The following post features student writing.
Buenos días from Savannah and Julia!
We arrived yesterday, after a long day of travel through cloudy mountain passes and green stretches that reach the border with Panama. After some very bumpy roads we made it to the small village of Biolley, where a women’s cooperative called ASOMOBI is hosting us. After getting settled in our new home, a community center and ecotourism building that is also the subject of our volunteer work, the community all came to the center to welcome us to Biolley. There was food, live music, kids, and lots of dancing. We had a blast meeting everyone but were also very tired and slept deeply.
Even clouds get tired and have to lay down sometimes.
Today was our first day of work here in Biolley. It was an early morning. We woke up at 6:30 and had an amazing breakfast of eggs, rice and beans, and bread made by Laura, a member of ASOMOBI, with the assistance of two students from our group, Dylan and Sophia. After breakfast we began our work in the village. We were divided into five groups and each was given different tasks related to improving the community center. Jobs included digging holes to put in new railings for a handicap access ramp, mixing cement, sanding wood, and breaking apart uneven concrete. Miguel, our maestro de obras, helped and instructed each group with what they needed to do for each task.
The girls digging holes for poles
Sand + cement mix + sweat = Teamwork!
After about four hours of work we took a lunch break and enjoyed chicken, vegetables and mashed potatoes and yucca prepared by Laura and two other students in our group, Ally and Alex. After lunch we returned to work some more and continued to make more cement and sanded wood.
Idle hands…make chicken fajitas for the group!
Around 3 PM, after a hard and successful day of work, we finished up for the day and spent some time with the others in the group and in the village of Biolley. We played soccer and talked to each other. We all rested, relaxed, and watched an unthinkably gorgeous sunset. The day had been a long one, and we had all worked up a serious appetite. Around 6:30, we sat down to feast on spaghetti with tomato sauce and homemade garlic bread. Finally we concluded the day by playing cards, listening to music, and hanging out together.
#Views from the Albergue
Abrazos!
– Savannah & Julia