Arriving in Calteca
After our short acclimation into Bolivia and it’s altitude, we left Copacabana for Calteca, where we would be working on a water project for the week. The village was 4 hours back towards the airport and another 2 – 2 1/2 hours beyond that. Needless to say, we had had our fill of the bus, but our day was far from over.
Having been to 2 other Choice expeditions, I still don’t think there is anything that can prepare you for a village welcome ceremony. It is a type of sensory overload you only experience as you are thrown headfirst into a new culture, with no boundaries.
Crowd of Villagers to Welcome the Expedition Group
Music Filled the Air
Flower Petal Blessing
Flower Petal “Attack”
We were met by hundreds of villagers. We later learned they had come from one large municipality made up of about 48 different villages.
Many villagers had made this pilgrimage on Easter Sunday, which was a big sacrifice for them, especially because we were only working in one village during our time there. But, it was more about the hope that was coming to their area; that they could be taught how to bring water to their homes and not have to wait for the government or other charities to come do it for them. It was a celebration of education and independence.
Colourful Women
A Village Leader
Cami
Madeleine & Hannah
Being Escorted into Village Square
As we moved through the crowds at one point, they started to move with us, escorting us into the main village square.
Following the Leader
Never Without Music
On our way to the square, by some unspoken signal, the villagers started grabbing onto each of our hands or wrists, leading us into the heart of the party.
Hannah
Caleb
Cami
When we entered the square, the dance party was in full swing and we were in the midst of it. There was no escape!
Becca
Caleb
When things died down, we were seated in the centrally located gazebo. Village leaders gave speeches and thanked Choice for coming. The government had brought them water in some holding areas, but neglected to help them bring it to their own homes. As they are all farmers or other occupations, they were at a loss to know how to move forward with the next step. Choice stepped in to help by teaching them how . . . bringing us along as additional labourers.
Village Leaders’ Speeches
Our Viewpoint from the Gazebo
Villagers Listening
Many other village leaders came to Choice’s CEO, Leah Barker, seated on the gazebo with us, with signed letters requesting help for their own villages as well.
Villagers’ Requests
Looking On
Later in the ceremony, we were each presented and gifted three separate gifts . . . all traditional. We received a hat, bag, and scarf.
Village Gifts
To complete the welcome ceremony, there was a parade of sorts as different villages were represented, mostly through music and dance.
Village Women
Village Musicians
Village Dancers
Layers and Layers of Skirt
Village Performances
This led into another full-out dance party. Most of us were thoroughly exhausted so pled illness or tiredness, but there were still a few resilient souls who continued to dance away.
Dancing into the Evening
As we moved away from the festivities to settle into part of the school, where we would be staying for the week, it was interesting to see a couple of the younger generation unabashedly follow us. They stood to the side giggling, taking pictures, and texting. Funny enough, our teenage boys were quite oblivious!
Oblivious Boys
The village Calteca, just as in most villages we have visited, is centered around the school. This is where the future of the families lies. The school would be the first place in the village that would receive running water, even before the homes.
Calteca School Bell
Portion of the Calteca School
Unloading Bags from Bus
Our expedition group was quite large (about 30 people) so we had to make a few adjustments when we arrived. Instead of staying in two large rooms (boys/girls), we had to clean out another school room to allow 3 rooms with about 10-12 people in each. Our Stephash group stayed in the 3rd room, which needed a little bit of TLC as we moved in – broken windows covered with cardboard, windows covered with plastic sheeting, and electricity wired into the room.
Stephash Dormitory Room
Once we were settled, it was quite roomy and comfortable. We were all given mats stuffed with straw, similar to what the villagers sleep on. This kept us off the cold classroom floor and was quite comfortable when we added our sleeping mats and all-weather sleeping bags.
All Moved In
One of the other school rooms was made into a kitchen with a stove. We had tables and chairs set up outside that served as our gathering and meal area.
Gathering/Eating Area
Gathering/Eating Area from a Distance
The hardest part of our stay in the village school was the squat latrines. We’ve used squat toilets before so that wasn’t a problem. The latrines were just different to ‘stomach.’ Some of our group started putting Vicks rub under their noses before they went in – I’ll have to remember that for next time!
Squat Latrines
The Water Project
Our main work for the week would consist of digging trenches, laying pipes, and bringing running water to the village school alongside the villagers. Unfortunately, since there was quite the welcome party the night before, many of the villagers (mostly men) were hungover. So, we ventured out on our own to start.
Caleb Starting to Pick Trench
Some of the trenches had already been started by villagers days or weeks before, so many of us cleaned out the rubbish that had settled in the bottom, levelled out the bottoms, and continued picking for the pipes to be laid.
In the Trenches
As we worked, villagers came to help (mostly the women), and we accomplished so much that first day! I think the village leaders were surprised how much we got done.
Strength in Numbers
There is definitely strength in numbers, because the altitude and hard ground were not making it easy on us!
Hannah Picking
Hannah’s Journal Entry
Becca Shoveling
Cami Leveling out the Trench
Happy to Serve
We knew by the first couple days that we would reach of goal of laying pipe to the school, so we started branching out to other areas of the village as well . . . near homes and the village square.
Hannah
Village Men Lending a Hand
Chris & Scott
Completed Trench to School
One afternoon we even drove out of the village centre twenty minutes to another remote area where pipe will be laid to a farm.
Bus Top Riding
We honestly were happy to help wherever we were needed, but just the hike from the bus to the other side of the hill where the farm was, took a lot out of us.
“Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Off to Work We Go”
Beautiful Countryside
The extended family that lived on the farm had already done quite a bit. Obviously, there was a lot more that needed to be done. Thankfully, the water source was at the top of the hill from where they were. But, again, a lot of hard ground to dig through first!
Digging In
Everyone pitched in to help; having a lot of fun doing it. There was a lot of joking and laughing going on!
A Family Affair
Back at the village, as soon as the trenches were complete, the pipes were laid (the easy part) before covering them back up again.
Filling in the Trenches
Many Hands Make Light Work
These village women were amazing, as all ages turned up to help throughout different times of every day. Running water was their goal, and they were more than willing to sacrifice their time and energy to make it happen.
The Strength of Women
Whether it was the older ages of our kids or that this wasn’t our first humanitarian trip, all our kids were such hard workers. Sometimes the teenage boys had to be taken under someone’s wing for guidance, but they were amazing.
The Tres Amigos
One day, one of the Choice staff dared the boys to work without their shirts. The village women egged them on as well. Somehow they finally gave in, and that was their preferred way of working from then on.
Cuatro Amigos
Not surprisingly, one of the village girls chose to work by the boys every day. She was 17, out of school, and a very strong worker. The ‘tres amigos’ became the ‘cuatro amigos’!
All in a Day’s Work
A Well-Deserved Rest in the Dorm
Community Outreach
During some of our down times, we had other opportunities to be involved in the community. One day was spent at the school, visiting the different classrooms, from primary ages all the way up to high school.
Pointing Out Where We Live
It’s not everyday that we get to learn about other cultures first-hand and it’s not everyday that the villagers get to practice their English!
High School Students
One afternoon, we had a special ‘girls only’ event called “Days for Girls.” We started by giving each of the school girls manicures, which helped create a warm and caring environment.
Hannah Painting Nails
Becca
Cami’s Manicure Skills
Lots of Manicures
Once everyone had been pampered, the Choice in-country representative, Maxima, taught the girls about puberty. The girls were enthralled! Then they were each gifted a bag that had underwear and washable/re-usable pads for them to use during their menstrual cycle. This was a revelation, as the older girls usually just miss school during that time of the month. To be able to go about your normal life during that time is huge!
Each of us also got to visit at least one villager’s home. They were so gracious and wanted to show us the homes they had built as well as give us glimpses into their daily lives.
Beautiful Farm
Outside Cooking in Warm Weather
Smoke Stained
Most Incredible Memory Wall
As we stood in this family’s home, the husband told us about each of the items on his memory wall. One of the most memorable items for me was the framed diploma of when he completed the 5th grade – all the education he had.
Life of a Farmer
The family grew oats on their farm. The sole purpose for these oats was to feed their cows. The oats were harvested by a small handheld scythe.
Harvesting Oats
Chris Visiting Another Home
The village mayor invited a few of us to his trout farm. He assured us it was only about 20 minutes away, although it really was 45 minutes – 1 hour. He had invested just months earlier in this trout farm and was excited to gift us some fish for dinner.
However, when we arrived, the mayor was surprised to see the pond all covered with algae and no fish! Some nearby villagers came by to help fish, but to no avail. The mayor was a little embarrassed, as he said he hadn’t visited the pond in months, not realising he needed to tend it.
That experience taught us in a very visual way, why Choice’s model works. One can’t give money or resources to those who aren’t skilled or taught how to use them. But, rather, by working beside them, they learn new skills that add to a lifetime of learning.
Superstar Kids
We really couldn’t have been more proud of these kids! A humanitarian expedition probably wouldn’t have been their idea for a Spring Break destination, but they really were superstars.
London Kids
Even after a full day of work, as the adults sat to rest, the kids were putting together soccer games with the local kids.
Pick-up Soccer Game
The teen boys pushed each other on in their conditioning workouts well into dusk most nights.
Conditioning
One of our last days in the village, the village leaders arranged a round-robin soccer tournament for Choice vs. Calteca. The kids were the biggest participants, even against adults multiple times their ages!
Boys/Men Match
Villagers Looking on
The best game was when the women stepped onto the pitch and played in all their layers and layers of skirts!
Girls/Women Match
Madeleine
Goalie
Women Looking On
Final Match Participants
We also couldn’t have asked for a better expedition group. The adults took our kids under their wings in all aspects of co-living we had for the week. We all enjoyed listening to Lance play his guitar every evening when all the work was done.
Evening Music
There were also stories aplenty and our kids, especially the boys, sank it all in.
Storytime
Celebration of Water
As we rounded out our week at Calteca, we were all ready for a real toliet, a shower, and a bed (in that order). But, our hard work and sacrifices were not unacknowledged. To begin the celebration of ‘bringing water to the village,’ there was a traditional sacrificial ceremony of two sheep.
Sheep Patiently Waiting the Ceremony
It was an honour to have this done for us and definitely an experience none of us will forget . . .
. . . even if most of us couldn’t watch.
Eyes Averted
Our final evening was a big affair, although it only involved the local villagers, rather than the whole municipality like the welcome ceremony.
Village Leaders with Mayor
More Village Leaders
The school children had drawn something for each of the expedition children, as well as made them yarn bracelets. All the expeditioners were also gifted fruit.
Cami’s Gifted Art
Two of our expeditioners were chosen to help ‘cut the ribbon’ for the water faucet, as well as ‘break the bottle’ to inaugurate it.
Cutting of the Ribbon
Initial Faucet Turning
Mayor’s Inspection
A few people spoke, including our expedition representatives, the mayor, and a female village leader. There were indeed tears shed as not only gratitude was expressed, but as a better way of life was recognised. This small faucet represented so much more, as opportunities felt more within reach.
Wonderment
Following the official ceremony, the villagers stayed around for the finale of the evening . . . a talent show.
Village Women
Village Boys
Traditional Dancing
The Choice group even prepared a few numbers to share. A small group sang and a few of the girls put together a tumbling display, which they did really well. So well in fact, that none of us had recognised Cami had fallen and banged her knees on the hard concrete. She just hopped up and kept going, but was in tears as she sat down afterward. She had some pretty impressive bruises the next morning!
Haka Performance
Choice’s crowning entry was probably the Haka, which they had spent some time earlier in the day learning. It was a bit of a stretch to say it came from Hawaii, one of the states, but since one of our group was from Hawaii and her husband was Polynesian, why not?
Our Family with Maxima & Willy
As we finished our week in the village, we were definitely exhausted. But, we were overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity that we had to have a little part in bringing water to Calteca. As always, we were thoroughly in awe of the quiet strength of Choice’s in-country team. Bolivia’s directors, Maxima and Willy, are some of the most humble, loving, and hard working people we have ever encountered. Their quiet strength will continue to reach those in far-flung villages of Bolivia, but their example will continue to affect those all over the world, as we return home forever changed from our experience.
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