Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Reflections on Christmas and Development

On Saturday, December 16th, 2011, I was invited to attend a chocoletada – an event where you drink a warm milk chocolate drink and eat panetón, a take-off of the Italian fruit bread panettone that is very popular in Peru for Christmas. But this chocoletada was not like any other – it was a way to earn votes. The next municipal elections are not until 2014, but one of my ex-colleagues at EMAPA Huacho is already trying to win as many votes as he can in order to become the next mayor of Santa María, a district next to Huacho. And one of the ways he wanted to achieve this was by organizing a free chocoletada in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in town.

His friends were asked to come along and help make the event run smoothly. There was music and a kid’s show, followed by the distribution of hot chocolate and panetón. While everyone was busy enjoying their treat, the candidate mayor made speeches and brought up people from the community to talk. But instead of talking about the holiday season, the talk was about how the community still has no water or waste water and thus uses communal latrines, and how if he is elected, he will change this. There were testimonies from elders in the community talking about difficulties and struggles that they face. It just goes to show that no matter what event you are attending, politics always seems to be brought into the mix here.

Monday, December 19, 2011

RIP my USB

Hello everyone,

I am writing to you today with a frustrating story. My USB is dead. Essentially... when I went to Tarapoto last month someone passed me some documents, and I guess their computer was infected because it acted weirdly on my computer. I thought I had lost all of my files... but turns out that they just became invisible, and a few weeks later we were able to locate them (after I had replaced the few that were missing). Now last week I tried opening a document that I had on my USB, but it said that it was corrupted, so I went home, uploaded a newer version, and it worked fine.

Today when I got to work I couldn't open a single file, I couldn't delete a single file, and a coworker tried his best to save the files but nothing could be done. We tried for hours to format the USB but it wouldn't work, I don't know why. Then I went home for lunch and plugged it in, and I was able to recuperate some of the files on my laptop, and then all of a sudden my computer couldn't see the USB anymore. Like it disappeared. The red light won't turn on, and now it won't work on my computer or on another computer at work, either. So it is dead. I would have liked to format it but... if my computer can't see it then that is pretty impossible.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Another busy day at work - hectic but oh so fun :)

Hello everyone! :)

I hope December is off to a good start for all of you! As I mentioned in last blogpost things at work have picked up quite a bit - and by that, I mean A LOT. So here it is: another 'day in the life of Sheila' as an intern at EMAPA Huacho.

Juan and I have known for a few weeks now that we would have a meeting this morning at 11am at the municipality (like city hall) with citizens groups to discuss bringing water and sewer systems to their area (slums in the southern part of town). Last week we were busy getting all of the required calculations done and documents completed to determine where to build a new well, how deep it would need to be, the minimum flow required, how big of a reservoir we would need to build, and how many homes we could provide service too (also included are a project hospital, school and market). Yesterday afternoon I met with the head of the slum to go over the current and projected population numbers and so that he could give me a better idea as to where each slum is located exactly and what its boundaries are. From there I had to go back into the documents we created last week and update the figures - only to realize that we had significantly underestimated the number of inhabitants, upping the budget from 6.8 million soles to 8.9 million soles (or roughly $2.6 CAD to $3.4 CAD). Woops. At least it's a good thing we doubled checked before presenting it to the municipality.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Making powerful decisions

Hello everyone,

I'd like to share with you what I've been doing at work for the past few days, because it's been quite eventful. And soon I promise to update you on my trip to Tarapoto (just need to find the time).

Two weeks ago (before I went to Tarapoto) we had a meeting at the municipality with a citizen's group from the south (where the urban expansion is) because they want water and waste water connections. We decided that we would visit them this week (on Tuesday) and have a follow-up meeting at the municipality next Tuesday (Dec. 6th). Our visit went well on Tuesday, and we told them that we would put together a preliminary budget so that when we are at the municipality we can talk about financing and who will cover what costs. So we started working on that (Juan and I). Well, Wednesday at 11am we got a call from the general manager of EMAPA saying that he wanted the information by 8am on Thursday so that he could look it over and start looking for financing from his end. Less than 24 hours! Ouf, so we kicked things into high gear. But then on Wednesday afternoon there was an emergency in the construction side: they are digging trenches to put in the plumbing for water and waste water somewhere in Huacho, and one of the electrical poles was not properly installed so it fell over and was leaning against a house. Luckily no one was injured and the electrical wires didn't break, but it could have been much more serious. So Juan spent most of Wednesday afternoon there (and I needed to talk to him to move on with my work) and he only got back at 5pm.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

My busy month of November

Hello everyone,

I'll take a few minutes to update you on my life - a bit behind schedule, but that's okay (better late than never, right?). The beginning of November was pretty quiet in my life (although quite hectic everywhere around me - see my last blogpost to find out why). But once the first weekend passed, the rhythm of things picked up quite a bit.

On Tuesday, November 8th, I successfully completed my first solo trip in Peru: nothing big, but I went to Lima alone. I was let out of work a bit earlier in the afternoon so that I could catch my bus and get to Lima before the sun went down. The trip went very smoothly: I arrived in Lima shortly after 6pm and then took the bus straight away to Miraflores (the safest, cleanest, nicest part of Lima). When I got off the coach bus I was excited to be travelling alone again; I had forgotten the rush of how it feels. I mean, I carefully researched exactly where to go so I wouldn't look lost and would be efficient with my time, but it was nice to be independent and self sufficient. SUCH A GREAT FEELING. And I felt much safer this time in Lima. Probably because I know from where to where I was going and now I am familiar with the area, so it is not as scary. Also, my Spanish is much better than when I first got here (I kept thinking back at how much time had passed since the first time I did the trip from Lima to Huacho).

Saturday, November 19, 2011

November is a month for changes

Hello everyone,

Sorry I haven't written in a while - I mean, really updated you on things. Friends have asked me for updates and guess that it has just been 'life as usual' here, so not much to update on. Or at least, nothing really concrete. But all month many things have been changing, so as I am sitting in the Lima Airport waiting for my flight to Tarapoto, I guess I'll update you on some things.

The first thing is a work. Most employees at EMAPA Huacho don't have very long or permanent contracts - they are often 1 or 3 months in duration (sometimes longer), but this means that at certain times of the year there is a high turnover or a loss in productivity while new contracts get drawn up and signed. So, at the beginning of the month, this is what happened. The 31st of October was a Monday, and then the 1st of November was a national holiday, so the beginning of the week was pretty slow (and relaxing too, we went to the movies on our day off!). But then the rest of the week was chaotic as people moved offices, or departments, or came back to EMAPA to try to negotiate their contracts, or ask for an extension.... Juan Candia, who I am working with, received quite a nice promotion: he moved from being the head of the project planning section to the manager of the entire engineering department responsible for project planning, execution, and follow-up (and the person who used to be in that role took his old role). With this new position came a new office for him, so we are no longer working side by side in the office. And rumours spread pretty quickly around the company, so by lunch I had been approached by quite a few people saying that I would no longer be working with him and that I would now be working with the new head of my section - WRONG. They all jumped to this conclusion without even knowing that Juan and I had already talked about it, and that I would continue to support him and work with all of the different departments: still completing environmental assessments for the project planning team (as well as a few other documents that they require), but now I am also focusing on the project management for the entire department, quite a big task!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Happy 137th birthday Huacho!

Hello everyone!

So today, November 10th, it is the 137th anniversary of the city of Huacho. For the past week there have been parades, music and dancing shows, a huge bingo in the central square (that lasted 8 hours - we did not last that long though), culinary festivals, and even bull fighting! And to highlight the week's festivities today there was a 'desfile', where many companies and organizations paraded down the central street (28 de Julio) and in front of the mayor and other important people from the city.

Here are a few clips from the event:


If you pay close attention you'll notice me holding the front of the banner (and slightly struggling because it was quite windy that day).

All in all, it was a fabulous day: we got out of work in the morning to go attend the desfile with many other people from the company, and then we all went for lunch together (there must have been at least 40 of us present). In the afternoon, a bunch of us went to play soccer (we usually do every Wednesday after work, but this Thursday was a special exception!). To top it all off it was warm and sunny, so you couldn't ask for a better day.

Sheila

Thursday, October 27, 2011

A day in the field: Trip to Santa Rosa

Hello everyone!

I hope this post finds you all well as October is winding down to an end! I'd like to share with you what I learned, saw, experienced, and felt yesterday when I travelled to Santa Rosa with the EMAPA crew. It was a really eye-opening trip, and definitely one of the highlights of my time here so far in Peru. You know when you just have a day that really stands out and makes you think? That's how I felt yesterday. It was a great way to celebrate the 7-week mark of my time here (as of today, I have been here for 50 days already! Times flies!).

This is someone's house.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Trip to Trujillo

Hello again, and happy Friday! I hope you are all having a wonderful week.

Last weekend I went on a wonderful trip to Trujillo with Itxel and Carlos, and I have promised to write about it to tell you all about my time up north, so here goes!

All week Itxel and I knew that we wanted to go away for the weekend somewhere. Lima perhaps? Huaraz, to go hiking in the Andes? Well, the opportunity to go to Trujillo with Carlos (one of the people that we work with at EMAPA Huacho) was presented, and we decided to jump on the opportunity. Carlos is originally from Trujillo (he has only been living in Huacho since February 2011) and he often goes home on weekends, so he invited us to go with him. His family offered to let us stay at their house so that we would feel safer, too. What a nice offer.

So on Friday after work Itxel and I went home to finish packing up our things and have a bite to eat before leaving. Carlos came to meet us around 7:45pm and we took a taxi to Huaura, a neighbouring city. From here, essentially you take a seat on a bench near the side of the road, and wait for a bus to pass by. The only road from Lima going up north is the Pan Americana Norte (Pan American highway), and it passes through both Huacho and Huaura. Busses travelling on the road will stop in Huaura if they have extra seats though. So each time a bus would pass by, we would ask the driver where they were going... and then, if they had seats for the three of us... and then, we negotiated a price (you also have the option to buy your tickets ahead of time with some travel agents). Carlos had explained to us that sometimes you find a bus right away, and sometimes it takes hours... or you might have 4 busses pass you by before one with available seats stops. What a gamble.

Monday, October 17, 2011

My work at EMAPA Huacho

So, what am I actually doing for my field placement? As most of you may know, I am currently completing an 8-month field placement in Huacho, Peru. But what else?

I am working for a local water utility, EPS EMAPA Huacho S.A., focusing on user education and on environmental assessments (EA). I am studying the feasibility of the construction of three new water purification plants, which includes writing the terms of reference, compiling baseline data and completing studies of the physical, biological, social, cultural, and economic impacts of the project. I am working directly with the head sanitation engineer to complete the three EAs required (since EMAPA is going to build three waste water treatment plants in different areas of the region), while bringing a different perspective to the analysis of the situation. As we are in a low-lying coastal area that is prone to earthquakes (there was a magnitude 4.1 earthquake here my first week, but I didn't feel it), the potential waste water treatment plants need to be able to resist to certain natural disasters. We are also analyzing the risk of toxic matter leeching into aquifers in the case of a failure with the structure. The proximity of the waste water treatment plants to human dwellings is also of concern (legislation states that it must be at least 500 m away from the closest houses, but in one city the plant may be built as near as 100-150 m away from the closest properties for lack of other land). Planting a ring of trees around the facilities has been planned to help reduce the unpleasant odours that will be released during the water treatment process. Furthermore, we are planning preventative measures to reduce the risk of mosquitoes and other insects from breeding near the treatment plants. Throughout our analysis, we must keep into consideration cost, local knowledge (for when maintenance issues arise) and general needs of the population.

Friday, October 7, 2011

My best day in Perú so far

Hello everyone, and happy Friday!

This week I would like to share with you what I did on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday afternoon I got to visit Barranca (about 40km north of here). They have just finished building a brand new waste water purification plant, and the EMAPA Huacho staff (mostly engineers and important people within the company) were invited to go for a private tour of the facility. To my surprise, this construction isn't like your typical water purification plant: it is actually a pilot project in Peru, filtering the sewage by growing lentils.

The first (of many) pools of lentils that the waste water gets cycled through

Monday, September 26, 2011

First weekend getaway: Churín

Hello again!

I hope you all had a great weekend, enjoying the last of September 2011! Ever since I met Itxel, we have been talking about travelling and experiencing the different sights that Peru has to offer during out time here in Huacho. Our first stop: a weekend trip to the mountain town of Churín, roughly 2.5 hours away by bus (only 61km past Sayán, but this part of the journey takes 1.5 hours as it is on an unpaved road = A LOT of dust to inhale!).

Churín is a quaint little town of 2,000 inhabitants, with an elevation of 2,080 metres. We lucked out because we happened to travel there during the same weekend as their biggest festival, celebrating their patron saint. Itxel and I arrived in the early afternoon to a bright blue sunny sky and warm springtime temperatures. There was a parade going on with marching bands, and tons of people in the streets. A nice couple that we met on the bus (the bus was actually a minivan) helped us find the hotel that my guide book recommended - turns out it was a new hotel, and the best one in the city! We checked in (for only $12 USD/night each) and then set off to explore the town.

Our hotel in Churín: Las Amazonas

Friday, September 23, 2011

Friday update!

Until today I did not feel like I had accomplished much since I have mostly been sitting around and waiting for paperwork to get processed, but since yesterday I am now officially a member of the 'proyectos y obras' (projects and works) department and today is my first day with them. I was FINALLY given work (yay for working with an organized engineer! - Juan Candia).

This morning first thing we went to a slum, essentially it's a place just south of the city where there is currently urban expansion, it has no running water/sewage, and it is built pretty much on a big sand dune (but tough enough to be mountain-like). Good thing there isn't a lot of rain, because I think that it would all erode. Not sure how long these houses will last. Anyways, the engineers needed to analyse the site because they're putting in water and sanitation services. Unfortunately I didn't know before going that we were going there so I was in my business shoes, but that's okay. There were TONS of mosquitoes (but they don't look like the ones at home) - they would fly in the wind and then cling to your clothes. We had to de-mosquito ourselves before leaving because it was ridiculous. Kind of happy I didn't have to stay there too long (or at least next time I go I will dress differently). But I had a great morning. After coming back to the office, I read through the  federal standards for all water sanitation procedures. I also read through an environmental assessment for a project and was providing feedback (I read the entire 24-page document and submitted quite a bit of feedback/things to improve this morning). This afternoon I will keep going over my environmental assessment recommendations with the engineer. We'll see how much I actually accomplish and what gets put into practice, but I am learning. And reading and speaking lots of Spanish :) I barely have to think anymore (even though I still make word/verb errors). But it's getting much more fluid I think (biased opinion perhaps?).

I'll try to post more later, but until then, I'm wishing you a wonderful Friday afternoon and a great weekend!
Sheila

Thursday, September 22, 2011

A day in the field: Trip to various locations around Huacho

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011, Itxel and I got the privilege to go on another field trip with the sanitation engineer Juan Candia Cuno. This time, we got to visit different regions of Huacho (the city where we are living) - but not the touristy version.

Our first stop was the port. This is a pretty busy area (and not very safe), as there are many commercial and local fishers. Since we were there in the afternoon, we got to see some of the local fisherman pulling their boats out of the water.

Typical afternoon at the port in Huacho

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Somos 100% Peruanas

How I became initiated to Peruvian culture this weekend:

1) I ate the national dish - cuy (aka guinea pig) - for the first time.

Cuy dish
To tell you the truth, it wasn't bad (I had actually been mentally preparing myself for this for quite a few months). The meat was okay, but kind of chewy and rubbery. Peruvians eat the skin of the guinea pig, but I found it much too elasticy (it was impossible to chew through!). So I can proudly say I survived my first time of eating this national dish. Will I eat it again? Most probably, since I will be living here for 8 months. Every day? Most definitely not.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

A day in the field: Trip to Sayán and Végueta

Friday, September 16th, 2011, Itxel and I headed to visit two other districts in the Huaura province, Sáyan and Végueta. They both receive water treatment services from EMAPA Huacho. Sayán is roughly a 45-minute drive inland and into the mountains, while Végueta is right on the coast, about 20 minutes north of Huacho. We spent the day visiting the two sites with an engineer from EMAPA Huacho, Juan Candia. He wanted to show us the potential locations for new waste water treatment plants in both of these locations.

From everything that I have learned so far in Huacho, this is how their water system works:
1) Pump water from the ground.
2) Inject water with chlorine gas to help clean it.
3) Pump water up to a water tower on a hill/elevated area, to insure water pressure throughout the town.
4) Water drains down into subscriber's homes/businesses using the flow of gravity (only Sayán has continuous service 24 hours/day).
5) Waste water drains by means of gravity to a central location.
6) Untreated waste water gets dumped into river (in the case of Sayán) or ocean (in the case of Végueta and Huacho).

Waste water from Sayán going straight into the River Huaura

Friday, September 16, 2011

MISTURA: The Power of Food

So I realize I didn't blog much about what I did last weekend in Lima, but this video pretty much sums up my afternoon with Justina and Peter: MISTURA


Enjoy!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

My address in Huacho!

In case you would like to send me any mail (I would only recommend letters and postcards though, since I don't think they have a mailbox so I think everything just sits outside the front door until we come home to get it):

Sheila Ball
Urbanización Las Flores
Manzana C - Lote 1
Huacho
PERU

cell phone: 51 993 824 378 (you also need to dial 011 before it to call internationally - and 51 is the country code for Peru)

I can receive calls and texts for free so I would love to hear from you!

Sheila

First official day of work in Huacho (and everything that's happened up until now)

Well hello again!

I hope you are all having a great first (or second) week of classes for those of you who are in school, and that everyone in the northern hemisphere is enjoying the arrival of fall. I for one cannot wait for spring to come - only 6 more days! - because that will mean sun and the arrival of warmth here in Huacho! I can't complain though, it is around 15-20 degrees every day, but it gets chilly at night, and as it is humid and there is no heating, there is no escaping the cold! Let me fill you in on what has happened since the last time that I wrote to you! (It feels like an eternity has passed, even though it's only been 3 days!)

Alright well Tuesday was a day full of ups and downs - I think that until now I had told myself to be strong and to carry on and not to worry too much, but Tuesday morning I woke up feeling a bit lonely and isolated. As you may have read, Monday was such a busy day and I met so many people, but I was starting to feel that I could not let my personality shine through fully and that I was much quieter than my normal self.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

My first day in Huacho

*Note: I wrote this last night but did not have access to internet, hence why I am posting it now.

My first day in Huacho – oh my goodness, I am so tired, all I want to do it to go to bed. But so much has happened today that I want to try to document as much as I can to share it with you all. As soon as I am done, I am calling it a night (and I will post this in my blog tomorrow or the day after that when I have internet access).

Well, let’s start with this morning. I was in Lima. Feels so far away now. I had originally been told I was going to be picked up sometime after 8am to go to the bus station to come to Huacho. So I set my alarm for 7am, thinking that would be enough time for breakfast and such (I packed the night before). Well, at 6:35am there is a BANG BANG BANG on my door. The owner of the hotel wakes me up and tells me that someone from WUSC called, and that I will be picked up at 7:30am instead. I should get up quickly! Well, I decide to lie in bed for another 10 minutes (obviously unable to fall asleep after such a brutal awakening) and then get up. Get ready, eat breakfast (same as usual: fruit smoothie, bread, jam, and tea), brush my teeth, take one last look around the room to make sure that I haven’t forgotten anything, and then I’m out the door. 7:35am. 7:45. 8:00. 8:10. Finally around 8:15, Isabel (a WUSC employee) shows up. Good morning Sheila! How are you? Good – but I have been awake and sitting in the hotel reception area for a while! She doesn’t understand who called the hotel or why , it was not her nor the driver (Julio). Must have been Michel (the WUSC director). Oh well. Early start.

Friday, September 9, 2011

First impressions....

  • Public transit is confusing! Best to be very assertive.
  • Everything is pretty clean (but there is quite a lot of pollution, mostly due to cars).
  • Ads on TV look like ads on Canadian TV, with different people and language, but you always know what they're selling.
  • Food is good and FRESH. Not too different and not too pricey.
  • Spanish is easy enough to understand, but I need to work on mine (mostly verb conjugation and vocabulary).
  • All WUSC Peru staff are super helpful and friendly (I can even speak to some of them in French!).
WUSC Lima staff with INDEV volunteers at lunch on September 9th, 2011. From left to right: Julio, Peter, Juany, Sheila, Justina, Michel's wife, Deua, Michel, Andrea, Michel's wife's co-worker (partially hidden), and Isabel.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Day 1 in Peru

Hello everyone!

Well, here I am, safely arrived in Peru. After a 30 minute plane delay in Ottawa, and then a 1.5 hour plane delay in Toronto (we were waiting for a part that our plane had to take to a plane in Peru - in the meanwhile our A/C failed and the entertainment system wasn't working, but at least they gave us each a glass of water), we arrived safely in Lima, Peru. I actually lucked out on the flight - there was barely anyone on it, so I took up a row of three benches in the middle of the plane and managed to get a solid 4 hours of sleep last night. Solid.

We finally pulled into Lima around 2:30 am local time (aka 3:30 am in Ottawa/Waterloo) and we were greeted by Julio (the driver from WUSC), Isabella (a WUSC staff member) and another driver from the hotel where I am staying these first few nights. Checked-in at our hotel around 3:15 am and finally got to bed at 4.

My room in Lima (the middle bed is mine). I also have a private bathroom.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

woo hooooo! Free internet in Toronto :)

A quick hello from Toronto Pearson International Airport! Arrived here safely (although my flight in from Ottawa was 15 minutes late and we had turbulence almost the entire trip). Started watching Pirates of the Caribbean 4 in the plane (I'll finish the rest of the movie on my way to Lima in a bit).

So FINALLY when we arrived at the airport in Ottawa I started to get really excited for my trip! FINALLY. Took long enough, eh? But it was nice, didn't have to wait too too long before boarding the flight either. Said goodbye to family and friends, and for once didn't cry. It's such a nice feeling, leaving with a big smile on my face, knowing that I'll see them all again before I know it, and leaving full of hope for a wonderful stay in Peru.

Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive throughout this entire process. I love you all and I will see you all again soon. I'm coming home with my bachelor's degree!

Have a wonderful 8 months while I'm gone!
Sheila

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

My bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

Well, here we are! The night before my departure. Quite honestly... it hasn't hit me yet that I'm leaving. I've had such a busy summer (mostly living out of a suitcase) that it just feels like I'm packing to go on another trip, or to go back to Waterloo. Not that I'm travelling to South America for my first time. Here's a quick run-down of the busy summer I've had:

-From May until July 25th I was in Waterloo, Ontario, completing my last semester of courses before leaving for my field placement.
-From July 25th until August 9th I was at home in Ottawa (this included trips to the cottage and a week-long visit from family who lives in Switzerland).
-From August 9th until September 4th I was away: first in Montreal, then in Europe for 3.5 weeks, then in eastern Quebec for a family reunion.
-From September 4th (at night) until September 7th (midday): at home, in Ottawa.

And then... I will be in Peru. Luckily I got most of my packing done before leaving for Europe so I just had to come home, empty my backpack, fill it back up with stuff for Peru, and get a few last-minute details sorted out (like print the email explaining who is picking us up at the airport in Lima).

Friday, August 19, 2011

Fact #81: 20 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #81: Machu Picchu was built at the behest of Pachacuti ("He Who Shakes the Earth"), the ruler of the Incan Empire, between two peaks -- Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Fact #80: 21 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #80: Hiram Bingham's missionary grandparents, the Rev. Hiram and Sybil Bingham, were among the first group of missionaries to arrive in Hawaii in 1820. Rev. Bingham was a member of the committee that founded Punahou School, which was founded in 1841 and opened in 1842. They were not there to see it: Sybil Bingham's health declined, so they returned to the States the year before the school opened.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Fact #79: 22 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #79: What do Hiram Bingham, President Obama and actors Buster Crabbe and Joan Blondell have in common? They are alumni of Punahou School on Oahu, a private, co-educational prep school in Honolulu.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Fact #77: 24 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #77: Hiram Bingham's love of adventure may have been preordained. He was born in Honolulu in 1875, more than 20 years before Hawaii became a territory.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Fact #76: 25 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #76: Some say Hiram Bingham was the model for Indiana Jones, the swashbuckling adventurer of movie fame. (Yes, but did Bingham hate snakes?)

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Fact #75: 26 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #75: Hiram Bingham was rich in many senses of the word. (He was married to an heir of the Tiffany fortune, whom he later divorced.) He had seven sons.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Fact #73: 28 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #73: President Harry Truman established the Civil Service Loyalty Review Board to show that he was not soft on communism. Hiram Bingham was a board member from 1951-53.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Fact #72: 29 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #72: Hiram Bingham served on the Civil Service Loyalty Review Board. The board was established in 1947 by President Harry Truman. From the order establishing the body: "There shall be a loyalty investigation of every person entering the civilian employment of any department or agency of the executive branch of the federal government."

Monday, August 8, 2011

Fact #70: 31 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #70: According to the Biographical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress, Hiram Bingham was "censured by the Senate in 1929 on charges of placing of a lobbyist on his payroll."

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Fact #69: 32 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #69: Hiram Bingham took the Senate seat, made vacant by the suicide of Sen. Frank B. Brandegee, and won reelection in 1926.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Fact #68: 33 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #68: Hiram Bingham was offered a U.S. Senate seat, made vacant by the suicide of Sen. Frank B. Brendegee, soon after Bingham assumed the governor's mantle.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Fact #66: 35 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #66: A decade after Hiram Bingham's expedition to Peru, he was elected lieutenant governor of Connecticut. But he had more in mind.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Fact #65: 36 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #65: Hiram Bingham's reputation apparently didn't suffer in the United States, which was helpful because he had political ambitions.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Fact #64: 37 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #64: Hiram Bingham's reputation is said to have suffered -- at least among those who criticized his methods of gathering the treasures.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Fact #73: 28 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #73: President Harry Truman established the Civil Service Loyalty Review Board to show that he was not soft on communism. Hiram Bingham was a board member from 1951-53.

Fact #63: 38 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #63: Hiram Bingham's collection of Peruvian artifacts, however, was criticized as haphazard.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Fact #62: 39 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #62: Hiram Bingham III brought back more than 5,000 artifacts from Peru on an expedition funded by National Geographic and Yale University.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Fact #61: 40 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #61: Critics say, somewhat disdainfully, that Hiram Bingham, who was a history professor, lacked the proper training to excavate Machu Picchu.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Fact #59: 42 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #59: Spain was, arguably, the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world at one time. Its coffers surely benefited from the infusion of riches from Peru.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Fact #57: 44 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #57: It's unclear why Machu Picchu was abandoned, but some say it may have been because water was scarce. (That seems unlikely, given the attention to engineering and hydrology at the site, as evidenced, partly, by the irrigation system.) Others blame the Spanish conquest.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Fact #55: 46 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #55: No one is certain exactly when Machu Picchu was built, but best guesses suggest it was some time around the mid-15th century.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Friday, July 22, 2011

Fact #53: 48 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #53: Later research showed that the remains found at Machu Picchu were not all women, and the idea that it was a sanctuary of sorts for the Virgins of the Sun was discarded.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Fact #52: 49 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #52: The Virgins of the Sun were an elite group who took a vow of chastity. They were not of noble blood, but their leader, a high priestess, was.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Fact #51: 50 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #51: The early explorers, led by Hiram Bingham, were unclear about the purpose of Machu Picchu. Remains found at the site allegedly were all women, leading some to believe it was the sanctuary of the Virgins of the Sun.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Fact #50: 51 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #50: Machu Picchu is hard to see from below. It is in a cloud forest (note to visitors: Mornings are often foggy) and has been overgrown.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Fact #49: 52 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #49: If the Spaniards failed to find Machu Picchu, perhaps it's because they were distracted by their desire for the spoils of war, which is partly what led to disagreements between Diego de Almargo and Francisco and Hernando Pizarro.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Fact #48: 53 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #48: Francisco Pizarro was killed by the son and supporters of his partner, Diego de Almargo, who had been executed by Pizarro's brother, Hernando.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Fact #47: 54 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #47: Francisco Pizarro easily took over the city of Cuzco. Two years later, he founded Lima, where he died in 1541.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Fact #45: 56 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #45: Amazingly, Francisco Pizarro's men, who numbered less than 200, overcame 4,000 or so Incans and captured Atahualpa, the Incan ruler.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Fact #44: 57 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #44: In November 1530, Francisco Pizarro and Atahualpa, the Incan ruler, were to meet in Cajamarca, an Incan city in northern Peru. Pizarro told Atahualpa to give himself to Christ and the Spaniards, and when he refused, Pizarro decided to attack.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Fact #43: 58 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #43: The governor of Panama thought the expeditions foolish, so Francisco Pizarro went to Spain to speak directly with the emperor, who said yes. Off Pizarro sailed.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Fact #42: 59 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #42: Pizarro and his partner, Diego de Almargo, and a priest, Hernando de Luque, sailed down the west coast of South America twice.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Fact #41: 60 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #41: Francisco Pizarro seems and unlikely player in that drama. He was a bit of a puzzle. Once, the explorer was marked as unambitious, but after a stint as mayor of a city named Panama (in, not surprisingly, Panama), he turned his attention to South America.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Fact #40: 61 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #40: Where once there was an Incan empire, now there was a Spanish empire that endured for 300 years.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Fact #39: 62 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #39: The conquistadors played a huge role in Peru, of course. Led by Francisco Pizarro, they claimed the land for Spain in the 1500s.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Dear 16-year-old me

Hello everyone,

I hope you have all been enjoying the sunshine and wonderful weather that we have had so far this summer :) Before you all head out to bask in the sun for hours, I think it would be worthwhile for you to watch this video:


Dear 16-year-old me talks about the risks of skin cancer and how to prevent it. It is a powerful way of telling the story, and so I would encourage you to share this with anyone you know who may be spending time in the sun.

For all of the International Developments students who are heading down south to Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, Peru, and Vietnam, this will be particularly important.

Have a great week and enjoy the summer warmth!
Sheila

Fact #38: 63 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #38: Did the Spaniards know of Machu Picchu? Hiram Bingham didn't think so. "Yet so far as I have been able to discover, there is no reference in the Spanish chronicles to Machu Picchu. It is possible that not even the conquistadors ever saw this wonderful place."

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Fact #37: 64 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #37: Hiram Bingham continued, "Surprise followed surprise until we came to the realization that we were in the midst of as wonderful ruins as any ever found in Peru."

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Fact #36: 65 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #36: And what, really, could be? Here's what Hiram Bingham wrote in Harper's Monthly in 1913 about coming upon Machu Picchu: "... Suddenly we found ourselves in the midst of a jungle-covered maze of small and large walls, the ruins of buildings made of blocks of white granite, most carefully cut and beautifully fitted together with cement."

Monday, July 4, 2011

Fact #35: 66 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #35: Hiram Bingham found Vilcabamba, but he dismissed it because it wasn't as grand as Machu Picchu.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Fact #34: 67 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #34: Today, historians think the real Vilcabamba is close to Vitcos, an archaeological site, in the eastern Andes. Another swashbuckling explorer, Gene Savoy, came upon it in 1964 at a place called Espiritu Pampa.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Fact #33: 68 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #33: Hiram Bingham thought he had found Vilcabamba, the true "Lost City of the Incas", which was said to be where the Incas took refuge from the Spaniards.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Fact #32: 69 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #32: Columbus, of course, thought he discovered Asia; Hiram Bingham thought he discovered the "Lost City of the Incas." Both were wrong.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Fact #31: 70 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #31: Here's something Hiram Bingham and Christopher Columbus have in common: both thought they had discovered some other place.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Fact #29: 72 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #29: Hiram Bingham said in his Harper's Monthly story, published in 1913, that a "local muleteer" may have been in Machu Picchu in 1902, based on scrawls he found on a wall. It seems clear that even if the Spanish didn't know it existed, others certainly did.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Fact #28: 73 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #28: Hiram Bingham may not have been the first European to find Machu Picchu. Some say it was a German named Augusto Berns who came upon it in 1867.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Fact #27: 74 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #27: Hiram Bingham didn't really discover Machu Picchu; the residents knew it was there, and a local Quechua-speaking guide, Melchor Arteaga, is said to have led him there.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Friday, June 24, 2011

Fact #25: 76 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #25: When you enter Machu Picchu, you'll see why it's been designated one of the best-preserved pre-Columbian ruins in the world.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Field placement update: travel is booked!

Hello everyone!

This week I have received quite a bit of exciting news! My plane ticket to Peru has officially been booked; I received the e-ticket confirmation today!! :) Looks like I will be leaving on Wednesday, September 7th and returning on Saturday, April 21st. I am leaving a little bit earlier than anticipated (I was originally told in March that we would leave on September 12th, but then found out that our departure would be between September 6-10 - I was hoping for the 10th). I will be travelling to Europe this summer from August 10 - September 2 to visit my little sister, Rosalie, who is currently working as a tour guide at Vimy Ridge & Beaumont-Hamel, so I was hoping to have a few more days off in between arriving from Europe and departing for Peru. Oh well! I will be tired but it will be worth it.

The lucky thing in my situation though is that I will have time to come home to Ottawa before returning to Waterloo for the mandatory 2-week de-briefing period in April! The rest of my class returns from their field placements on Sunday, April 22nd, but since I am flying back from Peru on April 21st (one day before the others) I will be able to spend the weekend at home! I am so happy about this.

Here is my travel information in case you are interested (my full travel plans + itinerary can be found on the link titled 'Itinerary' located at the top of this page):

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Flying with Air Canada:
-Depart Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport at 14:00
-Arrive Toronto Pearson International Airport at 15:00
-Depart Toronto Pearson International Airport at 17:35
-Arrive Jorge Chavez International Airport, Lima, Peru at 00:25 on Thursday, September 8th, 2011

Saturday, April 21st, 2012
Flying with Air Canada:
-Depart Jorge Chavez International Airport, Lima, Peru at 01:55
-Arrive Toronto Pearson International Airport at 11:00
-Depart Toronto Pearson International Airport at 13:10
-Arrive Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport at 14:10

So for any of you who are interested in coming to meet me at the airport upon my return ... ;)

That is all for this week, I hope you are all enjoying the beginning of the summer!
Sheila

Fact #24: 77 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #24: You can go to Machu Picchu and return to Cuzco in a day, but you'll have more of it to yourself if you plan to stay a night or two. Day trippers usually leave by 2 p.m.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Fact #23: 78 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #23: Aguas Calientes, which has grown haphazardly as tourist crowds have grown, offers accommodations, some basic and other more luxurious, and is the starting point for the ascent (by bus, if you wish) to the Incan citadel.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Fact #22: 79 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #22: The train deposits you at Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu (which you'll see spelled as Machupijchu).

Monday, June 20, 2011

Fact #21: 80 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #20: In March and April, however, train travelers have been taking a bus from the Wanchaq Station into the Cuzco area, to Ollantaytambo and then taking the train to Aguas Calientes because of maintenance projects with the line.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Fact #20: 81 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #20: Depending on the level of luxury you desire, your train trip to Machu Picchu could cost as little as $96 from Cuzco (for the Expedition train). It's $142 for the VistaDome and $668 for the Hiram Bingham (all prices in USD).

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Fact #19: 82 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #19: You have three choices of train travel to Machu Picchu: the Expedition, or backpacker train (basic), the VistaDome train (which has lots of windows, but if it's warm outside, you may feel as though you are baking in a terrarium) and the Hiram Bingham, a luxury train operated by Orient Express.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Fact #18: 83 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #18: Most visitors take the narrow-gauge train to Machu Picchu from the Cuzco area (usually departing from the Poroy station).

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Fact #17: 84 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #17: The five days' journey from Cuzco refers to hiking to Machu Picchu, which you can still do today on the Incan Trail, a three- to six-day trip that requires good stamina.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Fact #16: 85 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #16: Hiram Bingham wrote in Harper's Monthly in 1913: "It seemed almost incredible that this city [Machu Picchu], only five days' journey from Cuzco, should have remained so long undescribed and comparatively unknown."

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Fact #15: 86 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #15: Cuzco, with a population of about 300,000, is the gateway to Machu Picchu, but don't let the word "gateway" confuse you: Machu Picchu is 50 miles (80 km) beyond Cuzco near the town of Aguas Calientes, far below the Incan ruins.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Fact #14: 87 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #14: The symptoms of altitude sickness don't generally occur until you're at 8,000 feet (2,438 metres). Depending on which yardstick you use, Machu Picchu may be less than (or more). Some say it's at 7,100 feet (2,164 metres); others say 9,000 (2,743 metres). Bottom line: Cut yourself a little slack.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Fact #12: 89 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #12: Some hotels provide oxygen for visitors; others offer coca tea, and it's not unusual to find packets of coca leaves for sale. These can be chewed and are said to help relieve altitude issues. And yes, cocaine is produced from the leaves, but the amount of the alkaloid you'd ingest from the tea or chewing the leaves is small.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Fact #11: 90 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #11: Among the problems AMS can cause: headaches, shortness of breath, fatigue and/or nausea or vomiting. Consult a doctor before you go if you think you may have a problem. Symptoms usually disappear in four days, but in some cases, AMS may be fatal.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Fact #10: 91 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #10: At 11,150 feet (3,399 metres), Cuzco requires acclimation. Some people develop altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness, or AMS.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Fact #9: 92 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #9: Cuzco, sometimes spelled Cusco, means "navel" or "centre" of the Earth. It certainly was the centre of Inca civilization high in the Andes Mountains.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Fact #8: 93 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #8: Legend has it that Manco Capac, the son of the sun god, and Mama Ocllo, daughter of the moon, established the seat of what would become an empire at Cuzco in the 11th or 12th century.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Fact #7: 94 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #7: Much of what we know -- or think we know -- about the Inca society is hazy and often mixes fact with myth.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Fact #6: 95 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #6: Because the Incas had no written language system (or one that we have yet figured out), the spellings of original words vary widely. Inca, for example, may be spelled Inka, Ygna, or Inga.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Fact #5: 96 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #5: The Incas, who created incredible architecture and political systems, had no known written system of language, although some scientists suggest khipu may also have served that function.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Fact #4: 97 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #4: The Inca used khipu (spelled "quipu" in Spanish), a series of knots that functioned as sort of a counting system.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

INDEVOURS presents Roy Sesana tomorrow!

Hello everyone!

I would like to invite you all to attend INDEVOURS' first fundraising event of the year: a very special talk by Roy Sesana. Roy Sesana is a medicine man of the Gana Bushman from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana. Speaking through a translator in his native language, a part of the Khoisan family of languages most notably recognized by its characteristic clicks, Sesana speaks about land claim issues in the Kalahari between the indigenous populations, fighting to stay on their ancestral lands, and the local government. The talk is taking place at the William G. Davis Centre (DC) 1350 on the University of Waterloo campus tomorrow, Friday, June 3rd, and will commence at 7pm. There is a suggested donation of $10 that will be put towards helping us pay for our field placements.

Roy Sesana
As I mentioned last week, all 4th year International Development students (there are twenty-six of us) are coming together to organize quite a few fundraisers over the course of this semester in order to raise funds and awareness about our upcoming field placements. I am a part of the event organization committee (we also have a marketing/advertising committee, a donor relations committee, a web and social media committee, and a project reporting committee). Needless to say the past few weeks have been incredibly busy with planning the event and jumping over the hurdles that have presented themselves along the way, but I am quite excited to meet Mr. Sesana and his translator tomorrow and see our hard work come together in what I hope to be a very exciting event.

Stay tuned as we continue to plan other fundraisers over the course of the term. In the meanwhile, you can now make a donation to the INDEVOURS campaign directly! I appreciate all of your support.

Thank you so much and hope to see you tomorrow!
Sheila

Fact #3: 98 days until the start of my field placement

Fact #3: About half the population of Peru is Quechua, a South American Indian group. The group's native tongue is also called Quechua. A dialect of that language was spoken by the Incas.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Counting down 100 days until the start of my field placement

Hello everyone!

I will be leaving for my field placement on Wednesday, September 7th, which is 100 days from today (if you include the start & end dates). To celebrate this, each day I will be posting a new fact on Machu Picchu. The Los Angeles Times are celebrating 100 years since Machu Picchu's discovery by unveiling 100 facts about it, and I would love to share these interesting tidbits of information with you, so here goes!

Fact #1: At 496,218 square miles, Peru, in western South America, is the size of about three Californias. California, however, has about 8 million more residents than Peru.

I will still be writing longer posts each Thursday, but I thought this would keep you entertained as I count days the days to the start of my internship! Enjoy! :)

Sheila

p.s. Machu Picchu was actually discovered on July 24th, 1911 - but more to come on that later!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

College Conspiracy: An interesting take on education in North America

Hello,

This week I would like to share with you a video that I recently watched on YouTube. It's called "College Conspiracy":


Now while I must admit that I have not watched the entire hour-long video, I would highly recommend taking a look at the first three minutes or so. First of all, I feel that the combined voice, background sound, and graphics make this quite a captivating clip that draws viewers in. Although the producer of this video does use figures and statistics that do not necessarily represent all of the colleges in the U.S., the underlying message that I have taken away is that we are all trained (programmed, shall we say) to achieve well in school so that we can one day make it to college, and then go on to having a high-paying career. And I would agree with this statement to a certain extent.

As I am nearing the end of my undergraduate degree, I definitely feel as though there are certain things that have lacked in my education thus far (and others that have surpassed expectations, of course). When I started university, my Grandpa told me that if I learned nothing else, I would definitely learn to think this year. That, I believe, is entirely true. I learned to think. And write academic papers. But in terms of 'hard skills', I do not feel as though I possess that many. I may have learned to lay bricks on volunteer trips to Guatemala and El Salvador, but this does not mean I could go build a house on my own tomorrow. Perhaps this is because I am not in a program leading to a professional designation such as a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer. So this means that I must find my own way.

The video also talks about the rising cost of tuition and other fees (such as textbooks). Oh boy, is this ever something I know about. Since I have been in university (4 years), tuition (including ancillary fees) has risen from approx $5,000/year to approx $6,000/year. That's a $250 increase per year! This coming year, I will also be completing a field placement in Peru, and this has quite a few additional costs associated with it. To give you an idea of the money that I am trying to earn/fundraise over the next few months:

Return flight:                                 $1,500
Travel and health insurance:          $300
Vaccines:                                     $250
Living costs (incl. accomodation): $4,380
WUSC Field Placement Fee:       $3,000
Tuition:                                        $6,000
Total:                                          $15,430


Alright so my living expenses in Peru will definitely be less than those here in Waterloo (or last year when I was in Lyon), but it is still quite a hefty amount to pay when you consider that I will be unable to work during those 8 months and that I am currently in school and therefore unable to work full-time.

So this semester, we are fundraising! Our class is coming together this semester in order to fundraise to help cover the costs of our field placements. We have branded ourselves INDEVOURS (get it? INDEV for International Development and a play on the word endeavours). You can check our out blog here: INDEVOURS, or find us on facebook or on twitter. Our goal: raise $30,000 this summer (just over $1,000 per student, or less than 10% of what our field placement will cost). Will you help us?

I'll keep you posted with upcoming events and the progress that INDEVOURS is making. Have a great week!

Sheila

Thursday, May 19, 2011

A special evening with former Governor General Michaëlle Jean

Hello everyone,

Last Thursday I had the privilege to attend quite a special event here on campus at the University of Waterloo. The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean came to campus to give the 2011 Stanley Knowles Humanitarian Service Lecture, and beforehand there was a special, Haïtian-flavoured dinner organized for seventy or so people. Four International Development students were invited to attend the dinner at the University Club, and I was a part of that group.

We were asked to arrive a little bit early to get some group pictures in and help with the set-up for the reception and dinner. Two of us were to greet the guests as they arrived, and the other two were to mill around and strike up conversation with the other attendees (mostly faculty in Environment or INDEV, people from RBC, and other major donors). I was quite excited to volunteer myself to mingle with the guests as we all waited for Mme Jean to arrive. The evening brought back memories from summers working at Rideau Hall.

For two summers, I worked as a guide/interpreter at Rideau Hall (in Ottawa), the official workplace and residence of the Governor General of Canada. This was during the time of Mme Jean's mandate, so I have already met her on a few occasions and had the chance to attend quite a few events where she presented awards and gave speeches. One of the most valuable skills I learned during my time at Rideau Hall was how to feel comfortable in a room full of strangers, enter into conversation and remain professional. At Rideau Hall, we occasionally had events of 200+ people, and my job as a guide would be to talk with the guests, tell them a little bit about the history, art or architecture of the room they were in, and just have general conversation. Let me tell you that it is much easier said than done! The first major event that I worked was the closing ceremony for the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference. With a little bit of help from our coordinators, we learned to introduce ourselves to people who were deep in conversation and integrate ourselves into their groups. Nerve-wracking to begin with, but after a while you pick up some tricks and a lot of courage.

The evening last week felt oddly familiar. As guests began to arrive, I would walk up to clusters, introduce myself, and then tell them a little bit about my studies, the International Development program, or just join into whatever discussion they were having. This allowed me to meet many faculty members, high-ranking university officials and other guests of the university that were eagerly awaiting to meet Mme Jean.

When Mme Jean arrived, she went around from group to group to say a quick hello and take pictures with them. The International Development students present had the opportunity to take a picture with her as well:

From left to right: Sarah Voegeli (INDEV student), Feridun Hamdullahpur (6th president of the University of Waterloo), Dana Vanthof (INDEV student), the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Sheila Ball (INDEV student), Eric Christensen (INDEV student).
We also got a picture taken with the rest of the International Development staff:

From left to right: Larry Swatuk (INDEV Program Director), Dana Vanthof, Eric Christensen, Sarah Voegeli, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Sheila Ball, Gráinne Ryder (INDEV Field Placement and Language Program Coordinator), Bruce Frayne (INDEV Professor).
It was very nice to meet with Mme Jean again. I have always found her to be a positive, energetic and caring person, even though she has an incredibly busy schedule (she was in Dubai the day before her talk at Waterloo, and was leaving for Haïti the following day). In the talk she gave that night, it was incredibly well tailored to her audience. She spoke directly to the International Development students to give us words of strength and encouragement, and to remind us not to do 'for' but to do 'with'. She spoke about youth engagement, the evolution of humanitarianism, its strengths and shortfalls, and about her role as the UNESCO Special Envoy to Haïti.

Hearing her speak gives me hope for the future: I often get told that I am too optimistic or that my energy will soon fade when I head out into the 'real world', I see people becoming jaded or cynical about their ability to make a difference and have doubts in others. While I recognize that not everything is perfect and that it may never be, the fact that Mme Jean still has the enthusiasm and energy to do what she does gives me faith that if I continue to stay positive and to do what I can, no one will be able to bring me down and that I will leave my mark on the world, whatever that may be. And that is a great gift to be able to give to others.

Don't let the fire inside of you get put out by others. That is what I took away from that night. Not because it was explicitly stated, but because actions speak louder than words. And hers were ringing loud and clear.

Have a great week!
Sheila

[to read more about the event, follow this link: Investment not aid: Michaëlle Jean calls on young Canadians to champion inclusive international development.]

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Crossroad of cultures

Hello!

This week's post is based on the words "Crossroad of cultures" that can be seen on this advertisement for Peru (this is the last advertisement in the series):


A crossroad of cultures, in my opinion, is a great way of describing much of the state of the world right now. If I take myself, for example, my background is a crossroad of cultures: I am half French-Canadian, half English-Canadian, and so I proudly speak both French and English at home (and Spanish when I travel). In September when I arrive in Peru, I will bring with me my Canadian culture, mixed in with some habits I may have picked up while living in France last year, and learn to adapt to a whole new Peruvian way of life. I will be living amongst people who may be descendants from the Incas, Spanish, Japanese, or any other group of people who have moved to Peru to make it their home.

I think that when you are at a crossroad, you often have the choice with which path you want to go down. The easy, straight road? The one with the dark cloud looming ahead? The curvy twisty up and down path? There are endless possibilities... I am looking forward to embracing this eight-month internship experience with open arms. I know that things will be different; this does not mean that they are better/worse. I will have the opportunity to share my culture, language and traditions with others, and cannot wait to learn more about them as well.

I think that this advertisement describes the direction in which the world is shifting: you have people travelling and moving from area to area (covering much greater distances in a much shorter period of time than before), and settling down in unfamiliar territory. When tourists come to Peru, they get to experience the sights and culture, a different language (Peru has two official languages: Spanish and Quechua), .... the list goes on and on.

How do you approach crossroads when you are presented with a challenge? Or with an unknown outcome? I'd love to hear your stories!

Have a great week!
Sheila

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Lay out your own path

Happy Thursday everyone!

When you think of the phrase "Lay our your own path", what does that mean to you? Check out this week's add promoting travel to Peru: 


I have spent some time reflecting on the quote in this week's Peruvian ad and I have had quite a few different thoughts about it. I think that laying out your own path means doing what you want. Last week I wrote about "daring to imagine more", and I think that laying out your own path is the next step in the process to freedom and independence. It means choosing which direction you want to lead your life in, not following the direction that someone else has laid out for you. But more than that, it also means undertaking the steps to figure out which decisions need to be made and when, and not relying on other people to hold your hand and help you down this crazy path called life. Society may dictate how certain things should be done, but you ultimately have the power to decide what (and how) you are going to do things. This is not to say that we should all go against everything that has already been established - not at all. But it means that if you want to wear red or black (or any other colour) at your wedding instead of white, go ahead and do it! And if you want to travel the world and believe that that is how you are going to make a difference, but having an impact on people's lives one smile at a time, then all the power to you.

Until next week, have a great one!
Sheila

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Dare to imagine more!

Hello again!

This week's post is again based on one of the new tourism adds for Peru. This one features a picture of Machu Picchu with the caption "Dare to imagine more!":


These words really resonate with me when I read them. "Dare to imagine more" translates to me like "push you limits", "there are no boundaries", "think big", etc.... And I feel like I've been daring to imagine more for a long time. I have definitely been imagining ways to allow me to travel more (e.g. volunteer trips, academic exchange year, my internship in Peru), and I already have plans to apply to do my master's degree in Europe once I complete my undergraduate degree.

But I would also like to imagine a world where there are no norms or no 'right' ways to do things, where you don't take no for an answer and where you follow your heart. A world where money is not always the bottom line, because oftentimes I feel as though that it the only thing people care about.

This week I dare you to imagine your life the way you want it to be, not the way you feel it should. I dare you to stand up and take a stand for something you believe in, or to imagine more out of a relationship that you have, or to try something completely new. Remember a few weeks ago I talked about stepping outside of your comfort zone? Allow your dreams to step outside of your comfort zone, and pretty soon your heart, mind, and body will follow.

Have a great week!
Sheila

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Infinite Talent

Hello, and welcome back!
Now that the Winter 2011 semester is over I can breathe a little more easily. I am still quite exhausted but happy to have it all over with. What I thought would be one of my easiest semesters yet turned out to be one of the busiest, but everything worked out well in the end and I achieved some of my highest marks in university yet!

The next few posts I'll be making will be inspired by the ad campaign for Peru. This advertisement shows someone stitching a beautiful pattern, with the words "infinite talent" written next to it:


I think that these two words are very important to highlight and to keep in mind as we go about our day-to-day business. I think that all too often people feel that they aren't smart enough, or aren't athletic enough, or... Instead, we should recognize that each of us has many talents; this can include knowing how to cook a delicious meal, being able to design clothes or jewelry, or playing a musical instrument. I think that each individual has an infinite amount of talent within them, we just have to learn how to harness our potential and put it towards something that is meaningful and brings us happiness.

So I'd like to leave that with you this week. What makes you special? What are your passions?

Have a great week!
Sheila

Thursday, April 14, 2011

It's crunch time!

Hello everyone!

Sorry to disappoint but there won't be much to this week's blogpost! I am in the middle of studying for exams (well, I only have one, really), but also packing up my room to move back to Ottawa in a few days. It will all be over very shortly but unfortunately I won't have the chance to write you a nice long message this week.

As promised, here is another picture of the new brand for Peru. These are some souvenirs that you can purchase throughout the country:


Let me know if you want me to pick you up anything while I'm away! Have a great week!
Sheila

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Step outside of your comfort zone

Hello!

Happy (sunny) Thursday afternoon everyone! I hope this first week of April has gone well for you, even though here in Waterloo the weather cannot make up its mind (snow one day, rain the next, and so on). I am currently on the train on my way home to Ottawa for a few days and thought that now would be a great time to invite you to try something new and to step outside of your comfort zone.

I'd like to share a game I played when I was volunteering in Arizona in July 2007 with you. One morning, our facilitators, Erin and Long, drew three circles into the gravel outside out bunkhouses. There was a big circle, with a small circle inside it, and an even smaller circle inside it (kind of like a bull's eye). The activity was simple; our facilitators would say a statement, and then we would have to choose if this made us feel in our comfort zone (biggest, outside circle), our challenge zone (middle circle), or our danger zone (smaller, inner circle). We then had to step into the corresponding circle. After everyone had made their choice, we would step outside of all of the circles, and Erin and Long would ask us another question. The statements they made started out pretty easy, such as "go for a walk" or "phone a friend". But as the game went on, the statements got trickier and made you think a little more, such as "hug a homeless person" or "live in a slum for a day". [One girl was terrified of bananas, so they asked us how eating a banana made us feel, and this girl stepped into the danger zone while the rest of us stayed in our comfort zones.] At the end of the activity the point was to identify things that made us a little uncomfortable or push our limits. Our facilitators challenged us do one thing per day that is outside of our comfort zones, like taking a different route home from school/work, striking up a conversation with a stranger, or tasting a new food.

I've been thinking back to this day a lot recently and trying to prepare myself for all of the new experiences I will be living in 5 months when I begin my internship in Huacho, Peru. In case you didn't know, guinea pig is the national dish in Peru, and considered to be quite a special meal, so I have been mentally preparing myself to eat this when I travel to Peru next year. A few weeks ago I also realized that for the first time in my life I might have to wash my own clothes by hand (or maybe someone else will do it?). I don't know if there are laundromats or washing machines where I will be going, and so I am trying to accustom myself to the fact that I may need to take on this new responsibility. Since there is a shortage of water in the area where I am going (people only have running water 6-12 hours per day), I may also be required to shower less frequently (or at least for a much shorter amount of time). And these are only the obstacles I can think of! I am sure that I will discover many more different and interesting things when I move to Peru in a few short months. I figure that as long as I am open-minded and prepared to try new things that hopefully things should go alright!

I'd like to invite you to share things that make you feel outside of your comfort zone, and try to do one thing that scares you or challenges you per day. What will that thing be for you?

Until next week, hope you have a good one!
Sheila

ps - here is another one of the new advertisement pictures to come visit Peru:

Thursday, March 31, 2011

The end of yet another semester

Hello everyone!

I hope you are all doing well. For those still in school, congratulations on almost being done another semester - one last push. As we come to the end of the month and of the Winter 2011 term, I think it's nice to look back on things that have been accomplished and new projects on the go.

March 2011 was an exciting month for me! First of all, I heard back from one of the scholarships that I'd applied for and found out that I have been chosen as a recipient! I am one of the proud winner of Export Development Canada's International Business scholarship for 2011, a value of $3,000! That will help me pay for a chunk of my field placement next year. I've also applied for quite a few more scholarships, and my cohort is currently brainstorming fundraising ideas that we will carry through and implement during the spring/summer semester, so stay tuned!

School has also been going very well - I only have one take-home exam and one final exam left before the end of the term, but classes are now done for me. It feels pretty good. Somehow throughout my university career I've managed to increase my average almost every semester, which is a good trend to continue I guess! I'm looking forward to the coming spring semester where I will have a much lighter course load (only 3 classes). This will give me more time to work as a first aid instructor (and I'm also looking for more part-time work). I will also be trip planning for the month of August, so exciting times are ahead!

I'll leave you here with the first (of many) new advertisements promoting tourism in Peru:


Feel free to leave me your comments and thoughts on their new branding! What do you think? Does it catch your eye? Don't forget to come back next week to see another one of their marketing posters!

Have a great week!

Sheila

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Re-branding PERU

Good afternoon!

I hope you are all doing well and that you've enjoyed the first few days of spring. For those of you who are out of town, just to let you know that Waterloo (where I am currently living) has been dumped on with snow. About 2 feet of snow have fallen in the past 24 hours, whereas we had had green grass for over a week! Quite a change of scenery. I for one am not complaining though; I think that snowy white sceneries are gorgeous, I just wish the weather would make up its mind. Pick one: winter or spring/summer. Not both.

Anyways, seeing as I don't have much to report to you this week on changes in my life (school, homework, sleep, repeat), I'll be talking about the re-branding of Peru! What's that you might ask? Well a few weeks ago a friend informed me that the tourism office of Peru has recently re-branded their entire image. Below is a sample of the drastic changes that have been made. The old version is on the left, and the new version is on the right:


Quite a change, isn't it? The tourism office has even had its very own font designed that it will use in all official publications. If you want a complete look at their new website, you can follow this link: http://www.peru.travel/en/ I'm assuming that this new branding scheme will be in full effect by the time I arrive in late August or early September, but I'll report back to you on that one!

I find this re-branding quite interesting, actually. In my Marketing and Communication class we have been discussing how to make yourself stand out among the 'noise' and make yourself heard so that you can draw people in. This is especially important in international development, where non-governmental organizations and charities are constantly on the look-out for donor funding and support. I guess tourism bureaus face similar challenges, especially when large world events such as economic recessions/depressions occur. They are constantly looking for new ways to draw people in and entice them to come visit their culture, landscapes, and heritage. Here is the new publicity video to incite viewers to visit Peru (it is in Spanish, but worth watching for the pictures and music):


After watching the video I am so excited to be travelling to Peru in the near future, and can't want to discover all that is has to offer. Hopefully you'll do the same sometime soon (you can even come visit me!).

What do you think of the new branding image? Better/worse/indifferent? I'd love to hear your opinion. In the following weeks I'll be posting one of the new ads/slogans to visit Peru in each blogpost. Make sure you keep reading so you don't miss any! Have a great week!

Sheila

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Sand dams

Hello!

As I mentioned last week, this post is dedicated to telling you about a new technology that I have been learning about this semester called sand dams (http://www.sanddam.org/). Sand dams are a new, up and coming technology that can be used in drought-prone regions or places where harnessing and storing water is difficult. The construction of sand dams helps in recharging aquifers (or ground water) so that wells and hand pumps in the area can extract water from the ground. Here is a picture of what a sand dam looks like:


Sand dams are dams that are built across seasonally dry river beds. The area must be appropriately selected, preferably with large boulders or rocks on either side of the river beds to serve as supports for the dam. Initially, you build a dam that is only a few feet high. When it rains, some of the water will be retained to form a reservoir. More importantly though, all of the sediment that is being carried by the rainwater will be blocked from continuing downstream from the dam. As the sediment builds up, water will continue to flow over the dam. The dam is only supposed to affect a maximum of 10% of streamflow so that communities downstream can continue to use the water for sanitary and irrigation purposes. The following year, another addition to the sand dam is made to make it a little bit higher. When the river floods again, some of the water will remain in the area, sediment will build up, and more water will flow over the dam. The idea here is to create a reservoir and give the water the chance to be absorbed into the ground to recharge the aquifer. The picture below gives you an idea of how a sand dam is built: