the pila.

so this is how we use water here in guatemala. it's actually a brilliant idea based in the reality that most towns don't have access to water 24/7. For example, in Almolonga we get water from the city faucet everyday from 7-8 am. So you fill up the pila then and have water for the whole day.

We use little plastic buckets (called palanganas) to dish the water out to wash hands, dishes, and clothes...

Special thanks to my mamacita for making these pictures possible and to the best RPCV (and cousin) ever whose music gave me the patience to wait for these to upload!

Well hello there. Long time, no see...

I've been reading a lot lately about the history of Peace Corps. I even taped a picture of JFK up in my room. Do you think he's handsome? (jury is still out in this neck of the woods) It's just incredible really, how much I absolutely love my work here. And then I think of that multiplied by the 200.000 volunteers who have served since the creation of PC 50 years ago, all over the world. How much good can be done? How many laughs can be shared? And would you look at that, all without A-47s strapped to our backs! I know that you all think that I'm sugarcoating my experience here. My biggest fear about heading back home in 21 months? Will I ever be able to find work as fulfulling as this?

Today I visited Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta Santa Maria de Jesus. The fourth grade teachers there asked me to teach a half hour class on environmental contamination. Here are some pictures:


I made a timeline using chalk outside from 2 weeks to 1,000,000 years and handed out trash to the kids. They had to decide how long that it would take for their item of trash to decompose. I think it was a hit!
Have a great week!

p.s. shout out to my amazing friend Allie who knows her way around just about anywhere, kitchens and hearts included! feliz cumple chica!