La gente nos cuida

This is Alex writing this from Lauren's account.

For our final community analysis meeting Alex changed the lyrics of one of his songs and played it in appreciation of all the support we have received in our first three months in San Juanito. I'll do Spanish and English.

Cuando llegamos aqui
No sabiamos nada
Ni como usar in machete
Estabamos perdido en la selva
Pero la gente nos cuido
Nos cuido bien
Es por ellos estamos feliz
A veces andamos en los senderos
A veces andamos en bus
A veces andamos a su finca
Pero siempre encontramos con sonrisa
Y la gente nos cuido
Nos cuido bien
Es por ellos estamos feliz
Anacleto como guia
Irenes y la familia
Raul como cordinador de la casita anexo
Benigno construyo la ventana
Guadalupe a la granja
Abuelo Cholo quiere mas cafe
Muchas gracias

When we arrived here
We didn't know anything
Not even how to use a machete
We were lost in the jungle
But the people cared for us
Cared for us well
It is because of them we are happy
Sometimes we go on the trails
Sometimes we go in a bus
Sometimes we go to your farm
But we always find a smile
And the people cared for us
Cared for us well
It it because of them we are happy
Anacleto as a guide
Irenes and the family
Raul as the coordinator of the house annex
Benigno built the window
Guadalupe at the farm
Grandpa Hillbilly wants more coffee
Thanks very much

It was a pretty big hit. As proof of Alex's words Cleto then sang a beautiful decima of welcome to Cuerpo de Paz that he wrote especially for the meeting. As if you needed more proof that la gente nos cuido bien here is a copy of the bill we drew up for the house annex project.

Our cash expenses = $272
Value of donated materials = $73
Number of organized work groups = 5
Number of unofficial work groups = 3
Number of workdays accrued = 48
Cash equivalent of labor = $480
Total value of all donations = $557

The result is a fantastic new room with three beautiful windows, a lovely smooth floor, a zinc roof to keep us dry, and fine mud walls to keep the scary night out.

Sometimes we wonder who are the true volunteers?

Regardless, you can see the people care for us well.