October Regional Meeting

October 21-24, 2019

Twice yearly, roughly a couple months after a new cohort begins service, the Peace Corps staff host Regional Meeting (RM). Ostensibly, it serves to reconnect volunteers in the field with what's going on in the office, providing volunteers with news and a chance to voice concerns. There are also optional language reinforcement classes.

In a way though, it's very much a mandatory vacation.

The night before, I was woken periodically by a downpour of rain from a passing storm. I knew what this would do, I had to deal with the consequences before.

As I walked out of Lado Oeste, I found myself a nice walking stick. I made it to the river which was elevated due to the rain. Terrestrial signs showed that the river had flown over the embankment last night. Suddenly, a wild Cutilio appeared. I asked him if he thought it was safe to cross and he said yes. He also reported that a woman had recently cut straight across.

I lifted up my backpack and tied my kra around the top so it wouldn't get wet in the river. Being set, I gripped my walking stick and stepped into the river. Cutilio asked if I needed help crossing, but my famous last words would have been along the lines of "Nah, I got this."

The drop off came quickly, after a few steps I was already waist deep. A couple of steps further and the water reached just below my chest. I held firm, but found I had trouble advancing. I held to my trusty walking stick which vibrated in the current. On the river bed, rocks under the direction of the current attempted to dislodge my feet. It was at this moment I noticed my pockets flowing in the current, with my wallet still inside. My phone was in my other pocket...

Eventually I got myself to advance forward. Fortunately, I had been at the deepest portion and soon the water dropped below my waist and I was on the other side.

I took out my phone which had begun malfunctioning through the ordeal. I removed the battery as the phone was overheating, on top of excessively vibrating and flashing its light.

I waved to Cutilio who took his leave back home. Resting my trusty walking stick along the riverbank, I continued along the trail. There two elderly women approached from the opposite direction. I gave a hearty kuin dekä, but seeing that I was soaked from the chest down they chuckled.

"Cruzaste solo?"

"Sí...?"

They gave off another laugh. "Acabamos de ver a tu amigo que también había cruzado el río solo y pensamos que [tú] no podías hacer lo mismo porque no eres tan fuerte."

I thanked them for the confidence boost before they, presumably, put me to shame crossing the river.

I met up with other volunteers in Curva del Río. There, Sean and I related over the our river crossing ordeal. Later in the day I would pay for a fonda meal with wet dollar bills.

Fortunately, the regional meeting was being held in Changuinola where I was eventually able to purchase a new phone, though $100 can be a lot on a Peace Corps budget. My old phone could not be salvaged.

Meetings

Before our meeting with staff, we as WASH members had a meeting set up with the Regional Health Coordinator of the Ministerio de Salud (MINSA). There we introduced ourselves and got to learn more about MINSA's work and how we might be able to coordinate with MINSA; through the regional office or via the smaller health posts and centers.

After that, staff meetings were held over the next 2-3 days for a few hours each day. Outside of that, were a couple of hours of Ngäbere language reinforcement where those of us who attended received numerous materials for self-study.

Counting in Ngäbere is a little complicated

Hotel

Staying in a hotel was a dramatic change from the campo. There was air conditioning, the beds were slightly more comfortable, there was running water and electricity, as well as a flush toilet. But above all, there was a hot shower. The water pressure was really high, but that was probably for the best as we all could have used a power wash.

Being a city, there were some super markets where you could buy cookies (of the Latin American variety) and other sweets. I'm a fan of Mamut myself, as well as the Arcoiris/Sponch! cookies. There were also fruit and vegetable stands where you could purchase those items that were uncommon in the region like mangoes, papayas, and avocados.

Above all though, most time went to reconnecting with other volunteers (in the region) as well as meeting those volunteers who hailed from older groups and other sectors.