Jul
8
We split up to continue the water tests for Lambras and Yacuñao (the two sources that we had collected water from yesterday) and survey the road from Chirimoto up past the school and medical post.
There was also a town meeting in the Hummingbird House. Someone came to speak about improving the education system in the area. The region has received government funding, and is now working re-organizing the system, and getting supplies and benefits for the teachers.
Jul
7
This morning we split up to collect water samples from the sources that serve Chirimoto and the neighboring town of Vista Alegre, Lambras and Yacuñao respectively. Two of the four piping systems that currently bring water into Chirimoto take water from Lambras (the Foncores and Parochial systems). Foncores also built the system in Vista Alegre. The fourth system is piped from another source called Mari Pata; this is the antique system that includes the old filter, sanitation tank, and reservoirs. We are hoping to return in December to clean all of the tanks and refill the filter as a temporary source of clean water and as a model for the other filters that will be built at Lambras and Yacuñao. I was on the hike up to Lambras with Charlie. The water is collected near the source, but is not piped down the entire distance to the town. From the collection, the water follows an open channel down to the reservoir about halfway down the mountain. We had originally wanted to survey the paths up to both sources to get the elevations of the sources as well as any reservoirs or tanks in the path of the pipeline, but the paths were too dense to be surveyed. Much of the trail up to Lambras was completely overgrown and even after our guide cleared it, we could not see more than 10 feet in front of us in some places.
In the afternoon we started the water tests for the samples we had just collected at Lambras and Yacuñao. When it got too dark to continue we packed up the equipment; there is no light in the room we have converted into our lab, so we only have until around 6:00 to work on the water tests each day.
After dinner Jeremy and I talked with the town medic, Martin. We brought surveys with us for the doctors, teachers, and townspeople of Chirimoto and its neighboring towns. Martin had a lot of information for us; it seems like the majority of the people in Chirimoto are healthy. There are very few illnesses, and many people live well into their 80s. Martin said that almost all of the townspeople have had to be treated for parasites. They receive this treatment from a doctor in Mendoza, who also brings vaccines and other medications every year. He also said that diet and cholesterol were a big concern, as much of the diet includes a lot of fried food and pork.
Jul
6
Antonio, one of the engineers we met in Chachapoyas, came to the hummingbird house to discuss the revised plans for the water project. Antonio wrote the old report, which only consisted of a new piping system from one of the sources (Yacuñao), did not include any filtration or either of the other two filters, and had been rejected by the government.
The municipality gave us maps of two of the four piping systems in chirimoto. These are the two most recent systems, and were both built by Foncores as part of separate government projects. One is incomplete, and includes plans for a slow sand filter that was never built. The other did not have plans for filtration, and had poor water pressure. We were not able to get maps for the parochial or antique systems.
We finished the water tests from Leymebamba, and began testing the water from the Hummingbird House tap and Shocol river.
Jul
5
After breakfast we took out the total station to survey and map the plaza and surrounding houses. Around noon we left for the teacher's festival in Milpuc. We heard the head of the teachers' association speak about pay raise for teachers, lack of resources, and classroom issues. He also called for a teachers strike to gain some recognition.
We walked back to Chirimoto, finished the plaza map, and then went to see the bookmobile. The bookmobile is still just a metal frame, and we spent some tim watching Panchito's kids climb on it and try to wheel it around.
Jul
4
We had some trouble finding cars to take us from Chachapoyas to Chirimoto. We thought we would be able to use the university trucks during our entire trip, but apparently those were only meant for our stay in chachapoyas. One of the drivers came with us to Chirimoto, but we had to take 2 extra taxis as well.
We had stopped for in Mendoza to do some shopping and had lunch at Antonio Trigoso's house before continuing on to Chirimoto. We also stopped on the highway above Chirimoto so that Lucho could set off his customary fireworks to let the town know that we had arrived. Lucho introduced us to Panchito and his family, and Panchito gave us a tour of the hummingbird house and their land. Panchito and Wilma live in the Hummingbird house and take care of it in Lucho's absence. They have 5 children: Malco, Aner, Elder, Jarold (el diablito), and Donnie (el osito polar).
We set up tents and get all of our stuff organized. After dinner we went to the meeting of coffee growers in the municipality to make introductions and meet some of the townspeople.
Jul
3
We woke up early to drive to Kuelap, and spent a couple of hours walking around the ruins with the President of the University and another member of the government. From Kuelap we went to Leymebamba to meet with the Mayor and collect water samples from two sources near the town. We started the water tests in Leymebamba as part of a video interview , and then brought the rest of the water back to the university in chachapoyas to finish the tests.
After the water testing, we went out to dinner and then to a bar with the vice president and Wilo.
Jul
2
In the morning we met with the University president and the engineer, and were given a tour of the university's science and engineering facilities. Much of their research is focused on agricultural studies; A large part of their engineering department, as well as much of the biology, microbiology, and chemistry studies were researching crop varieties, food studies, and appropriate farming technology.
We also met with the regional government to present the new water project, formalize the battery campaign and discuss our various ideas for smaller projects.
In the afternoon we hiked to Gocta falls.
Jul
1
Flight to Chachapoyas. We spent 8 hours in the airport terminal waiting for our flight, which was supposed to take of at 9, and did not leave untill 2:30.
Dinner with members of the government and the university president.
Jun
30
Late start this morning- we didn't get back to Lucho's untill almost 11:00- traffic was almost at a standstill due to a taxi strike.
We went to lunch with Wilo at a seafood place close to Lucho's house, and then on to La Catolica for our meeting with GROUPO. GROUPO is a nonprofit group focused on appropriate rural technology. They had several interesting designs for water pumps, and wind turbines made from various recycled materials, as well as initiatives to provide homes with residual heating and improved kitchens. Hopefully, we will be replicating some of their improved kitchens in Chirimoto, and are hoping to have a few members of GROUPO come with us on a future trip.
Jun
29
Lucho's brother Jorge gave a design presentation on his long-term large-scale plans to bring hydroelectric power into Chirimoto. The progect involves diverting about half of the Shocol river into a large canal and tunnel on the other side of the valley from the rivers original course, and exploiting the elevation drop between Chirimoto and the neighboring town downstream.
After the presentation, we went to several of the artisan markets in Lima, and walked around the old city.