Cordillera Tunari and Adobe Kitchen Stoves

The last trip I took out to Cocapata was almost a failure, i.e.,  we almost had to turn around because a snow drift blocked the way.

Fortunately there are two ways to reach Cocapata, so we turned around and drove towards the route that passes by a the construction of a dam. The road by the dam is a little more dangerous than the other route because of the potato trucks and increased amount of moisture that causes potholes and ruts. Part of the dam route is only wide enough for one vehicle, and there are few areas wide enough to allow vehicles to pass.

We had to backtrack a couple miles to reach the split in the road in order to take the dam route. We are around 14,000ft above sea level in this photo. 

Construction of the Misicuni dam has been going on for the past 30 years or so; corruption and failure by contracters has resulted in the delay. The road we were on provides a great view of the front and back of the dam. Unfortunately, I won't see the end of the construction. 

We arrived in Totorani in the afternoon for a quick meeting with the agriculture association about the construction of effecient adobe stoves, and then we began the first part of the construction process. The efficient adobe stoves will reduce the amount of wood used to cook the food (wood is already a limited resource in the high Andes while cutting down more trees promotes soil erosion). The main wood burning adobe stove that the residents in rural communities utilize don't have chimneys and expose an excessive amount of flames. Breathing  an excessive amount of smoke during food preperation is common and disproportionately effects the female population. Many children are vulnerable to fire related injuries due to the  proximity the original adobe stove is to the floor.

The first part in the process is building the base on which the stove will sit, the original inefficient adobe still will need to be removed if the family wishes to build in the same spot. The base prevents the need to bend over to stir, reach, handle, etc. the food.

The base of the stove can be built many different ways, German decided to build his using a left over piece of metal. Storage space for firewood is available below. 

The smoke damage is very noticable on the walls of this kitchen. 

Another kitchen stove base. 

This is a hole from the inside of the house to the outside that will serve has a passageway for the smoke. The chimney will be made out of adobe bricks with a circular hole in the middle.

The rebar is used to support the adobe that will be placed on top. The mud around the rear and the base is a mixture of clay, cow or donkey manure, cactus juice, and sifted soil. 

The cactus needed to be peeled and chopped then soaked in water for a minimum of 24 hours. The liquid excreted from the cactus will be used to strengthen the mud mixture, making it stickier and resistent to heat.

German is putting the finishing touches on the stovetop. The gold colored metal square will be used as a small oven. 

The finished product. The size of the firewood entrance hole will be reduced with more adobe. The holes for the pots were constructed with their own pots in order to have the best combustion. 

Another cookstove made from a different color of clay. The chimney is located in the exterior of the building.

The adobe cookstoves will help promote the organizations commitment to sustainable development. The reduced amount of firewood needed to cook food with decrease the amount of time needed to collect firewood, which will lead to more time dedicated to another task! This project has been very rewarding and for me, the project is comparable with the irrigation system I helped put in upon my arrival. 

A vicuña running through the snow. 

A herd of vicuñas. This is the normal size of a herd. Vicuñas stay in a certain area throughout their lives. They are only used for their coat and cannot be legally domesticated in Bolivia. The coat of the vicuña is considered the finest amoung cameloids. 

A snowy view of Huaripucara. 

Cordillera Tunari!

Keeping Calm

I am sitting in the work space at a local Cochabamba cafe trying to think about the next steps I will take in life. The thoughts come slowly, but processing them in a methodical manner is off the table. There seems to be no way to compartmentalize what will happen in the next few months, things are up in the air...again (wait, isn't that always the case, trying to find rhythm in chaos). One thing that stabilizes mode is my relationship to my girlfriend of almost two months; something lovely, wonderful is going on here, ya know that hard to describe love stuff, eso esta pasando.

Work problems seem to be a theme that I have used in my past blogs; being part of a new program in a new country tends to feed this perceived mess, combined with uncharted territory into feelings that I have yet experienced.

After the move from living in the country in the community of Totorani to a more permanent living situation in Cochabamba, I began to form a community in Cochabamba. I was very happy for the opportunity to have more time to explore the city and be closer to a population that is more similar to my population back home. I enjoyed the peaceful, simple life that living in the country offered, but I found it difficult to assimilate to the lack of social life, my perception of the lack of social life. Like I said before, I initially left Totorani due to political strife the family I was living with received due to my residence in their house, not an easy situation to resolve. So I left, but I also made several return trips to help my co-worker with trainings. I was able to manage my schedule of being in the city three weeks and then spends two weeks in the country.  Little by little this way of working was breaking down my flexibility and my ability to perform the work that I came to Bolivia to "accomplish". I eventually came to a fork in the road, continue to promote the project in the country while taking shots at my mental stability or start the search for a stable life in the city for the remaining 3 months I have left in Bolivia.

I decided to start the process in transitioning from my work in the country to work in the city. I have yet to see what that will look like, so I am still going through a stressful time of transition. Luckily I have friends to help me through the situation along with the Dude up the sky and maybe a little rap music.

Continually trying to be in the moment while my end date approaches has me repeating a mantra, "This. Here. Now.", and always reminding myself that keeping calm in the midst of change is a must. I sign off.