Peace Corps Volunteer Visit Week!
This week we went on volunteer visits to experience life as a volunteer and know what to expect once we leave to our communities! The communities did not have as many resources as the host communities that we are staying at the moment and are more rural, secluded, and could be located in indigenous areas. This particular area was the Ngobe-Bugle.
For my volunteer visit, we went to BOCAS DEL TORO, which was about 8-10 hours from where we are located. Then, we had to wait for a taxi to drop us at the taxi stop for the community and then about a 40 minute hike into the site. It was all very worth it as it was very beautifully scenery wherever we went!
The indigenous community we were staying in gave me a Ngabere name that was Etty and I felt really welcomed to the community. They are very nice and even showed us how to make these purses (chakaras- not sure the exact spelling!) that their community is known for. They are all handmade from strong plant fibers.
This is the method that most cook their food in the community over a fagon. The pot there is used for baking as well which is a unique way to make a cake by putting a can in the center of the big pot, then place the cake on top of the can, and put the lid on the pot to create your own type of oven! Very creative! In this volunteer site, she hopes to introduce eco-stoves which are more healthier for the people so the smoke from this type of way of cooking is more contained.
We went on hikes through cacao fincas, or cocoa farms, and it was so beautiful to see the mountains and landscape of Bocas del Toro! We even had to balance ourselves walking across a fallen tree trunk as a bridge to cross a river.
For my volunteer visit, we went to BOCAS DEL TORO, which was about 8-10 hours from where we are located. Then, we had to wait for a taxi to drop us at the taxi stop for the community and then about a 40 minute hike into the site. It was all very worth it as it was very beautifully scenery wherever we went!
The indigenous community we were staying in gave me a Ngabere name that was Etty and I felt really welcomed to the community. They are very nice and even showed us how to make these purses (chakaras- not sure the exact spelling!) that their community is known for. They are all handmade from strong plant fibers.
This is the method that most cook their food in the community over a fagon. The pot there is used for baking as well which is a unique way to make a cake by putting a can in the center of the big pot, then place the cake on top of the can, and put the lid on the pot to create your own type of oven! Very creative! In this volunteer site, she hopes to introduce eco-stoves which are more healthier for the people so the smoke from this type of way of cooking is more contained.
We went on hikes through cacao fincas, or cocoa farms, and it was so beautiful to see the mountains and landscape of Bocas del Toro! We even had to balance ourselves walking across a fallen tree trunk as a bridge to cross a river.
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