Down with tha Cochabambinos

There's so much to like about Cochabamba. Firstly, despite being a city, it really doesn't seem like one. Everything we need is a few blocks walk away, and there's a nice sense of community. Then there's the climate - we have just entered autumn, and the leaves are falling, yet everyday the sun shines from start to finish, and it's warm enough to wear shorts and vest. The people are friendly and there is a strong presence of indigenous campesinos who have migrated here from the countryside, or who travel here daily to sell their wares. The city sits nestled in a valley surrounded by impressive green hills, with old Christy keeping watch above.

I began a placement with a local environmental education organisation called Gaia Pacha, and Colette has been working for an orphanage for mentally handicapped children. I have been working on two main projects; the creation of a package of environmental education activities and games for local school children, and the creation of a 'sensory' garden for the youth at a centre for blind children/youth. The latter has been the more challenging of the two. I've been teaching two sessions per week with my group of five students. Usually, I can get by with my combination of bad spanish and hand signals, but obviously in this case the hand signals don't go very far. It's been vey enjoyable though, and together we've managed to transform a corner of scrap land at the centre into a lovely garden, complete with lot's of touchy-feely plants, smelly herbs and flowers, and even a few veggies.

I've also been giving some presentations. Gaia Pacha invited me to give one about my experiences in environmental education. It was to be my first presentation in spanish, and quite frankly I was shitting myself. But in the end, it went well. I dedicated about half of it to the amazing Camp for Climate Action, and the audiance seemed pretty impressed by the organisation and determination of the growing movement of climate change activism. A few weeks later, I gave another at a climate change afternoon I organised at our house, this time focussing on recent developments in climate change and a more detailed look at climate camp, running through the whole process of last year's camp at Kingsnorth. At least three people came to ask me for contact details for the camps due to take place in their countries this year, which was pleasing. This has definately been a big step forward for my presentation giving confidence - as many of my friends know, giving presentations has always been a fear of mine. But I'll always remember the vital tip from that seminal text 'How to give successful presentations' - "Never wear an ostentatious belt buckle while giving a presentation, as this could be seen as a ploy to direct the audiences' attention away from your face". This is truly the key. (Thanks again for that one Pinsey!!!).

I've also been involved in the translation of script for the creation of English subtitles for a locally made film about climate change and it's affects on the people of Bolivia. This was both fascinating and sad, hearing first hand how poor, mountain communities are struggling to hold it together in the face of the climatic change which they have done the least to create.

Just by chance, my birthday fell on the first friday of the month, which meant that it was the Q'owa; a ritual that is part of the millennial Andean tradition of Bolivia. Today it is practiced in the valleys and in the eastern part of Bolivia. It involves the presentation of gifts to Pacha Mamma (mother nature in the native Quechua language) including the burning of coca leaves and the the consumption of Chicha - an alcoholic drink made from fermented corn. Small amounts of the drink are poured onto the ground for her to absorb. This offering is given with the purpose of receiving protection and blessing from the gods. It is a reciprocal process; the people nourish Pachamama and she protects them and helps with families, work, and business. On the first friday, the air of the city is full of smoke from people making offerings from the front door steps of their homes and shops, and there's a really nice vibe around the place. There was a bonfire, and a local band, but unfortunately we missed the 'burning of the llama feotus'. Shame.

The day after, we went to the annual Cochabamba fair. It was the strangest fair I've ever been to. It had all the usuals - candy floss, hot drinks, fair rides, but then it also seemed to double up as a huge commercial fair, with whole areas dedicated to the sale of new tractors and the latest in dentist chair design. In fact there werte two dentist chair strongholds, and we tried out some superb new models, which were slightly more exciting than the rides on offer.

Next week I should be doing another radio interview, and hopefully I'll also be going on a trip with 'Energetica', an organisation that fits solar panels for the small mountain communites not reached by the energy grid. So, we've been keeping busy here in Cochabamba, and have made many good friends and acquaintances along the way. It's nice to feel a part of the community again, and I'll be a little sad when we move on in a week or so. But then again, I am getting the itch again, and the promise of new adventure is beginning to bubble once more.