Fourth Gear

The steps we climb every day after training

A view in Ayas, where we hiked at 11,000ft

Looking out on the Rimac Valley from Buenos Aires

Training kicked into high gear this week. Sessions are half in Spanish as language skills quickly gain ground.

We made “Tippy-Taps”, an ingenious device for rural handwashing made from used 3 liter plastic bottles – 3L is the most common size around here and evidence of the sad affinity for soda, especially “Inka-Cola”, which has the kick of Mountain Dew, but the taste of bubble gum. Our group even made a couple improvements to the

time tested device. (see earlier FB Note)

We learned about water testing and water systems and purification techniques, including a method called SODIS, which uses the sun’s UV rays to purify. There was a field trip to the Santa Eulalia river to make sand filters, which can totally purify up to 40 liters of river water a day, once a bio-active scum layer is in place (>20 days). Yesterday, we took a breathtaking (literally) trip to a small town called Ayas (near Surco) up in the mountains (3,200 meters/10,500 ft) to study and work on the water system there. The views were spectacular. On the way, we passed an old lead mining operation (now used as a mining school), a functioning carbide operation, lots of hillside terraces for agriculture and an extraordinary train switchback.

The tiny town of Ayas is home to just 65 families, a milk, yogurt and cheese plant, lots of cows and of course, a Catholic church. At every turn on the 5 mile hike up to the system, there were brilliant green hillside pastures, waterfalls, terraces of alfalfa and Swiss like vistas. We brought  sandpaper and paint to the top spring source and refurbished and lubricated the tanks, lids and locks. On the way down, we inspected and tested the various system components, before enjoying a late afternoon lunch of the traditional chicken, rice and beans with a homemade apple juice, by the side of a high cliff overlooking the Rimoc River valley. The dirt road up and back was only one lane (two tire ruts) wide and built terrifyingly close to enormous drop-offs.

In other training sessions, we learned about the many parasites and diseases we are likely to encounter during our service here in Peru, as well as the STD’s found among the local populace. The later included a rather comical relay race involving condoms and a large dildo. There was something just a tad disturbing about the abilities of the males to place a condom on a dildo facing them, but we persevered. We also practiced teaching English and using “Non-Formal Education” techniques, as many of our audience in the field we be illiterate. My small language group, which we have named “The Four Musketeers”, presented a training on basic water and sanitation vocabulary. I personally presented a training segment on public speaking, as many in our group seemed to be lacking in that area. I did an exercise on eye contact and another on “barking like a BIG dog”.

“Free time” has been scarce, but has included more hand-washing of clothes and another batch of Peruvian Cole Slaw (col is Spanish for cabbage). This weekend is the big Pachamanca Festival in Santa Eulalia. Pachamanca is a traditional cooking method in a big pit with hot rocks (sort of like a clam-bake), with potatoes, sweet potatoes, fava beans, and Beef/pork/chicken, along with sweet tamales. The whole menu is buried for hours, while the air is filled with aroma and the participants are filled with beer. I’ve heard that our little town is in the Guinness Book for most Pachamanca pits fired in a single day.

There are also all types of food booths, vendors and games for the kids. A huge plate of food goes for about US$2. Bands play, horns blow and there is a CONSTANT barrage of M-80 firecrackers set off around town.

I led the Musketeers on a “short cut” route from the Center to Buenos Aires one afternoon. It turned out to be a LONG cut, but as always, the adventurous route-less-traveled was worthwhile. It took us high up on the mountain and past a small new ghetto part of town. The barrio is built entirely of pre-fab plywood shacks (about US$350 complete with 2 windows a door and a tin roof). There is no electricity or sewer and the city has provided only a few water taps. Garbage is everywhere, as were the wild dogs. There were several shrines, which were all much nicer than any of the “homes”. On a happier note, we were treated to spectacular views of the valley floor and our own dear Buenos Aires.

The B.A. town plaza was no sooner completed this week, than the center part was torn up to build a computer kiosk, which will provide the kids with free internet access. My hope is that it will be better used than a similar facility in the Santa Eulalia plaza, where online game playing prevails. In any case, the plaza has started to attract folks for an evening stroll or chat, reminiscent of the plaza in San Blas. And I like that.

Sadly, I left my camera (and photos) at the PC Center, so I’ll have to double-up on photos next week.