So this is work in the Peace Corps...

Adam and I had a lot of ideas of what our work would be like in the Peace Corps. Adam envisioned computer labs, setting up internet in rural communities, community gardens, and trash and recycling programs. I imagined making artisan crafts with women's groups, talking with jovenes about other cultures (maybe doing a world map project), developing service projects for the university students, and setting up community library or reading programs. These projects might be possibilities for the future, but until then, we have been keeping busy with other types of work in the Peace Corps, such as:

1. Visiting a family and doing a talk about hygiene, showing the kids how to brush their teeth, and then doing a minga "work party" to wash all 14 kids' hair with anti-lice shampoo (one of the kids had picked up lice at school and when they came home, spread it to everyone else since they all lived in such tight quarters).

Walking up muddy hills with bags of donated clothes

The kids excited about the new clothes

Learning proper brushing techniques

Alvania teaching the tongue brushing technique

Starting the hair washing process

Little babies do not like this at all

Pobrecita (poor thing) shivering after the cold water bucket bath

Alvania and Carmita with some of the family after they were all cleaned up and in their new clothes!

2. Driving all day dropping off letters to schools in the middle of the mountains to share information about INFA and how the Centro de Proteccion de Derechos can provide support and assistance. Since they are so far out, but still within our canton, we are trying to make sure that they know we can offer workshops, activities, etc. for parents, children and families. And while we're out in the middle of the mountains, we might as well take a break to catch some trucha (trout).

Swiss volunteer Philippe with Juanito, our INFA driver

Taking the hook out... Alvania and Carmita wouldn't touch it

Carmita with her fishing pole and her prize trout

Juanito preventing his fish from getting away

All the fish we caught

3. Playing bingo for a community fundraiser using corn kernels (and for snacks you could buy salchipapas...which are french fries covered in mayonaise with a hot dog on top!). CASMUL works with communities and often they will do fundraisers like bingo or selling comida tipica. We had fun but it was rough on our sleep schedule since it started at 9pm and we finished up close to 2am.

The woman above is Gloria, Adam's counterpart and our host mom that we lived with for the first month in Loja

4. Learning how to make our very own puppets so that we could use them to teach lessons to smaller children (it's much more interactive and more fun for kids than listening to adults share messages about childrens' rights). I have to say, I was really impressed with how our homemade puppets turned out, and some of my colleagues are awesome with their puppet voices and acting!! Plus, I have never sewed in my life so it was great practice!

Carmita and Julisa with their puppets...check out their clothes!

Cecibel with her puppet

And my puppet "Andres"! He has good headbanging yarn hair! And to think that he started out as just pieces of felt, cotton stuffing and yarn! I was impressed!


Video of some of my coworkers doing a skit about a kid trying to make some money on the bus by singing some songs. Unfortunately a fairly common thing here in Ecuador.

5. Hosting an open house in the Plaza de la Independencia (aka San Sebastian) and making origami with tons of unruly kids. And passing out "bookmarks" that took Eri, Philippe and I over 5 hours to make. We had to cut out almost 150 shapes from "fomex" and then write MIES INFA CPD on each one, and then glue them to popscicle sticks. Originally they were supposed to be buttons to pin on, but we had no supplies for that. So bookmarks they were! Though kids here don't read for fun so not sure what they will use them for.

Philippe cutting out the stars

So this is what 3 volunteers can accomplish in 5 hours

Our bulletin board with information about CPD

Elizabeth showing how to make a talking bird

I think facepainting Spiderman is universal

Philippe trying to teach origami to all these kids...kinda tough!

6. Making bats (murcielagos) out of egg cartons with the kids at the orphanage and explaining to them about Halloween and the cultures and customs that we have in the US (dressing up in costume, knocking door to door, saying "Trick or Treat" and getting candy). They don't celebrate Halloween here so it was an interesting concept for them. (no pix)

And just for kicks, this is how Mickey looks in Ecuador. Something just isn't right: