Rain, Rain and More Rain

The nights are no longer quiet in Jocos. The static silence is now broken by the chatter of rain. The clouds started moving in around the end of September and before the first of October it was raining every night. Now it rains every afternoon and through the night. Green is oozing through the valley like spilled paint, redecorating the dusty brown in new color. Perhaps the spreading green is why they call this time Spring. It certainly has nothing to do with warmer temperatures - the rains bring with them chilly days and chillier nights. And thunder. Rumbling, grumbling thunder. Biblical thunder. It comes from out of nowhere, rolling around overhead and away, jumping from fluffy cloud to white growling as it goes, until finally herding them all into a dark, swirling mass the color of the ancient´s sins. Okay, maybe I´m being a bit overly poetic, but thunderstorms have always sparked a rumbling, echoing energy in me.

The rains also bring with them tarantulas - HUGE hairy, black, orange-kneed, stringer wielding tarantulas. I live in constant fear that I´ll find one in my bed or under my chair.

I think I´m finally falling in love with Jocos. Or maybe I´m learning to love the bit of Jocos in me. Thats more likely. Either way, my guard is coming down. I catch myself in unguarded moments showing new sides of myself. The giggly Kellie, the cranky-before-she´s-had-breakfast Kellie, the daydreamy Kellie, the do-a-little-dance Kellie (sarcastic Kellie still has to be kept quiet as sarcasm doesn´t translate particullarly well). These glimpses are invite-only (Doña Paulina and family and my friends at the health post are the only ticket holders) but even that is an improvement. The majority of the time I´m the same Kellie I was 6 months ago, but every once in a while. . .

Like a lot of Peace Corps Volunteers, I have discovered one of my best friends here is not someone my ageor gender, but rather, in my case, a 12 year old boy. I´ve taken to spending a fair amount of timewith Caesar. Wesit on the big rock outside his house and watch the goings-on in the plaza. We talk about things like the States, our families, and English. Young bodieswith old souls are not uncommon here. In many respect, children grow up much faster here - life demands it. Often, children as young as 6 or 7 are put in charge of their younger, even infantil, siblings and are almost alwaysin charge of the livestock. In Ceaser´s case, he is often left for days on end to tend the family store while his parents and older brother head to their furthest field (a 4 hour hike away). And he does it. He gets himself to school, cooks and cleans for himself and never strays far from the store in case a customer should happen by. He is a gentle soul - intelligent, curious, accepting, and patient. He seems content with life yet aware of a larger world. It is in his eyes, and the eyes of those like him, that I see a spark of what my presence here might ultimately mean - an awareness of possibility, of similarity, of the connections of humanity.

My project in Shocorco (the roof for the school kitchen) is moving right along. We should have it done around the first part of November. I´ve said it before and I´ll say it again - I love Shocorco! They are so motivated and forward thinking. They show up to meetings and bring ideas of their own. After the roof is finished we´ll be doing a beekeeping project and latrines.