Holidays

I´m learning more about my community and the neighboring communities - my ´work´ has mainly consisted of this. There is a national legal framework that requires a local Water Committee for rural water systems, for maintanence and fee collection. But in my community there is not much willingness to do the work. My job is to work with the Water Committee to enhance the water system, but my job is quite difficult when there is no Committee. So this is essentially my first task, generating interest and motivation to improve the community´s water.

Christmas here was celebrated more by family togetherness, and gifts are all but nonexistent. However, during the night some men tend to drink far too much, either ´chicha fuerte´ (a homemade corn alcohol) or the cheapest bottled liquor, an unfortunate practice in such a beautiful community. On C. Eve, my host family has the tradition of staying up until midnight and then having a special meal, which is the only celebratory expense for their holidays. They enjoy Christmas and are grateful for what they have.