little Fish
“Excuse me,” said an ocean fish.
“You are older than I, so
can you tell me where to find
this thing they call the ocean?”
“The ocean,” said the older fish, “is the thing
you are in now.”
“Oh, this? But this is water. What I’m seeking
is the ocean,” said the disappointed fish
as he swam away to search elsewhere.
Stop searching, little fish. There isn’t anything
to look for.
All you have to do is look.
-Anthony de Mello.
C
ongratulations to SAS PCVs from Group 59 for finding
unique ways to accomplish your community
assessments. It was interesting to see how well some
of you used the community assessment tools. I enjoyed
learning with you about the people in your communities - real
people and real problems. It was interesting to see that you are
experiencing things you have probably read
about or heard about such as: community
divisions, paternalism, lack of information, lack
of planning, irresponsible slash and burn,
projects that come from outside the community
instead of from real or expressed needs, etc. On
the other hand, you will start discovering how
people cope with their problems and work to
improve their lives. You now have the opportunity
to read from reality, not just from a book. You
have the opportunity to live the experience and
share your findings with your community
partners as your Spanish improves.
Aimee Urrutia
Long history of reforestation projects
Reforestation projects for water sources are
being proposed by both SAS and CEC
PCVs. However, some of you will find that
reforestation projects have already been
attempted in your communities; that
planted forestry trees were accidentally burned by community
members while burning their fields to plant. Poorly controlled
fires can go all the way to the reforested fields around the
water sources. PCVs, together with community members, need
to learn from their communities’ previous experiences and try
to work with the people who burn the fields near reforested
areas to diminish the risk of burning the forestry trees. It is
important to know the real reasons why water sources are not
reforested in order to define all the necessary actions for
accomplishing and maintaining reforestation.
Paternalism and real need
One community did all the hard work digging rice tanks and
MIDA them gave almost all the tubes necessary. However,
they did not want to pay $2.50 for a piece of tube to finish
implementing the rice tanks. They probably think that it is the
government’s responsibility to provide that material. This could
be because it was probably the government’s idea to establish
rice tanks in the first place or because they are accustomed to
paternalism. It could also be because rice tanks are not their
real need. As the Volunteer observed, a real need for them is
finding a good buyer for their abundant corn production. This
The puzzle of the adoption problem needs to be
solved. You have found in listening to people’s
and communities’ histories that they have been
trained in organic agriculture or in many other
sustainable agricultural techniques but they have
not adopted them. Why? That is the puzzle that
you have to solve; little by little you will learn
how to work with the farmers in your community.
All you have to do is look!
12
Gringos With Cameras Invade Mariato
F. DeWorken
La Vaina
January 2008
that has shown friendship and interest. There are many other
divisions: family, political, geographical, etc. It is important
that you start your work and establish relationships as soon
as possible, before the coming political races for the May 2009
elections bring even more divisions to your communities.
Noah D.
True Love in Cerro Punta
will increase their income. This Volunteer needs to facilitate
agribusiness training for these corn producers. The corn
producers need to establish a cooperative or a farmer
association and need to sell their product together. Also, they
need to research and learn about the corn market.
Community division
Another PCV learned how true it is that you may not work with
“the community” as a whole as was mentioned many times in
Pre-Service Training. Her community is strongly divided by
religions. Evangelical people will not work with Catholic people
and vice-versa. However, she will start working with the group
Innovators without planning
Innovative personalities are found all too infrequently in the
campo. One PCV found a farmer dedicated to innovation. This
farmer has decided to start a coffee farm while everybody else
is planting cacao. This is not the first time that he has tried
something completely different. The only problem is that he
does not have any idea of how or to whom he is going to sell
his coffee production. His options are to process the coffee
himself and sell it ground and roasted to surrounding
communities or find a buyer and sell it to a larger market. It
seems that people in surrounding communities need coffee
and will buy it; however, he has no money to buy the processing
equipment necessary. With regards to the second option, we
can help him make contact with coffee buyers. However, there
is not much coffee production in the area and therefore the
larger market he wants to sell into would involve high
transportation costs. We will see how this story ends later.
Based on the high energy of this innovator and the hard work
of our PCV, this is sure to be an interesting learning experience.
Great Reconnect In-Service Training for Group 59
Thanks to Jesus Almenteros for letting us use his farm for our
technical day. SAS PCVs from Group 59 found this day full of
useful information for their work. Thanks to SAS PCVs Laura
Mills, Laura Gregory, Darlene Yule, Peter Caliguiri, Jake Slusser
and Greg Landrigan for your excellent contributions to this
training. Finally, I want to thank Franklin Cano for his support
and logistics work, and to the training team Raul Martinez and
Zachary Barricklow for excellent planning and good sessions.
Road Crew; Salitre, Comarca Ngäbe
Jackson T.
[email protected]
Rob
L.
13
La Vaina
TEA Time
H
Pablo Garron
APPY NEW YEAR. My best wishes for you all out
there.
I have proposed to make this year a great one. Put
differently, I am going to give all my energy to make 2008 an
awesome year.
Enjoying my vacation time at home and with my family, I am
exited to write this La Vaina article for the first time as TEA
APCD. Lots of activities and developments on the TEA project
have happened since last quarter. Let me
give you an update on the new sector.
The Tourism and English Advising
program will focus on training local
community members in the use of English
language and the strategic development
of tourism. Focusing primarily on
indigenous communities and poor Latino
communities, the TEA program will build
on partnerships with HCAs and NGOs
already with experience in the sector. TEA
Volunteers will assist in the development
of tourism plans at a local level. Those
plans will be developed by local
committees and the support of the
Volunteer and MIDES partners in an effort
to improve the organizational and Noah D.
leadership capacity of the community as
well as to appropriately look for funding opportunities. The
Volunteer will coordinate with established Community
Developers from MIDES and NGO partners to assess and
prioritize needs. TEA Volunteers will work with MEDUCA in
the local elementary and secondary schools to improve their
Teaching English as a Second Language (TEASL) programs.
Volunteers will serve as resources for local teachers in rural
communities where tourism is growing. They will become
community outreach
specialists and will
support
training
Gringos sell dulces. Mariato, Veraguas
F. DeWorken
14
follow-up and monitoring efforts. These
Volunteers will work with their HCAs and
NGO partners to develop additional TEASL
education activities and materials
The project plan will be co-elaborated with
the new Volunteers arriving in April. So far,
many contacts have been made with key
players of HCAs as well as NGOs in the development sector.
Currently, the project’s focus is training local
community members in the use of English
language and the strengthening of
tourism planning in order to complement
and raise the local capacity to provide a
better quality of life. There are three
proposed project goals: 1. Develop Tourism
Opportunities – Working with the
“Instituto Panameño de Turismo (IPAT)”
as well as with other NGOs, Volunteers will
train local committees in target areas to
develop strategic plans under a process
towards increasing tourism. 2. Enhance
Capacity to Communicate in English –
Working with Minister of Education
(MEDUCA), the Minister of Social
Investment (MIDES), Volunteers will help
develop and improve educational materials
and train local teachers in Teaching English
as a Second Language towards better preparing local
community members in communicating with tourists. 3. Develop
Transformational Leadership – Working with the Minister of
Social Investment (MIDES). The Department of Investment
for Development of Social Capital has requested the support
of Peace Corps Volunteers to train local community members
as agents of changes through transformational leadership
techniques.
We are in the beginnings of site development. So far I have
selected 5 sites in Bocas del Toro, 3
in Darien and 3 in Chagres, and one
or two in Santiago to work with the
Teachers School. I have been
meeting with different people at
various levels. Thanks to your work
and dedication, all of the agencies
are respectful of Peace Corps and
are excited to hear more and actually
work with the new sector. Thanks
to all of you for constant support
and guidance. I will always look and
wait for your suggestions.
See you soon!
La Vaina
January 2008
CEC News
Francisco Santamaria
H
Jake S.
appy New Year!!
With a new year there is
opportunity for new personal and
professional goals. Hopefully, these new
goals can be achieved in a successful and
safe environment.
To all of you CEC Volunteers, I wish the
best of the world for you. Remember, you are doing a great job
for yourself, the people, the environment and the planet.
Group 55: Currently we have the Volunteer Elizabeth Gilles
who is the regional leader for Chiriqui. She is doing a great job
supporting Chiricano Volunteers and the presence of Peace
Corps in Chiriqui. Thanks for that. A couple days ago, PCV
Ann Mainlander and Jenny Biggs left the country. They did
an outstanding job and were real ambassadors of the United
States’ culture in
Panama. My
c o u n t r y Kevin C.
waits
for
your return.
Group 57:
The time is
flying, and
there
are
only seven
months left
in
your
service.
However, this is a good time to achieve new goals, enjoy
Panamanian culture and plant new seeds. For those who are
thinking of extending, it is a good time to start talking to me
about your plans.
Group 59: Last December 13th, I finished my first official rounds
of site visits. I saw people with new skills living and working
within a new culture. I know how difficult it is, but I appreciate
your effort. Keep going and thanks for that! The first months
of service are crucial in a Volunteer’s life. Remember that I am
always behind you to support you.
Pete Calaguri on a Jihad to save the world
watershed. The objectives of this workshop are to train
community leaders and local agency staff in explaining how to
increase the diversity of trees planted and ultimately the
biodiversity of the flora and fauna; the promotion of native
species reforestation; and how to include the entire community
in this process.
Second week of March: All Volunteer Conference It is
important to form a team of Volunteers to work with the APCD
in planning the CEC portion of the conference. If you are
interested, let me know by the end of January.
January, February and March: Site development process
Thanks to all of you who have given ideas to the regional
leaders about potential sites. We are always willing to receive
suggestions.
An Islet near Coiba in Veraguas
Upcoming Events:
January 22-25: Project Management and Leadership
Seminar for Group 59
January 27-31: Collecting and processing native tree seeds
for reforestation. This workshop will be held in conjunction
with ANAM in their training center located in the community
of Cacao in the district of Capira inside of the Panama Canal
Noah D.
[email protected]
15
La Vaina
Curandera’s Corner
I
Dr. Lourdes Rodriguez
t’s the time of the year when Panama gets ready to celebrate Carnavales. During these festivities, a
good number of our PCVs visit the Azuero region. This is why your PCMOs would like to remind you
about Hanta Virus. Most cases that occur in Panamá are reported from that area.
•
•
•
•
16
Avoid contact with rodents.
Don’t forget to wash or clean the area from where you drink.
Ventilate rooms that have been closed up for at least 30 min before entering them.
Keep all foods covered.
La Vaina
January 2008
We are getting close to Carnaval celebration, and as you know
during this time people are out and exposed to the sun and
hence, to heat. These are CDC tips to prevent heat-related
illness. Some tips will not apply to you, but we think it is
important that you read all about it.
The best defense is prevention. Here are some prevention tips:
•
•
•
•
Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your
activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount
of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask how
much you should drink while the weather is hot.
Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol or large
amounts of sugar. These actually cause you to lose
more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because
they can cause stomach cramps.
Stay indoors and, if
at all possible, stay
in
an
airconditioned places.
If your home does
not
have
air
conditioning, go to
the shopping mall
or public library.
Even a few hours
spent
in
air
conditioning can
help your body stay
cooler when you go
back into the heat.
Call your local
health department
to see if there are
any heat-relief
shelters in your
area.
People aged 65 or older
o
People who have a mental illness
o
Those who are physically ill, especially with
heart disease or high blood pressure
Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely
watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Infants and young children, of course, need much
more frequent watching.
If you must be out in the heat:
•
Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening
hours.
•
Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two
to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour.
Congo dances during La Mejorana, Guarare
A sports beverage can
replace the salt and
minerals you lose in
sweat. Warning: If you
are on a low-salt diet, talk
with your doctor before
drinking a sports
beverage. Remember the
warning in the first “tip”
(above), too.
•
Try to rest often
in shady areas.
Electric fans may
provide comfort,
Jacobo S.
but when the
temperature is in the
high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illnesses.
Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an airconditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
•
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
•
NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
•
Although any one at any time can suffer from heatrelated illness, some people are at greater risk than
others. Check regularly on:
o
•
o
Infants and young children
•
Protect yourself
from the sun by wearing
a wide-brimmed hat (also
keeps you cooler) and
sunglasses and by
putting on sunscreen of
SPF 15 or higher (the
most effective products
say “broad spectrum” or
“UVA/UVB protection”
on their labels).
This
provided by NCEH’s Health Studies Branch.
information
E-MAIL FOR MEDICAL QUESTIONS
[email protected]
E-MAIL FOR SUPPLIES OR CONFIRM MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS
[email protected]
MEDICAL EMERGENCY CELL PHONE
6671-2547
[email protected]
17
La Vaina
Zach is the New Man of the House
A
llow myself to introduce … myself. Right, so as
most of you know, I am the new Meegan March. Of
course, the position does have other names, such
as Assistant Training Director or Master Trainer and Regional
Leader Coordinator, but that is beside the point. The point is,
I’m here to help - to help Raul and the rest of the training staff
in the preparation and implementation of all Peace Corps training
activities (PST, Reconnect IST, PML, PDM, COS, etc.); to help
Greg and our much-loved Regional Leaders in Volunteer
support, site development, and agency relations; to help
trainees become successful PCVs; and to help you beautiful
people have a positive, effective Peace Corps experience.
During my time in this role, I will be taking a hard look at the
structure, content, and results of Peace Corps’ trainings and
working to improve their effectiveness. One “tweak” has already
taken place with the adoption of Peace Corps Panama’s very
own Project Management & Leadership (PML) workshop,
which serves to complement the traditional Project Design &
Management (PDM) workshop that we have historically done
with Volunteers and their community counterparts. Because
many Volunteers used to come to the PDM workshop with
good counterparts to train but no projects to design, we have
made PDM optional for those who have a project, while PML—
which deals with more generally applicable leadership skills—
will be offered to each group of recently-arrived Volunteers
beginning with Group 59.
Master Trainer
Zach Barricklow (RPCV Panamá)
During the last few months getting up-tospeed, I’ve learned that Training is always a
living and breathing organism. Here in Panama
we’re lucky enough to have a Training Director
(Raul) who is flexible and innovative enough
to seriously consider the insights of Volunteers
and Trainees in the process (not always the
case in other PC posts). So take advantage! If
you have ideas for how things can be improved, get a hold of
me wherever you see me, and let me know what you’re thinking.
I look forward to listening!
As an aside, I thought I’d share a picture from Lauren and my
wedding this past December 29th. Your typical story really.
Guy meets girl at a regional meeting. Guy hikes 15 hours through
jungle to see girl again. Guy finds an artisan market and buys
a tagua ring at the last minute to propose to girl before her
COS. Girl immediately leaves the country for 4 months. Girl
plans wedding. Guy shows up at wedding. Girl forgives guy
for being in Panama during the monstrous process that is
wedding planning. Girl and guy get hitched and head back
down to Panama for another round of muddy treks, Spanglish,
and Panamanian misadventures...
So far we both miss our beloved huts in the campo. So enjoy
where you’re at and know that we’re living vicariously through
you. J
Good luck out there!
Happily Ever After
Zach B.
18
January 2008
The Article Formerly Titled “Crisis Corps”
P
La Vaina
By the formerly titled CCC: Tess Sparks
ues, Pa’ Que CCCepan, it’s official. No hace mucho, HQ changed Crisis Corps to Peace
Corps Response. Now instead of CCVs, we have PCRVs. So while I bide for time to think
up a new alliteration to title this article, I’ll distract you with a CCV/PCRV refresher via this
pobre poema or pobrema.
The (Soon To Be) Great 8
We’ve Hondureño RPCVs Molly and Jamie in Panama City.
At Cruz Roja, she’s creating HIV games that are witty.
While he’s helping MINSA develop a stronger database.
Tu sabes, information sharing and storage that use less
space.
Julie A.
Craig is kicking it in Bermejo,
Making sure that ningún Coclesano
Is without fresh OJ ni café en su desayuno.
Old Skoolers Vanessa and Emily continue to impress
As first-aid and traslados en urgencias they address.
All seminar participantes have attended:
12 comunidades, Cruz Roja, SINAPROC and SISED,
Only one has been excused when dengue put him in bed.
Our new-Vee is actually an old-Vee,
Call him Drew or Andrés y te contestará con “Si”.
He’s not changed his cédula, just his physical addresses
And moved to Chepo to aid MINSA’s water stress.
Cuando La Vaina te llega, numero 7 habrá aterrizado.
Leo estará por El Entradero de Coclé
Mejorando el monte con Cosecha
Sostenible.
John J.
Students from Escuela Cerro Tula at world map inauguration
And number 8, will work with the
IFRC’s PADRU.
Giving aid in response to natural
disasters, that’s what she’ll do.
Yeah, that’ll be the only weight
she’ll carry
Upon her arrival at the end of
January.
Here ends my pobrema.
Espero que no te haya causado
ningún problema.
Just wanted to assure you that
name change, ni modo,
Peace Corps Response todavía
contesta a todo.
[email protected]
19
La Vaina
GADgets For The Future
Valerie Brender
B
ackspace, Backspace, Backspace!
You may recall that my last article
sported
the
enthusiastic
announcement “Camp is back!” and that
camp will be taking place January 10th-14th..
Double False! First, to make the event that
is to take place this quarter even more
deserving of an annoying trail of enthusiastic exclamation
points, we need more prep time. We were originally going to
push the seminario into January so that it synced with the
travel schedule of our funding source (CED funding demigod,
Cynthia Redwine, who generously guided monies into our
empty GAD seminario coffers). Her own schedule was
reshuffled, though, so now we can have this fabulous GAD
seminario in February.
So the new dates are February 18th-22nd, but don’t allow this
change of plans to cause you stress, fearless GAD supporters.
The seminario will unfold at the same place, San Felix, at the
Centro Fundación Nuestra Señora del Camino and with the
same theme, Cruzando el Puente por un Futuro Mejor. The
extra month that your jovenes must wait while squirming with
anticipation gives those who were thinking about sending kids
but were too busy last month singing Holiday cheer a chance
to shoot applications our way. (But hurry! There are very few
spots remaining!).
Julie A.
Noviembre Dias Patrias
cooperative in La Trinidad, she seemed
to be an obvious choice to help mastermind a GAD seminario
that focused on leadership, life skills and personal development.
The kind folks at the Centro Fundación Nuestra Señora del
Camino who housed our GAD seminario last year will again be
opening their centro doors for our 40 or so seminario youth
goers and 12ish counselors and organizers. Kudos must be
dolled out to our valiant leader, Heather Love, who has been
I must also correct my former blunder (false statement #2), stirring the camp-planning cauldron with Laura, and to Colin
which was a slip of the keys, really, because the GAD event to Daly, artist extraordinaire, who designed our t-shirts. A big
take place is not camp. The mind-blowing event happening thank you to the GAD Directiva, to all the Volunteers who are
next month that is GAD-endorsed and CED-sponsored is sending their jovenes and to those who will be counselors. We
actually the GAD seminario. (To the funding gods in will have more gold stars of recognition for all of us after the
Washington: I didn’t mean it, I swear!) Why this distinction? seminario takes place (and we are sure no appendages were
Well, because the word camp invokes a paper trail of additional lost in the process).
regulations that we need not include in our simple, but
World AIDS Day
marvelous, seminario. Something to keep in mind if you ever
On December 1st GAD
Entrevista, Maria R. Mariato, Veraguas
plan on organizing
hosted two events for
camps
(ahem, F. DeWorken
World AIDS Day, the first
seminarios) in the
in Shazia Davis’ site of
future.
Palenque, Colón and the
second in Holly Taylor’s
Now that our labels are
site of Malena, Veraguas.
straightened out, GAD
Peace Corps and Red Cross
must give a resounding
Volunteers in these sites
shout of appreciation to
held informational férias
the brilliant Laura
that included educational
Miller who has been
activities, music, prizes,
one of the principal
and games for kids. The
organizers for this
community-wide turnout
year’s GAD event for
for both of these events
youth. With all her
was impressive and a
revolutionary work
testament to the need for
with
the
youth
education and information
20
La Vaina
January 2008
about HIV/AIDS in the campo. Thanks
to Holly Taylor and Shazia Davis for
coordinating these events in their
communities, also to Tess Sparks and
Cynthia Redwine for their support from
the office, and to Molly Goggen-khem
for supplying activities and ideas! Both
férias were successful as a result of the
help from each of the PCVs who came
out and offered their support in these
events
B. Trainor
GAD Grants
We have winners! Congratulations to
Lisa Andrusyszyn, Laura Mills and Jessie
Gellings for their successful grant
applications. Just to remind all you world
changers—GAD grants are for the GAD
Provincial Level Charlas Initiative. The
grants go to fund charlas you plan to
have on sex education, life skills, gender
issues, etc., and they cover material costs
and transportation expenses for those
volunteers who help. If you want to write
a GAD grant for this quarter, fill out the
grant application and send it in to us
before the GAD General Meeting or attend
our next General Meeting on February 9th in Santiago (location
TBA). The grants can be de facto, for something you did in the
quarter preceding our meeting, or they can be for charlas you
are planning in the coming quarter. All grants will be considered
as long as they are completed before the GAD meeting. No
proposing grants on the spot, people. We will be sending out
another copy of the GAD grant
Women of G57 at GAD meeting
application through Vielka to Dia de La Grita, Los Santos
accompany this announcement, so be scanning those Vielka
mass email titles.
The Changing of the Guard
While February 14th is generally considered to be a day of love,
sharing, and spending time with those you care about, this
year Valentines Day will be a cruel day for GAD; it will be our
first Loveless day in a series
of Loveless days to come.
That’s right, our director,
Heather Love, is boarding the
flight of no return to head
back to the U.S.A. The
position of HIV/AIDS
coordinator/ GAD Director is
open, although for the time
being, funding is uncertain.
If you would like to apply, talk
to Tim Wellman. Applications
are due this month.
L. Gregory
[email protected]
We must say an enormous
Thank You! to Miss Heather
Love. She has been nothing
short of fantastic, and her
presence will be greatly
missed.
21
La Vaina
VAC Update plus Venta de Attractive
E
Lodging in Panama City: The reimbursements are going up!
Share good places you’ve stayed with your friends in La Vaina’s
Calendars!
“Fourth Goal.”
Laura Mills
n primer lugar, let’s give thanks
to all the people that made us
thankful at Thanksgiving in Cerro
Punta: the cooks for a tasty meal, Jake
Seiler for organizing the event, and
everyone that came out to celebrate.
Thank you to the illustrious Anne
Mailander, who was a terrific Vice
President as well! Thanks to her hard
work on the calendar with Holly Taylor and Darlene Yule we
have super saucy calendars for sale at the special price of $7.
The proceeds from the calendar sales go to fund our SSPA
grants and by default, your projects and charlas.
Congratulations to Jake Seiler, the new Vice President for VAC.
Adopt-a-Volunteer: Laura Gregory
has six lucky Volunteers matched
with host families in the Adopt-aVolunteer program. If you want to
participate and have already
contacted Laura, be patient, she is
in the process of looking for more
families to volunteer to adopt
Volunteers.
Emails to Wait For: Start taking
pictures of your gringo palacio or
shanty and your pet, and maybe
we will use it for a game at AVC.
Keep a look out for an email in the
future with more details.
and
remember,
when you
are out of
site, don’t
frequent
strip clubs
and casinos
in your
Peace
Corps polo.
AVC: For real this time. Mark your
(new PCP) calendars for the 11th-13th of March!
Out of Site: Be responsible about how many days you are
staying out of site and remember, when you are out of site,
don’t frequent strip clubs and casinos in your Peace Corps
polo.
M. Murray
SSPA Grants: Congratulations to Kirsten Oswald (trash bins),
Jess Mehls and Jess Gellings (composting latrines), and
Brandon Wood (youth opportunities fair.)
Next Meeting: The next meeting will be in March at the AVC in
Chitré.
Staff Appreciation: Thank you Ricardo for being so kind and
patient with all of us when we are sick, have lesh or have
forgotten for the eleventh time how to fill out our medical
reimbursement forms. Your mad English skills and beautiful
brown eyes warm our hearts. Mil Gracias!
Ashley Swopes Shows Em How; Mariato, Veraguas
F. DeWorken
President’s Note
More calendars were just ordered because
we sold out so fast. So if you want a Peace
Corps calendar, more will be waiting in the
office just for you! Other good news... AVC is fast
approaching! We are looking for Volunteers
interested planning the conference. If you have
experience planning events or just feel its your
calling, please contact me at [email protected].
22
January 2008
Youth Work and Play in Panama
La Vaina
Alexandra Hayes and Melanie Valm
Sarah K.
F
rom October 24th to the 26th, 2007, about 20 PCVs from
all over the country and from various sectors attended
the Panamá Verde conference in San Félix, Chiriquí. For
those Volunteers who are unfamiliar with the organization,
Panamá Verde was started by a Peace Corps Volunteer in the
Azuero region in 1996. In 2000, it became a national nonprofit
organization with international partnerships such as Peace
Corps, Kelloggs Corp, Amigos de las Américas and GeoJuvenil.
The national office of Panamá Verde sponsors national camps
for the jóvenes (the official PV age range is 12-25). There are
also provinical offices that coordinate more local camps, day
trips and meetings with neighboring communities. All Panamá
Verde offices, national and provincial, are very willing to work
with Peace Corps Volunteers. Most Panamá Verde groups are
organized and run with the support of a PCV, but there are
groups that are independent of Peace Corps.
The volunteer-led seminar was fantastic, with a capital “F”. A
wealth of information was discussed, ranging from how to
start a Panamá Verde group, sources of funding, educational
activities, and youth development and management. PV at it’s
core is an environmental youth group organization. It is geared
towards developing critical thinking, encouraging leadership
skills and development, and all the while having a damn good
time. Environmental education is the key, but it is informal.
Movie nights, hikes, selling root beer floats for cash – whatever
gets the kids organized and working as a team is what counts.
Everyone’s favorite part of training comes back in full force in
PV – DINÁMICAS! Love them. You may have found them
slightly uncomfortable or a torture method during PST, but
they are what makes PV Panama Verde Volunteer Training
attractive and different from
any other type of learning environment these kids have known.
They are fun. They are active. They encourage, inspire and
enhance team work. And make the kids laugh like hell. Even
something as simple as playing the school age favorite,
“telephone,” builds excitement and creates a fun atmosphere.
An awesome source of dinámicas, educational activities and
fundraising ideas is the brand spanking new, beautiful, handydandy Panamá Verde manual floating around in each province
– just ask your RL. It is a freaking amazing compilation of
Volunteer ideas that can be utilized in any kind of group (PV or
not).
The seminar also received support from the PEPFAR fund.
Therefore, an informative VIH-SIDA charla was presented by
Cruz Roja Panamá which included a visually stimulating
condom demonstration and a lively discussion about VIHSIDA.
Most Volunteers associate PV with the CEC sector exclusively.
And while it is true that PV is very highly encouraged in the
CEC sector, we would like to stress that ANYONE CAN START
A GROUP! It is an amazing tool for any Volunteer, new or a year
into your sevice, to bring together the youth and instill a little
knowledge. If this sounds good to you and you want more
information, ask Volunteer Sarah Kreisman, who is the national
coordinator between PC and PV, or Francisco Santamaria, the
CEC APCD. Fuerte Aplauso!
Contact Info for Sarah: [email protected]
6490-3867
[email protected]
23
Fourth Goal
Now Playing on the Radio in my Head...
Light my Fogon
Come on baby light my fogon
Baby won’t you light my fogon.
I’m hungry wanna get my grub on.
Yeahhhh…
You know that it would be uncool
You know that I would be a liar
If I were to say to you
I don’t like my food cooked on fire!!
Come on baby light my fogon
Baby won’t you light my fogon
I’m hungry wanna get my GRUB ONNN Yeahh!!!!!!!!
Booya over Bagdad
Don’t everybody like the taste of fried luncheon meat?
Well eat campesino, eat American cheese.
Don’t everybody like the taste of beans and rice, listen
campesino cause I’m telling you why.
-Fred DeWorken
PoliciaNacional, Desfile Dias Patrias; Santiago, Veraguas
F.DeWorken
Bagel Café
Bagels! Bagels and more bagels. The Bagel Café offers you
just that and more as their incredibly comprehensive menu is
nicely complimented by an ambiance to sip tea over. Top
your bagel with anything from plain ol’ cream cheese to the
lox and capers or order a bagel sandwich but be sure that
you top it all off with a hot cup of specialty coffee and a
oversized chocolate cookie. The Bagel Café is right in the
heart of Plaza Einstein on trendy Via Argentina. Just look for
the statue.
- F. DeWorken
...maintain sanity
Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding
Mix:
4 tbs. sugar
1 1/2 tbs. cocoa
2 tbs. cornstarch
pinch of salt
1/3 cup & 1 tbs. dry milk
Once mixed well, put over medium heat with 1 cup of
water.
Stir constantly until mixture thickens and coats the back of
the spoon.
Remove from heat and add 1 tsp. vanilla.
Let cool and eat.
So fast and delicious!
I swear this is wonderful!
- Laura Gregory
Taco Loco
If you’ve been wondering where to get your taco, burrito and quesadilla fix in the heart of chicharone paradise,
wonder no longer. Taco Loco, on Via Argentina, will get you that fix of crunchy greasy guacamole goodness
that your heart has been desiring. The menu includes most Mexican favorites, down to flautas, and is
complimented by a salsa bar featuring fresh pico de gallo. Right around from the Bagel Café on Via Argentina.
- F. DeWorken
La Vaina
the topics and themes of the classes of the coffee school and
On The Radio: Rural Radio Projects
made them the topics of the radio program in the same sequence.
Ed O’Brien
H
istory:
RPCV Bryan Richardson told
me about a former volunteer
who did a radio program about
sustainable agriculture through Radio
Veraguas called “Alla en el Campo”. Bryan
was working on a coffee seminar, and we
though it might be a good idea to try to
make a radio program based on the
seminars in Ngäbe and Spanish. Aimee Urrutia put me in touch
with Fred DeWorken, who came out to San Félix to record the
first two programs with Maximo Sandoya and Jose Gallardo.
With the recordings already made, we took them to several
radio stations who told us we would have to pay $60 a month
to get the programs aired once a week. The directiva of
APATACH—a coffee producer association based in the
Comarca—asked Proyecto Ngäbe Bugle for support, and they
agreed to let us air the program over air time they had already
purchased. About 12 programs were aired between mid
September and mid December , each one between 5 and 15
minutes long. This year, starting in February, we will be working
with Proyecto Ngäbe Bugle to have a 30 minute long program
broadcast by Radio Farro David—104.7 for those of you on
the Western side of the country—every Friday night at 8:45.
Since September of last year I have been part of a radio project
in the Comarca Ngäbe Bugle. Below I would like to try to share
what I have learned so that if you try something similar you
can avoid some of the mistakes I made.
In addition, I would like anyone interested to participate in a
seminar on February 28th and 29th. The details about what will
be covered and where exactly the seminar will be are still in the
works, please email or call me at [email protected] or 6 5761274. Information from this article will be posted on an
instructables web page, at http://www.instructables.com/id/
Rural-Radio/.
What you need:
People to interview – not hard for us, just find those people, in
or around your community or at a local agency who you think
have something to say.
Program – Before you have air time or agency support, I would
recommend putting together and recording a program. This
way you can give the radio station something to listen too, get
some good feed back on what they need and go from there.
Topics and Structure – Sit down with your counterpart and
pick out topics for programs. When you have the topics, see if
you can make a logical sequence from them if you plan on
making a series of programs. For us, this was easy, we just took
26
Questions – With your counterpart, plan out some questions
you can ask him or her. Have your counterpart plan out the
answers or at least have some response ideas, the program will
sound smoother this way.
Recording:
There are two basic ways to record: 1) the station’s recording
studio 2) a portable device.
At the studio:
Advantages: No gallos or dogs in the background that try to
get themselves on tape, better quality of sound overall, no
need to buy or borrow expensive equipment, going to the studio
helps community members establish relationships with people
at the radio station.
Disadvantages: Time at the recording studio can be hard to
get, you might get a short amount of time in the studio and not
be able to do many retakes, you have to find transportation to
the studio, and you can get the interviews out in the campo.
Portable device:
Advantages: You might already have one, or might only need
to pay a little to turn your mp3 player or ipod into one. You can
download your material to a computer, edit it with your
counterpart, and then email it to a radio station or agency. It is
relatively cheap—and may be even cheaper in the long run
than visiting the studio as you can email the program without
going all the way to the radio station. You can record events in
your community and incorporate these recordings into your
program.
Disadvantage: Expensive, can cost up to $300 for a quality
machine. Picks up background noise if you are in an open area.
Can break or suffer malfunctions. Need laptop or other
expensive devices to process the recorded material.
Dry Run
Whether you use a radio studio or a portable device, plan on
doing a couple of dry runs to help the interviewees become
more comfortable with being recorded. If you are recording
with a device, let them listen to their recording, so they can
have control over what gets cut and what gets aired.
Portable devices
Mini Discman – Built by Sony, these machines record a very
high quality, however, they are expensive, and can eat up
batteries, especially those cheap ones from the tienda. A used
one costs at least $80 plus shipping off ebay. If you use one of
these, make sure you get one with an usb connection, so you
can upload the recordings to a computer more easily.
Olympus Digital Voice Recorders – These recorders do not use
discs like the Sony minidiscs, and are therefore more energy
efficient and smaller. They might not produce as high quality
January 2008
recordings as the Mini Disc Recorder, but are good enough for
radio programs. You can get one off newegg.com for about $45
dollars, and Audio Foto sells them for about $50. Again, make
sure you get one with an usb input so you can upload your
recordings.
Ipod and others – I’ve seen mp3 players for 20 to 30 dollars on
Avenidad Central in Panama city, and Audio Foto carries some
cheap ones, some that have microphones built in and can record
mp3s. Mp3s don’t have the best sound quality when compared
to what you can get from a minidisc recorder or a digital recorder
that records to a .wav file, but the radio station might play it if
it sounds clean enough. If you already have one of these
recorders, try making a short program with it, take it to the
station, and see what they say.
If you already have an Ipod, you can get a microphone
attachment for about $35 from a company called Belkin off of
newegg. The Mac store in Albrook might have it or be able to
order it as well.
Tape recorders – I don´t know of any cheap tape players that
are worth buying for doing a radio project. Even if you get a
good recording on tape, you are going to have to transfer it to
a digital file, and some quality will be lost in that process.
Problems:
Distortion – Listen to the recording with head phones while
you record. Some people want to get very close to the
microphone, and by speaking to loudly, they can cause the
microphone, and ultimately a radios speaker to make an
annoying popping sound. The radio station will not air
recordings that have this distortion or popping sound. It sounds
as if someone is punching the microphone. Be careful to have
the interviewee stand at least three feet away from the
La Vaina
microphone, and listen for distortion while you record. Re record
the question and answer if you get this distortion, this way
you won’t lose the interview and all the work when you bring
it to the station.
Wind – When you are recording outside, take care to protect
the microphone from the wind, as gusts can cause the same
problem with distortion. Also some cheap microphones are
very sensitive, and simply passing them from one person to
another can make it sound as if you took a baseball bat to the
top of the microphone. It is best to have one person hold the
microphone throughout the interview.
Objectives:
While the stated objectives of a radio project might be to
educate the audience in new agricultural techniques, a radio
program can attain many secondary objectives as well.
The stated objective of our coffee radio program was to teach
farmers new skills over the radio. While this has been important,
in my experience several secondary objectives are just as
important. A radio program is a convenient excuse to go out
and meet with different people, with the ability to bring people
together who might not otherwise meet. Farmers can meet and
interview agency people, farmers can go and meet other
farmers, presidents of different groups can meet other
presidents and form relationships that might not have otherwise
existed. Although not a primary objective, it helps to be
conscious of this relationship building component and to take
full advantage of it when you see the opportunity arise.
If you have any questions or you are interested in attending
the seminar, please give a call or send an email.
[email protected]
Program Taping; San Felix, Chiriqui
F. DeWorken
[email protected]
27
La Vaina
Jokes that Make Ngäbes Laugh
N
ot too long ago, a La Vaina article was published
about the unique indigenous sense of humor of the
Ngäbes and how the physical pain of others really unlocks
the vast repository of Ngäbe mirth and merry spirits. Nothing
is better for breaking the cultural ice than tripping on a root
and then sliding fifteen feet down a hill only to have your fall
broken face first against the spines of a pifa tree. However,
this approach, while effective, is really only for masochists. I
guess some would argue that being in the Peace Corps makes
us masochists by default, especially those of us in Bocas del
Toro.
Nico Armstrong
no matter how many times you tell a good
joke, they will laugh as if it was the first
time they heard it and ask you to retell it
for the rest of your life.
Las hormigas y el elefante
Había un tribu de hormigas que
vivían en la selva, y ellos tenían la
desgracia de haber construido su
hormigón en un corredor donde siempre pasaba un
elefante. Cada día el elefante aplastaba su hormigón y
las pobres hormigas tenían que construirlo todo de
nuevo. Un día el jefe de las hormigas, bravísimo, dijo,
“Estoy harto de ese elefante! Tenemos que hacer algo
al caso!”
Así que todas las hormigas subieron un árbol, y cuando
el elefante pasó por debajo de una rama, todas las
hormigan saltaron encima de él, gritando, “Al ataque!!”
Pero el elefante se sacudió, y todas las hormigas se
cayeron al suelo. Todas menos uno. Queda un valiente,
agarrando con desesperación el cuello del elefante.
Entonces las hormigas en el suelo le gritaron,
“Ahórcalo, ahórcalo!”
Rob L.
J. Jenkins
I am happy to say that after many blank stares and
uncomfortable silences, I have distilled from various sources
some real gems that will make Ngäbes laugh, at least men.
While you and I may not really think they are that funny, they
will have the natives rolling. Only my favorite will get printed,
but feel free to ask me for more if you want to get some good
belly laughing yourself. One thing I love about Ngäbes is that
Yemiymah
28
January 2008
New Budget/Financial Analyst
La Vaina
Hely Kristine Cortez M.
November 2007 to present
Hely is the newest member in the administrative team. She
serves as Chief Accountant of the Post and makes financial
recommendations to Country Director, Administrative Officer
and Senior Staff. Hely assists the Administrative Officer in
the preparation and analysis of the Annual Operating,
Medevac Hub and Peace Corps Response Budgets. She is
responsible for the overall accounting operations of the Post
and assists and provides counseling to the Admin. Officer in
matters related to personnel, PC policies and US Government
regulations. Hely provides administrative support to all
volunteers and staff in general involving communication and
coordination so she is available if you have a question.
Hely come to Peace Corps as a former employee of the United
State Agency for International Development (USAID) in the
Financial Management Office and before that she worked in
the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in the Accounting
Department. She has more than 20 years of experience in US
government agencies in various accounting fields specifically
in accounts payables, accounts receivables, payroll, banking,
budget and has aquired 5 years in financial management. Ms.
Cortez holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Universidad
Santa Maria la Antigua (USMA) and an MBA with emphasis
in International Trade and Marketing from University of
Panama (Center for International Studies). She is also a
Certified Public Translator for English and Spanish languages.
Rob L.
Hely is a proud mother of her teenager, Isabel Cristina. She is
passionate about music and dance of different genres.
Raymond Brown disobeys parents’ orders and
gets his picture in the paper hugging Omar 1973
[email protected]
29
La Vaina
Preemptive Bicho Strike
A
s I sit here unraveling from my inverted half-nelson
lotus2.0 pose, the words of Josh Rooke (Sentient
Beings La Vaina, June 2007) rattle around in my head. Hours
of thoughtful meditation and
reflection upon the plight of my F. DeWorken
insect brethren have brought me
to this enlightened finality.
Preemptive strike.
Yes, that’s right. The doctrine of
preemptive sentient-bicho strike.
You see, me being a sentient
being, I understand the feelings
of being pricked, poked and
venomized. They are not feelings
that I associate with the warm
fuzziness of springtime birthday
parties, Christmas presents or
even Albrook Mall. No, man,
being stung hurts and it sucks
and sometimes you have to go
and get a sore lacerated and drained and that just ain’t cool.
These so-called sentient creatures are designed to inflict pain
and suffering. And even if they are sentient, they have no
regard for human life or well being and they should be treated
as such. It’s a monumental struggle, I know. We’re up against
a foe that recognizes no flag, has no borders, respects no rule
of law and leaves little to no excrement. We can’t wait for them
to bring the fight to us.
You see Obi Wan Joshobee, we live in a different world now, as
a matter of fact, the man at the airport told me so as he took my
4.3oz tube of Tom’s toothpaste away (thank God; I hadn’t
realized how dangerous that stuff is). And him being a federally
licensed agent, I tend to take his word over yours. And it’s not
Fred DeWorken
just federal agents who recognize threats,
have you talked to your local campesino
lately? The bichos are taking over!! They
hide under innocent looking rocks and
within seemingly harmless bushes. They
lay in wait,
anxiously
anticipating
their next victim to meter their
mano and then, Whabaabamm.
Wham bam bam BA BAM.
‘Gotcha!’, the little sucker
snickers. Now you got a big ass
welt and your crying out loud
like a little baby as a group of
Panamanians gather to talk
among themselves in not so
discreet (actually kind of out
loud and directed right at you)
whispers about the gringo and
the bicho that bit ‘em.
Yeah. That’s the cold hard reality
of the world we live in, sir.
Haven’t you seen Starship
Troopers? There are entire planets full of the critters waiting
to finish us off, and if we show the slightest bit of weakness to
their little brethren here on Earth, one message goes back to
the home planet and … oh hell … Oh hell … the horror. I can’t
give details that would undermine the safety of my sources,
but you’ve seen the movie, oh hell man!! I’m hyperventilating
just thinking about it.
That’s why I’ve come up with the doctrine of preemptive
sentient-bicho strike. It’s a very basic doctrine governed by all
of the relevant international conventions and eventually
subordinate to the US Constitution. Those safeguards,
Billy Blank’s brother gets it going. Desfiles Patrias. Panamá
F. DeWorken
30
January 2008
however, are not necessary as there are very basic rules of
engagement which I lay out below.
1.
2.
3.
La Vaina
H. Taylor
If you are possessing of threatening colors, spikes
and/or a visible stinger or claws. You’re dead.
If you move in erratic sideward motions and frequently
look for cover behind books, furniture or blocks. You
are a sneaky bastard. And guess what? You’re dead!
If you appear to be a carnivorous insect and are inside
of a dwelling inhabited by human beings. (Carnivorous
Rob L.
4.
5.
6.
being anything with fangs or fur or just overall gnarly
looking) You’re dead.
If there are several of you and you are guarding or
loitering around anything that could
be construed as a nest or incubator of K.Cropper
bichos. You and your ghoulish
offspring will be burned alive.
Any ant that has its head buried into
my flesh. You will be turned into
revitalizing skin cream.
If you scare my cat. You’re done for.
(Provided that I have enough power
ups.)
Magoo can handle or, worse yet, I will find myself in the shower,
naked and as vulnerable as a little boy, far from the protection
of my feline guardespalda. And it is in precisely those moments,
confronted with the fear of pain, suffering and a long drawn
out explanation of my newly minted welt to indifferent
Panamanians, that I say to myself, “It’s either you or me
buddy!”(With a snarl), and while you may be as harmless as
that armed guard in front of the Mas Movil store, it ain’t gonna
be me.
Wham!
The last point brings up an important issue. I
leave most of the daily bicho killing to my cat
Magoo. She thoroughly enjoys meting out
cruelty and is an extremely efficient and cutthroat
assassin. This arrangement allows me to perform
my daily lotus flower salute 4.3 (brought to you
by Powerade Energy drinks) with a clear mind.
But every now and then I will find myself
confronted by a foe with more power ups than
[email protected]
31
La Vaina
Rice Tanks are a Comin’
Maggie Murray
have more theoretical knowledge and speak
in a manner that may belittle campesino
and be too scientific.
J. Allen
So off we went from El Cedro, Hererra to
Las Cebradas, Veraguas, three campesinos
and me on a field trip. We arrived and had
a very informal meeting to get things
started. We discussed what we hoped to
get out of our visit and they shared stories about working with
rice tanks and working in groups. These stories and this visit
impacted the farmers from my community profoundly. It was
also evident that the farmers of Las Cebradas were very pleased,
and rightfully so, that their work was important enough for
another group of farmers from another province to come learn
from their example.
H
appy holidays. Is everyone ready for a
groundbreaking earth shattering new way to look
at, live with and build rice
tanks? Me too. I was having
a phone conversation with Aimee about
something completely unrelated and one
thing led to another and next thing I know
I had agreed to write an article for the La
Vaina about my rice tank story! (Eat your
heart out Mike). Now I don’t want anyone
to think that because I am the one writing
this, I deserve the credit for the work going on. God put me in
the right place at the right time, surrounded me with
wonderful people and poco a poco good things are
happening. So here it is folks…
On the way back to El Cedro, they were talking to each other
about how one farmer from Las Cebradas said he hadn’t
purchased a single pound of rice in 14
years. After seeing the success in there,
they also talked about the benefits of
working in this technology in groups. It
was an amazing to see the wheels turning
in their heads about the potential
ramifications for their own community and
lives.
poco a poco
good things
are happening
The three farmers from my community
came back echando cuenta about what they had seen and
Jacobo doing the conga dance for the Halloweeners
J. Slusser
Like many of you, I started off with certain projects I wanted to
do in my community, mainly reforestation and some
environmental group work. After my community meeting with
Aimee, it was clear that my community, of course had something
else in mind, rice tanks. “Well that’s just great,” I thought. I
hardly knew (or rather I should I say hardly know) the first
thing about rice tanks. All I did know was this meant some
serious hard manual labor and that I needed to find some help
fast.
Franticly (in between root canals) I began looking for resources.
Enter Laura Gregory to the rescue. We talked about how great
it would be for farmers from my community to be able to visit
her community and talk with her producers, who have been
working with rice tank technology for many years now. The
idea was to enable farmers from my site to discuss with farmers
from her site about how the technology works for them in real
campo life. I find (and I am sure we all do) that if you have a
MIDA Engineer give a charla on something, they sometimes
32
January 2008
La Vaina
how this could work in El Cedro. I subsequently had several
more farmers express interest to me regarding rice tanks and I guess that’s really the extent of the story for now. Four parts:
working within a
one informal fieldtrip to Laura Gregory’s site, a
group of other Baby sea turtle heads out from Guanico Abajo, Los Santos demonstration plot, more technical training at INA,
farmers.
and resources and
Julie A.
technical help from
We also discussed
MIDA and a local
on the way back
NGO. Of course all
from Laura’s site that
of this is poco a
one of the best ways
poco. I figure by the
to get people
time the next
interested in trying
volunteer rolls in,
something new in
everything might be
the community is
set for them to start
through
a
actually building
demonstration plot.
some rice tanks!
They decided it
Special thanks to
would be better if
Laura Gregory, Laura
the demonstration
Mills, and Bhoj Rai!
Side note - I hope
plot did not belong
everyone got the email
to one individual
about
another
farmer but was a
potential
training
at
group parcela.
My counterpart got to work on finding a location for said
demonstration plot and within a few weeks had found the
perfect location, talked to the owner and all that was left was a
visit from me explaining why he should let us put a
demonstration plot on his land. It wasn’t hard to convince him
since he has passed into the twilight of his life and is no longer
working the land.
INA in February or
March with fish tanks and rice tanks! Please consider this opportunity!
Meanwhile, at IST I spoke with Laura Mills and Bhoj Rai about
the possibility of holding rice tanks training at INA in Divisa. I
thought it would be a great next step from Laura’s site where
we had a very informal learning session. Laura Mills made the
arrangements with the appropriate people in INA. We met at
the Peace Corps office, cranked out a letter, dropped it off and
will be on our way to a two day training session in January at
INA.
Throughout this time I have also been talking with my local
and district level MIDA agents who thus far seem more than
happy to help (since I haven’t as of yet asked for much. I’ve
just told them what we are up to and what we may need in the
future). I am also very fortunate to have an NGO nearby that is
eager to help with the implementation of rice tanks and also
has connections to MIDA.
Rob L.
I am putting together a little report for MIDA and the NGO
complete with pictures, outlining the project and help we would
like to recieve from them in upcoming months. To sweeten the
high-gloss flashy looking report I may even bake some cookies
so they cannot turn me down (no I am not at all above that).
Like I said earlier there are so many things in this project that
happened to fall into place and I am fortunate enough to be
able to see the pieces and pull them together.
[email protected]
33
La Vaina
PCP Cribs: How Our Half Lives
Jessica Gellings & Meredith Donegan
L. Mills’ Shanty in Bajo Solis, Chiriquí:
Chuck Norris Approved.
(And Chuck Norris doesn’t endorse, he tells
America how its going to be.)
Laura M.
Jessie G.
Although APCD Aimee Urrutia first deemed superstarVolunteer Laura Mills’ house unfit for living, Mills showed
what a PCV is made of and transformed the former storage
shed into her current luxurious digs. Spacious enough for
approximately two adult-sized people, the mudhut never feels
empty. The frequent guests can enjoy rock seats on the front
porch and chicha de Koolaid while watching the gringa at
work, or they can peer through the house’s single window. A
true social hub, the house of Laura Mills provides enough
entertainment and extravagance to wow even the most jaded
campesino. Her library serves not only as the community
biblioteca, but also contains the only actual book in the entire
town. Continuing her cultural crusade, Mills also hosts an art
studio and museum. Children are often found drawing with
her state-of-the-art crayons, while others employ her blingbling digital camera in photography shoots. Mills often
displays the artwork outside her house, weather permitting.
However, like many celebrities before her, she worries that she
might have to upgrade her security system as someone seems
to be stealing the clavitos used to hang the drawings. Not to
be left out of the grand tour, the Mills’ shanty kitchen is another
prime attraction – just ask the locals. They love it so much she
can’t eat a meal without a visitor stopping by. In all its glory,
the Mills castle hit its pinnacle on November the 4th when it
hosted the town’s bandera. There goes, Laura, off to the rice
tanks, machete in hand. ¡Chaoito!
Jessie G..
Photos top to bottom:
House of Mills; Nov. 4th
Bandera visit; the
kitchen area & sole
window; panorama of
neighborhood with
Mills’ house on left &
neighbor’s on right
Laura M.
34
La Vaina
January 2008
Teach with Your Heart
Kelly Cummings
R
ead any good books lately?” Jesse Katsopolis’
English teacher asked him this question on one
episode of Full House. I just finished reading two
really good books, both by Erin Gruwell. The first book is
called The Freedom Writers Diary, which is a compilation of
diary entries. Erin is an English teacher in Newport Beach,
California assigned to the “problem students”. This is a true
story about a conservative, preppy, white 25 year old English
teacher sent to work in one of the most dangerous and povertystricken areas of California, where gangs and drugs rule the
streets, and the classroom.
Erin gains the respect of her students by treating them like
intelligent, young adults instead of the failures that the
system has written them off as. She encourages her students
to read the story of Anne Frank, and the students start to
see similarities in their lives that parallel the life of Anne
Frank. They have all been stereotyped and persecuted for their
skin color or ethnicity. Many of the students have experienced
hardships, including broken homes, homelessness, extreme
poverty, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, domestic violence and
molestation.
Throughout The Freedom Writers Diary, the students in
Woodrow Wilson High School classroom 203 form a family,
helping each other through personal trials and successes. In
Teach With Your Heart, a memoir, Erin Gruwell talks about all of
the things she learned from her students. She learned how to
talk to them as a peer instead of as an authority figure out of
touch with their reality. She began to feel more like a mother
than a teacher to these students and struggled to get their
voices heard. Through some negotiating, she was able to stay
with the same students from their freshman
year, when she began, until their senior year,
when she saw her students graduate from
high school. Most were the first in their
families to graduate high school, and many
went on to college as well.
While reading both of these books, I
started thinking about teaching here in Panama. While many
While many of us are not teachers by
profession ... most Volunteers find
themselves teaching in some way or another
of us are not teachers by profession or even have any practice
in writing a syllabus, most Volunteers find themselves teaching
in some way or another during their service. Whether teaching
English classes, Junior Achievement, environmental education,
Holly T.
Brian T.
or any other subject, many of the practices that Erin uses in her
teaching methods can apply to Volunteers. She makes the
students feel appreciated and listens to what they have to say,
even though no other teacher has been that attentive to them
before. As a mentor, she helps build up their self confidence
and self worth. When students talk about their personal
problems, whether it is struggling with poverty, a difficult family
and home life, or a learning disability, she tries to help find
solutions.
I suggest reading both of these books, as well as seeing the
movie that was made out of the books called Freedom Writers,
starring Hilary Swank and Patrick Dempsey. The books are
quick reads, and the movie is entertaining. Even if you have
never taught before, and have no desire to teach while you are
here in Panama, the books are quite inspiring. Contact me if
you are interested; I own both books and the movie.
[email protected]
35
La Vaina
Cooking in Panama
O
ne of the great aspects of the
Panamanian culinary scene is that
if you are in a rush to eat, or not
sure if the food that has been sitting
out all day is safe to eat, you can “fry the
hell out of it”, and ya listo, tiempo para
comer. While we all love the delicious taste
of fried food, a simple change in our oils
and how we use them can benefit our long
term health. Cooking oils available in Panama have a
composition of three different dietary fats: polyunsaturated,
monounsaturated, and saturated. I would like to explain more
specifically what the differences are and their respective uses
for cooking in Panama.
Cooking oils are long chain carbon molecules, with carbon
chains of varying degrees of saturation of hydrogen atoms
outside of the carbon chain. Polyunsaturated oils are the least
saturated and are missing at least four hydrogen atoms. They
are therefore the most delicate of the dietary fats. They are
highly reactive to high heat and easily turn rancid (i.e.
carcinogenic when used for frying or in high heat cooking).
Corn, soy, and sunflower oil all contain over 50 percent
polyunsaturated oils, and therefore are highly damaged when
used for frying or high heat cooking. Unfortunately, in Panama
these types of oils are usually used for frying, but do not
worry; there are healthier choices available.
Monounsaturated oils are missing two hydrogen atoms, making
them more stable in cooking and best used for low to medium
heat cooking. Olive oil is over 75 percent monounsaturated
Thomas
Thomas Morse
Morse
oil, and is the best all round oil for general use, because it can
withstand medium heat without going rancid. Canola oil is
over 50 percent monounsaturated and somewhat similar to
olive oil in composition, giving it an initial reputation as a
cheaper and healthy
alternative to olive oil.
However, recent
research suggests
avoiding canola oil,
because canola oil
turns rancid quicker
than olive oil, due to
its higher content of
polyunsaturated oils.
Also, canola oil
historically contained
trans-fatty acids due
to
a
certain
deodorizing process.
Of these two oils,
olive oil is a better
Sarah K.
choice. Two other
oils, peanut and
sesame, both contain over 40 percent monounsaturated oils
and are good when used occasionally for stir fries.
Saturated oils are not missing any hydrogen atoms and are
technically full. These are the most stable of the oils and do
not damage in high heat, making them much more appropriate
for frying. Oils with large saturated components include palm,
coconut, pig fat, and duck lard. In Panama palm oil can be
often found in local tiendas, and lucky for
you pig fat and duck lard can generally be
Sarah K.
obtained in site. But wait! Aren’t these
saturated oils the same type of oils that we
have been cautioned against since the 1950´s
due to health concerns? Yes!
However, recent research suggests that
saturated fats are better then we previously
thought and ultimately it is better to include a
balance of all types of dietary fats, as your
body is in need of each individual type. With
regards to the artery clogging effects of
saturated fats, research reveals that only 26
percent of artery clogs are saturated fats with
the rest of the clog being composed of
unsaturated fats (approximately 40 percent
being polyunsaturated). And for the
correlation between cancer and fat
consumption, it should be noted that until
recently much of the research that was done
with saturated and trans fats grouped the two
36
La Vaina
January 2008
types of oils together giving saturated fats the bad reputation
that trans fats deserve.
Jake S.
In summary, for cooking in Panama stick to olive oil for general
use. For frying it is best to avoid polyunsaturated oils, such as
corn and soy, and better to use the saturated fats such as:
palm, coconut, pig fat, and duck lard. While cooking as a
campesino is not ideal, the use of saturated fats in frying is
better, because you avoid the cancer giving properties of frying
with polyunsaturated oils, allowing you to enjoy you fabulous
fried food with your fellow campesinos.
Sources: Nourishing Traditions 2nd edition cookbook by Sally
Fallons
Tocando la mejorana durante la Mejorana
HELP WANTED
As of February 14th the Volunteer role of HIV/AIDS Coordinator will be vacant! The follow-up Volunteer should be in his or
her second year of service and, preferably, have experience teaching health education to adults and/or youth in his or her
site. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to: forming new and maintaining existing relationships with agencies
and organizations (such as the Red Cross and Muchachas Guías), planning and giving health-education charlas, organizing
and promoting Volunteer trainings, heading up the GAD directiva, leading GAD meetings and being involved in GAD events,
supporting the training staff during PST and IST, as well as coming up with creative ways to motivate Volunteers and
promote health education. Perks include: use of Regional Leaders’ computers in the office!
Interested Volunteers should submit a letter of intent/proposal and timeline for potential projects to Greg Branch by
January 31st.
Feel free to contact Heather Love with any questions.
[email protected]
Julie A.
Yemiymah Y.
[email protected]
37
La Vaina
Moving Beyond the Weather:
Valerie Brender
Controversial conversations in the campo
W
e were bouncing down one of
Panama Este’s many uneven
roads, fresh from smacking a
cow in the arse with our Tree shaped hot
iron brand, when Andres blurted out of the
blue: “Do you agree with homosexuality?”
I paused for a moment, trying to figure out
what he meant. Andres is my counterpart,
our cooperative president, and highly educated even by
American standards. The answer flew at me before I had the
chance to ask:
“I mean, because it’s against the Bible.”
Andres is also a very traditional Catholic.
these topics so much as I tried to explain their occurrence
within the historical progress of the U.S. It was always important
to Andres, however, to know my personal opinion, not just my
social analysis. And sometimes I would notice him shifting
uncomfortably in his seat when I finally had the nerve to make
a declarative statement.
It was about a year ago, maybe a month into my service with
the cooperative, when Andres shed what we as Americans
would consider the
propriety cloak of
benign professional
discussion for some of
the
most
highly
contested religious
issues in the United
States. A few years ago,
I would have sprung at
the opportunity to argue
these topics into the
ground. Now, ironically,
with a willing contender
at my side, I was just
caught off-guard.
“Why do you think it’s
against the Bible?” I
asked. I tried to recall the
handful of Bible verses
that
applied
to
homosexuality and why,
when analyzed contextually, it could be argued that they did
not actually make any definitive statements on the subject. “It
is in there,” he responded, and he brought up the commonly
cited Sodom and Gomorrah Bible story.
One year after our initial discussion we were again in his silverblue Hyundai, weaving down the pothole infested, east side
Inter-Americana. The
F. DeWorken
car was packed with his
wife, 6-year-old, new
born baby, a joven, and
me.
An hour into our trip we
passed an indigenous
woman on the road who
was waving us down.
Andres shifted gears
and we dipped back
over one of the
asphalt’s many craters
to see what she needed.
He
immediately
recognized her and gave
her his welcoming,
restaurant owner smile
and thrust his hand
through the window.
We had an excellent discussion that day as we rattled back to
my site, although when we finally got out of the car Andres,
like most individuals where I live, still held that homosexuality
was just plain wrong.
Around the same time Andres began firing controversial
religious questions, he started referring to the slew of Peace
Corps Volunteers in our area as ambassadors. I wasn’t quite
sure how to receive that label in light of our discussions on
abortion, women’s rights and the sexual revolution in the states.
Not wanting to rock the boat too much, I didn’t try to defend
38
I am not the only Peace Corps Volunteer who has experienced
such an interrogation—I’ve heard similar stories from several
other Volunteers in the area. Oftentimes, it felt as if he was
taking a poll to see where we stood on his value chart. It seemed
that, as American representatives, we might be scoring
abysmally low.
On the road to Cerro Iglesias
She needed a ride, but we were already bulging like an
overstuffed Resses peanut butter cup. We drove away, and
Andres commented,
“She’s a revolucionaria.”
“What?”
“She’s muy…radical. Not a traditional woman.”
I sat quiet for a minute, still confused.
“Are you saying she’s a lesbian?”
“I don’t know, Valeria. Yeah, she might be.”
“So that makes her a revolucionaria…is that bad?”
I didn’t know if this was just side commentary to keep the
conversation moving and our pothole nausea in check or if he
was actually getting at something.
“No. I mean, it’s not traditional, but no.”
January 2008
La Vaina
impressive, which, admittedly, happens quite
frequently. His statement bothered me though,
because I thought he might have a point—very few
Panamanians were willing to approach me with
controversial questions. I decided to take a lesson
from Andres and experiment with the blurting method.
So, the next time I was with our coop secretary, Nora,
I spouted out of the blue, “What do you think about
violence against women in the campo?” She was quiet
for awhile, gave me maybe a two line answer and
shrugged. Undaunted, I tried again two days later.
This time she opened up with a long narrative about
her confusion about why some men in the campo
beat their wives, why the laws weren’t better and
how she tries to teach her own children that spousal
violence is unacceptable.
Jackson T.
“So you don’t think it’s wrong if she is a lesbian?”
“Well, everyone has their way. I don’t necessarily agree with
it, but everyone has a right to be happy, to live their life how
they choose.”
I sat staring straight ahead for a moment, stunned. There was
no religious retort, no fervent insistence that this was not
correct according to the Bible. His personal stance may not
have been radically different, but his comment about
homosexuality within a societal context
was one that revealed more acceptance
than I had ever seen from him before.
His willingness to look beyond his own
religious convictions to see the
situation from the point of view of a
homosexual individual had been unheard
of in our year long off again, on again
discussion over the matter. What was
even more shocking was that he said
this in front of everyone in the car,
including his 6-year-old daughter.
I realized later that often I am so
preoccupied with planning cooperative
norms revisions, Muchachas Guias,
crafts and GAD events that I sometimes
forget we can impact those around us
simply through friendship and
conversation.
Ok, I thought, maybe she’s still on the educated side
of campesinos. Inspired by Laura Miller’s sexual violation
discussions with her schools, I decided to try springing
questions on my Muchachas Guías girls, who are all around
age 11. We were talking about substance abuse anyway, and a
side comment about sexual violation came up, so I posed a
question: What did they think about the sexual molestation of
minors? Their stories came gushing out so easily, I had to
Noah D.
Sara Hunt and neighbor
Since friendship and conversation are not columns on the
regional informe or, more significantly, the monstrously
depressing CED Quarterly Report, I often forget that the
conversations we have every day can be some of the most
attitude-changing interactions we have here in Panama.
I was telling this story to one of the other Volunteers out in our
region, and he said, “Yeah, but that’s Andres. I just don’t have
people who want to talk about that stuff out where I live.” This
is the dismissal that I often get when Andres does something
conceal the surprise on my face. I sat back afterwards, amazed,
thinking, wow, thanks Andres.
Andres taught me that given our experience with discussing
such issues in the U.S. on a more open and frequent basis, and
maybe just because we’re foreigners, we can seem safer for
some of those in the campo who want to talk about
[email protected]
39
La Vaina
Jake S.
controversial issues. We might not realize it, but one of us that
they can finally puncture the veneer of societal silence.
Andres has given me the nerve to start such conversations
with unlikely individuals, and he made me realize that discussing
the same thing over and over again does not necessarily
represent the futile beating of your head against a wall of nonacceptance. He has encouraged me to try to be the inquisitive
Andres to some of my campesino neighbors, questioning their
assumptions and not compartmentalizing discussions about
glaring social issues into seminars and charla series. He has
caused me to redefine our so-called “ambassadorial” role here
in Panama—that we aren’t simply a source of technical
knowledge and U.S. culture, but that we also provide diversity
of thought in areas of homogenous social assumptions that
frequently cause curious individuals to keep their mouths
zipped.
Most importantly, Andres has acted as a mini-ambassador for
the Panamanians out where I live, showing me that there are
many individuals in the campo who are eager to discuss
sensitive issues and who want to open up; they are just waiting
to be asked.
PTO Editorial Note: Valerie consider your and all Volunteers’
friendships and conversations just as important as what gets
put in the informes. Thanks for sharing!
Miss Chiquita-Pescado, Toro Guapo Anton
Save Our Marriage!
For Sale: Nokia 2610 Phone with Movistar chip
- like new
Step up from the ubiquitous white Nokia everyone (Peace Corps
and Panamanian it seems) uses.
The 2610 is a mid-level Nokia that comes with:
-Movistar chip
-Color Screen
-Predictive Text for messaging in English or Español, or others
-Tons of memory space
-Email options
-Photo options
-Good battery life (uses same charge as that white one)
-Great reception
Why are we selling after just a month of use? She likes it, I
don’t, so we are looking for a different one to compromise. Help
save our marriage; take this one off our hands and stop the
squabbling.
Lists for $50+, asking just $30 / OBRO. Call 6445-4153 or email
[email protected] (only get out to check email every
three-ish weeks). We are located in Veraguas.
Darlene Y.
Kevin with turkeys at Thanksgiving
40
La Vaina
January 2008
Sometimes the Apple Eats You:
Daniel Masterson
The Epic of Patricio
S
ometimes there’s a man for his time and place, this
much we all should know; and for this convergence
of circumstance, that man was Patricio.
Patricio’s ambitions brought him to Panama and risk, he was
ready to take; a Peace Corps volunteer he was going to be,
one of the few, the proud, the EH.
He chomped at the bit for a chance to display his impressive
power and skill; that chance came as a pit latrine project, a
worthier cause, there isn’t still.
The work began and Patricio surged. Soon the project was
almost complete. The crew took a well deserved rest from the
charge, to enjoy something fresh to eat.
But for Patricio fate was cruel that day, his knife inexplicably
missed its mark; instead of the flesh of the apple he held, it
was his own the blade tore apart.
Patricio was not a dramatic man, but he knew how to
influence emotions. Face flushed white, he yelled “I just
seriously cut myself”, in control of inevitable commotion.
Thanks to his grit and some well placed napkins, they were
able to save his hand; but it would take more than four
flimsy stitches to shield himself from training’s rigorous
demands.
The horror of the site proved to be too
much, even for a giant like Patricio; and
when his friends and doctor saw him start
to fall, all they could do was watch him
go.
Some have said it was a miracle, that
when he dove into that floor; his face was spared all except
for his teeth, and only the top front four.
The next day Patricio defied all the odds, he wouldn’t
abandon his mission; he embarked for two weeks with the
rest of group 60, for tech, culture, and werewolf impressions.
The journey was long for Patricio, though it did eventually
end; but its the ability he now goes without, that made
Patricio a legend.
Of the modest pleasure of cutting his fruit, Patricio’s teeth
were robbed; dental adhesion hasn’t come far enough yet,
so he needs a knife to do the job.
From this courageous tale, comes an opportunity to learn, a
lesson Patricio wishes that he knew; sometimes you eat the
apple, and sometimes the apple eats you.
A week later in a David examination room, a surprise that
wasn’t so unexpected; within the gaping wound, an
infection had manifested.
Jake S.
[email protected]
41
La Vaina
La Labor Del Cuerpo de Paz:
Un Esfuerzo Genuino
Betty Brannan Jaen
verificar la autenticidad del relato). Es un librito sencillo y con mucho
espacio blanco en cada página, supuestamente destinado a lectores
jóvenes; eso tiene la ventaja de no requerir mucho esfuerzo intelectual
por parte de la autora y de permitir la venta del libro al por mayor a
las escuelas. En la presentación a la que asistí, trajeron cientos de
alumnos de las escuelas vecinas y era obvio que el libro les había sido
distribuido de antemano. Para no tener que decir algo original, Jenna
se limitó a leer brevemente del libro y mostrar un video preparado
por UNICEF, sin aceptar preguntas. Ella eventualmente accedió a
responder a algunas preguntas de los estudiantes –quienes
preguntaron cosas triviales, como era de esperarse– pero no de adultos.
Todo el evento me pareció una burla.
Mientras tanto, descubrí por internet los blogs de algunos voluntarios
del Cuerpo de Paz en Panamá, que me impresionaron muchísimo.
Los invito, por ejemplo, a buscar www.rlittle.blogspot.com. Este joven
ingeniero, Rob Little, trabaja con los ngöbes, viviendo como ellos
(entre alacranes, gusanos, arañas y culebras), comiendo lo que ellos
comen (arroz y bananos), y compartiendo su pobreza y
marginalización en todas sus dimensiones. Él construye letrinas, ayuda
con las cosechas, y trata de usar sus conocimientos como ingeniero
para solucionar problemas. Ellos, en cambio, no comprenden porque
este “gringo” carece de esposa y se han afanado bastante por buscarle
una. Rob escribe de todo esto con mucha perspicacia y gran humor,
de paso revelando un choque cultural casi inimaginable y un estilo de
vida más que primitivo. Su blog tiene momentos divertidos –como
cuando un gusano se le metió bajo la piel y su host mom [mama
anfitriona] intentó curarlo con una medicina que claramente decía, en
inglés, for use on cows only [solo para usar en vacas]– pero también
tiene reflexiones sobrias sobre lo que ha aprendido de vivir entre
estos indígenas. En cuanto a calidad de análisis y talento como escritor,
la diferencia entre Rob Little y Jenna Bush es del cielo a la tierra, sin
hablar de la diferencia en autenticidad de lo que Rob está haciendo
comparado al paseo de Jenna.
(This Article Appeared in La Prensa on December 2, 2007)
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Mientras que los publicistas de la Casa
Blanca y del Palacio de las Garzas no descansan en su esfuerzo de
rehacer la imagen de Jenna Bush –aquella hija traviesa de George W.
Bush que pasó unos meses de paseo en Panamá y ahora nos la quieren
vender como prácticamente una Madre Teresa–, hay unos jovencitos
norteamericanos que llevan décadas de estar haciendo una labor mucho
más abnegada y genuina en nuestro país, sin recibir el reconocimiento
que merecen. Estos son los voluntarios del Cuerpo de Paz, que sin
ostentación y parampanadas nos regalan dos años de servicio social
en condiciones duras e inapreciadas por los que (como yo) nunca
hemos visto de cerca cómo es la pobreza rural en Panamá.
Lo de Jenna, por contraste, es puro marketing sin contenido.
Recientemente fui a una librería aquí en Washington donde ella estaba
haciendo una presentación de su libro, Ana’s Story [La historia de
Ana] que supuestamente cuenta la historia de una joven panameña
que sufre de sida (aunque la obra no contiene un solo dato que permita
42
También
les
recomiendo
el
blog
en
www.sarabethinpanama.blogspot.com. Sara también trabaja con los
ngöbes, en el pueblito de Nudobti en Bocas del Toro. Ella está tratando
de organizar una cooperativa de artesanías y otra para el cultivo de
cacao pero también tiene entre manos varios proyectos de salud, que
incluyen educación sexual e higiene elemental. Sobre estos últimos
dos temas, prefiero no entrar en mucho detalle aquí, pero les diré que
Sara describe sus experiencias y frustraciones con refrescante franqueza
e inteligencia.
Rob y Sara son solo dos de los 174 voluntarios del Cuerpo de Paz que
están actualmente en Panamá, haciendo una labor valiosa pero invisible
que ni siquiera se acaba con su partida del istmo. Hay una asociación
de ex–voluntarios – “Peace Corps Panamá Friends”
(www.panamapcv.net) – que publica un boletín cibernético y está
planeando una reunión en Panamá en 2008 para celebrar los 45 años
del Cuerpo de Paz en nuestro país. Además de que esta asociación
apoya obras de caridad en Panamá, un grupo de ex–voluntarios se
unió en 2003 para crear una organización llamada “Native Future”
(www.nativefuture.org), dedicada al apoyo y la protección de los
Wounaan en Darién.
Estos son esfuerzos que sí merecen nuestro aplauso. También nuestro
agradecimiento.
La Vaina
January 2008
Erradicando with two “R”s
H
appy New Year!
As my Peace Corps service
draws dangerously near to a
close, I would like to take the
time to update you all on the goings-on
over the past three months—as well as
what’s in store for 2008—in the world that
is education on valores, viruses, and
vaginas.
Heather Love
(incumbent HIV/AIDS Coordinator)
facilitating this training. An additional thanks goes out to the
13 volunteers that participated. You guys are awesome.
Muchachas Guías stuff
The next mini-Muchachas Guías training will be held in
CEDESAM on January 25th after the close of G59’s PML.
Those of you in Groups 59 and 60 are eligible for this training
and have received an email … although the deadline for signing
up has passed, please don’t hesitate to let me know if you’re
interested as there may still be cupos available.
Red Cross stuff
From October 24th to 26th,
Also, for those of
...the world that is
the last training of 2007
you
who
are
funded by the Office of
currently working
,
education on
AIDS Relief was held in
with Muchachas
San Félix, Chiriquí,
Guías groups, the
, and
...”
focusing this time on
new manuals are in!
Panamá Verde groups and
Two shelves in the
how volunteers working with Panamá Verde can teach Peace Corps library are now dedicated to these resources so
information on HIV/AIDS to their jóvenes. The well-known, check them out if you are interested in learning more about
and loved, dynamic Red Cross duo that is sisters Leonarda what exactly to do with your muchachas.
and Willymae de Gracia led a half-day session on HIV
education, while rockstar PCVs Colin Daly, Meredith Donegan, Teaching people stuff
Sarah Kreismann, Steve Magneson, and Angela Orthmeyer At your regional meeting, si Dios quiere, the alleged manual
followed up with info on environmental education and how to entitled Vida Sana, Pueblo Sano that I have been talking about
work with youth. Only positive feedback was received after for months should be in your hands! This manual is a
this training so a particularly significant kudos is owed to these compilation of resources and efforts put forth by Volunteers
volunteers for the fabulous job they did organizing and and is geared toward helping you teach info on reproductive
health, HIV/AIDS, and life skills in your community
Shazia D.
(I wrote all this in the manual too so you can just
skip that part if you’d like). The manual is
accompanied by fichas for use in the Sí Da, No Da
game on HIV transmission, as well as laminated
posters of the men’s and women’s reproductive
organs and the menstrual cycle. This means you
may never have to draw giant pictures of an escroto
or a clítoris again! Así que, I encourage you all to
check out this manual at your regional meetings
and get in touch with myself or your local area GAD
rep with any questions you have. And, if you are
interested at any point in doing the charlas it
contains, don’t forget that GAD grants can help
provide you with financial resources for making
your platano-facilitated condom demonstration go
off without a hitch (see article por GAD Secretary
Valerie Brender).
“
viruses
valores
vaginas
An excerpt from Vida Sana, Pueblo Sano’s
introduction & coverart follow this article.
Peace Corps and Red Cross working together, Palenque, Colón
[email protected]
43
La Vaina
Other random stuff
On January 16th, the lovely Volunteers of the Veraguas province
will be hosting an educational fair in the town of Madre Vieja
that will incorporate info on youth development, computer
technology, and, claro, HIV/AIDS. Hosting an event such as
this—or one similar to those held on World AIDS Day (read:
another cheap plug for Valerie’s article)—is a great way to get
your community interested in stuff related to youth, health,
HIV, etc., encourages Volunteers to come out and see your site,
and is way fun. Please refer any questions regarding an
educational fair to my follow-up (see Help Wanted ad contained
in this issue of La Vaina) or to the fabulous Veraguas regional
leader Maria Ruatto.
Excerpt from Vida Sana, Pueblo Sano
Factors that contribute to the spread of HIV go much deeper
than a simple lack of awareness of information about the
disease. Even when armed with accurate knowledge about
HIV and how it can be transmitted and prevented, people
around the world continue to hold on to culturally-supported
myths about the virus and put themselves at risk for infection.
People must be taught to consider their options, stand up for
their rights, and believe in themselves as persons of value in
order to utilize the tools of HIV prevention; just knowing that
these tools exist is simply not enough. Peace Corps volunteers
develop a special trust
Shazia D.
with community members
Agradecimiento stuff
and are therefore uniquely
This being my last article
situated to bridge the gap
for La Vaina, I’d like to
between knowledge of
say thank you and to
these tools and actual
express how memorable
behavior change. It is a
my Peace Corps
position
that
is
experience has been.
challenging
and
During the 30 months
rewarding, yet brings with
I’ve spent in Panama I
it
the
weight
of
have, among many other
responsibility.
This
things, lived in an
resource manual seeks not
ocean-front house,
only to provide the
obsessed
over
necessary tools of HIV
Aventura, contracted a
prevention, such as
flesh-eating parasite, let
knowledge about the
my boyfriend cut my
virus, information about
hair, been held up at gunthe body, and methods of
point, visited five new
protection, but also to
countries, spent $10,000
empower
rural
of the American
Panamanians to improve
government’s money,
their lives by breaking
and learned to like cats.
down gender inequalities,
But most notably I have
making better decisions,
been amazed at how
and communicating more
incomprehensibly fast
effectively. Personal skills
the past two years y pico
such as these contribute
have gone by. I am Condom demonstration at World AIDS Day events in Palenque, Colón
not only to the fight
overwhelmingly grateful
against HIV/AIDS, but
for that time, however, and am sometimes taken aback by the also to the benefit of individuals in all facets of their lives.
opportunities and responsibilities Peace Corps gives us as The activities and dinámicas contained herein are structured
Volunteers. Thank you to all of you who have helped out with and organized to meet the needs of the volunteer and to reach
and/or participated in any of my projects over the past nine Panamanians in a way that relates to their culture and
months, from Red Cross seminars and Muchachas Guías customs. As the name of this manual suggests, enabling
trainings to “sex charlas” and GAD meetings; if nothing else, people to live healthy, informed lives creates communities
your participation and enthusiasm have been encouraging to that are in turn strong, effective, and empowered, and promotes
me, even if you might not feel like you’ve been saving the the sustainable development of Panama as a country with a
world. The chance to act as Coordinator for Healthy Behaviors proud and dynamic national identity.
Education and HIV/AIDS has been a more intense, eyeopening, and rewarding experience than I had imagined it would
PTO Editorial Note: Thank you Heather for all your dedicated
be, and I can’t think of a better way to have ended my service.
hard work -- your and Peace Corps Volunteers’ efforts towards the
erradication of HIV/AIDS has made a huge difference in Panama.
Thanks again to all Volunteers and staff who have supported
You will be missed!
me in this role.
44
January 2008
[email protected]
La Vaina
45
La Vaina
I Used to Be Like You
I
don’t like to brag, but I have been in Peace Corps Panamá
for almost 1/33 of a century. Imagine that … 1/33 of a
century. You’re probably thinking, “Wow, that is amazing!” I
would be too, if I were you. But, I’m not and, as I said, I don’t
like to brag. I first arrived in Panamá as a youthful idealist, full
of big ideas and tons of inexperience to back them up. I am
lucky to have made it actually. I didn’t know what I was doing.
I mean, I had read Heart of Darkness, so I pretty much knew
what the whole Peace Corps thing would be like, but I lacked
that je ne se quois.
After I arrived, I
decided to get Rob L.
some real Peace
Corps gear. I got
some of those
rubber galoshes
with the little
dinosaur on the
side, and I got one
of those big sword
things. To be
honest, you don’t
really need the big
sword thing, but it
Black Christ statue in Portobelo
looks cool in photos. You might
also want to take some books to read; any kind will do. And
that’s about all there is to Peace Corps. It’s pretty simple really.
As they say, “Hindsight is always 20/20.” But, if there is one
thing I have learned and would like to share with you it is this:
Peace Corps is no game.
You might think Peace Corps is a game, but, trust me, Peace
Corps is no game. Peace Corps is not something where piedra
beats tijeras or papel covers piedra or piedra
wraps itself up in papel and gives itself as a
regalo to tijeras. Or where papel types
something on itself and sues tijeras. This isn’t
anything like that. Peace Corps isn’t something
where you yell “Bingo!” and then it turns out
you don’t have bingo after all, ¿y qué son las
reglas, compa? This isn’t that, my Volunteer.
Peace Corps isn’t jacks, where you bounce your
ball and pick up another pelao’s jacks and an
old campesino winks at you because he thought
it was buen hecho. Peace Corps isn’t that at all.
Peace Corps isn’t something where you mete la
vaina, or hace la vaina, or do anything con una
vaina. Look, olvidate la vaina, pue?
46
Peter Caligiuri
Maybe you think Peace Corps is all one
big joke, like the Santeño with the
beautiful but promiscuous yegua. But
what they don’t tell you is the Santeño
grew so depressed by his yegua’s “lifestyle
choices” that he eventually sold his finca
to a gringo and moved to Miami. Peace
Corps is not some brightly colored,
sugarcoated caramelo that you can brush
the hormigas off of and pop in your mouth. Peace Corps is not
recreo or make-believe. Peace Corps is real. It’s as real as a
borracho sitting next to you who needs to get off the chiva
para orinar, and then you realize, Uh-oh, ya se orinó.
Peace Corps is as real as the Volunteer calling out for her agency
counterpart. But her agency counterpart won’t be visiting
anytime soon, because lo siento, no hay combustible. It’s as
real as the aspirante who dreams he’s been in site for 9 months,
but wakes up to realize he’s actually still in training in Santa
Clara. Peace Corps is not something where you can dress up
like a poor, in-debt Volunteer and go out clubbing on Calle
Uruguay, because, first of all, you’re twenty-six, and, secondly,
you really are a poor, in-debt Volunteer.
All of this probably sounds cabriao and aguevao to you. But
if loving your rancho, your machete, your monte, your vecino,
your vecino’s monte, and machete-ing your vecino’s monte is
aguevao, then so be it. You go skipping and prancing through
your service, skipping through your monte to your rancho.
But what you don’t see is that in your rancho is a cucaracha,
and on the cucaracha is an alacran, and the alacran is
stinging the cucaracha and the cucaracha is pooping in your
food, and if that shocks you then I’m sorry.
Jake W.
January 2008
Peace Corps is not the same as when I started 1/33 of a century
ago. You youngsters have had it easy. You have never had to
struggle to pilar tanto
arroz, let alone put arroz
on a plate and try and
balance it on a spoon until
it gets to your mouth. You
may never know what it’s
like to work on the finca
sembrar-ing maiz until
your hands are raw, just
so people can have fresh
chicha fuerte. Or what it’s
like to go to the monte and
put in eight long hours
and then go home and
realize that you went to
the wrong monte.
I hope some day you will
appreciate the magnificent beauty of a composting latrine, and
the plainness of a regular latrine, with splash-back. I hope
some day you will grasp the quiet joy of putting your first
seminario on your informe, and the quiet comedy of an agency
putting it on “theirs”.
I used to be like you. I would put my cartuchos inside a grande
cartucho so they could echar cuentos, instead of burning
them, like I do now, to prender mi fogón. I would go to bailes
and laugh—and laugh and laugh—every time los viejos sin
dientes said something, in case it was supposed to be chistoso.
I would walk to the tienda and slap down cinco reales and say,
“Dame todo lo que tiene,” and not even know what they had
there. And whenever I found dos ganchos I would hold them
up to my head like el toro bravo, and then pretend that one
“cuerno” fell off. I went típico-ing along, not caring what the
pasos were or if the other person even wanted to bailar típico.
La Vaina
Food seemed to taste better back then. Otoe was more otoe-ey,
and mondongo less mondongo-ey.
Maybe one day Peace
Corps will be a game
again. Maybe you’ll be
able to run up and
machete a platano tree
like a ninja without people
asking why you did that
and if you’re going to pay
for it. Perhaps one day
the Santeño will put
down his chainsaw and
the Coclesano will stop
slashing and burning, and
the Santeño will pick up
his chainsaw again
Jake S. because, Ja-ja, huevao.
One day we’ll just sit by
the fire, eat some yucita, drink a chichita, and maybe strum a
torrente on the vieja guitarrita. And maybe one day we’ll tip
our sombrero pintao to the gallo, not out of anger for waking
us up in the #@*! madrugada but out of friendliness because
we know he’d make a arroz con pollo bien sabroso.
If there’s one single idea I’d like you to take away from this, it
is: Peace Corps is no game. The other thing I’d like you to think
about is, could I borrow your settling-in allowance when I
COS?
(Author’s Note: Since finishing this article, Peter Redmond has
confirmed that Peace Corps is, in fact, not a game but rather, the
hardest job you’ll ever love. Sophomoric humor aside, Peace Corps
was the most challenging, and hence, rewarding adventure of my life.
Les mando a todos mis amigos y amigas en Cuerpo de Paz y a través
de todo el país un último saludo con todo mi corazón. Me voy pero
jamás les olvido. Aquí una parte de mi alma se queda siempre. But
please think about the settling-in allowance.)
Darlene Y.
[email protected]
47

January - Peace Corps Panama Friends

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