tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321003432024-03-13T12:52:50.479-07:00Joe's Service PanamaThis is my experiences serving with the Peace Corps in Panama. I am assigned to a job as an Environmental Health Extensionist. This Blog does not represent the views or opinions of Peace Corps, the Government of the United States of America, or the Government of Panama.Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-67512010173521021852008-10-18T11:37:00.000-07:002008-10-18T12:19:10.047-07:00My going away party<div align="center">I left my town on October 7th. The weekend before my Panama Verde group organized a going away party with some money they had saved up. Several members of the community were invited as well as Panama Verde coordinators from out of town. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258570717515526626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SPoyNNvIseI/AAAAAAAAAxI/gqF2HKz5M_E/s320/P1040834.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">They decorated my house all morning and had a big stereo hooked up to a car battery. In total there was about 30 people crammed onto my porch. In this picture I am giving all of the Panama Verde books and documents to the President Aurelio. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258570701233815218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SPoyMRFRfrI/AAAAAAAAAxA/557K8bhTScM/s320/P1040844.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Later we took a picture with all of our group members. Included in the photo are on the right. The Proffesora Mitzela from Changuinola who organizes all the group on a regional level and Arcadio, the head of a NGO called Alianza´s Bocas. I was very surprised that they came considering it was a weekend and 1 and a half hour ride from Changuinola.</div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SPoyLGxgGSI/AAAAAAAAAwo/-LCxK0kMQRc/s1600-h/P1040875.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258570681286662434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SPoyLGxgGSI/AAAAAAAAAwo/-LCxK0kMQRc/s320/P1040875.JPG" border="0" /></a> We also had a more formal going away lunch at the US ambassador to Panama´s house. Tables were set with lots of silverware and delicious food!!! Seriously this was real good food even by US standards, I can´t believe the Ambassador gets to eat like this ALL THE TIME!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SPoyLglNU6I/AAAAAAAAAww/37aza5M7Yf8/s1600-h/P1040878.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258570688214422434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SPoyLglNU6I/AAAAAAAAAww/37aza5M7Yf8/s320/P1040878.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here I am with the Ambassador Barbara Stephenson and the Peace Corps Country Director Peter Redmond. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SPoyL5S7dqI/AAAAAAAAAw4/2y2du0wr1gk/s1600-h/P1040880.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258570694848640674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SPoyL5S7dqI/AAAAAAAAAw4/2y2du0wr1gk/s320/P1040880.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> Here is are whole group. Not so many have left, and all left within the first 6 months. </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center">I´m off on my trip visiting South America.<br /><br /><br /></p>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-84106324838361894702008-08-21T13:52:00.000-07:002008-08-21T14:34:52.948-07:00New update on work and a short vacationAs my last vacation in Peace Corps a bunch of good friends went to the Comarca Kuna Yala or San Blas. This is a different indigineous reservation located on primarily beutiful carribean island close to Columbia. There was delicious seafood in endless supply!<br /><br /><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3c946ajkI/AAAAAAAAAwY/1i1rEf6kQ-8/s1600-h/P1040354.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237084897509281346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3c946ajkI/AAAAAAAAAwY/1i1rEf6kQ-8/s320/P1040354.JPG" border="0" /></a> This was a freind we met who went spear fishing and got these two fish. Ryu is holding up a barrucuda. He said he shot them at 40 meters down using no air tanks!!</p><p><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3c-ai8s8I/AAAAAAAAAwg/n4aXyMvA1B4/s1600-h/P1040380.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237084906537661378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3c-ai8s8I/AAAAAAAAAwg/n4aXyMvA1B4/s320/P1040380.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3anK9P_QI/AAAAAAAAAv4/EyStIFtcMek/s1600-h/P1040286.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237082308192763138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3anK9P_QI/AAAAAAAAAv4/EyStIFtcMek/s320/P1040286.JPG" border="0" /></a> I took a recent trip to measure potentional water sources in more remote towns. These towns may be getting a aqueduct from the goverment in the futre. We measured the flow of the spring, the distance and elevation change from the houses. In some places there was fairly thick Jungle like above. <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3anu4p1yI/AAAAAAAAAwA/hJG0M2v48yU/s1600-h/P1040268.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237082317837162274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3anu4p1yI/AAAAAAAAAwA/hJG0M2v48yU/s320/P1040268.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is us measuring the flow rate. We cut up peaces of a banana tree to use as the make shift pipe. They worked fantastic. I also tried to teach the community members present how to use their watch to count the seconds needed to fill up the 5 gallon bucket and therefore measure the gallons per minute.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3an1HT2NI/AAAAAAAAAwI/dxq0SykeKp4/s1600-h/P1040329.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237082319509248210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3an1HT2NI/AAAAAAAAAwI/dxq0SykeKp4/s320/P1040329.JPG" border="0" /></a> We had the inaguration for the Quebrada Cacao aqueduct. There was a religoius invocation, a brief history of the whole project. I spoke on how the project continues in their maintence and charging the monthly usage fee. I also read off some words from my boss. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237084856012311298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3c7eUxCwI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/8W1ISrODJBk/s320/P1040332.JPG" border="0" />There was also a piñata!! I mad this out of a box and tissue paper. It lasted a beating!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3X7VQKvkI/AAAAAAAAAvo/6lExGF65tNI/s1600-h/P1040507.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237079356018966082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3X7VQKvkI/AAAAAAAAAvo/6lExGF65tNI/s320/P1040507.JPG" border="0" /></a> Since I´ve been in site I´ve been selling condoms for 5 cents each. The UN gave a bunch of condoms to Peace Corps for free but we were told to sell them so there is some value associated with them. When ever someone comes to buy one I try to do a quick demonstration of their use on bananas. I have even walked around town in the afternoon when everyone (esspecially young guys) are playing sports and took the demonstration on the road.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3X71KlHWI/AAAAAAAAAvw/KXxeyOaC5mc/s1600-h/P1040429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237079364585463138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SK3X71KlHWI/AAAAAAAAAvw/KXxeyOaC5mc/s320/P1040429.JPG" border="0" /></a> I´m starting to try to tak more pictures with families I´m friendly with so i can develope them and give as gifts, and just for me.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-65546952413310725352008-07-30T10:31:00.000-07:002008-07-30T11:18:24.252-07:00A trip to build a composting latrine<div align="center">A few weeks ago I took a trip to help my friend Mo kick off her compost latrine project. I brought a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">tecnico</span> from my town that has had years of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">experience</span> building and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">maintaining</span> composting latrines. He was kinda <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">enough</span> to come without pay because he really <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">believes</span> in the technology and wanted to see a new town. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SJCsepa2hEI/AAAAAAAAAvA/rhNrl9BhdTI/s1600-h/P1030992.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228868809891677250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SJCsepa2hEI/AAAAAAAAAvA/rhNrl9BhdTI/s320/P1030992.JPG" border="0" /></a> Mo lives on an island near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Bocas</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">del</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Toro</span>. Since it is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">illegal</span> to take sand from any beaches in the area all the sand and materials had to be brought from the mainland. We left in a dug out wood boat. Water was pouring in though the sides because we were so weighed down, but we got there in one peace.<br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SJCsfAuEvvI/AAAAAAAAAvI/3nxU9hHnmbs/s1600-h/P1040007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228868816146317042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SJCsfAuEvvI/AAAAAAAAAvI/3nxU9hHnmbs/s320/P1040007.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here is the latrine after most of the first three layers of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">blocks</span> have been <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">laid</span>. These latrines are built in places where a high water table exists so you can´t have a pit latrine. <br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SJCsfdsF0iI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/9WIVLAH1mho/s1600-h/P1040020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228868823922627106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SJCsfdsF0iI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/9WIVLAH1mho/s320/P1040020.JPG" border="0" /></a> The view at dusk of her town looking out towards <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Bocas</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">del</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Toro</span>.<br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SJCsgKKnifI/AAAAAAAAAvY/T6t6XpIS9m0/s1600-h/P1040027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228868835861826034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SJCsgKKnifI/AAAAAAAAAvY/T6t6XpIS9m0/s320/P1040027.JPG" border="0" /></a> The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">tecnico</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Benicio</span> giving a talk on the proper use and common problems with the latrines. This was in my view one the most important parts of the whole 3 days. He gave his talk in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Ngobe</span> and used stories about his experience building <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">nearly</span> 30 latrines and how so many people like them in my town. Many of the other guys <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">didn</span>´t fully understand the concept until he spoke to them. You can see the ¨doors´s where you take out the composted excrement in the back.<br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SJCsgnywIZI/AAAAAAAAAvg/KNUQkyg4cH4/s1600-h/P1040038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228868843814789522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SJCsgnywIZI/AAAAAAAAAvg/KNUQkyg4cH4/s320/P1040038.JPG" border="0" /></a> Mo and the proud new owners of their latrine.<br /><br /></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-62370766705488288252008-04-21T07:28:00.000-07:002008-04-21T08:51:32.246-07:00More Panama Verde and disaster strikes<div align="center">So the other day I went to buy some pipes for the two aqueducts that I am still buildings. I went with a member of the aqueduct committee to Changuinola where the hardware stores are and purchased several hundred dollars of PVC. I like this store because the delivery is free, this is a major plus when you live and hour and a half away from the nearest hardware store and half of that trip is off road. They have a very old flatbed drunk with broken glass, side windows that don´t work and no working knobs in the cab. After about half and hour on the highway a passing car flagged us down. When we pulled over our driver jumps out of the car swearing...</div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAysNBlijeI/AAAAAAAAAt4/vJBx3QQmYGk/s1600-h/P1030567.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191713810215505378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAysNBlijeI/AAAAAAAAAt4/vJBx3QQmYGk/s320/P1030567.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><u></u><br /><br /><br /><br />The whole battery is in flames and melting a mix of plastic and battery acid!! Apparently its thrown together wiring short circuited.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191710408601406914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAypHBlijcI/AAAAAAAAAto/ixOyvFPtoVQ/s320/P1030562.JPG" border="0" /><br />The Panama Verde environmental your group is still very active. After the regional camp kids in my town really wanted to do something big. They wanted to invite 4 other neighboring groups for a 2 day camp. I initially was skeptical and thought they didn´t know how much work goes into planning an activity like this. Regardless I told them that they could start planning it. After splitting the group up to right solicitation letters and going to the Changuinola to deliver them we received funding from the Hydroelectric dam company, the Mayor and the local town representative.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAypFxlijZI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/1fw5k-_Wifw/s1600-h/P1030516.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191710387126570386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAypFxlijZI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/1fw5k-_Wifw/s320/P1030516.JPG" border="0" /></a> The mini-camp was all Ngobe, so our big activity was a hike with the local indigenous healers group. They explained what plants worked as cures for various ailments and how to prepare them. Much of this knowledge is not being passed down from the older generations to the young more hip kids. Part of this activity was hearing the same botanical group speak on Ngobe culture, traditional stories and what is was like living 70 years ago when there was nothing but jungle. (Elderly people in my town tell me about how jungle cats would eat their pigs!)<br /><br />The majority of the camp occurred in the school. We ate in the school kitchen and everyone slept on the floor in classrooms. Other activities we did were a a talk about the composition of trash followed by a community wide trash pick up, a low ropes course, swimming and bathing in the river and at night we put on the DVD Planet Earth.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAypGRlijaI/AAAAAAAAAtY/XxKXDf966Hk/s1600-h/P1030536.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191710395716504994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAypGRlijaI/AAAAAAAAAtY/XxKXDf966Hk/s320/P1030536.JPG" border="0" /></a> These are all the kids in my group. I was very impressed with how much they stepped up. Seeing how they are teenagers many times the goof off but when the responsibility was on they all delivered. Every one carried a huge load of firewood from there houses, large buckets of water to the school kitchen when the water went out, cleaned the bathrooms and maintained order amongst the members from other towns.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAypGhlijbI/AAAAAAAAAtg/iWiMMple7Tc/s1600-h/P1030543.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191710400011472306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAypGhlijbI/AAAAAAAAAtg/iWiMMple7Tc/s320/P1030543.JPG" border="0" /></a> These are all the participants with their camp shirts and certificates.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAypHRlijdI/AAAAAAAAAtw/BNL92CAvI-o/s1600-h/P1030567.JPG"></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAymKhlijWI/AAAAAAAAAs4/XHokU0tYksE/s1600-h/jo+se+303.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191707170196065634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAymKhlijWI/AAAAAAAAAs4/XHokU0tYksE/s320/jo+se+303.jpg" border="0" /></a> Another activity we did was a beach cleanup in preparation for turtle nesting season. 25 kids plus 4 counselors piled into 2 dug out canoes for a trip to the barrier islands of San San Pon Sak. Before the beach clean up we were taken to a platform in the mangrove wetland to get a chance to see manatees!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAymMRlijXI/AAAAAAAAAtA/mEzj1ANyAsc/s1600-h/jo+se+332.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191707200260836722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAymMRlijXI/AAAAAAAAAtA/mEzj1ANyAsc/s320/jo+se+332.jpg" border="0" /></a> They hang bananas in a hope to study the manatees. This was pretty much the extent that we saw.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAymNBlijYI/AAAAAAAAAtI/I-7_hlRQ4ws/s1600-h/jo+se+359.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191707213145738626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAymNBlijYI/AAAAAAAAAtI/I-7_hlRQ4ws/s320/jo+se+359.jpg" border="0" /></a> To my surprise the beach cleanup did not exist of picking up trash. We moved large peaces of drift wood and seaweed clumps that could disturb nest turtles. The turtle conservation program at San San Pon Sak is protecting Leatherback Sea Turtles one of the largest in the world. They can be as large a 6 feet by 4 feet. </div><div> </div><div>The conservation effort revolves around greatly improving the chances that turtles that hatch on there beach will reach adult hood. They do this by making the environment even better the what is naturally occurring. Even thought the turtles have powerful flippers they still can´t move large peaces of drift wood so its removed to improve there chances. When they come to lay eggs the people on the beach move the eggs to a secure nursery, so crabs and other wild life can´t dig them up.<br /><br /></div><div></div><br /></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-25739893147522097732008-04-20T17:44:00.000-07:002008-04-21T07:57:46.714-07:00Peace Corps Family<div align="center">Some times I think of Peace Corps Panama like a big extended surrogate family. This past weekend I attended the wedding ofTess Sparks. She was the volunteer in my town before me and also the tech trainer for our group of environmental health volunteers. She got married to a Panamanian architect named Gabriel in the old city of Panama. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyLCRlijRI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/blkfDNjkqRs/s1600-h/mel´s+fotos+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191677341648194834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyLCRlijRI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/blkfDNjkqRs/s320/mel%C2%B4s+fotos+036.jpg" border="0" /></a> St. Francis of Assisi Chapel was huge!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyLDBlijSI/AAAAAAAAAsY/kGM-hxrLBf4/s1600-h/mel´s+fotos+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191677354533096738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyLDBlijSI/AAAAAAAAAsY/kGM-hxrLBf4/s320/mel%C2%B4s+fotos+039.jpg" border="0" /></a> Flower children and ring bearers<br />The reception was at a Hindu Temple banquet hall on a large hill overlooking the city. There was a DJ a live tipico band. Later while most people were talking at there tables a brass band marched in! It was great to see so many people dancing and having a great time. The dance floor was full of surrogate family: the PC doctor, the directors of the various PC sectors, secretaries and language teachers even the country director and his daughter!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyLDhlijTI/AAAAAAAAAsg/BS9m_J1OMic/s1600-h/mel´s+fotos+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191677363123031346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyLDhlijTI/AAAAAAAAAsg/BS9m_J1OMic/s320/mel%C2%B4s+fotos+050.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center">I also got to meet some volunteers that lived and worked around my area and settle some tall tales about them as well as update them on the big happenings in the area. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyLEBlijUI/AAAAAAAAAso/LTh4ZHmKvmM/s1600-h/mel´s+fotos+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191677371712965954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyLEBlijUI/AAAAAAAAAso/LTh4ZHmKvmM/s320/mel%C2%B4s+fotos+045.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyLExlijVI/AAAAAAAAAsw/Ey4-79eQVkE/s1600-h/mel´s+fotos+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191677384597867858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyLExlijVI/AAAAAAAAAsw/Ey4-79eQVkE/s320/mel%C2%B4s+fotos+057.jpg" border="0" /></a> This past weekend was also Melissa and myself´s 1 year anniversary! We celebrated with champagne in a a nice hotel in Panama City.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyIyhlijPI/AAAAAAAAAsA/bELaiWnvFao/s1600-h/Nudobidy+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191674872041999602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyIyhlijPI/AAAAAAAAAsA/bELaiWnvFao/s320/Nudobidy+004.jpg" border="0" /></a> In January (I know I have not updated the blog in a while) there was another familiar event when several people came to visit my town to see the work completed on the aqueduct. Above left to right there is the local mason, Tess (the one that just got married), the director of the Environmental Health program, the Waterlines ( the NGO sponsoring the project) mason and inspector, the Country director Peter Redmond, SpongeBob, and members of the a Rotary club which also sponsored the project.</p><p> </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191674867747032290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyIyRlijOI/AAAAAAAAAr4/-hMIpfbamJ4/s320/Nudobidy+020.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>They all came for the official inauguration of the aqueduct with the town. The whole town came out for a big party with two slaughtered pigs, official dedications, the story of how the aqueduct came to be and a piñata!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191495432603339986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAvllxlijNI/AAAAAAAAArw/TPM-hiT6GPs/s320/jo+se+145.jpg" border="0" />Words from the two bossmen, Peter Redmond and the aqueduct President Emilio.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyIyhlijQI/AAAAAAAAAsI/1qvfLl156OQ/s1600-h/Nudobidy+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191674872041999618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAyIyhlijQI/AAAAAAAAAsI/1qvfLl156OQ/s320/Nudobidy+018.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is Carmen, the local women´s group president with the Country Directors daughter. The women´s group gave many of their hand stitched bags as a token of appreciation.<br /><br /><br /></p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAvllRlijMI/AAAAAAAAAro/CDxnU37XHBI/s1600-h/jo+se+141.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191495424013405378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/SAvllRlijMI/AAAAAAAAAro/CDxnU37XHBI/s320/jo+se+141.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here´s the country director with most of his family walking the muddy trail to Nudobidi. He says they try to get out to visit people as much as is possible because it reminds the kids of what the country outside of Panama City is like. This was his family´s first time to a Ngobe community in Bocas del Toro.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-17654405948770166632008-02-06T15:11:00.000-08:002008-02-14T19:00:43.036-08:00Panama Verde Youth Camp<div></div><div>The regional Panama Verde camp happened during January. About 12 different Panama Verde groups got together and the agricultural high school IPT Silencio for 5 days of ice breakers, trash pickup, talks on the environment and leadership and games! It was a great mix between Ngobe groups and Latino. There was even another indigenous group called the Naso present.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R7T_AKZ-mcI/AAAAAAAAAq4/WYAOfog1tDQ/s1600-h/jo+se+085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R7T_AKZ-mcI/AAAAAAAAAq4/WYAOfog1tDQ/s320/jo+se+085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167035050759199170" border="0" /></a><br />The people with green shirts on are the counselors. They are in their twenties and went from being in groups to part of the Panama Verde leadership, most are from more developed cities and are studying at a university and all work for free. Panama Verde has a saying ¨For youth, by youth¨ the only person over 25 in the whole group is the national director who is standing next to the guy in the wheel chair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R7T7UaZ-mZI/AAAAAAAAAqg/_XU-aRqJQws/s1600-h/jo+se+064.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R7T7UaZ-mZI/AAAAAAAAAqg/_XU-aRqJQws/s320/jo+se+064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167031000605038994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R7UAHqZ-mdI/AAAAAAAAArA/GdL8yrE51UE/s1600-h/jo+se+092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R7UAHqZ-mdI/AAAAAAAAArA/GdL8yrE51UE/s320/jo+se+092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167036279119845842" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R6pEHAD1jdI/AAAAAAAAAqI/fSRjcbxMPMo/s1600-h/de+jose+005.jpg"></a>One of the confidence builders we did as part of the ropes course day. I didn’t do this but it certainly gave some of the larger kids confidence to hear all there teammates cheering them on. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R6pEJwD1jeI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/wMVdb-7MalY/s1600-h/de+jose+032.jpg"></a>This is my group picking up trash. We broke up into 5 different colored groups and you had to wear your colors at all times. We had a great mix of loud, animated, and educated Latinos as well as more quiet reserved Ngobes. I think this is itself was a great learning experience. The kid with the part in his hair is from my town. This was his first trip ever out of town so you can imagine how intimidating all the ice breakers and goofy dances would be. He ended up doing a great job later as he gained confidence making jokes. </div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R7T7V6Z-mbI/AAAAAAAAAqw/qyVl_lgsFjs/s1600-h/jo+se+079.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R7T7V6Z-mbI/AAAAAAAAAqw/qyVl_lgsFjs/s320/jo+se+079.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167031026374842802" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R6pARwD1jaI/AAAAAAAAApw/8fODEThOJ-A/s1600-h/de+jose+027.jpg"></a>I did the camps with 2 other PC volunteers that have groups in Bocas. This was for a game similar to capture the flag that we played at night. We were giants and could tag kids and bring them to jail. In order for them to capture us they need 6 kids touching a leader at once. This was a great exercise in teamwork. The first round not one giant one captured. The second round they all hid in corners and alleys and came out in huge groups and ended up catching us all. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R6pASAD1jbI/AAAAAAAAAp4/x4f7is74qlk/s1600-h/de+jose+064.jpg"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R6pASQD1jcI/AAAAAAAAAqA/ixNqqF-uJmU/s1600-h/de+jose+033.jpg"></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R7T7VaZ-maI/AAAAAAAAAqo/k47rS9j4Fkc/s1600-h/jo+se+093.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R7T7VaZ-maI/AAAAAAAAAqo/k47rS9j4Fkc/s320/jo+se+093.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167031017784908194" border="0" /></a><div> </div><br /><div>This is my group ¨The Claws.¨ If we lost our flag (which we did) we all had to do an embarrassing dance called the epileptic chicken... yeah its as strange as it sounds.<br /></div><br /><br /><div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-37960394021540324852007-11-27T07:33:00.000-08:002007-11-27T08:51:01.137-08:00November is Panama Month<div>November is the mes de Patrìa or month of the fatherland. On the 3 they celebrate independence from Columbia day, the 4th is flag day. They have big celebrations in the schools and with marching bands in larger towns. These girls are wearing sashes that indicate that they are in the top of their class. </div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0xB4Qi8LWI/AAAAAAAAAow/aSGDMPtZtbA/s1600-h/joe%27s+297.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137553709692890466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0xB4Qi8LWI/AAAAAAAAAow/aSGDMPtZtbA/s320/joe%27s+297.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0xB8gi8LXI/AAAAAAAAAo4/26vkA7dkVY4/s1600-h/joe%27s+284.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137553782707334514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0xB8gi8LXI/AAAAAAAAAo4/26vkA7dkVY4/s320/joe%27s+284.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is the stage set up for the ceremonies of reading the declaration of independence and other historical documents and well as children reading poems and singing songs about their country.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0xB9Qi8LYI/AAAAAAAAApA/VNuqHw75sAs/s1600-h/joe%27s+408.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137553795592236418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0xB9Qi8LYI/AAAAAAAAApA/VNuqHw75sAs/s320/joe%27s+408.jpg" border="0" /></a> On the 23 Valle celebrated the founding of their county. This is a big deal because most of the county is in the mountains people no longer need to pay to get to the larger town to settle land disputes, register to vote or register births. This is all done in my town which is the center of the coriegiemento (county). On the 23 the town council had a big party with activities during the day, and a big dance at night. The party started off with Cantadera, which is similar to freestyle singing. One was from Tolè which and spoke some ngobe in his singing, which everyone loved. </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137558468516654514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0xGNQi8LbI/AAAAAAAAApY/ayCthGU0lV4/s320/joe%27s+411.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>They start out introducing themselves each in turn, then the sing about how they love women and past exploits. Later they merged into about how they are truly from the countryside and how they always work in their farm, this turns into complaints about the rising cost of rice, sugar, gas and the general cost of living (which is true). They then went on to get more confrontaional with the Hijo de la Comarca (Child of the reservation) going to far to make hints that they are on his land. Overall the atmosphere was very freindly and they applaud one another if they sang some poignent lines. One of them even mentioned Peace Corps a few times so he was clearly improvising. </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0xB_gi8LZI/AAAAAAAAApI/QhUFeDsmpPA/s1600-h/joe%27s+405.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137553834246942098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0xB_gi8LZI/AAAAAAAAApI/QhUFeDsmpPA/s320/joe%27s+405.jpg" border="0" /></a> Then tipico band started playing. They seemed like true road warriors. All of their equipment has seen some obvious use. Considering everything was brought in on a 4 wheel drive truck they sounded good. The music is very accordian based and the singer Edwin Seballo is popular with Ngobes because he has a few songs centering around Ngobe phrases. The band played till around 4 AM which many people thought was quitting to soon. After 2 cups of coffee I couldn´t stay awake past 2.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0xCDAi8LaI/AAAAAAAAApQ/ZPcRjwat2r4/s1600-h/joe%27s+392.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137553894376484258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0xCDAi8LaI/AAAAAAAAApQ/ZPcRjwat2r4/s320/joe%27s+392.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is a random picture of how you get to my friend Mo´s Latrine. And really all the latrine is a private spot you can poop in the mangrove swamp. You need to hop from board to board!<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0w76gi8LSI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/hgr1aBeHVTs/s1600-h/joe%27s+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137547151277829410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0w76gi8LSI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/hgr1aBeHVTs/s320/joe%27s+014.jpg" border="0" /></a> Novemeber 2nd is the Day of the Dead. Where most of the town gets together to remember the dead. Wealthy people get raised graved above while others get the plants with red leaves. As my town is quite big there are lots of graves.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0w77Qi8LTI/AAAAAAAAAoY/BRnV_whXLJY/s1600-h/joe%27s+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137547164162731314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0w77Qi8LTI/AAAAAAAAAoY/BRnV_whXLJY/s320/joe%27s+028.jpg" border="0" /></a> The is my sister placing flowers on the grave of her grandfather, one of the founding fathers of the town.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0w78Qi8LUI/AAAAAAAAAog/dm5PEhbB7-8/s1600-h/joe%27s+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137547181342600514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0w78Qi8LUI/AAAAAAAAAog/dm5PEhbB7-8/s320/joe%27s+016.jpg" border="0" /></a> No minister was present so they asked me if I could give the opening prayer, I did but chickened out and gave it in English. On the other hand, I don´t regulary speak about religion so i´m not used to the vocabulary.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0w79gi8LVI/AAAAAAAAAoo/p9tvy02Ai9o/s1600-h/joe%27s+214.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137547202817437010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0w79gi8LVI/AAAAAAAAAoo/p9tvy02Ai9o/s320/joe%27s+214.jpg" border="0" /></a> November is also the month to harvest cacao!! This is a pile of mallorcas which they crack open to and take out the seeds. After the that the seeds are dried, ground and sugar and milk is added to make chocolate.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-37645152925431007842007-11-27T06:05:00.000-08:002007-11-27T07:27:51.280-08:00FOOD!For a period of about a week I had several guests over for various reasons. With the help of Melissa we cooked some amazing food with the little we could in the jungle.<br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0wqXgi8LQI/AAAAAAAAAoA/mguq_QneZeo/s1600-h/joe%27s+356.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137527858284735746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0wqXgi8LQI/AAAAAAAAAoA/mguq_QneZeo/s320/joe%27s+356.jpg" border="0" /></a> These are my new neighbors Greg and Lisa, the are from Philly and live about and hour away. We made pizza with them. We made the dough from scratch used American singles, and cooked it in a frying pan with aluminum foil as a lid.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137527875464604946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0wqYgi8LRI/AAAAAAAAAoI/Rbg4hiYv9CA/s320/joe%27s+436.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>This is Sebastien, he was visiting interested in doing some research. He works with the Smithsonian Insititute on Bocas Island, and is researching an improved septic system for places with high water tables and clayey soil where black water filters in VERY slowly. He is also from Belgium and makes amazing crepes. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137525019311353058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0wnyQi8LOI/AAAAAAAAAnw/KuJkeVSnDcg/s320/joe%27s+379.jpg" border="0" /> Heres our breakfast creps, including all the toppings. Scrambled eggs, bananas, peanut butter etc.<br /></p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0wnugi8LMI/AAAAAAAAAng/9JURIOARtt0/s1600-h/joe%27s+388.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137524954886843586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0wnugi8LMI/AAAAAAAAAng/9JURIOARtt0/s320/joe%27s+388.jpg" border="0" /></a> Later I went to visit a freind Mo to help survey her aqueduct. She is a vegetarian and knows how to make a mean salad. This was my first succesful experience with tofu.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0wnxwi8LNI/AAAAAAAAAno/6n-HhcjAo8k/s1600-h/joe%27s+386.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137525010721418450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0wnxwi8LNI/AAAAAAAAAno/6n-HhcjAo8k/s320/joe%27s+386.jpg" border="0" /></a> Lastly, another friend Jess came from the other side of the country to do research on her masters thesis. She was measuring pH and temperature of all the 40 composting latrines in my site, then took samples from 5. The idea is to check if they are successfully killing all pathogens and to see what moisture level and dry material is the best. She made chicken parm. Without the chicken or parmesean. Instead she used crushed ritz crackers, egg and soy meat made into patties. Excellent!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0wn1Ai8LPI/AAAAAAAAAn4/xN5ov8cihWc/s1600-h/joe%27s+365.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137525066555993330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/R0wn1Ai8LPI/AAAAAAAAAn4/xN5ov8cihWc/s320/joe%27s+365.jpg" border="0" /></a> We also made banana pancakes from scratch. Mashing up bananas sure makes your batter go along farther. You can also Johnny Cakes which are very popular because you can back them of a fire. <br /><br /><div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-90752969923279031142007-10-31T10:21:00.000-07:002007-10-31T11:18:57.063-07:00Swear in and 1 year celebration<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyjFKv6EsgI/AAAAAAAAAnI/VtfVyYXCf1E/s1600-h/P1020553.JPG"></a> The new group of Environmental Volunteers just swore in with a ceremony at the Panama Canal Museum. The US Ambassador spoke about the importance of Peace Corps in Panama.<br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyjA7v6EsdI/AAAAAAAAAmw/x5taDDPQcRw/s1600-h/P1020537.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127560308466168274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyjA7v6EsdI/AAAAAAAAAmw/x5taDDPQcRw/s320/P1020537.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyjA8P6EseI/AAAAAAAAAm4/ngxp0QkYaCA/s1600-h/P1020543.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127560317056102882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyjA8P6EseI/AAAAAAAAAm4/ngxp0QkYaCA/s320/P1020543.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> Ambassador Eaton with our Country Director.<br /></p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyjFL_6EsiI/AAAAAAAAAnY/UzZg7cSmZ7o/s1600-h/P1020608.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127564985685553698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyjFL_6EsiI/AAAAAAAAAnY/UzZg7cSmZ7o/s320/P1020608.JPG" border="0" /></a> As a group we took a vacation to go to the Royal Decamoran all inclusive resort to celebrate surviving one year in country. The above picture was in the swim up bar. This was also a great chance to catch up with other volunteers that live far away and to exchange ideas. For example I learned of a business volunteer that is buying a machine that automatically takes the shells off rice. It sits in the bed of a truck, to operate you jack the wheels off the ground and use the car engine to turn the motor. This is a great example of using local resources and also the rice peeler will go where the rice is.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyjA8v6EsfI/AAAAAAAAAnA/JgrQI_V0mo8/s1600-h/P1020607.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127560325646037490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyjA8v6EsfI/AAAAAAAAAnA/JgrQI_V0mo8/s320/P1020607.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is one of the main pools and the discoteca at night. It was a wild time!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127564977095619090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyjFLf6EshI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/xUP7H1Y-qoo/s320/P1020654.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-19758454919664839512007-10-25T10:22:00.000-07:002007-10-25T11:20:00.310-07:00Go Sox!<div style="text-align: center;">Friends from home ask, were you able to catch the Sox game? I did catch them beating the Indians at my house with my crank radio. My host brothers and I listened to the TV broadcast on the radio cause there is less adds and you can here crowd noise. The antenna on the radio has long been broken off and to get the best reception I had a piece of wire attached to the radio and tucked behind my ear. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDWC_6EsaI/AAAAAAAAAmY/YVwz4AJbB6M/s1600-h/joe+25-10-07+074.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDWC_6EsaI/AAAAAAAAAmY/YVwz4AJbB6M/s320/joe+25-10-07+074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125331722950717858" border="0" /></a>Not all Peace Corp Volunteers are roughing it in the jungle. This is my friend Kelly's house. She is a volunteer and lives in a much more developed community. She has a fridge, oven, dishwasher and flush toilet!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDWEf6EsbI/AAAAAAAAAmg/IV7BBroARBI/s1600-h/joe+25-10-07+051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDWEf6EsbI/AAAAAAAAAmg/IV7BBroARBI/s320/joe+25-10-07+051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125331748720521650" border="0" /></a>My Panama Verde group planted tree in the water shed of the town aqueduct to prevent erosion during large rains.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDWFf6EscI/AAAAAAAAAmo/-RK-8jAtvwI/s1600-h/joe+25-10-07+043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDWFf6EscI/AAAAAAAAAmo/-RK-8jAtvwI/s320/joe+25-10-07+043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125331765900390850" border="0" /></a>I am still working on the aqueduct tank. Here is Jose putting on the water proof mortar inside the tank. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDWBf6EsZI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/Vn9TbaEjxco/s1600-h/joe+25-10-07+060.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDWBf6EsZI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/Vn9TbaEjxco/s320/joe+25-10-07+060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125331697180914066" border="0" /></a><br />Tuning in to the Sox broadcast. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDV_P6EsYI/AAAAAAAAAmI/WkUkpXhVJWA/s1600-h/joe+25-10-07+069.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDV_P6EsYI/AAAAAAAAAmI/WkUkpXhVJWA/s320/joe+25-10-07+069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125331658526208386" border="0" /></a><br />Later in the night playing dominoes , sharing Night Train and still listening. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDUMf6EsXI/AAAAAAAAAmA/9xgkpgSCGgo/s1600-h/joe+25-10-07+066.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDUMf6EsXI/AAAAAAAAAmA/9xgkpgSCGgo/s320/joe+25-10-07+066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125329687136219506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDUL_6EsWI/AAAAAAAAAl4/kXewvQT6l-U/s1600-h/joe+25-10-07+065.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDUL_6EsWI/AAAAAAAAAl4/kXewvQT6l-U/s320/joe+25-10-07+065.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125329678546284898" border="0" /></a>VICTORY!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDULf6EsVI/AAAAAAAAAlw/iBObhWEX13E/s1600-h/joe+25-10-07+077.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RyDULf6EsVI/AAAAAAAAAlw/iBObhWEX13E/s320/joe+25-10-07+077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125329669956350290" border="0" /></a>Even Melissa is supporting the Sox. This was in Panama City for game one of the world series. <br /><br /><br /></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-78129346449312035752007-10-15T09:14:00.000-07:002007-10-17T08:25:42.585-07:00Building a 3300 gallon tankMy neighbor Brandon recently just changed sites. So I have been living there during the week to help finish his aqueduct tank. This is 3300 gallon tank made with 8 inch blocks, which is almost unheard of in Panama. These blocks were donated by the US Army and I think are actually made in the USA. <br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOauHEIblI/AAAAAAAAAlE/1eZTf-9lw98/s1600-h/P1020451.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121607318211423826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOauHEIblI/AAAAAAAAAlE/1eZTf-9lw98/s320/P1020451.JPG" border="0" /></a> That is my friend José who is also a very experience mason, I work with him all the time. He is also the President of one of the aqueducts in my town. <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOavHEIbnI/AAAAAAAAAlU/qmsUeXzX_uw/s1600-h/P1020389.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121607335391293042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOavHEIbnI/AAAAAAAAAlU/qmsUeXzX_uw/s320/P1020389.JPG" border="0" /></a> Me and Brandon during construction.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOavnEIboI/AAAAAAAAAlc/OzN0vt4tv0g/s1600-h/P1020376.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121607343981227650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOavnEIboI/AAAAAAAAAlc/OzN0vt4tv0g/s320/P1020376.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our construction inspector. A lazy bear, or sloth, just hanging out.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOVp3EIbgI/AAAAAAAAAkc/PBruOBqXchg/s1600-h/P1020471.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121601747638840834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOVp3EIbgI/AAAAAAAAAkc/PBruOBqXchg/s320/P1020471.JPG" border="0" /></a> These blocks are really hard to split without a saw. This meant there are larger spaces between them with we filled with mortar. The tank is 8 feet tall.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOVrnEIbhI/AAAAAAAAAkk/cmswhO0uiqE/s1600-h/P1020466.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121601777703611922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOVrnEIbhI/AAAAAAAAAkk/cmswhO0uiqE/s320/P1020466.JPG" border="0" /></a> Mixing mortar.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOVsHEIbiI/AAAAAAAAAks/ojPJq3bSpjI/s1600-h/P1020464.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121601786293546530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOVsHEIbiI/AAAAAAAAAks/ojPJq3bSpjI/s320/P1020464.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sieving sand by hand. You can't have any rocks in the mix. We had some kids helping out with the work. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOVt3EIbjI/AAAAAAAAAk0/qa-uH_5fcMo/s1600-h/P1020461.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121601816358317618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOVt3EIbjI/AAAAAAAAAk0/qa-uH_5fcMo/s320/P1020461.JPG" border="0" /></a> That's our make shift scaffolding we set up. The last foot of that steel will be bent over to and attached to the steel in the roof. <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOVvnEIbkI/AAAAAAAAAk8/Wf1rCWqfdNk/s1600-h/P1020449.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121601846423088706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOVvnEIbkI/AAAAAAAAAk8/Wf1rCWqfdNk/s320/P1020449.JPG" border="0" /></a> That bandanna may look ridiculous but it was REALLY hot working in the sun. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-74900580999772300912007-10-09T11:32:00.000-07:002007-10-17T08:13:57.363-07:00Fresh Pork and CertificatesA WARNING: There are some pictures of a pig being slaughtered below. Beware. I'm busy so these will have short captions.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOREXEIbfI/AAAAAAAAAkU/dhcX942avfY/s1600-h/P1020482.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121596705347235314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOREXEIbfI/AAAAAAAAAkU/dhcX942avfY/s320/P1020482.JPG" border="0" /></a> Just finished hiking up this super steep hill for 30 minutes. You know your in for a serious hike when the Ngobe your with gets a walking stick.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOQO3EIbbI/AAAAAAAAAj0/i3cxOZOkgmU/s1600-h/P1020412.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121595786224233906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOQO3EIbbI/AAAAAAAAAj0/i3cxOZOkgmU/s320/P1020412.JPG" border="0" /></a> I got pretty sick for a few days drinking this water. This is what it looks like when we get heavy rain, the aqueduct is creek fed so all the sediment gets washed in. Normally I filter this and its fine but that night I was staying up late to help with this pig and drank some coffee from my host family forgetting about all the rain.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOQPnEIbcI/AAAAAAAAAj8/AxpBCtktwbw/s1600-h/P1020415.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121595799109135810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOQPnEIbcI/AAAAAAAAAj8/AxpBCtktwbw/s320/P1020415.JPG" border="0" /></a> My two host brothers. I don't know why Justin is wearing that santa clause hat. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOQRnEIbdI/AAAAAAAAAkE/hpOtMLrg-7E/s1600-h/P1020422.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121595833468874194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOQRnEIbdI/AAAAAAAAAkE/hpOtMLrg-7E/s320/P1020422.JPG" border="0" /></a> Right before this happened my uncle, Benito, hit the pig with the blunt end of an axe to stun it so it wouldn't squeal alot.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOQSHEIbeI/AAAAAAAAAkM/6KpMF9Y0ijM/s1600-h/P1020435.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121595842058808802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RxOQSHEIbeI/AAAAAAAAAkM/6KpMF9Y0ijM/s320/P1020435.JPG" border="0" /></a> After it is killed you put boiling water on the skin then peal all the hair off with a knife. Then take the insides out. I didn't actually really do anything besides keep the water boiling and shine flashlights for them.<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RwvQEmm2HII/AAAAAAAAAjc/PFwtqBy51zA/s1600-h/joe´s+pics+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119414178938231938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RwvQEmm2HII/AAAAAAAAAjc/PFwtqBy51zA/s320/joe%C2%B4s+pics+026.jpg" border="0" /></a> The water committee seminar came to my town and the theme was protecting your watershed. This is a guys from my town that runs this vivero or place where you keep trees before planting them. He spoke about the importance of reforestation to keep water in the ground and then talked about how you actually plant the small trees. Later in the day as a group we went and planted several small trees donated by the Bocas Fruit Company, aka Chiquita Banana.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RwvQGWm2HJI/AAAAAAAAAjk/8dEWdMdzOqo/s1600-h/joe´s+pics+092.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119414209003003026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RwvQGWm2HJI/AAAAAAAAAjk/8dEWdMdzOqo/s320/joe%C2%B4s+pics+092.jpg" border="0" /></a>These are the guys that I work with. There are 3 committees here. My town has two aqueducts then the one I built next door has a group too. </div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RwvQHWm2HKI/AAAAAAAAAjs/I9FvdE2MRZU/s1600-h/joe´s+pics+088.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119414226182872226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RwvQHWm2HKI/AAAAAAAAAjs/I9FvdE2MRZU/s320/joe%C2%B4s+pics+088.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div><br />These are pictures at the last day of the seminar with all the participants and there diplomas.Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-60020332068084774322007-09-23T13:35:00.000-07:002007-09-23T15:36:44.994-07:00My first entry in forever!Hey, finally I have gotten a camera, and a chord and the free time to upload pictures. So much stuff has happened of recently. A Province wide aqueduct seminar has been started for all the communities where there is Peace Corps. Right now 9 aqueduct <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">committees</span> meet every other <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Saturday</span> in different PC communities. We talk about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">accounting</span>, working with agencies, leadership, system repairs, positions in a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">committee</span> and watershed management. <br /><br />I think the most important thing that the groups can take from these classes are the confidence and know how to actually collect aqueduct fees and cut off water for those that done´t pay. It has been very rewarding and much work as I am working with 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">committees</span>; my town has two aqueducts and I am also working with the town where I just finished building the aqueduct. Each week there is homework, and this upcoming weekend Valle will host about 30 visitors for the seminar.<br /><br />This is a picture from the leadership day, we played a bunch of games to emphasis leadership and communication. This is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Pata</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Grande</span>, or Big Foot. They loved it one of the Valle <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">committees</span> won the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">tournament</span>. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbaPrijWOI/AAAAAAAAAjM/OH8m4Y-0rhw/s1600-h/P1020306.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113514389846317282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbaPrijWOI/AAAAAAAAAjM/OH8m4Y-0rhw/s320/P1020306.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My Panama Verde group is still working. We decided to raise our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">vivero</span> (tree nursery) off the ground so bugs would eat the leaves less. We cut down a bunch of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">caña</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">blanca</span> and built this table. It poured half way through the work. <br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113510455656274114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbWqrijWMI/AAAAAAAAAi8/PY-G-kIji5c/s320/P1020318.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />These are the guys that built it and the baby trees in the black bags. We are currently trying to sell them as the make excellent wood for host posts. I always talk to people and tell them that planting trees can be seen as an investment and how responsible fathers (or mothers for that matter) should plant trees for each child, that way when the child is ready to build there own house that they have wood. Although the jungle can be thick where I live the real thick trees are getting farther and farther away.<br /><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbWrLijWNI/AAAAAAAAAjE/GiWkC16FjKY/s1600-h/P1020319.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113510464246208722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbWrLijWNI/AAAAAAAAAjE/GiWkC16FjKY/s320/P1020319.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is me with the Honorable Representative. He is from my town and is the head <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">politicó</span> for our county. He is a very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">friendly</span> guy but does not always provide me with much information. I look forward to working with him because he has many potential sources of money set up for various projects. The other day the two of us went to the Ministry of Health together to talk about a possible water project. I was very valuable because I feel like it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">legitimized</span> me in the eyes of the Ministry.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbSELijWII/AAAAAAAAAic/L_BZKptjkEA/s1600-h/P1020265.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113505396184799362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbSELijWII/AAAAAAAAAic/L_BZKptjkEA/s320/P1020265.JPG" border="0" /></a> The hydroelectric dam company <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">AES</span> celebrated in a big, expensive way the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">inauguration</span> of the house the completed for the first relocated family. This house was built in a manner of a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">wealthier</span> family in the Provincial capital, it was also completed with very few local materials and labor. All in all I heard that is costs around $40,000 to build and do to the high cost the dam company will no longer be building houses in the same way for the dozens of families that will have there towns flooded out by the new lake. This has been a huge issue in my town. Although the dam is not directly effecting my community it has indirect effects. I believe that the company has good intentions and has conducted serious social projects but the presence of a multinational <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">corporation</span> in an severally <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">impoverished</span> area will always have side effects. <br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbSErijWJI/AAAAAAAAAik/ewHCj_uMzLo/s1600-h/P1020272.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113505404774733970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbSErijWJI/AAAAAAAAAik/ewHCj_uMzLo/s320/P1020272.JPG" border="0" /></a>There were 3 newspapers there and a television channel. They killed two cows for food for all the guests. Many of which were trucked in from the communities directly effected. It was also weird because many of the guests worked for the dam company or their sub-contractor. They also brought in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Panamanian</span> traditional dancers and clowns. I think the clowns scared most of the people because not only are they not too familiar, but they also were scary looked girls. Seriously, there makeup, clothes and music really frightened me. <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbSE7ijWKI/AAAAAAAAAis/maCrD_jJDpM/s1600-h/P1020288.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113505409069701282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbSE7ijWKI/AAAAAAAAAis/maCrD_jJDpM/s320/P1020288.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113514394141284594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbaP7ijWPI/AAAAAAAAAjU/6aqzgXUU-N8/s320/P1020284.JPG" border="0" /> Here is my host sister, who has just learned to say my name, playing with one of the massive playground balls donated by Camp <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Belknap</span>.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbSFbijWLI/AAAAAAAAAi0/Jf609vI7aQA/s1600-h/P1020236.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113505417659635890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbSFbijWLI/AAAAAAAAAi0/Jf609vI7aQA/s320/P1020236.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On the way to the Volunteer Advisory <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Committee</span> (I am the representative for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Bocas</span>) meeting I visited my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">friend</span> Rob. He lives deep in the Native Reservation. After a 2 hours truck ride up in the mountains we walked for another hour in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">beautiful</span> country side. This is a picture of some of my best <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">friends</span> here. Melissa, Rob and Kevin.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbPm7ijWHI/AAAAAAAAAiU/t561hKEFmCw/s1600-h/P1020247.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113502694650370162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RvbPm7ijWHI/AAAAAAAAAiU/t561hKEFmCw/s320/P1020247.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-25765903675753265212007-07-18T11:43:00.000-07:002007-09-23T14:43:29.976-07:00new pics finnally!So many news things sense the last update. My dad left me his digital camera, but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">didn</span></span>´t have the connecting cable. Sorry for not putting a post up in a long time. The biggest thing that happened in this time was an environmental fair in my town. Several different <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">communities and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">organizations</span> built huts to display artisan works and sell fruits. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Government</span> organizations also came to talk. My Panama Verde group made our own house, out of resources everyone in the group donated. One kid gave some nails, another used house posts, another 25 cents to make juice for those working.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp5_urQaBwI/AAAAAAAAAh8/2hdow4Ikcsk/s1600-h/P1010907.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088645068837488386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp5_urQaBwI/AAAAAAAAAh8/2hdow4Ikcsk/s320/P1010907.JPG" border="0" /></a>My <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">friend</span> Colin and I gave a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">charla</span></span> (talk) on nutrition during the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">eco</span></span>-fair. We broke the food pyramid into 4 basic groups so it was more <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">applicable</span>. Basic base food, go food, glow food and grow food. After <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">explaining</span> what they were and examples we had all sorts of food drawn out on little peaces of paper and had a race to see who could properly placed the food. After the race we had a big discussion about the importance of some foods and not others.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp5_vLQaBxI/AAAAAAAAAiE/q4eeRepYUHc/s1600-h/P1010920.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088645077427422994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp5_vLQaBxI/AAAAAAAAAiE/q4eeRepYUHc/s320/P1010920.JPG" border="0" /></a>This three towed sloth was hanging out in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">rancho</span> next to me. Apparently they were planning a sloth wedding. As this lady sloth was dressed in the traditional clothes, they also were going to have music and a ceremony. She moved much faster than I thought, but still no amazing speed. The male below was a two towed sloth and appeared to like to hang out <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">upsidedown</span>. After all the hype the sloth wedding <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">didn</span>´t go down because the man <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">wripped</span> his shirt off and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">couldn</span>´t wait anymore.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp5_vbQaByI/AAAAAAAAAiM/lM1DoNGXlG4/s1600-h/P1010921.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088645081722390306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp5_vbQaByI/AAAAAAAAAiM/lM1DoNGXlG4/s320/P1010921.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp577rQaBtI/AAAAAAAAAhk/G3-cek2xsGs/s1600-h/P1010958.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088640894129276626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp577rQaBtI/AAAAAAAAAhk/G3-cek2xsGs/s320/P1010958.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Soccer season ended. Our team kinda petered out toward the end, but it was still a fun time playing and I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">definitely</span> made a whole bunch of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">friends</span>. The other night two guys invited me to go spear fishing with them in the river. It was moonless and we used flashlights underwater to find fish. Needless to say I barely saw any fish let alone killed them. This is my volleyball team. Most of the people <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">aren</span></span>´t from my town but those teams were full. We play every <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Sunday</span>. I have been practicing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">alot</span></span> but and still not up to their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">expectations</span> as the tall guy. The hydroelectric company gave all the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">jerseys</span> to 14 teams from the county.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp578LQaBuI/AAAAAAAAAhs/ZrqJhCYEwm4/s1600-h/P1010949.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088640902719211234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp578LQaBuI/AAAAAAAAAhs/ZrqJhCYEwm4/s320/P1010949.JPG" border="0" /></a>Our Panama Verde youth group sent 3 kids to a national camp on the other side of the country. I walked out with two of them to save money. Here is a shot from the top of the mountain. Recently I have been doing an aqueduct study up there. In the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">background</span> you can see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Bocas</span></span> Island.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp578rQaBvI/AAAAAAAAAh0/YKuGuNFqyZI/s1600-h/P1010938.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088640911309145842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp578rQaBvI/AAAAAAAAAh0/YKuGuNFqyZI/s320/P1010938.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp5iprQaBqI/AAAAAAAAAhM/SfF1kiNvRMw/s1600-h/P1010976.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088613097100936866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp5iprQaBqI/AAAAAAAAAhM/SfF1kiNvRMw/s320/P1010976.JPG" border="0" /></a>I took a trip to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Bocas</span></span> Island for our regional meeting. I went the less traveled way from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Changuinola</span></span>. You take a motor boat through the old banana canals cut through the mangrove. It was really <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">beautiful</span>, as we flew at full speed down this narrow stretch.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp5iqbQaBrI/AAAAAAAAAhU/SzFb1SiyIWg/s1600-h/P1010971.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088613109985838770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp5iqbQaBrI/AAAAAAAAAhU/SzFb1SiyIWg/s320/P1010971.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp5iqrQaBsI/AAAAAAAAAhc/czUdnrvohbE/s1600-h/P1010962.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088613114280806082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rp5iqrQaBsI/AAAAAAAAAhc/czUdnrvohbE/s320/P1010962.JPG" border="0" /></a>I officially inaugurated my house, because it is 100 percent done. I made 6 pounds of fried rice (uncooked),l for my entire host family and the uncle that redid my roof. We all sat around the table at my house like a family dinner in the states. This is a rare here, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">usually</span> people eat the food as soon as they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">receive</span> it and don´t talk when eating. Here you can see the yellow table I got from the Army and the big table a different uncle made for me out of cedar.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-73361447781363662002007-06-20T09:28:00.000-07:002007-06-20T10:05:29.617-07:00New pics!Here are a bunch of photos that I took with a spare camera I brought just in case something happened to my digital. They had to be scanned so the resolution may not be that great, but there something new. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlYL-gATqI/AAAAAAAAAhE/0-7GLe3lBPo/s1600-h/10.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078187017615986338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlYL-gATqI/AAAAAAAAAhE/0-7GLe3lBPo/s320/10.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here are some pictures pouring the concrete in the roof of the tank. This is I feel where I used my engineering most so far. I had to make sure that the reinforcing steel was at the right level and the cement was properly placed. You can see in this photo I have a trowel and hammer to make sure the cement gets under and around all the steel and there is no air pockets.<br /><br />To make the top you first make a really big table inside the tank. This supports the weight of workers and cement before it dries. Then you put up boards on the outside to act as walls to keep the cement in. You can see the table top that I´m standing on above.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078186463565205090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlXrugATmI/AAAAAAAAAgk/xTfExp54bxU/s320/6.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlXregATlI/AAAAAAAAAgc/ss-jM3kfYBU/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078186459270237778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlXregATlI/AAAAAAAAAgc/ss-jM3kfYBU/s320/5.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlXr-gATnI/AAAAAAAAAgs/krwFf514YoM/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078186467860172402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 207px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="140" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlXr-gATnI/AAAAAAAAAgs/krwFf514YoM/s320/7.JPG" width="320" border="0" /></a> This series of pictures (I don´t know what happened with the last one.) Roughly shows how you mix concrete in Panama, or any place where you don´t have a concrete mixer. First you mix you sand, gravel and cement when its dry. Then you make a "volcano" out of this and slowly add water to the top of the volcano. After waiting for a while so the water can seep down you mix it and begin to open the volcano up. Eventually if done properly the is no more liquid water just wet cement that won´t spill out. If done improperly the water can spill out and take much cement with it. <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlXr-gAToI/AAAAAAAAAg0/F7TWAqaXNMU/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078186467860172418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlXr-gAToI/AAAAAAAAAg0/F7TWAqaXNMU/s320/8.JPG" border="0" /></a> We built this roof to cover the cop because it poured a few times during construction. We didn´t want the cement to get to watery. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlW--gAThI/AAAAAAAAAf8/qLvdHMFi2Co/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078185694766059026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlW--gAThI/AAAAAAAAAf8/qLvdHMFi2Co/s320/1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlW_OgATiI/AAAAAAAAAgE/8uw3Uxwnfso/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078185699061026338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlW_OgATiI/AAAAAAAAAgE/8uw3Uxwnfso/s320/2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlW_egATjI/AAAAAAAAAgM/qxbyQyRxMGY/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078185703355993650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlW_egATjI/AAAAAAAAAgM/qxbyQyRxMGY/s320/3.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is a different tank. In my town we have two aqueduct tanks. The first is higher and older and works fine. The second is less than a year old and is lower, and has several small leaks. The aqueduct committee has been meaning to fix this for a while but had no funds to buy the cement and sand needed. I got about 6 bags of cement from the US Army as they were leaving, and worked out a deal where the community would carry fine sand for a house being built down the road, where cars couldn´t got in exchange for some of the fine sand. </div><div>These pictures are of the first day of work where we chiseled a hole in the wall for a drain cleanout (the tank had none) and then washed the sand and gravel filter inside. It was almost like being in one of those water playgrounds at a waterpark.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlW_egATkI/AAAAAAAAAgU/FxPPa8HJXBs/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078185703355993666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlW_egATkI/AAAAAAAAAgU/FxPPa8HJXBs/s320/4.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078186472155139730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RnlXsOgATpI/AAAAAAAAAg8/bzxs7ulogBk/s320/9.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-89394060646574517602007-05-01T08:41:00.000-07:002007-05-01T08:47:25.595-07:00New pictures, kindaWell not having my camera has put a serious damper on my blog. Just an update on somethings. I´m still working on getting materials from the Army, through US Aid.<br />I´m going to start building my 4000 gallon tank this week after bringing up 360 6" cinder blocks, 60 rebar, and 66 sacks of cement. My soccer team is still undefeated.<br /><br />I recently found these pics on the web of my site and my host mom. They are done by a professional photographer. The second picture is my host mom, her shirt is stained from the juice of banana trees. Word of warning next time you harvesting bananas that stuff stains! The rest of the pictures are from my site, or the town next door where I am building my aqueduct.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.andrewlamoreaux.com/main.php">http://www.andrewlamoreaux.com/main.php</a>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-34904070692413127862007-04-21T09:45:00.000-07:002007-04-21T10:02:20.304-07:00Bad newsBad news is that i got my camera and ipod stolen from my bag in an internet store. I was in the big mall and bus terminal in Panama City and had left them my bags with a friend while i went to the bathroom. When I came back to leave the bags were all in the exact same spot but my camera and ipod were missing. I spoke with the Peace Corps safety and security officer and filed a official report but there is not much I can do. <br /><br />I am much sadder about my ipod because I was just getting into podcasts to stay up to date on news sports and other stuff. My camera was really old and I brought it to Panama expecting for it to be destroyed by the weather. This means my blog will probably seriously be lacking until my family comes down with my other digital camera.Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-40729597824337551322007-04-08T16:42:00.000-07:002007-04-08T17:56:51.504-07:00Soccer and a trip to the PeninsulaIts official! My soccer team, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Alianza</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Riscó</span> is in first place with a record of 5 - 0. There are 11 teams playing in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">coregiemento</span> (county) league. We play every Sunday in my town and some team walk for more than an hour or take buses to play. My team is made up of the teenagers that play <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">futbolista</span> or small sided soccer on weekdays. Some of them come of as being punk that aspire to be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">reggaeton</span> stars, but most have warmed up. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmCRCsd4BI/AAAAAAAAAfk/UOKWtgB8g7E/s1600-h/DSCF1235.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051211686365487122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmCRCsd4BI/AAAAAAAAAfk/UOKWtgB8g7E/s320/DSCF1235.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here we are after or Easter Sunday victory. I am in the upper right corner in a Portugal Jersey. For a while I was borrowing a red shirt from a teammate when I decided that of all the people on the team I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">shouldn</span>´t be borrowing a shirt so I went out and got a $7 replica. I´m still learning on how to match my style of soccer which is very rigid about positions and focused on passing and moving the ball to space which their style of holding on the the ball as long as possible. It is almost a metaphor for the combination of cultures. I think I can bring <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">alot</span> to the team simply because I recognize where I should be to receive a pass or to guard a defender. On the other hand I don´t always receive any passes because my teammates like to dance with the ball. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmCRisd4CI/AAAAAAAAAfs/5N7BcNUkWRQ/s1600-h/DSCF1226.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051211694955421730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmCRisd4CI/AAAAAAAAAfs/5N7BcNUkWRQ/s320/DSCF1226.JPG" border="0" /></a> As you can see it was muddy this Sunday. The field gets played on just about everyday which really does a number on the grass. This was by far the muddiest soccer I have ever played. My cleats were so watered down and caked with mud that I almost kicked one off. The ball would also hardly roll anywhere and you had to advance it in the air. In this pic you can see a free kick, the goal made out of bamboo, and handmade net and the rain clouds receding from the valley. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmCSCsd4DI/AAAAAAAAAf0/9AwZNlEBNMQ/s1600-h/DSCF1228.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051211703545356338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmCSCsd4DI/AAAAAAAAAf0/9AwZNlEBNMQ/s320/DSCF1228.JPG" border="0" /></a> Another shot of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">mudpit</span>. You can see in the background several small <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">casitas</span>. This is wear spectators gather to watch, the league president, keeps track of substitutions and score, and people sell food. I love Sundays because there is always people to talk to as well as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">empanadas</span>, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">duros</span> (frozen juice in a baggy), this is the only time of the week that you can get these delicacies. <br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmBcSsd3_I/AAAAAAAAAfU/l1TEelVWGqg/s1600-h/DSCF1224.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051210780127387634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmBcSsd3_I/AAAAAAAAAfU/l1TEelVWGqg/s320/DSCF1224.JPG" border="0" /></a> This past week we had our regional meeting out on the Peninsula of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Comarca</span> (Indian Reservation). It is a beautiful place with many beaches. It was a combined meeting with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Bocas</span> and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Comarca</span> so there was almost 50 volunteers out for this event. This a shot when the group was leaving. The volunteer that was host the meeting chartered a boat that could fit about 35 volunteers and their bags. The boat was cut out of one massive tree!!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmBcisd4AI/AAAAAAAAAfc/YHvcjlbY2jM/s1600-h/DSCF1223.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051210784422354946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmBcisd4AI/AAAAAAAAAfc/YHvcjlbY2jM/s320/DSCF1223.JPG" border="0" /></a> It was kinda raining when we left, and we ended up covering ourselves in a tarp to protect us from the splash of waves and rain. The Country Director was also out for the meeting which was a big deal. <div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051209276888834018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmAEysd3-I/AAAAAAAAAfM/GstVHFBViyI/s320/DSCF1214.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>I visited my friend Melissa´s site to help her with her aqueduct and encountered some of these kids with a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">carro</span>. It was a 55 gallon drum with a hole cut in it. I figured I take it for a spin!</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051209272593866706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmAEisd39I/AAAAAAAAAfE/2yOqcaoNV-c/s320/DSCF1215.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Is this a good idea?? I bet this can roll over really easily.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051209264003932098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmAECsd38I/AAAAAAAAAe8/rLWbR0ogK1k/s320/DSCF1216.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmADisd37I/AAAAAAAAAe0/TH8ZKIMlEZ8/s1600-h/DSCF1217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051209255413997490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RhmADisd37I/AAAAAAAAAe0/TH8ZKIMlEZ8/s320/DSCF1217.JPG" border="0" /></a> And I crashed into the fence, this was so much fun. Probably the closest thing to sledding in Panama. I highly recommend you do this if you get the chance. <br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rhl-3Ssd34I/AAAAAAAAAec/h39kkWeEbMc/s1600-h/DSCF1213.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051207945448972162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rhl-3Ssd34I/AAAAAAAAAec/h39kkWeEbMc/s320/DSCF1213.JPG" border="0" /></a> A sunset from Melissa´s porch over <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Bahía</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Azul</span>.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rhl-3isd35I/AAAAAAAAAek/U9ZKwq9U-FU/s1600-h/DSCF1218.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051207949743939474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rhl-3isd35I/AAAAAAAAAek/U9ZKwq9U-FU/s320/DSCF1218.JPG" border="0" /></a> Melissa´s kitchen. It is tiny! Her whole house is about the size of my bedroom, but it is definitely sufficient. We made some delicious curried soy with rice and peanut butter. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rhl-4Csd36I/AAAAAAAAAes/bBS2QBcxcFM/s1600-h/DSCF1220.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051207958333874082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rhl-4Csd36I/AAAAAAAAAes/bBS2QBcxcFM/s320/DSCF1220.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is Jack´s house. He lives across the bay. He has any amazing view of the ocean, and accordingly has really cool windows that fold up. We had two days of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Ngobe</span> language class here. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">In other news today is Easter and so the end of my fast of soda, candy, chips and sweet breads. It was much harder than I expected because sometimes when you are tired and hot a cold Coca Cola from a glass bottle sounds so good. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I went to visit the US Army base. I met some interesting people especially some reservists from NH that included <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">alot</span> of Bostonians with thick accents. I need to return there to find out if and how much materials they can donate. <br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div></div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-54598197877831971542007-03-24T17:36:00.000-07:002007-03-24T19:03:28.770-07:00I SHOOK THE PRESIDENTS HAND!!The President said he was going to come for the inauguration of the new school... and he actually did!!!<br /><br />As you can see Valle was packed. There was about 20 cars of people from the hydroelectric dam, National Police, different government organizations, and education officials. <br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045661725295176386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXKmykA6sI/AAAAAAAAAco/FWUXQdNiEuw/s320/DSCF1165.JPG" border="0" /><br />After much waiting in the hot sun the sound of a helicopter became audible and it roared over the new school to land on the soccer field. <br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045663529181440738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXMPykA6uI/AAAAAAAAAc4/eES1iNUeq-w/s320/DSCF1168.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXMPSkA6tI/AAAAAAAAAcw/AuBBWgf4g6I/s1600-h/DSCF1169.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045663520591506130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXMPSkA6tI/AAAAAAAAAcw/AuBBWgf4g6I/s320/DSCF1169.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Right after this picture above was taken the President Martin Torrijos walked towards the school. He shook some peoples hands. I greeted him with a ¨Hello. How are you?¨ He replied back in English that he was good and wanted to know how long I had been in Valle. He obviously knew I was Peace Corps and speaks perfect English because he studied at Texas A and M. <br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXKlSkA6oI/AAAAAAAAAcI/4H6063F0ydc/s1600-h/DSCF1186.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045661699525372546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXKlSkA6oI/AAAAAAAAAcI/4H6063F0ydc/s320/DSCF1186.JPG" border="0" /></a> There was tons of media there. You can see in this photo the people at the main table. The guy in the blue striped shirt in the Director of FIS - Fundación de Inversión Social, (Social investment fund). This is the government organization that gave funds to build the school. They primarily work in impoverished areas. The next guy is the National Director of MEDUCA which is the Ministry of Education. El Presidente is next. The guy in green is a teacher from my town officially welcoming them. <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXKlykA6pI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/CoG8vO1WygM/s1600-h/DSCF1179.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045661708115307154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXKlykA6pI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/CoG8vO1WygM/s320/DSCF1179.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Pres appear a little exhausted. I think he must have woke up very early and was a little overwhelmed by the heat. Next to him is Deputado Benicio Robinson. He is sporting the Bocas baseball hat and is kinda like a senator of the province. <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXKmCkA6qI/AAAAAAAAAcY/xAD1TBf3x9g/s1600-h/DSCF1180.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045661712410274466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXKmCkA6qI/AAAAAAAAAcY/xAD1TBf3x9g/s320/DSCF1180.JPG" border="0" /></a> The gringo looking guys in hats are from the hydroelectric company. They announced that they would be improving the health center in town, by adding a full time doctor and hospital beds. The last guy is the new director of the school. He is great and really personable. Later that day the President had payed for 2 cows to be killed and essentially food for the whole town. The Director and myself were talking about NBA and he was saying how he doesn´t really like all the new players and that Jordan, Bird and Magic are the all time best. We also talked about the movie Blood Diamond. </div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXKmSkA6rI/AAAAAAAAAcg/bN12IltrMF8/s1600-h/DSCF1176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045661716705241778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXKmSkA6rI/AAAAAAAAAcg/bN12IltrMF8/s320/DSCF1176.JPG" border="0" /></a> Lots of media completely blocking the students view.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXGoykA6jI/AAAAAAAAAbg/2XwLDRvyjrU/s1600-h/DSCF1199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045657361608403506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXGoykA6jI/AAAAAAAAAbg/2XwLDRvyjrU/s320/DSCF1199.JPG" border="0" /></a> Me and my buddy Kevin in front of the Presidential Helicopter. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXGpSkA6kI/AAAAAAAAAbo/bFBgZLnSJNs/s1600-h/DSCF1197.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045657370198338114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXGpSkA6kI/AAAAAAAAAbo/bFBgZLnSJNs/s320/DSCF1197.JPG" border="0" /></a> My host brother Ochoa next the the Presidential Seal. <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXGpikA6lI/AAAAAAAAAbw/gM5pj0EZHp8/s1600-h/DSCF1202.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045657374493305426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXGpikA6lI/AAAAAAAAAbw/gM5pj0EZHp8/s320/DSCF1202.JPG" border="0" /></a> The new computer lab that is part of the school. They got 24 new computers all with DVD players, optical mice, flat screen and internet. There is also a scanner, wireless router and digital projector. <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXGpykA6mI/AAAAAAAAAb4/kiBuX_Odo6E/s1600-h/DSCF1195.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045657378788272738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXGpykA6mI/AAAAAAAAAb4/kiBuX_Odo6E/s320/DSCF1195.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Pres touring the new school. <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXGrykA6nI/AAAAAAAAAcA/7I-azYEyvc8/s1600-h/DSCF1192.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045657413148011122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgXGrykA6nI/AAAAAAAAAcA/7I-azYEyvc8/s320/DSCF1192.JPG" border="0" /></a> A final shot of the main man himself. <br /><br />In other news, on a recent trip to Bocas Island I ran into some US Army soldiers that are on a humanitarian mission in Bocas. They are building schools, roads and health posts. I was chatting small talk with an engineer and he asked me where money for projects comes from. I explained to him the Peace Corps does not provide money and that we get it from NGOs and friends and family through Peace Corps Partnership. He told me that he has loads of materials that he needs to donate to a certified NGO before they leave in a month. After some talks between the country director and Army personal it has been approved. This week I will go to their temporary base camp and see what they are willing to donate. <br /><div></div></div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-69803314791853459132007-03-24T15:50:00.000-07:002007-03-24T17:36:40.771-07:00Panama Verde CampTwo weeks ago the was a Panama Verde camp in a town down the road from me. Panama Verde is a environmental youth group that some volunteers have in their sites. I brought four kids from my town.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWwjSkA6eI/AAAAAAAAAa4/i_fQOp4iXbw/s1600-h/joe"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045633077863311842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWwjSkA6eI/AAAAAAAAAa4/i_fQOp4iXbw/s320/joe%27s+fotos+099.jpg" border="0" /></a> We hiked for about an hour to this waterfall. Initially many kids had pena (shy) about going in the water but eventually almost all did. They had a great time and I think the majority had never seen a water fall. In this picture is Colin in the sunglasses, Adam, Melissa, and Maria. You may notice that all the girls essentially swim in regular clothes, this is customary so female volunteers can´t wear bathing suits in their sites. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWwjykA6fI/AAAAAAAAAbA/vNrsRe6OQTE/s1600-h/joe"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045633086453246450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWwjykA6fI/AAAAAAAAAbA/vNrsRe6OQTE/s320/joe%27s+fotos+097.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWwkSkA6gI/AAAAAAAAAbI/yVePQZN2D_k/s1600-h/joe"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045633095043181058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWwkSkA6gI/AAAAAAAAAbI/yVePQZN2D_k/s320/joe%27s+fotos+066.jpg" border="0" /></a> The other day a camera crew came from a channel 12 news based out of Panama City. They were filming a documentary and conservation and ANAM they government ministry that protects the forests. In the foto is a girl that sang a song about caring for the environment and one of the stores in my town. The guy in the long hair did a juggling act and really impressed everyone one in town although he only juggled 3 clubs.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWwkikA6hI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/adg3xQepgdU/s1600-h/joe"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045633099338148370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWwkikA6hI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/adg3xQepgdU/s320/joe%27s+fotos+055.jpg" border="0" /></a> In this picture you can see what is left of the rancho that was constructed when we were building the toma. More importantly you can see part of the 30 meter cable bridge that is suspending the 1 and 1/2 inch PVC pipe. We built this bridge to go around part of the hill that will most likely landslide. Obviously you can´t bury a pipe in a landslide zone. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWwlCkA6iI/AAAAAAAAAbY/aZd2iDXUw6M/s1600-h/joe"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045633107928082978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWwlCkA6iI/AAAAAAAAAbY/aZd2iDXUw6M/s320/joe%27s+fotos+037.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here is a picture of Benicio digging out some of the ditch for the tube. At this time the tube has arrived at the tank and hopefully at the town in two days. On average it is about a foot underground, but will be more when going through pasture where cows can break pipe up to two feet underground when its muddy.<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWuVCkA6ZI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/NoWJis7UE4w/s1600-h/joe"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045630634026920338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWuVCkA6ZI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/NoWJis7UE4w/s320/joe%27s+fotos+016.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is the famous human knot game we were playing with my group at the camp. I was assigned to 7 kids from different indigenous communities in the province. They choose to be called the Lions and all had to where their colors all weekend. I really liked most of the kids in my group they seemed to get along and have no problem participating. We did many games like this one including tug of war, sing along songs, and a blind folded trust walk. <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWuVikA6aI/AAAAAAAAAaY/sqbCegN-_gU/s1600-h/joe"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045630642616854946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWuVikA6aI/AAAAAAAAAaY/sqbCegN-_gU/s320/joe%27s+fotos+025.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here is the four kids I took from my town with their official certificates that they attended the camp (its a big deal to them). Also in the foto is Sarah, who organized the whole camp and Ennio the financial director of Panama Verde. Everything at the camp is payed for as well as transportation. The money ultimately comes from the Kellogg's Foundation. <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWuWCkA6bI/AAAAAAAAAag/WgQ8bk44fgk/s1600-h/joe"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045630651206789554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWuWCkA6bI/AAAAAAAAAag/WgQ8bk44fgk/s320/joe%27s+fotos+043.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here is some group members planting saplings. We showed them how to mix native clayey soil with sand and compost to make and ideal soil to grow in. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWuWSkA6cI/AAAAAAAAAao/IsNW63OaNAg/s1600-h/joe"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045630655501756866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWuWSkA6cI/AAAAAAAAAao/IsNW63OaNAg/s320/joe%27s+fotos+090.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here is another shot of Adam helping teach kids how to apply the compost without burning the roots of the sapling. I actually learned alot at this camp too! I didn´t exactly know how to plant trees!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWuWykA6dI/AAAAAAAAAaw/j93m5utOcSU/s1600-h/joe"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045630664091691474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RgWuWykA6dI/AAAAAAAAAaw/j93m5utOcSU/s320/joe%27s+fotos+111.jpg" border="0" /></a>Juan, myself and Joel at the waterfall. <br /><br /><br /></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-75460550133031567542007-03-09T14:07:00.000-08:002007-03-09T14:44:51.413-08:00Around the house and a new aqueductBesides that aqueduct in the town next door I have also been working on developing two other potential aqueduct projects. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Representante</span> has his eyes set on building an aqueduct in far away from town where I think he has family. There are only a few houses there, and he things he can bring water from a spring, or creek, to my town which is about at 25 minute walk on flat ground. The water source has yet to be identified. However, he is willing to spend money so, I want to be a part of the team to make sure it is built properly. We walked out there the other day with a community member, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Representante</span> and an engineer from the municipality.<br /><br />I also may follow up a proposal for an aqueduct in another neighboring community, and have plans to visit them in 2 days. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHgD0CoR9I/AAAAAAAAAZw/2OOPC9--tmY/s1600-h/DSCF1043.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040055814118197202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHgD0CoR9I/AAAAAAAAAZw/2OOPC9--tmY/s320/DSCF1043.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">poso</span>, or open well, that they were drinking out of. The water apparently comes up from under the ground here, but it is very unsanitary <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">because</span> rain water washes off poop from farm animals right into the same water. Ducks and other birds also swim in it. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">recommended</span> that the fence it off and build a drainage canal to divert runoff but who knows if they will do it.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHgEECoR-I/AAAAAAAAAZ4/cy4c8njWG6s/s1600-h/DSCF1045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040055818413164514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHgEECoR-I/AAAAAAAAAZ4/cy4c8njWG6s/s320/DSCF1045.JPG" border="0" /></a> They identified this creek as a possible water source. It is important to measure water sources in the dry season (now) because when it is raining they sometimes <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">appear</span> to be plentiful and can practically dry up during this time of year. To measure water you make a dam out or leaves and mud, and channel water in the a 5 gallon bucket. This can give you gallons per minute.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHgEkCoR_I/AAAAAAAAAaA/gSsLbxZImMg/s1600-h/DSCF1049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040055827003099122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHgEkCoR_I/AAAAAAAAAaA/gSsLbxZImMg/s320/DSCF1049.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is the area where we may provide water. It is essentially one big family with about 6 houses.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHgFECoSAI/AAAAAAAAAaI/QpyXnUnJeos/s1600-h/DSCF1052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040055835593033730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHgFECoSAI/AAAAAAAAAaI/QpyXnUnJeos/s320/DSCF1052.JPG" border="0" /></a> These guys were my guides back the the trail. Crossing this river stands to be a major problem because with normal rains it rises, 5 ft and with floods it overflows the bank.<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHeiECoR6I/AAAAAAAAAZY/02ACAfqAqt4/s1600-h/DSCF1033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040054134785984418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHeiECoR6I/AAAAAAAAAZY/02ACAfqAqt4/s320/DSCF1033.JPG" border="0" /></a> My host sister Juanita, left forever. She was one of my best <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">friends</span> in town, and was a great worker. I also paid her to do my laundry, and she would always help look for sawdust for the composting latrine, or help me with my garden. She left to live with her dad, way up in the mountains of the Indian Reservation. I think this will be a really hard change from her, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">especially</span> because she had become <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">accustomed</span> to having expendable income. She spent most of her money on batteries for her radio, and good percentage on food for the family and some for new clothes.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHeiUCoR7I/AAAAAAAAAZg/rCVvN1CHRqw/s1600-h/DSCF1034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040054139080951730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHeiUCoR7I/AAAAAAAAAZg/rCVvN1CHRqw/s320/DSCF1034.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is my host sister <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Gaylena</span>, she is just learning to walk and is really cute.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHei0CoR8I/AAAAAAAAAZo/zcG63BhQcKg/s1600-h/DSCF1042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040054147670886338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHei0CoR8I/AAAAAAAAAZo/zcG63BhQcKg/s320/DSCF1042.JPG" border="0" /></a>Another picture of them working on my roof. I have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">been</span> really busy with the aqueduct so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">havn</span>´t really had time to help out. You can see all the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">penca</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">they had</span> stacked up to do roof. My uncle Dario is up in the roof constructing.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHdAUCoR3I/AAAAAAAAAZA/haZnr2-9fU0/s1600-h/DSCF1021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040052455453771634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHdAUCoR3I/AAAAAAAAAZA/haZnr2-9fU0/s320/DSCF1021.JPG" border="0" /></a> The night before Juanita left we killed two of the three chickens she was raising. I helped by holding the bird down while someone else cut the neck with a knife. It was really primal.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHdA0CoR4I/AAAAAAAAAZI/mDlxHasqpLY/s1600-h/DSCF1026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040052464043706242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHdA0CoR4I/AAAAAAAAAZI/mDlxHasqpLY/s320/DSCF1026.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is my host family, pretty much everyone in this picture has left except for the kid on the far left and the older guy in the hat.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHdBUCoR5I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/s3X5EVUo7t0/s1600-h/DSCF1027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040052472633640850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RfHdBUCoR5I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/s3X5EVUo7t0/s320/DSCF1027.JPG" border="0" /></a> One night I was getting ready to go to bed in my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">house</span> and my host broth Justin hollered at me and told me that ants were attacking the tree between our houses. These cutter ants form a highway, that you can <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">literally</span> see. There is so much ant traffic that thy push dirt to one side. They cut parts of leaf off the tree, and bring it back to their mound where fungus grows on it that they eat. Essentially they grow their food. Anyways, they can really cause damage to trees and even kill them in some cases. I sprayed the trunk of the tree with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">some</span> peace corps issue 25 % <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">DEET</span> OFF, and it was like a wall. They ants <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">couldn</span>´t cross, so they <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">couldn</span>´t destroy they tree any more. I did feel bad that as a environmental volunteer I was using harsh chemicals, but I want my shade!<br /></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-69722089791195876432007-02-28T07:25:00.000-08:002007-02-28T08:11:46.321-08:00Bocas BaseballLast night I went to my first Panamanian Baseball game. The national league has started up. Each province has a team, my host brothers and several people in my town are obsessed and listen to the games till midnight, on their radios. Bocas was undefeated with 4 wins to some formidable opponents. On Tuesday they played Veraguas, who is also undefeated. The car from the Junta Comunal ( town committee) charged a dollar for round trip. (This is an incredible bargain because usually one way to Changuinola is about $3. We packed about 17 people into this covered pick up and headed for the stadium. I had big expectations as the stadium is the first thing visible when you come into town as well as its bleachers behind home plate. However when we arrived the announced the bleachers were not done being constructed. This is classic Panamanian style, they have had a year to finish the bleachers, and they aren't ready so they probably are losing half of their seating (or standing) capacity. <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWjKe-niJI/AAAAAAAAAX8/0uJ5-Ec3nrk/s1600-h/DSCF1011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036611158793488530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWjKe-niJI/AAAAAAAAAX8/0uJ5-Ec3nrk/s320/DSCF1011.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sorry these pictures came out bad it was hard shooting with the lights. The game was like a little league game, but with wild fans. At one point after an inning a Bocas player right ran over to where I was standing, whipped out his change pouch from his back pocket and gave a friend or family money to buy food. There was so much more fan-player interaction it was pretty cool. <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWjK--niKI/AAAAAAAAAYE/pF2Ji9JRMuI/s1600-h/DSCF1012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036611167383423138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWjK--niKI/AAAAAAAAAYE/pF2Ji9JRMuI/s320/DSCF1012.JPG" border="0" /></a> The fans were wild. It reminded me of being at a typical Latin American soccer game. Maestro Ramòn and I were right next to the guy with the megaphone. He would either blast the siren for an entire at-bat or just shout ¨¡Ponchelo! ¡Curvalo! ¡Si puedehombe!¨(Bocas spanish has alot of Caribbean island influence from Jamaica, so lots of sortof english is spoken) Air horns where the norm as well as whistles. There was also a drum band that sounded great and they would blast reggaeton, meringue and other music between innings. The games also have 50 cent beers and $1 meat on a stick and 25 cent banana chips, and entrance is only $2. Bocas ended up getting blown out but it was still a great time. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWjLO-niLI/AAAAAAAAAYM/HLb4wIpLUuE/s1600-h/DSCF1013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036611171678390450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWjLO-niLI/AAAAAAAAAYM/HLb4wIpLUuE/s320/DSCF1013.JPG" border="0" /></a> I just felt like putting in a picture of the main street in Changuinola. Today was a rare rainy today in the dry season. The street is lined mostly with Almacenes which are department stores. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWjLu-niMI/AAAAAAAAAYU/ted1zne4vPI/s1600-h/DSCF1018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036611180268325058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWjLu-niMI/AAAAAAAAAYU/ted1zne4vPI/s320/DSCF1018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Since I´ve been living in Valle, my thatch (Penca) roof has been leaking. This is especially a problem because I live in the rainiest province in Panama, that can get downpours everyday for a month. My family helped with this situation by putting peaces of sheet metal roofing over my bedroom. This worked quite well, and also kept out bats, rats (to a certain extent although I still see them in my room at night sometimes) and any basura falling from the the roof. So my host family has been saving up my $20 monthly rent to buy new Penca and have it replaced. </div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWgtO-niHI/AAAAAAAAAXs/1m_p7vYOhiE/s1600-h/DSCF1009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036608457259059314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWgtO-niHI/AAAAAAAAAXs/1m_p7vYOhiE/s320/DSCF1009.JPG" border="0" /></a> So for the next 2 to three weeks all of my belongings are in bags or just piled on to one side of my house, while the other side is being worked on. This also means I can´t live there because there is constantly stuff falling from the ceiling. To make a roof, they find this tree that has massive leaves, that look like palm fronds. Each frond is about a meter long. They split the leave in two, so there and then stack them to dry. Once they are dry they are placed, and tied on almost horizontally. So on the inside all you can see are the main stalks. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWgtu-niII/AAAAAAAAAX0/5k2l5feYtB0/s1600-h/DSCF1010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036608465848993922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWgtu-niII/AAAAAAAAAX0/5k2l5feYtB0/s320/DSCF1010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>The other day we went to go clean the toma de agua for my part of town. Toma de agua literally means take of water, so its wherever you channel water from a natural source into a pipe. The one we just built is with is from an underground spring. This is from a creek. That means that all sorts of junk can fall into the the pipe and ultimately the tank. Also it means the water can be contaminated much easier from surface water runoff. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWfu--niEI/AAAAAAAAAXU/E8whnX-VX3s/s1600-h/DSCF1007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036607387812202562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWfu--niEI/AAAAAAAAAXU/E8whnX-VX3s/s320/DSCF1007.JPG" border="0" /></a> You can see the dam and the 3 inch pip coming out of it here. In this picture is my counterpart Vicente (President of the aqueduct) and Maestro Ramòn, who is a teacher and President of the Health Committee.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWfve-niFI/AAAAAAAAAXc/L3FbqVBzXko/s1600-h/DSCF1006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036607396402137170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWfve-niFI/AAAAAAAAAXc/L3FbqVBzXko/s320/DSCF1006.JPG" border="0" /></a> On the dam you can see a wire cage used to filter out the largest leaves and other trash.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWfv--niGI/AAAAAAAAAXk/xDUWHGnRito/s1600-h/DSCF1004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036607404992071778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/ReWfv--niGI/AAAAAAAAAXk/xDUWHGnRito/s320/DSCF1004.JPG" border="0" /></a> They are essentially just stirring the water up and pushing the settled mud into the tube. They had disconnected the pipe just after the dam so all this muddy water didn´t flow into the tank.<br /><div> </div></div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-74729169546454059032007-02-21T14:57:00.000-08:002007-02-22T07:45:49.582-08:00Some random pics<div align="center">We had our in service training a few weeks ago. One night we went to this bar that had MASSIVE SOMBREROS. This picture stands to tell the size of these. Needless to say I kinda cut up my forehead because it was like having a wicker basket rubbing up against your face.<br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RdzRL11U7oI/AAAAAAAAAWY/Qt2Htv_7n-Q/s1600-h/IMGP2536.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034128484852887170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RdzRL11U7oI/AAAAAAAAAWY/Qt2Htv_7n-Q/s320/IMGP2536.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The NGO that is funding the majority of our aqueduct came to visit about a month ago. I just got these pics from a friend. You can see in the backround what the toma looked like before we put the final cement cap on.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RdzRMV1U7pI/AAAAAAAAAWg/cS7C2RK5aro/s1600-h/S5030647.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034128493442821778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RdzRMV1U7pI/AAAAAAAAAWg/cS7C2RK5aro/s320/S5030647.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here is a picture of Greg, the director of the Environmental Health sector in Panama (my boss) on the right. Next is Father Roberto ¨Niggity Kree¨and his niece Ashton. They all hiked up to the toma, to check it out. Roberto lives in Mexico and follows up on the work that a NGO called Waterlines. They provide funding for many water projects that PC Panama does. I was lucky to have they previous volunteer in my site solicit money from them, so I didn´t have to do any of the fundraising leg work. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RdzRMl1U7qI/AAAAAAAAAWo/STqjjw3lLBQ/s1600-h/S5030639.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034128497737789090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RdzRMl1U7qI/AAAAAAAAAWo/STqjjw3lLBQ/s320/S5030639.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Talking about the toma design.<br /></p><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RdzRM11U7rI/AAAAAAAAAWw/CKu6RMFo3nc/s1600-h/S5030608.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034128502032756402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RdzRM11U7rI/AAAAAAAAAWw/CKu6RMFo3nc/s320/S5030608.JPG" border="0" /></a> Dimly lit picture of the whole group that came including Byron from Rotary Club international who is also provided much of the funding for the project. <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RdzRNF1U7sI/AAAAAAAAAW4/rSVeXQLhEKg/s1600-h/S5030641.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034128506327723714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/RdzRNF1U7sI/AAAAAAAAAW4/rSVeXQLhEKg/s320/S5030641.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p> </p><p>In other news I had a great weekend. On Saturday I helped clean out the two aqueduct tanks that give water to my house. The amount of sludge and leaves and crap that was in the tanks was pretty gross considering I drink that water directly. I even found tadpoles in one of the tanks! We cleaned them out with dish soap and chlorine, and I explained to them how they can use the older higher tank as a primitive sedimentation tank to clean most of the basura from the water. </p><p>After that I played in a soccer tournament in my town. I played for the Valle team, they are really good ball handlers but don´t spread the ball around the field or pass much. It kind of reminded me of litter kids soccer when they all bunch around the ball. Anyways my team ended up winning, I also got a free meal out of it. Later that day I signed on to play in the soccer league that is going to start in March. The league has about 8 teams from around my county and most games are played in my town because it has a field with nets. It is mostly teenagers but some older guys play too. </p><p>In the night we all went to the corregiadoria, which is the equivalent of a town hall. Since my town is the center of the county this is where are business goes down such as registering to vote or registering births and settling disputes. They have a solar panel and a battery hooked up to a tv there. At night 20 people from town crammed into this wood building to watch Panama vs Costa Rica in the Central American soccer tournament. Panama ended up losing in penalty kicks. </p>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-25386184591697893262007-02-11T11:39:00.000-08:002007-02-12T08:47:59.296-08:00Party in Casco Viejo<div align="left">This weekend we went to a fellow volunteer Victoria's, house in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Casco</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Viejo</span></span> of Panama city. Her parents just moved down here to renovate an old house. This part of the city was the first founded but was burned down whenCaptain Morgan attacked. As a UN world heritage site it is full of old stone churches and interesting buildings. However it is also dangerous to go out at night because it is for the most part very poor. There was a bunch of volunteers at the party as well as the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">habitants</span></span> of the building. Most of them were retired people from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">the </span></span>states, but all very interested in Peace Corps.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9yKoIs3QI/AAAAAAAAAVY/XLbN99hldCI/s1600-h/joe+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030364835694304514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9yKoIs3QI/AAAAAAAAAVY/XLbN99hldCI/s320/joe+010.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center"></a>Rob, Jacob and Michelle rocking out.<br /></p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9yLIIs3RI/AAAAAAAAAVg/ljCUZHfuOmY/s1600-h/joe+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030364844284239122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9yLIIs3RI/AAAAAAAAAVg/ljCUZHfuOmY/s320/joe+013.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center"></a>Some of the best food that I will have all month. The sangria was excellent too.<br /></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9yLYIs3SI/AAAAAAAAAVo/iy4YgLJTvgQ/s1600-h/joe+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030364848579206434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9yLYIs3SI/AAAAAAAAAVo/iy4YgLJTvgQ/s320/joe+018.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center"></a>Kevin, myself and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ryu</span></span> rocking out to the Talking Heads. Its a tradition!<br /></p><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9xmoIs3MI/AAAAAAAAAU4/a1jqHFJtMcA/s1600-h/joe+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030364217219013826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9xmoIs3MI/AAAAAAAAAU4/a1jqHFJtMcA/s320/joe+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> There was an illuminated fountain in the middle of the courtyard. And a sweet bar too.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9xm4Is3NI/AAAAAAAAAVA/gS8iiFqUO70/s1600-h/joe+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030364221513981138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9xm4Is3NI/AAAAAAAAAVA/gS8iiFqUO70/s320/joe+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9xnIIs3OI/AAAAAAAAAVI/2UDYR3S1R2c/s1600-h/joe+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030364225808948450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9xnIIs3OI/AAAAAAAAAVI/2UDYR3S1R2c/s320/joe+008.jpg" border="0" /></a> We switched shirts so I could be wearing all red. I had on my bright red <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Santa</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Claus</span></span> shorts.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9xnYIs3PI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/44QdJSlpxVY/s1600-h/joe+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030364230103915762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9xnYIs3PI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/44QdJSlpxVY/s320/joe+009.jpg" border="0" /></a> Stacey, Melissa, Mo, Justin and Brandon.</div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32100343.post-36658667620325395402007-02-11T11:15:00.000-08:002007-02-11T11:36:39.756-08:00Finishing the toma de aguaBefore I left for in service training we finished the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">toma</span>. The basic idea of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">toma</span> is to channel the water from a natural spring into a pipe. You design them so the water never is out in open air. This prevents rainwater runoff and animals from getting into the water system. They are challenging to make because no too are alike.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9tMoIs3II/AAAAAAAAAT8/0OXlUbY47zg/s1600-h/DSCF0953.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030359372495903874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9tMoIs3II/AAAAAAAAAT8/0OXlUbY47zg/s320/DSCF0953.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is the sort of jungle frog I see usually once or twice when I´m hiking up to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">toma</span>.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9tNIIs3JI/AAAAAAAAAUE/C5aDTUekESA/s1600-h/DSCF0956.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030359381085838482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9tNIIs3JI/AAAAAAAAAUE/C5aDTUekESA/s320/DSCF0956.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here you can see the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">toma</span>, you can tell how steep the area immediately above the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">toma</span> is. I am nervous that a landslide could harm the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">toma</span> but don´t want to disturb it any more because it has a good rock base. We are planning on planting an anti erosion plant called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">sote</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">caballo</span>. That is a two in pipe coming out, we used this to keep the construction area relatively dry.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9tNYIs3KI/AAAAAAAAAUM/PcjH8YbsTzo/s1600-h/DSCF0957.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030359385380805794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9tNYIs3KI/AAAAAAAAAUM/PcjH8YbsTzo/s320/DSCF0957.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here is a real pretty picture of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">toma</span>. You can see the actual spring box. Two times a year the top (not present) will be taken off and it will be cleaned of any silt they may have accumulated. You can also see the two overflow pipes. Normally this spring puts out about 30 gallons a minute which is a very high flow for one spring. However after a large rainstorm or series of rainy days the flow can get as high as 60 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">gpm</span>! and that is only when I have been measuring! For this reason I put two overflow pipes because you can cause permanent damage if the water backs up into the actual spring, because water will travel underground and find a new exit.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9tN4Is3LI/AAAAAAAAAUU/Cez1Wh3k-1c/s1600-h/DSCF0958.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030359393970740402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9tN4Is3LI/AAAAAAAAAUU/Cez1Wh3k-1c/s320/DSCF0958.JPG" border="0" /></a> These are the three major players that show up to work every day. Emilio, Jose and Ramon. Emilio carried up a 100 pound cement, and then went to go get more sand, that day.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9sK4Is3FI/AAAAAAAAATk/rjvYhxdlrJs/s1600-h/DSCF0962.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030358242919504978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9sK4Is3FI/AAAAAAAAATk/rjvYhxdlrJs/s320/DSCF0962.JPG" border="0" /></a> Special shout out to the Rotary Club International who provided the funds for the project.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9sLYIs3GI/AAAAAAAAATs/R_VgdX4U2CA/s1600-h/DSCF0960.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030358251509439586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9sLYIs3GI/AAAAAAAAATs/R_VgdX4U2CA/s320/DSCF0960.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here is a view from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">toma</span> looking at the jungle. You can see the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">rancho</span> where we would eat lunch and ladies would make coffee. This is also where we all gathered when it started pouring rain.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9sL4Is3HI/AAAAAAAAAT0/h4001HvGrRo/s1600-h/DSCF0954.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030358260099374194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uJu5IDAbHm4/Rc9sL4Is3HI/AAAAAAAAAT0/h4001HvGrRo/s320/DSCF0954.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />They are laying the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">form work</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">rebar</span> for the spring box lid.<br /><div></div></div>Joe Goesslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476880278877541079noreply@blogger.com0