Whatchya been up to?

Whatchya been up to?

May 25, 2011

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything more than photos of my dog or my vacation. Things have been getting busier on the mountain. I’m enjoying my work, feeling comfortable in my community, loving my host family, and all around having fun. It seems like just yesterday that I was spending my weeks milking cows, following my grandpa around in his field, and learning how to make tortillas.

So here is a little update of what I’ve been up to:

Amigos del Ambiente

A few months back a fellow volunteer in a neighboring municipality asked for my help developing an environmental education program for her municipality. We met with her mayor’s office, got their suggestions and ideas, and then together wrote 5 months of environmental education lesson plans. With the funding of the mayor’s office we’ve started distributing materials and lesson plans to three pilot schools (one of them being my guardaria).

I’ve also started distributing the lesson plans and materials to teachers at my local school, however we’re still hoping to get funding from my local mayor.

English classes

Once a week I teach English to my local 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade classes. We’ve finished 5 weeks of classes and they recently had their first test.

Ninth Grade Environmental Education Grant

Several months ago my local school principal and I wrote a grant application for funding to do three large environmental education projects with the ninth grade students. And we got funded! In June, we’ll start trash pick up days. In July we’ll move on to constructing recycling bins at the school and in August we’ll finish with two large environmentally themed murals painted on the outside of the school.

Project Design and Management Workshop

Next week my president of the town council and I will attend a workshop in Valle de Angeles where we’ll learn everything we need to know about successfully executing town projects. Before going our town council will meet to discuss possible project ideas. He’s mentioned that there is a desire for a semi-levable latrine or pila project.

Being a good community member

I’ve spent a whole lot of time just being a good citizen. That means I’ve been attending birthday parties, helping kids studying for their English classes in the evenings, visiting friends, and of course, chatting with Don Fidel and Doña Fidelina.

So that’s it.

I’m proud of the work I’m doing and I think it’s important to celebrate your successes. So yay for me!