Wrapping up my work in Bolivia

It´s incredible to think that 6 months ago I headed off on my first of a few rounds of training in Vancouver and back East in Montreal before heading down to volunteer and live in my city of Potosí, Bolivia. My time here has now wrapped up and I have a lot to look back on... the work that I did, the work I wished I could have accomplished, the friendships I have made, the lessons I have learnt, and how I have changed through it all....

I´ve had a few comments about the lack of content on my blog about the work that I was doing down here. I think there are several reasons for that...

The first is that the work that I was doing here was work will have a long term impact, and I found it difficult to put into words what I was doing on a daily or weekly basis.

The second, is that at times I struggled to understand what work I WAS doing. I think I accomplished about 10% of the work that I was sent down to do. And, although I was prepared to be flexible in what I was doing, I wasn´t expecting to be QUITE as flexible as I had to be. Still, I think it all worked out.

I worked on the database that was suppose to be 90% of my job here (to create a database to track social indicators to help direct the NGO). Unfortunately, the database wasn´t something that was achievable, for many reasons that ranged from the compatibility of systems, inability to collect the information required for it over the long term, etc. So, the success out of the work that I did do, was that my work resulted in concrete recommendations / a plan around where this can go in future.

I was able to set up the computer system in the office to allow all the computers to access the internet. Although... it all feeds through a single dial-up line, so the application of this is slllooooowwwwww. (and yes, everyone still uses floppy disks down here too....)

Because of the new internet access, I developed workshops in Spanish and taught the workers in the office the ins and outs of how to use it!! With limited computer skills, these were more lessons in how computers work than anything!!

And finally, the last of my work involved creating a website for the NGO! I´d never done that sort of work before, so I found it really interesting to learn html and javascript! If you´re interested in learning a bit more about the organization that I worked with, I created the site in both Spanish AND English.... Keep in mind that I´m still doing edits on the site, so it isn´t perfect. And... it has some adds on it since we´re still trying to get a web server set up at the main office of the NGO to transfer it on to. Disclaimers aside, here´s the site: www.foncresol.org.

So, with that, I hope I had an impact in the long run with this organization. Because, I know that the time that I spent in Potosí had a big impact on me.

And with that... I´m out of here... (for a bit of travelling of course....)

HAPPY BOLIVIAN FATHER´S DAY!!!

Today, March 19th, is Father´s Day here in Bolivia. It is incredible to realize I´m used to “random reasons to celebrate” here. I didn´t even think to ask this morning what the “occasion” was, when woke up to fire crackers going off outside my window and on my way to work, I had to weave myself between the marching bands walking around the streets.

But, with the greetings around the office today, I realized that it was in fact a “real” holiday and there was a reason to celebrate: Father´s Day.

So, since I´m currently living in Bolivia, I have the previledge of celebrating the holidays here. So, HAPPY FATHER´S DAY to all the dads out there (and the “Dads to be” that I know of too!).

And… thanks to those that knew about my Dad and his surgery last week for keeping him in your thoughts. From the sounds of it (with him being released from the hospital a day early, despite complications that required him to go in for a second surgery), he´s doing great. With his heart “all fixed up”, I think I´ll be having trouble keeping up to him this summer on hikes once he´s fully recovered (right Dad?)!

International Woman´s Day

Bolivians really know how to celebrate. I’m reminded of this at least once or twice a week. Yesterday was no different.

Now, you might have read in a previous entry about my experience during “Con Madres”…. Potosí´s Woman´s Day. Regardless of the celebrating on this day, it didn´t stop more celebrations less that a month later…

Over the last few years, I have received different emails saying "Happy International Women's Day", but never really thought much of it. I now know that it really is true... it is our day AND it's international. I know that Bolivians are prone to celebrate for whatever reason, however...

The guys in our office bought us women goodies in the morning. And, throughout the day, I had various people wish me well and happiness. I had tea out and paid for by my boss because of it.

Then, after my evening class, Nick and I headed to this restaurant that we've been going to lately. The name of the restaurant translates from Quechwa to mean "5 woman". Funny enough, it was 5 woman who opened it up a few years ago. There are only 2 left running the place, but it's still going strong.

When we got there, the doors were all shut with a sign on the door saying "we're taking the night off in honor of women all over the world" (or something like that), but we could hear music inside. So, instead of walking away, we decided to knock on the door (a few times) until someone opened it up. We were invited in...

There were 6 woman inside: the 2 remaining owners and some of their friends (ranging from a politician, a lawyer, a prof at the university, etc.), sitting around, having some drinks and chatting. We joined them for the next couple hours until they decided to move locations.
We then went to a local “pub”. As soon as we sat down, we were all given flowers. We ordered some food and drinks and chatted some more. Around midnight, the owner came out of the back, and bought us all a round of drinks in honour of the day. Now, THAT'S what I call celebrating International Woman's Day!!!