Reply to Norma's Comment

I just read your comment and lemme tell ya, it's good to hear from you. I think you - and ol' man Robert especially - would be happy to know that I've had the chance to explain the Métis people, culture and history to not only other volunteers here, but also many locals as well. The locals tell me that the natives here have a very similar experience, especially when dealing with the government.

As for my projects, well we started out teaching english and math each day followed by recreation time. The kids just returned to school this week, so as their summer vacation slowly shrunk, the length of recreation time slowly increased. Eventually we weren't giving any lessons, but simply spending time with the kids - playing, singing and trying to talk through our poor poor Spanish.

Recently though, a few Québecois ladies came along with some money for projects. Since we stopped our formal classes with the kids, we decided to help the French ladies cement, plaster and paint a kitchen/house/guinne pig shed (we eat those lil rodents). Back at home Harry called a little junket with us volunteers to pitch his idea for the mural. The idea itself was good, but it was his flashy presentation that sold us on the idea of painting ¡VIDA! (LIFE!) on the wall, with each letter containing something life related. I'll show you when it's done.

As for the other projects, we've helped wash the compound, worked in the fields, fixed tire swings and will be painting the playground before we leave. As I type this it sounds more impressive to me than it feels. Really, any Joe can do this stuff. It just happens that Bob gave me time to do this and I am down here doing it. Amazingly simple.

Anywho, take care of yourself and the rest of our folks at the nation.
Your friend,
Ryan

written by  ryanmyers on March 4, 2009 from Huancayo, Peru
from the travel blog: Ryan's First Sabbatical
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