Canadians, eh ??

Teaching "losa" making

"Papa" Joe from the Rainbow of Hope of Canada

Visiting a Home Depot style hardware store in Chincha

Ismael learning Goyo's tricks

Similar flags

I went to Chincha, about 1 hour south of here, to train a Canadian NGO in Cocina construction. These folks are doing lots of good in that area – building a school and replacing dirt roofs with concrete. They have also taken the “bottle bulb” idea and multiplied it. While there is nothing like actually building one for training, this visit gave me the idea to create a ¼ scale model, which can be used to give a 3D experience. The adobes and bricks are wooden blocks, so the structure can be re-created over and over. Progress is good.

On a sad note: someone cut a few of the fire hose supports on the swings at the Viviendas #2 playground. I was able to repair quickly, but am disappointed that this type of wretched vandalism has raised it head in my quiet little town. The good part about the #1 playground by the Muni is that it is highly visible and locked up at night. Spray paint graffiti also appeared on a nice wall below the big cell phone tower. It was quickly repainted.

I’m excited about my upcoming visit to the US for my 40^th Princeton Reunion. I’m girded for some culture shock. And the pleasure of seeing many of my dear friends and classmates – some of the finest men on the planet.

ECPA Renewable Energy Conference

Teaching about solar panels and pumps

Lecturing on composting toilets

Demonstrating the biodigester

Converting a propane stove to use bio-gas

Basking in the glow of a "bottle bulb"

Well, it’s been a busy week in San Luis de Canete, my home town, out here on the edge of the desert prairie. The ECPA Renewable Energy conference has come and gone. Over 30 PCVs and community partners got a good basis education in renewable energy topics, including climate change, solar panels, passive solar, biodigesters, improved cook stoves, bottle bulbs and composting toilets. I was pleased that we presented not only classroom instruction, but hands-on demonstrations, as well. The Duenas family at the Goat Farm were perfect hosts. They served up some beautiful, classic Canete dishes : Sopa Seca and papas Huancaina, Loma Saltado and Seca Canetano. We also enjoyed yogurt and cheese samples and play time with the goats and Odie dog. We rounded out the work with some touristy trips to Castle Unanue and the Cerro de Oro. Everyone, from the farm to the bus driver to the El Dorado hotel performed brilliantly (and on time) to make the conference a success.

The only glitch in the schedule was that it ended the day before Mothers Day, when buses are full, transporting sons and daughters home to visit with their Moms. This is one of the biggest holidays in Peru – eclipsed only by Easter and Anniversary. Vast bundles of flowers were sold in front of the cemetery. All of them destined for the crypts of dead Moms. Last year, I offended Margarita by getting her flowers – just not done here. I got invited to two dinners and attended both, which was not appreciated by my digestive apparatus. Still and all, a wonderfully sweet day – so many folks scurrying around town to honor their Moms. And a nice day to remember my Mom and the MANY gifts she gave me.