I haven't written on this blog in a really long time and I don't know that anyone really reads this anymore but I've found myself with some internet time and thought I'd send an update to....whoever.
I have about 6 months left in my site and have a lot I want to accomplish beforehand. I don't know how this happens but time flies in the Peace Corps. Some days after you've done everything you've set out to do or can't do anything because the luz (electricity) isn't on and your laptop isn't charged, life in the campo along the Caribbean can be a little sloooow. During those moments, I try to do a lot of reading and go hang out with Dominicans in my town.
Been keeping busy lately with several different projects I have on my plate.
1) A latrine project. A group of university students are coming in July to help build latrines in my town so before then I am trying to organize the families selected for the project, get the funding from the NGO donating and find good deals on the materials we need. The families are now digging their holes and we will lay the cement floors all before July when the volunteers will help us construct the houses in the 4 days they will be here. This project is a lot to organize.
2) Just recently started a tinaco (water tank) project, as well. Sometimes the water will go 4-5 days (or longer) without being pumped to my site so this project will help families store the water they need to last during the shortages. Up to this point, I've been trying to raise money and investigating different prices. Hopefully, we'll get a good amount of money in.
3) I am finishing the upgrade to the coffee coop's office and hopefully this week will be installing the batteries and inversor, fans and buying the rest of the supplies we need. After finishing that I plan to sit down with the accountant and secretary to work on organizing their bookkeeping. It's hard to transfer that to their computer when the working conditions (were) horrible and the electricity is only on during certain parts of the day. Now, with the inversor they will always have electricity.
4) Next week I am starting my business course. This is a course designed to teach younger people about starting and running a business. There is a competition in October where the kids in your class can actually win money with their business plans. I am hoping to take some of my students to this competition at the end of the year
Lots to do and time is already running out. I end my service in October and am not exactly sure where I'll be or what I'll be doing afterward. I am looking into work opportunities here in the country (specifically the capitol) and hope to find a job doing more development work (but with higher pay!). We'll see what happens with that...well, until next time (whenever that is)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comments:
I read these things. Was a volunteer in the DR in late 80's. I follow all the blogs on peacecorpsjournals.com. Great stuff and brings back wonderful memories.
I recommend you start to distance yourself from the work and visit friends around the country at their sites and whatever. Climb Pico Duarte or Esquita Espuela if you haven't. Check out this beautiful blue lake outside of Cabrera, amazing. Lago Enriquillo is worth a trip. It's too bad you don't have a car.
Where is your site? I will be in the San Francisco de Macoris area in late July.
There should be some opportunities for work depending on your level of Spanish. Don't be afraid to get on the business side of it and do some real development work.
Post a Comment