Woman reading the posters designed in part by Adam!
Stacia sharing about Earth Day and Loja Trash
Students from one of the local schools who were totally great- I work with the student on the very far right every Tuesday at the Centro Comercial (his name sounds like Jympsom but I have no idea how it is spelled!)
Drawing pictures of things in nature that they want to protect
Not pictured is me flipping a lid because a student in the afternoon group drew a swastika on the poster. I totally lost it, ripping the swastika off and demanding to know which kid drew it and how it was a terrible symbol and on and on. Yikes. I was beyond mad. Stacia said that at least the students took something away from my flipping out because a lot of them were asking what that meant and Stacia used that as a teachable moment (way to go Stacia for looking at the positives!!). I have to say I am a little embarrassed that I totally lost my cool so fast- Adam had spotted it and asked who drew it and when I saw what he was talking about, I was going off. I kind of hope I don't do any workshops in their school in the future. Crazy enough, swastikas and "NAZIS!!" are graffitied in many places throughout the city- probably from totally clueless teenagers.
Today was a really interesting day. We were invited to do a ride-along in the trash trucks to see how it works, take photos, and identify problematic areas and ways to improve. Stacia and I met bright and early at 6:45am and were on a truck by 7am with a driver, inspector (who was going to write fines for people who separated their trash incorrectly since Fridays are organic days), and the 4 workers in the back. After 5 hours with the guys, we learned quickly that 1) people put all their organic trash in plastic bags so it isn't just organic waste but plastic waste too, 2) the trash employees will pick up all trash on the side of the road/parks just to keep the city looking clean, even if it isn't organic waste and 3) the 4 workers in the back are in amazing shape from running and gathering the trash- they work really hard. Overall Stacia and I had a great time (and learned a lot and had a lot to share with the director of the trash program in Loja)!
Here are some photos, not sure where the video option for blogger went...:
Stacia and the inspector Cesar getting ready to jump in
The guys in the back hanging on, jumping off, and running all over
Poorly organized organic waste- as in it was definitely not organic at all (plastic bottles in the bin, etc.). I think the inspector fined them for it
Street lined with their green organic bins
One of the guys trying to manage all the excess bags
People also toss their trash wherever because they know somebody will pick it up. But it sucks for the workers because the dogs get into them (as pictured above)
Handwashing station/break for the guys at around 10am
1 comment:
I wish I was there for your swastika outburst episode!
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