House Appeal

We have a big plan for July or August.
We want to buy a site and build a complete house. Please read the blog in full before making any assumptions on this. It is not to satisfy my craving for tinkering with buildings and is the most genuine reason I can think of.
If you have read previous blogs you will be aware we used 700 euro out of funds raised in Ireland before I left to sponsor a child called Sylvia for a further years education. If you havent read the blog then here is a brief run down.
Sylvias mother Eulalia was born here in Chiantla, at the age of two her mother died. Her father re married and at the age of 5 she went to live in the city with relatives where she learned Spanish. Jump forward 20 odd years she is married living in the city has 5 lovely kids and is reasonably well off. Her husband dies. She first moves to Huehuetenango to live near relatives but things are very tough, she cant manage, the kids rarely go to school because she has to choose between food or fees for school. Her half brother who lives in the States offers a lend of a site in Chiantla for her to build a house .

Normally this is a good thing and im pretty sure it was with the best intentions. There is however one very big problem with this. As it is a family plot there is another uncle who lives next door that is simply an evil bxstxrd. He has tried to sexually abuse the two girls, when confronted by Eulalia he simply laughed off the treat of the authorities saying, you cant afford it, which is true. Unfortunatley around this time Eulalia got sick. She needs medication and has no money. She thought about going to Mexico to try and earn enough money to pay for the medicine. She couldn't leave the kids at home becuase of the Uncle. Who even goes as far as throwing stones at the galvinised house to scare the kids when Eulalia has to work late washing clothes. At this stage she sent her eldest son 16 to huehutenango to work in construction for 30 euro a month, which is actually pretty average for the La Cumbre area, and Sylvia to work as a live in Nanny taking care of an elderly women also in Huehue for 20 euro a month without any time off. The two younger kids were sent to live with an aunt but when Eulalia discovered they were being beaten for no reason she brought them back home. Back to square one, she couldnt leave now but to add to that he cycle had started all over again, Sylvia was never going to get an education and she was going to earn 20 euro a month for the rest of her life.

I learnt about this story when I asked Brenda about possibly sponsoring a child for school this year, inspired by Florentina the girl who was working during summer teaching traditional weaving. (Keep up will you there is a pop quiz later). Right so we are sponsoring Sylvia for next year and have 7 people agreed to sponsor her 10 euros until she is finished education. Hopefully the cycle off ignorance and poverty will be broken by a lot of hard work from her and a hard earned money from the good people back home.

By the way I met sylvia last Monday in Brendas where she was getting her uniform and a few bits and pieces. She was in right form. I know I promised a blog from her but going to give her a bit of space for a week or two. A lot for her, she can barely spell her own name so dont want to put too much pressure on. Hopefully bringing herself and the other ninos into Chiantla to the fiesta-carnival tonight so if I have any up dates ill let you know. 

Right here is a break from the dilemna for a bit few pics from last night at the festival in Chiantla....

 Dona Eulalia, Maria, Luis, Sylvia an Kimberley watchin the horses, not really sure what this was really all about because I know nothing about horses I suppose. Looked nice though and they enjoyed it. Anybody seen my allergy medicine, yes I was sneezing like a right sap......

                           
                                                     Giddy up.................

                                                 
                         Sorry for crap pic quality but this is Maria getting a go on a shetland. Honestly.....                                                

                                  

Right so getting back Sylvia problem kind of solved. She doesnt have to work and has a chance of becoming a teacher which she really wants to be.

This doesnt solve the problem of the perverted uncle next door and a family living in fear. I have thought a lot about this over the christmas and when I met Brenda last night she had a lot of ideas too so I know its bothering her a lot too. Habitat will build a house for 5,000 euros but they cant use that site and havnt enough money to pay for site or installments. There is a very slim chance that a council site might become available but its very rare and there is still no money for constrcution. Major problem. We need about 8,000 for a site another 2 for basic services and PP and about 6 for construction costs and basic furniture. About 16k all in all. This is ahell of a lot of money to be trying to fundraise in a relatively short amount of time.

My idea of a solution. Well I thought about the hundreds of people who travel to places like South Africa spending 5,000 euro each to build houses. Now I am not here to knock other charities so i am going to put this in a positive light. Seeds of Help have no administration costs. If we can get people to give 2,000 euro each and travel here to build a house for a Month this July or August, I can personally guarantee that every penny will go to the buying of a site, the constrcution and the family. The house will not be transferred into the families name until a nominal fee is paid. Possibly a couple of hundred euros will go to building a basic bread oven for extra income for the family for this. The house therefore cannot be sold until the family works hard to earn it. I cannot think of a more genuine reason for charity here there really is no other option other than turning our backs and closing our eyes.

Without trying to sound like a know it all, honesltly 2,000 euros is not that hard to raise back home. I did it in about 3 weeks before i left. I am nothing special and that was basically hitting up the 50 closest people to me for a lot of the money but in hindsight it could have been done a lot easier by standing say outside Tescos with a bucket for two days. I can give a bit of help with ideas from talking to other volunteers here I have heard a few good ones. More importantly the target figure is not the biggest priority. We need to get enough people prepared to come and work here first. We are going to get a meeting with the Mayor in next few weeks about getting a free site so the target figure could possibly be halved. What I am trying to stress is that people should not worry about not being able to raise 2000 euros. They should want to come and be prepared to fundraise before they come and work hard when they arrive. If I have to do some value engineering or we have to change location for a cheaper site thats all fine. We need people now. Everything else can be worked out.

Now to anybody who is thinking at this stage sure Ireland is nearly 3rd world now. No its nothing like it, come to the 3rd world and see for yourself. Think of it this way how unthinkable is it that the uncle wouldnt be locked up or prosecuted in some way back in Ireland. Thats the difference.

To anyone who thinks a yea but charity starts at home. Show me a widdowed mother with five kids under 16 living in a shack on the side of a hill and ill fly back in the morning to build her a house. I am not trying to be a know all here I have just seen the difference and recognise the persective.

The flights cost about 1,000 euro also, depending on your situation and how you feel the fundraising might or might not include the fee for the flight in your fundraising total. For example I would expect students to fundraise for the flights. Accomodation will be provided near the site for free if you dont mind roughing it a bit or there a number of hotels in Chiantla also. I now think myself with fundraising it is a hell of a lot easier to get 1000 people to give a euro than ten to give a hundred. I will help in anyway I can with anybody who decides they are seriously interested. The people have to be available for a months hard work in August. This time line is to give me enough time to get 8 people and the 8 people enough time to get the money together. ideally we would start in the morning to get them away from the situation but its just not possible without funds.

What to expect in Guatemala. First off a break from the great depression back home and a bit of perspective when you do return. The people here are ther friendliest I have ever met by a country mile. They are genuinely decent skins. You will stand out like a sore thumb here and people may stare but its genuinely out of interest. When you doubt the Guatemaltecos you end up feeling like a fool more often than not, when you give them the benifit of the doubt they dont disapoint. Maybe I am being a bit patriotic but I think they are amazingly similar to us Irish, or view ourselves 50 years ago maybe. Thats honestly the best part but besides that take a look at the pics from the other blogs if you want to see a bit of what the country is like.

The focus will never leave why we are here and the end goal of a new family home, however it would be unfair and a shame if you didnt get to see some of this beutiful country. A possible plan could be the following: 

Arrive Gutemala airport, mini bus to Antigua (45 mins) day or two here (www.antiguaguatemala.info)  to ease the culture shock as well as introduction and planning. From here a luxury coach to Huehuetenango (6 hours) and chicken bus to Chiantla (30 mins) The plan while here would be work for five days with two off for the 4 weeks. Although this will have to depend on progress the options for trips under 5 hours include Xela, Lago Atitlan, Semuc Champey, San Christobal in Mexico. (Google them or check out older blogs to see what there about). There is also a number of great treks and many interesting sites locally.

They are possibilities, this is a democracy (social democracy of course...) of everybody who is envolved so at this stage there are no boundaries. If anybody is interested in learning Spanish. There is a Spanish school in Todo Santos half an hour away, personal tutoring in your own home costs 3 euro an hour, there are any number of school teachers in bad need of nixers locally. Also if anybody is interested in staying long term that isnt a problem. I have room in my house here for free, as long as you dont mind the loudest snoring ever produced. If you are interested in long term volunteering with Seeds of Help its free, the cost of homestay with a family is about 30 euros a month including food. I have done a bit of travelling and will have done a bit more by then so can give a bit of advise if that is what your into. As regards spending money. The best I can suggest is between 50 and 250 euro per week. It can be done really cheap here but like anywhere if you want to spend money people arent shy of taking it off your hands. I lived on 2 euro a day for the month of Febuary but the first month I arrived I would take a wild guess and say I spent about a 1,000 euros. There is a massive difference to living near Antigua (Gringo land) and living in Chiantla however.

If you are intetrested dont hesitate to contact me by email roryoconnor25@gmail.com on facebook or leave a message here. I am going to be hounding people over next while so if you know anybody who might be interested please give them the details and send them the way of the blog. Also if your interested in more info on Seeds of help or would like to donate check out www.seedsofhelp.org If you wish to donate to a particular project please state it in your e mail which one, or if not Seeds of Help always have worthwhile projects in need of support.

Plan for 2012´

Right so what have I got planned for the new year. Well started back last week basically going around to the schools and groups we work with and discussing plans for the new year. Discussed a few ideas with Brenda this weekend and got the green light so next week i am going to get a stove built out of two gas bottles bottom one is for the fire. Top one for an oven. Used as typical oven but also for making charcoal or carbon. Which can be used for purifying water alonfg with some sun light. Dont have any pics because it is patent pending from yo... Gonna try it in my house and if it works maybe do one for each of the schools we work with. Then the community can see how it works and can build there own stoves and water purifyers.
Going to make a bottle light as in the link here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zMAWztZ6TI it was developed in the philipines due to a necessity. The first one for galvinised sheeting is going into La Union school and hope to have it made and installed by next weekend. Going to also make wall lights, patent pending also, this is by gluing two bottles together so that enough light can enter the bottle outside and enter the inside. Going to wrap the area inside the wall in tinfoil also. Bottle will be at an angle downwards to outside to aid water run off.
The idea of these projects, besides the fact i am in my element, is to first establish the best way to do it, best practise through trial and error, and document it, creating a method statement. These method statements can then be used by anybody who is intertested in learning or teaching these methods. So basically rather than just building bottle lights the idea is to teach people how to build bottle lights. Easy for me to you tube bottle lights, bit more difficult when you dont know how to turn a computer on.
Other projects I am thinking of doing include:

bottle lights for tiles roofs
Sheeps wool insulation ' preperation and installation
recycled paper preperation and installation
stabilised earth blocks testing and fabrication
water tanks for rain water harvesting
bio digesters , fancy word for tank that holds manure and the methane is captured and used as gas for cooking
washing stations
green house
gas bottle stoves-ovens
adobe stoves
adobe pizza and bread ovens
sheeps wool draft excluders
skylights for tiles
lime rendering
earthquake resistant adobe block and bamboo structures ' also patent pending ha ha

When these method statements are complete I intend on holding workshops to explain them, not only necessarily to the end user but also to people who will be holding there own workshops. I had intended on taking the show on the road to coban for a couple of months around May and June but I think with  the two other volunteers leaving it might be a bit unfair. I have commited to going to coban and I will but probably only at the weekends or for a week or two in this time. When we first discussed the whole Coban idea it was decided that Sunday after mass was the best time for workshops so this shouldnt really be a problem.

Next Wednesday the first of Febuary I am going to live on a euro a day for a month. This effectively means, no beer, no meat, no computer or travelling, well hopefully going to visit internet Sunday week to say hello to family etc., This might sound a bit severe in Irish terms but its actaully the average income here in La Cumbre. I know ive already mentioned it but half the worlds population live on less than 2 dollars a day and half of them live on less than a dollar. Dont care what anybody says. For one person to be super rich, it takes a hell of a lot of people to be super poor. Thats the way the system works no two ways about it.
In June as already mentioned in previous Blog we are planning on bringing 200 or so kids from Communidad Esperanza to Tikal. And repeating the excercise in July for the kids receiving scholarships with Seeds of Help with a stop off in Semuc Champey. This will keep me fundraising and writing blogs I think.

Have a look at the blog called house appeal for the big project...........

Trip to Tikal Appeal... Coban/La Cumbre

While I was in Coban I visited the Project of my German friends (Stefan and co,). A lot of the kids that attend the school live in the land fill dump. Myself and Stefan were invited by a family to there home to discuss possible projects I might undertake there later in the year. Possibly run workshops on how to improve there homes etc. Taking photos is a strict no no for obvious reasons. These photos have been managed to be taken over time by different volunteers. They speak for themselves...........

This is the school Johnnie runs single handedly. It is a pre school in the truest sense. Here the kids are thought very basic lessons such as the continents or colours. Nearly all the kids have learning disabilities, no sense of structure in their lives, and they range from 2 to 15 years of age. Utmost respect for Johnnie I know I couldnt do it. The aim of this school is a stepping stone to the main school but it at least gives the kids some sort of education of the world when they do not make the step up.

This is the main school, national school on right, secondary school on left..... Stefan is the English teacher for the school and Lara is a teacher in the national school. When I asked how was the project financed, whose idea was it, who runs it. Inevitably there is only one answer. Padre Sergio, a Spanish priest who arrived in Guatemala about 15 years ago and has created an oasis of hope in the depths of despair. Awe inspiring at the very least.

This building is adjacent to the school and is where the kids who live on site full time stay. A lot of the kids here come from abusive homes or simply their parents cannot afford to feed them. Fine feed too I may add................

Over 80 percent of the kids in Ezperanza require phsycological treatment of some sort and at Communidad Ezperanza they recieve it with a full time social worker on campus.

Why do all this? In the words of Esperanza Community website and via Google translate............   "Education is central to achieving a harmonious and equitable development. There is a close relationship between ignorance and poverty, between ignorance and underdevelopment or Third World country. Only education will dispel ignorance, opening lines of development of the nation, of all Guatemalans. Education, then, is not only a basic and fundamental human right, but one possibility is a priority for the country is heading in the paths of justice and peace, founded on equality of opportunity. The illiterate masses are the dramatic expression of a great failure as a country and are also the ballast for a comprehensive development always postponed. A society that is strongly committed to education, can not expect an improvement in the quality of life for the majority poor and peace. On the other hand, in a society begins to rely uncritically in technology and consumption, decreased sense of humanity, and breeds a culture of unscrupulous ecological degradation, social and ethical. That is why the Esperanza Community Association in the town of Coban, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, intended as an alternative to human development." Education is the key......

I have not asked him but I am sure that it is this sentiment that inspired Stefan to come up with the idea of a trip to Tikal. Above all else (as I have already mentioned in previous blogs) whether it be in La Cumbre or in Coban there is a distinct difference in self esteem between peoples of Myan and Spanish decent. By arranging a trip to Tikal, the most awe inspiring remaining monument of the Great Myan people, this just might give the kids something to be proud of and help them think a little differently about themselves. Since the idea was first mentioned of bringing all the 200 school kids to Tikal on a two day trip with seminars in Spanish and their own native language along with a visit to the ruins, I have honestly tried to find fauly with this idea and I cant. For instance when we brought the kids of Santa Lucia to the zoo at xmas, there was the one minor fault that we were going to a zoo. In fact it seems to get better and better. Just imagine us as Irish had the pride beaten out of us, we were ignorant of Newgrange, would a trip there make a difference. Would it fill me with pride to learn all about it, my ancestors and visit it on winter soltace to see its greatness. Yes it would. These kids will never get the chance visit Tikal other than this. The date of the 14 of June (Myan day of children) is set, myself and the 4 Germans are fundraising, I need 1,000 euros. I will be in contact.....

Because this is such a faultless idea. We (Seeds of Help) are going to try and bring the 13 kids who are on scholarships, along with the younger siblings hopefully (40 in total) on a similar trip. We are a little bit further away so a realistic stop over point is Coban. Hopefully between running the construction workshops at the weekends and the fundraising for the  trip to Tikal a month earlier I might have enough favours due that we might just get a warm hall to stay for the night. Semuc Champey, is quite close to Coban so if possible we will take a detour there before heading for Tikal. This is my fundraising until August I promise people. I think we will need 5,000 in total, 1,000e for my contribution to the Coban Tikal trip and 4,000e for the La Cumbre Tikal trip. It sounds like a lot but I know it is more than possible. I am not expecting one person to raise even 500 euro by trhemselves so dont let the final figure put you off, 50 euro by a coffee morning is fantastic. It all adds up. A little from a lot and we will be laughing. Also we have over 5 months. Easy : ) Now I have had a lot of offers from near and far for fundraising. I am going to cash them in for these very special projects. I will be in contact with individuals who have already offered to help soon with details of the Seeds of Help bank accounts and to help you in anyway I can. If anybody else is interested in helping please leave a message here, e mail me roryoconnor25@gmail.com, we can arrange a skype or I will try answer any questions you have as best I can. Thanks to everyone for your support so far and thanks in advance to everyone who is going to spend time and effort fundraising for this cause. Not the land of saints and scholars for nothin lads come on please.

Semuc Champey near Coban

If your interested in more info on Seeds of help or would like to donate check out www.seedsofhelp.org If you wish to donate to a particular project please state it in your e mail which one, or if not Seeds of Help always have worthwhile projects in need of support.

Randomness and Ramblings (Month 3)

This is the washing station at Calvario 2 in use ( yea I know very original name there is also a Calvario B we work at  god knows how many Calvarios there actually are). Not the prettiest it must be said but works well.

               As I said not the prettiest, nice from far, far from nice. To be fair though the last day before the hoilidays I had to run back to antigua for Inlex meeting. I asked the two peace corp volunteers if they would mind coming back in afternoon when concrete was better set and see if they could dickey it up and if not just scrape it with a nail so that I could put another decent coat on after the holidays. They said no bother, I went and bought them lunch and the lot to say thanks and guess what they never went back. Sound..... Peace corp are pulling out of Hue hue because of some politics before April. Must be carelful I dont slip on my own tears when they go. If I am honest I am especially bitter towards them because they were the first people I had contact with when I reached La cumbre and they were so negative about everything I thought I must be entering hell. Luckily I took it with a pinch of salt and when I talked to Stefan a few days later he painted an opposite picture. He is naturally a positive person and I I honestly dont know what I would have thought about things if he hadnt of been there. For that I willl always be greatful. It is very annoying I let somebody. Really I am a little annoyed with myself for half believing them and being a little dubious at first when there is absolutley no reason to be.  There is absolutley no place for negativity here and you have to be extra positive around the two other volunteers becuase the negativity, especially when they are together just oozes. They must have been out the day in their Peace Corp training when the thought the lesson that its what you make of it yourself... Leave them at that.
             Officially Peace Corp are leaving Huehue because it is too dangerous. Most dangerous thing up in the Cuchmantanas is the dogs, natural hatred for gringos or else well trained who knows. honestly dangerous here what a joke? If they worked in Ashford of a Saturday night they would nuke the village.
            I have no problem with individuals who work for the peace corp, dont get me wrong, just happened to get too whingy fXXXXers in my project. I have met loads who are well clued in to whats happening in the world, along with plenty of people from the States who are here independantly who are doing great work and can recognise the problems of Capitalism.
              The peace corp as an organisation I just dont get. Sorry if I offend anybody here but what is the point in an organisation financed to do charity work by the same government who have been raping every country south of the border of their resources for decades. Coincidence it started up in the earlñy 50s along with the worst attrocities in Latin America, finaced by the CIA. Hey im no Jim Corr but im not blind either. To me it is justification to be here enforcing capitalist policies. Stop raping resources and there mightn´t be such a need for charity down here.

First day back and asleep on the job tut tut. Cheers Roberto...

Right so going back in time now to the start of my holidays. Gloria the co founder of Inlex with her husband Carlos asked myself and Michael to visit a project that an Irish women had donated money to and deliver a check. Not really my scene standing with a check like a lottery winner but to be fair to Gloria she was more than helpful in helping me find Borax and went out of her way when she could to help with Dona Lily when she was needed so nice to be able to return the favour.

The project is an orphanage called Santa Apelonia near Chimaltenango. Along with a school the kids are thought trades. From the ages of 12 to 15 they have carpentry, clothes making and shoe making classes and after 15 they choose one trade to specialise in. They do not sell the products but they use them themselves and they are also somewhat self sufficient in the area of vegetables and eggs. 

This is one of the kids who didnt have anywhere to go fo the Christmas and of about 75 was ont of the 20 or so that spent xmas at the orphange. The kids here are not necessarily orphans but could be in a situation where their family cannot afford to take proper care of them etc. Also relatives might take the kids out for xmas.

This is myself and Micahel D with Suzy a teacher at inlex AKA Laaaaauuuuuriiiiiittttttaaaaaaaa......

Dona Lily puts the pout on for the photo again without fail. Honestly she is the happiest women in the world normally. Just a bit confused as to what to do in photos. Suppose we all put on a smile so why not....

                  This is where the rambling is gonna come in now. During the xmas Dona Lily was sick. Had two tumours removed from her intestines. She is doing well now. I have to say how I feel about the hospital though. Hermano Pedro. You would think that there would be some sort of Christian sentiment wouldnt you? For a start they first said it was liver cancer. That is a death sentence in most countries but especally here. No facilites for liver transplants whatsoever. Why would you say that unless you were sure? When I returned from Coban to visit Dona Lily, Astrid informed me that she was able to leave physically but that until they paid the full fee she was not allowed to leave. And with a 500 euro fee for every extra night. Needless to say I had a little freak out at the doctors at this stage, who quickly changed their tune to saying as she didnt need medical attention that a 50 euro fee would do per night. This was a Friday and it was impossible to get money before Monday. Now I offered to give them my passport and bank card until it was paid at this stage because she was eager to get to her own home. No doctor stone would not have it. Where is the sense in it, the fee keeps getting bigger, what would happen if she wasnt able to get her hands on the money, prisoner for life? Dont mind Hermano Pedro, more like Saint Peter with the key to front door. Now I understand its probably like that for a reason but they had her address and I offered to give them my passport. Anyway besides that I asked explicitly did she have all the medicine she needed I even asked Diego of Inlex (Gutemalan) to ask to make sure and was told yes she did. I waited around for a few days until Dona Lily´s stitches were to come out and low and behold the doctor tells her she needs more medicine. He knew she didnt have the money herself. Incompetance or spitefulness i couldnt say. If he spent more time worrying about medicine and not money things might be a lot more effective. Last week Astrid rand me saying Dona Lily had sever pain again so I told her to go back to the hospital. They perscribed more medicine and she was out in two days not a bother on her. Surely this medicine could have been perscribed straight away? Gloria has asked a doctor friend to get a full report from the hospital so we will wait and see.....
               I also visited a De La Salle school in Antigua. It made the De La Salle school I attended look like a slum. Now im not religion bashing for the sake of it, take a look at the coban blog and you will see I appreciate the good work done by members of the church. However there has to be something fundamentally wrong with private hospitals or schools being run like a business under the name of a christian organistaion. I have now doubt a lot of the money ends up in Rome, along with a lot of the money from the collections on Sundays. I personally find it hard to stomach. This could be Irish bitterness towards the church though who knows..........

Miguel and Astrid

No this isnt a scene from the remake of Darby O Gill and the little people.........

I got this T shirt for free, the night of the Reillys 10 year anniversary. Well now to say it was free, did spend quite a bit of time and money there over the Xmas. Some spot though to be fair. Right craic there every night without fail. If your not dancing on the counter your on your way to the toilet.

This is a fountain in the market in Antigua. Carlsberg dont make fountains..............

Right so new years eve climbed a mountain (Dog nose Mounatin I think) in San Pedro de Atitlan. From left to right Johnnie, Lara, Stefan, Meself and Denise. How do I know these people you ask. Stefan was a work mate in La Cumbre and Johnnie and Lara are his companeros in Coban. Denise was my class mate in Spanish school. Anyway very sober new years, was very cool but too tired to drink much after walk. 

Coban of an early morning.

The two love birds.... Right little Cila Black I am. Fairly handy at it myself though....... Useless gone....

A roof top party at the lads apartment in Coban. Not much night life in Coban. Before 2008 was like most Guatemalan cities but since then it has gotten really dangerous because of Mexican drug gangs who have came to Guatemala since the crack down by Mexican government. Also a route from Columbia to The United States. More about the project the lads work in blog on Coban.....

 Back in La Cumbre since last Monday.......... What are you looking at gringo?.

Mi nuevo Casa. Few little alterations still needed but is getting there. Stove going where the bags of borax are now, next week hopefully.

View from the half door........ just for you Sprocket.

The Jacks...

 My new addition as of yesterday. An Into the Wild style shower. A come on now what else did you expect... Going to see about getting two gas bottles welded together next week. Bottom one is stove and top is an oven. For use as a typical oven but also for making charcoal or carbon which in turn can be used to make water purifiers. Method in my madness I tell you.

The new tat.....

 Few senoritas on the way to the market with corn on their heads. Took me about twenty minutes in a pick up. You do the maths....

A bread oven made out of Adobe. Have thoughts to try make a stove out of this. Little bit more confident seeing this.

Back in work visiting the schools and womens groups see what they need help with in the year to come. One look at this is it any wonder why I love it here so much. Some place to wake up every morning I can tell you.