Got back from Pisco a few days ago, volunteered with the organization "Burners without Borders" (yes people who go to Burning Man that like to do volunteer work). Pisco was devastated by a 7.9 or 8.0 (depending on who you ask) earthquake last August. About 80,000 people were displaced, 58,000 homes were destroyed. Many residents are still living in tents, and flimsy slapped together shelters. The lack of sanitation may eventually kill many more people than the earthquake did. Running water is somewhat of a rarity. Burners without Borders (BWB) is trying to help remedy that situation by building something called a "sanitation module" or "shitter", which is basically a concrete reinforced wall that has plumbing hookups, and a toilet and sink. That is just one of the many projects that BWB has taken on, they have also built a plethora of temporary classrooms so students could return to school this March as scheduled, and have worked side by side with local residents to clean up the "malecon" (boardwalk area) so residents will have a safe place to gather near the sea again.
My main job was to film, hopefully soon I can post a little documentary on BWB in Pisco. I also helped fill holes with cement, wash dishes, scrape paint, pick up garbage, move a house...
Check out the official BWB website if you want to find out about volunteering:
http://www.burnerswithoutborders.org/
I had to come to a smoky bar to use the internet at this hour since the free connection i was getting in the apartment suddenly disappeared, so I will write more when I can write in my own luxurious apartment again, where I can get up to go to the bathroom without taking my computer with me or having it stolen.
I have a lot of news! Got a job in Japan and was accepted as a Peace Corps volunteer on the same day a couple of weeks ago...
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