Cow Thiefs and Watch Dogs

So the new drama in town is the stolen cows. Somebody, and presumably this someone is from my community, is stealing cows and butchering them in the middle of night to sell the best cuts of meat in market. Then they leave the rest of the cow to be found in the morning, which by that time the meat has spoiled and there is nothing that the owner can do. This week we didnt lose any cows, but last week we lost 5. We have no police in town (not that having police is very effective in a country where bribes are very common) and people dont have things like cow insurance. So they are just plum out of luck. It makes for a little bit of a tense situation when cows are some peoples livelihood. My family also has a cow, she is how I get milk every morning. (which by the way, what do they do to milk in the states? Because here it never quite tastes the same, at all) So to keep her safe, and our little calf we have them sleep in our front yard and our scary dog Bolito sleeps next to them. People don't mess with Bolito so I think our cows are safe. But, yesterday the cow was in the yard and her knot to the tree came undone and she started running around like a crazy cow and her calf was freaking out cause the mom was charging people. All the kids were running away, which just made her chase them and I just sat in my little chair in the lawn praying to god that she wouldnt notice me since I wasnt moving. Luckily, Paco came in time to take control of the sitaution. He just kicks the cow when she doesnt want to cooperate so she usually listens to him. And I am still in one piece-she never noticed me!

A Night in the Capital

So last night about 14 of us new volunteers went out for a night on the town:) We went out for dinner at a Mexican Restaurant...and I didn't even complain. Just ordered myself a cheese enchillada that wasn't that bad;) After that we took a van taxi (7 passanger mini-van) and if you have ever wondered if you could fit 14 people in one, well you can. Amazing really.

Next I went with Joe to the Jaragua casino. Really randomly we went there but it was fun. Not very many games to play only craps, roulette, poker and blackjack and then the machines. So I tried my hand in Craps, won and then lost. Then I won in the slots so again I didn't make any money but I didn't lose any either.

After that I went back to my nice air conditioned room, slept in and took a nice hot shower this morning. All in all a great weekend...Until I decided to finally go home and had my cell phone stolen in the Carro Publico of Villa Mella. Urg. Life is never easy.

Living the Life:)

Yesterday I came into the capital for a little R & R time. It think it was long overdue. I got a room at a hostel, checked in, took my second hot shower I have had in country and relaxed. It was great. Amazing though how used to the cold bucket showers and no running water I am becoming. And I think the several hot showers I took yesterday and plan to take today and tomorrow might even hold me over for the next 3 months or so!

My life in my site is going well. I think that every day it gets a little better. I am getting to know everyone and I spend a lot of time with my family and the youth in my community. I am also teaching 3 English classes a week...which are not easy. Imagine teaching a class for something that you have the utmost knowledge but no training or book to guide you in how to teach or where to start. Add that to the fact that my only supplies are a chalk board and chalk. Two of the classes are for the youth and one is for the adults. The adult class is a little better than the youth because they actually listen and participate. The kids spend the whole time talking and I don't know how to get them to pay attention. And its not just me, they are like that in school as well. It is because the students have little to no discipline in class from the time they start kindergarten....well the combination of all that is not adding up to the best English classes. Anyone have some advice? Kendall~more advice for me? Haha.

Some of the fun things I have done in my site which made for some great pictures:) I learned how to wash clothes by hand. Its a great workout for your arms. Mine were sore for a day or so afterwards.

I also made cashews. We tumbled the fruit all down from the trees, picked the seeds off and dried them for about a week. Then we set them on fire in our yard and burned them.

After that you smack them a few times with a rock or board to get the outer shell off and you've got cashews. It was pretty great. The outer blackened shell did dye my fingers black, and I had to use this soap that burned the skin off my fingers....but it was worth it:) Right now the cacao is drying in the sun and hopefully soon I will get to make some chocolate!

I also have been working to create an association of students in my sector (the larger community). This is so that we can support those who go on the University and hopefully solve some of the problems the high schoolers have. There is no HS in my community or for miles around. In order to continue after 8th grade, you either move into the city and live with a relative, or you pay 120 pesos per day to get yourself to and from the HS. Which 120 pesos equals approximately 4 dollars. And if you get hungry too...well its quite pricey for the kids in Sierra Prieta, which is an extremely poor community. If we can form an association, we can solicit the government for a bus to drive them to the school or even better if we have enough kids of that age we can get a High School built. At one of the meetings, we invited the local politicians and a lawyer to help us. That day I got two marriage proposals. And I think they were completely serious too. Yikes these people move fast. And ironic that it was a politician and lawyer that asked...