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Low

It is inevitable – the low point. 

It’s late August, in the Caribbean.  The heat is unbearable.  It seems to take great energy to walk outside.  And then by the time I make it to work, I’m drenched in sweat, my eyes burning from the bright sun.

Everything irritates me now – the daily blackouts (can’t use my fan when the electricity isn’t working!), the short periods of running water, taking cold bucket baths, the lack of refrigeration, the struggle just to get anywhere, speaking Spanish (why can’t people try to understand my language for once?!), my town’s expectations of me, my feelings of guilt that I’m not doing enough, the general lack of motivation.  I find myself daydreaming about going home, about New York City, wandering the streets, seeing a good movie, eating chocolate cupcakes, closing myself up in my air-conditioned apartment.  I guess I’m getting that “itch” because a group of Volunteers are preparing for their end of service in October.  They’re talking excitedly about their plans afterward – traveling, job searching, moving to different cities, grad school.  I find myself feeling impatient, counting down the months and days I have left – 8 months, 20 days to be exact.

I have a lot going on… maybe too much.  My head is spinning with Peace Corps and personal projects.  But I’m lacking a little inspiration.  I’m feeling sluggish.  It has been hard getting out of bed every morning.  Maybe it’s because the heat has zapped my energy.  I wake up sweaty and disappointed that my fan isn’t spinning.

I need to clear my head, make a plan.  But where to start?  I’m praying for a cool breeze to reenergize me.

Me Toca a Mi

It all started last September at the U.S. Embassy Pool.  My colleagues and I were having our first IT Committee meeting in style.  Some of us hung out on the side, some floated, while the President presided from the pool steps.  The floor was open for suggestions... How about a telenovela, a very popular soap opera format, that combines the Peace Corps directed national sexual health initiative (i.e., Escojo Mi Vida) and IT?

Brilliant!  People applauded the idea, approached us asking how they could help, volunteered their knowledge.  We had started something, but where to begin?

We began with ideas based on Escojo themes (e.g., self-esteem, HIV/AIDS prevention, family planning, teen pregnancy, etc.) and then we put them into scripts.  Then we enlisted the talents of a fellow Volunteer to produce a very catchy theme song.  After that, we approached Peace Corps staff to inquire about funding.  We spent many months setting meetings to develop and promote this project.

This whole thing has been a long, arduous process consisting of organizing, negotiating, creating, compromising, deciding, budgeting, leading.  Sometimes we had the momentum, sometimes we didn’t.

Then we received a small grant, and we decided to film an episode and create a trailer in order to stir up some excitement over the project.

Last week, we did our experiment, and we finished it with great enthusiasm and motivation to continue.  The Dominican kid actors were excited and dedicated; the crew consisting of Volunteers was unified, eager to learn, and proactive.

Our talented cinematographer and editor quickly put together a teaser.  Here it is.

Me Toca A Mi - Telenovela Teaser from Elisa Paltenghe on Vimeo.

Camp GLOW

About a year before I came to the country, when I was scouring the internet for volunteer blogs, researching possible countries where I would be sent, I read about a girls’ empowerment summer camp.  I knew then that I wanted to do a camp like that one during my service.

Then, when I came to country, I heard about the Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) initiative – a five-day summer camp that teachers girls how to be leaders.  By the time I had sworn in as a Volunteer, I learned that Camp GLOW 2009 was already full.  I would have to wait a year.

In November, just after Thanksgiving, the coordinators held a meeting for people interested in the camp.  In February, they sent out applications.  I filled one out almost immediately, stating my enthusiasm for this camp.

We had Camp GLOW last week, and it was probably the best project I’ve done here so far.  The week leading up to camp, I was running around trying to get my girls group together, finding a group of eager muchachas to invite, working on projects for the camp, and researching and writing my charlas (I did one on media and gender stereotypes and teen pregnancy).  Then last week, it all came together beautifully.  Not only did we have a core group of awesome Volunteers (only one male Volunteer, who was an excellent example of a male proponent of gender equality), we had a group of sixty motivated, perceptive, respectful young ladies.

We danced.  We laughed.  We asked questions.  We shared very personal stories.  We gave motivational speeches in front of a campfire.  We created art.  We exercised.  We cheered.  We listened.

During the preparation for the camp and the actual camp itself, I realized that I want to incorporate female empowerment into my work.  I was already passionate about feminism.  The camp gave me some purpose.  Why don’t I make it my career? 

We still have a lot of work to do in the field of gender equality.  At least in this country, sexism still flourishes.  I get angry about it, but at least I have an outlet in which I can put that passion toward something positive.  I’m still working on kick-starting my girls group.  Things here are slow going.  But going to camp was really inspirational.  I met some cohesive girls groups and after seeing the Volunteers interact with these bright young women, these future leaders, I felt motivated to start a MOVEMENT in my community.  Sí, se puede.