Mi tiempo en Härnösand

I'm still here in Härnösand, trying to learn some Spanish...
It's a bit tricky, but I think I'll manage it, eventually. I'm staying at Sidas accommodation center Lönnebo here in Härnösand.



I've been on several long walks (2-4 hours each time) in the forest nearby, to boost my energy. And I've taken some pictures of what you can find in the Swedish forest up north (same in the south actually). But sadly, most of the things I found isn't eatable :(


And the view from the watchtower Vårdkasen at the hill next to town:


Last week Isabell and I had to change room, and are now staying in two single rooms instead. A bit boring actually :( But the room was nice. Here are some pictures of it:


But what have I've been doing during this past 3-4 weeks?? besides taking long walks and hang around with my buddies... Well, I've also attended in Sida's PRA 092 course, for prospective aid workers. We've been talking about:

-Causes of poverty and penance
-Region knowledge (for me: Latin America)
-Democracy ABC
-Psychology and personal security
-International policy documents
-First Aid
-Sida´s work and expectations of us
-Perspective: Gender, Peace and conflicts, HIV/AIDS, Sustainable development
-Photo course
-Writing course
-Seen some very good and thought-provoking documentaries ("Vilka bönder skall få överleva?" and "Bullshit")

and now 2 weeks of Spanish (last week now)...

I'll have 2 more weeks of Spanish lessons in Nicaragua later on as well. But after that I'm on my own!


It has been 3 very nice weeks and it's a bit sad that it's only 3 nights left here... But I have to go back home and start packing for my big trip!!! Wow, it's only 2 weeks left until departure now! =)

Hasta la vista amigos!

Min "nya" familj / Mi familia nueva

Här är lite bilder på min "nya" familj och omgivningen i byn Corozo.


Familjen består av
mamma Angela Espinoza 32 år
pappa Marvin Velasquez 40 år

Deras 3 barn:
Jas Junior 14 år (inte med på bild)
Winston 9 år
Im Manual 2 år

De har kor, grisar och höns samt en häst och lite egen mark. På en av bilderna syns också en hund, men jag vet inte om det är deras egna eller en gatuhund.

Det är jordgolv i huset och det är tunna väggar i trä , tak av zink. Det verkar också som om dom har nån slags toalett (säkert mulltoa eller liknande) samt något filter för att rena vattnet. Vattnet tas dock fortfarande ur lokala brunnar, dvs inte vatten i kran. Pappa Marvin jobbar som tekniker och installatör av solpaneler, vilket är huvudprojektet i området samt ansvarar för utbildning och hälsa. Mamman sitter med i by-skolans kommité och ansvarar för utbildningen av barn mellan 0-6 år.

Saras översättning till svenska från texten nedan skall tas med en nypa salt. Spanskakursen börjar på måndag ;)

In Spanish:
Marvin Velasquez 40 años
Angela Espinoza 32 años, nivel de educación para los dos es sexto grado

Tres hijos barones:
Jas Junior 14 años (primer año en colegio) (no está en la foto)
Winston 9 años (cuarto grado)
Im Manual 2 años

La casa es de tierra con techo de zinc y pisos de tierra. La letrina es de fibra de vidrio y era un proyecto del alcaldía. Tienen una ventecita de artículos no perecederos. Ellos tienen vacas, cerdos, gallinas, un caballo y su propia tierra. Marvin es uno de los técnicos de los paneles solares y el promotor de salud para la comunidad. Ángela es un miembro del comité del proyecto y trabaja con el desarrollo de los niños (0-6 años) con el programa del gobierno (PAININ).

Join the campaign: Störa Enso!!!!

One of my fellow student in the preparation course at Sida made a documentary movie 2-3 years ago, about the Swedish company Stora Enso. Stora Enso has devastated a large part the rain forest in Brazil to plant and grow fast growing eucalyptus, that also consumes a lot of water. The affects on the environment and the local people is terrible!

Please take a look at this 30 min long film and then distribute it!

Homepage for the campaign: Störa Enso

And links to the movie:
-Det är sverige som är för litet Del 1 Del 2 Del 3
-It is sweden that is too small English
-O Papel do Eucalipto. Português

This film attracted a lot of attention and Stora Enso confronted the film makers and tried to stop the spreading of this film, accusing them for spreading lies. But the film team has a lot of support from several organisations and the MST in Brazil (MST = The landless Workers Movement)

Kalla Fakta at TV4 made their own report about it and showed it in Swedish television at the 10/2 2008, inspired by this film!

Two other very good documenteries:
-Vilka bönder ska få överleva?
-Bullshit

Enjoying my time here in Härnösand

Yesterday I turned 25 and Isabell, August and Kristofer woke me up with a birthday song and breakfast yesterday morning at 8.15! =) Very nice!

Pictures from the evening, when we made and ate crepes and cake! yummy!



Living here at Sida Society Center is better then staying at a 4-star hotel! We are served very good and tasty food every day (breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner, clean towls and the beds are very comfortable!

We are a part of a huge group of 87 people here, from different organisations such as Sofia, Framtidsjorden, Equmenia, Svenska Kyrkan, PMU, Latin Amerika gruppen and probobly some other organisation that I've forgot to mention :S



As you can see on the pictures above, we also have some time over for other activities, such as paddle a canoe, indoor swimming or just wrestle in the sand ;)

We only have 3 weeks left here now, so we must figure out how to make the best out of it! I'll try to keep you updated!

Temp living in Härnösand - building on fire the first night!

Yesterday (Sunday 9/8) I arrived here in Härnösand at 19.00 a clock, after 11 hours of train traveling (2 hours delayed due to an accident south of Uppsala).

I was a bit tired but happy to be here. It's a lovely little city and it was fun to meet my Nicaragua buddies here as well =)

Sida has a nice facility here in Härnösand. Isabell and I will be living together for this next 4 weeks. I added some pictures of our room and the sunset view here in Härnösand bellow.

There is only one thing I'm not so pleased about, and that is our most unpleasant experience this first night. At 03.00 a clock (am) the fire alarm woke us up from our nice and deep sleep. It was no drill!!!!

We had to run outside in our pyjamas (lucky I had one on!) and wait for the fire fighters to arrive. But we couldn't see or smell any smoke. After 30 minutes the alarm was shut down and we were allowed back inside again. Something in the attic had set off the alarm and the fire fighters walked around in the building, checking it out...

I was able to fall asleep again at 05.00 am... and at 7.30am it was time for us to wake up again. Breakfast and first day at "school" =)



And now I'll try to catch some very well needed sleep!
Whish me a fire-free night! =)

1st of august: Birthday-/far well party!

My birthday is actually the 16th of august, but since I'll be in Härnösand by then (between 9/8-4/9), I decided to throw a party this weekend instead. Just to be able to say hi and good bye to my friends, before I leave for Nicaragua in September.

Since I'm born in the 80's, a theme party with outfits from the 80's felt natural. To bad not all of my guest was able to find their old clothes. Or....did they?? ;)

Here are some pictures from that lovely night! And thank you Italy, for sending two nice Italians here to my party!!! =)