My Journalism Group

Hola mis compas (literally that means hi, my compatriots). The good news is that Im still living the life here. I am feeling more and more comfortable and at home in my site and have been staying pretty busy too, both of which are muy bien. Here's what I got going on:

1. Journalism group
2. Community survey
3. Coffee coop

1. Journalism group

18 kids and 1 gringo. This week I started a journalism group with eighteen fourth to sixth graders at the local school. A guy about my age is helping lead the class with me. I am using the guide of former PCVs mixed with some of my own ideas to structure the group. We will be meeting once a week for the next 16 weeks! By the end of our time together, the kids will have learned about journalism in general, about newspapers in specific, computers, interviewing techniques, how to use a camera, grammar and spelling, forming opinions, editing and layout etc. etc. And, the final physical product will be their own newspaper about stuff going on in the community. Our first meeting was a lot of fun, thanks to some standard "dinámicas" (or interactive icebreakers/games) that were inserted into the agenda-- it seems that the kids are interested in what we will be doing-- it also seems that theyre highly interested in the new gringo in town-- I read on their excited faces, "what are gringos like??!!" I will be a good experience for me...

2. Community Survey

I am doing a community survey about the health, environmental, and economic conditions affecting people in my town. Ive been going with one member of the Patronato (the local town council) once or twice a week to the different neighborhoods of San Luis, going door to door introducing myself and my project, then asking them my 25 knock-out questions. Doing a survey had always been in the back of my mind, but the PCV who lives up the road from me, Karen, suggested that I actually do it- so I am. It's helpful because I'm getting out into the community and getting to know new people, but it will also, hopefully, give me some direction about the needs of my town-- maybe to give me an idea or two about projects I can start working on.

3. Coffee Coop

We are trying to finish up the bookkeeping for the past operating cycle and it is a bit of a headache. Maybe soon we will know if we made a profit or not, heh. We canceled our general assembly meeting yesterday because of Honduras' last World Cup game, heh. I guess it makes sense.

I just realized that Im saying "we" instead of "they." Heh. I guess that's a good sign, right?


Everything else is dandy here really. Last week I went hiking into the cloud forest for the first time. It was a killer hike (for me at least, not at all for the Protected Areas Management volunteers whose job it is to be expert woodspeople), but we made it. The forest is really something else-- huge, ancient trees etc. We got to see two tucans. I'll post pictures of the trip one of these days. I am living in one of the best sites in Honduras, hands down.

New Mailing Address

Hola a todos. Im doing great and am living the life. Im still getting to know people in my community and am building up confianza. I am working on a big training session with all the members of the coop on basic business practices and am about to start up English classes as well as a journalism group for local schoolkids. We shall see...

Anyway, just for your information, all you people out there on the Internet, Ive got a new mailing address. Im also putting it on the side bar of my blog. They recommend drawing a cross on boxes if you send them, and maybe even putting a Dios le bendiga on the side, to try to prevent people from opening them and taking stuff out. Im not sure how long mail will take to get to me now, but probably at least two weeks, if not longer. I dont need anything from the States as of now, but feel free to surprise me. (wink)

C. Alex Osteen, PCV
Voluntario del Cuerpo de Paz
Apartado Postal 22
Santa Bárbara, Santa Bárbara
Honduras