Field Based Training

FBT: Field Based Training... it´s basically when you and a bunch of other trainees go visit a volunteer at their site for a few days. A coordinator and a spanish teacher also accompany you.

We went and visited a volunteer named Nathan. He lives in a little pueblo in La Libertad where there are beautiful views and cool temperature. Basically, we were bitter.....all of us would love a site like that. Anyway, we arrived on Wed and immediatly started in on activities. Well...maybe not immediatly. We had a nice lunch, took a tour of the Alcaldia (mayor´s office), examined the distillilary in the office (I have an awesome photo of that) and then checkedout out where we would be living for the next few days. I wound up living with a nice family, along with the spanish teacher and Whitney (another trainee).

We then started in on our first project, trash pick-up with a bunch of students. I would say about 30 or more students came out to help pick up trash. We picked up so much, but it looked as if we hadn´t even made a dent. Also, kids would grab some bags of water to drink during the activity and then just toss them where we had just cleaned. It´s hard to change an ingrained habit. But Nathan did a good job of settling everyone down for a few minutes and giving a charla (presentation) about trash and it´s effects. I´ve heard that if you want to do a trash project you pretty much have to start when you arrive at your site if you hope to make a difference.

Next up on the list, Thursday, was painting a local basketball court. About 4 or 5 older students came out to help us paint. Nathan, and our two little supervisors would just randomly leave to go get supplies. At least that is what they said, I think it was to get us to work together without direction. It was hard work, but I think the court came out looking great. My only real problem was that the paint was oil based.....I still have some on me. Thankfully, the paint fight was between Nathan and a few students. He wound up eating paint....hehehe.

That night we checked out a local ADESCO meeting. ADESCOs are local self development groups. We asked them about their structure and what projects they were working on. Also their relationship with the local Alcaldia. These groups are suppose to remain apolitical...but apparently that is impossible. So they had some comments on the local mayor and his practices. I´m told this is quite common here.

Friday was el dia de las charlas or the day of presentations. In the morning we talked about communication with a bunch of 3rd graders. It turned out to be really fun. We mostly played games demonstrating the different kinds of communication. Telephone, Simon Says (person to group communication), giants/elves/wizards (like rock paper sissors, but in groups...group communication). On the whole, it went over really well. The second charla was meant for older kids who were on their school council...8th or 9th grade. It was a leadership charla. Unfortunatly, the principal invited all children council members....even those from the first and second grade. it was a grade mix of everyone. So, we tried to dumb down parts but keep it interesting. It actually didn´t go that badly.

After all that we just kinda chilled and invited all the families to dinner on the Peace Corps. It was nice to chit chat and get to meet the differt familes.

The following morning, we hiked up a hill.....well, not a hill, but not a mountain. All´s i know is that it was freaking steep. We checked out a cross that had been placed near the top and then headed back down. I was exhausted. I´m not sure how climbing the volcano is going to go in a few weeks.

Overall it was a good experience. I got to see how intergrated Nathan was in his site. I also got to see how frustrating some of the work of a volunteer can be. How does that song go...you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and you´ve got the facts of life? whatever.