Streams and Swamps

2 big updates:

1. I officially finished training and swore in as a volunteer

2. I found out where I´m going to be living for the next two years. It´s called Arroyos y Esteros (streams and swamps) Its a small town of about 8,000 with several surrounding companias/rural pueblos. Two weeks ago I spent a week there visiting before moving all my stuff out there in a few days. I´m not yet sure if I´ll be living in the more ubran center area or out in a compania, but I´ll definitely be starting with a host family in the unban center.

In the center of town there is the cooperative in which I´ll be working. It´s a fairly large coop, 20 employees, that specializes in organic/fair trade sugar. Some cool things about that: Because it´s organic/fair trade they are able to do a lot of exporting to europe and are constantly looking for new markets, including the US. Therefore, they need help with communications in English and with English classes so they can remain in touch after I leave. Also, the townspeople have become very aware of the importance of organics and it has served as the first step toward being a more socially conscience town. Every saturday there is a big farmers market where the local farmers bring their organic fruits/veges/meat. With that said, this town and cooperative are much more progressive than I ever imagined. Therefore, potential projects weren´t exactly jumping out at me as they are in the town in which I´ve spent the last few months. The biggest thing they need at this point is internet, both the coop and the town in general. So maybe I can do an internet project. Backtracking for a sec, but because I spent my only week in the urban center I´m not as familiar with what´s problems the farmers are facing in the surrounding areas. Basically, my first few months in site will entail going around to those farmers, getting to know them, and talking about what kind of potential projects they may be interested in. That´s pretty much it. I´ll probably have a lot more expand upon after living there for a few weeks. Hasta entonces.