Elections and life after....

After first getting into country over a year ago and especially working within local government, Peace Corps made it clear that September 2011 was going to be a big month.  Why?  Elections.  On September 11^th, local and national elections took place.  In my municipality the current administration was defeated handily and the new administration will take over in January.  Leading up to the elections, not much work was being done as there were serious efforts and pushes to campaign.  Now, I have the problem of working in a lame duck administration that does not want to do anything except to just leave things the way they are.  So, in the next months I will work with people who know they will not have jobs come the new year.  Its pretty futile trying to convince people that we still need to work to do our job and continue to provide services for people.  Unfortunately our mayor will be putting a freeze on all spending which stops all projects and community development as it is.  Ill see how I can manage this and try to continue pushing forward with my programs and projects. 

Antigua's many doors and colors

This transition will be bittersweet in the sense that most of the people I work with will be gone and I have to start the process all over again of getting to know people, gaining 'confianza' and understanding the work dynamic.  On the other hand some people need to go and having the chance to make new friends and have new opportunities to work with people is more exciting than it is disappointing of going through the process again.  In the time I have been here working with the current administration, I have fostered some great professional relationships and have a team that acts as my go to people who I usually talk with, make plans with and eat lunch with from time to time.  It is just another change but seeing them go will be tough.  The only thing that you can do is forge on and keep doing the best that you can. 

Projects are coming along and my bottle school is looking more and more like it will actually happen.  We are still collecting bottles and once we have enough we will begin our next step.  Unfortunately the elections have placed a little halt in the process but I will have to be patient and do the things I can now and let the rest take care of itself when it is time.  

Filling bottles with students

Ive learnt a lot about control being here in Guatemala.  People who know me pre Peace Corps may have said I was a control freak and liked things the way I liked to have them (who doesn’t right?).  But, Peace Corps throwing all the stuff it has at you can make you easier going and some might even say a little less uptight.  There are things you can control in life and there are things that you can’t.  Most of the things you control are your effort, your personality, and most importantly how you react to things when they happen.  Im not going to lie, things can get tough here and weigh you down, but it’s more of how you react to the adversity that will make or break you.  If you let things get under your skin good luck, but if not, then you have to keep walking with one foot in front of the other.

I just had a great visit from a long time friend.  I have included some pictures that I took when she was here as we were able to get to Lake Atitlan and see some of Antigua as well.  It was good to get out of my site and area and see Guatemala and its stunning landscape and natural beauty.  I need to take more opportunities to get out and travel around the country and see some things before my next year is up.  It was also great to see a great friend and great to reconnect.

A flower

sunrise on the lake

Frustrations and projects

Peace Corps will challenge you, push you, break you down and will not let up.  Day in and day out there is no escaping the unfamiliarity, the difficulties and barriers of language and culture, the tough times soon become normal and expected and part of daily life.  There are other times where a simple smile can make your day or just small chat with someone can make you feel part of the community.  Most of the time the small things matter more because they keep you sane and make you feel human. Yet with the long stretches of feeling unproductive leaves you questioning why you are here, what you are doing wrong and how you can if possible fix it.

With the parents and students of the community

Lately I have been questioning the reasons for my host organization to have a volunteer.  I try to work with people, to help where needed and be part of a team.  I am looking to gather resources where previously none were thought to exist.  Everything I do, is met with somewhat of a resistance and more importantly a lack of support.  This bothers me.  I will not be successful here is there is a lack of support and coordination of efforts.  I have no problem doing things by myself and getting things done on a personal agenda, but this is not anywhere close to the goals of Peace Corps or ideas of sustainability, plus I am not here for what I want to do in communities, I am here to help them achieve their goals and the goals of my host agency.  How can I give assistance to people who claim they want assistance but then when it is time to work say that they cannot?

In the current school talking about the potential for a new bottle school

With this bottle school project thus far people seem to be on board, and have been supportive when I introduced the idea of a bottle school. The municipality wants to build a school but cannot as they are limited by resources and funding.  As I have introduced this way to gather resources with community buy in and by collaborating with other communities, people seem to be jumping ship.  Why I ask myself.  I have heard lately from my mayor, my counterpart and other staff in the office that it is 1.)Election season and we are focusing on that.  2.)Bottles can’t be put in walls and be safe (hence the trip to see an actual completed project) 3.)We don’t have the time right now 4.)We can do that tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow etc.  5.) There is no transportation. 6.) You do it you are the expert. And the worst, that it seems to be too much work.  

Visiting a completed bottle project in Todos Santos.

I know I cannot do this by myself, and I am going to have to talk to people and ask them for their input and support, but along comes the Guatemalan culture of saying yes to everything and then cancelling at the last minute.  So who knows what will be reality.  I will go in and ask if this is a project that they really want to do and if so, that I will need the support and effort of a team to accomplish this.  Will that be the case?  Only time will tell.