nine degrees north: Culasi

It takes a long time to get to Culasi from Clarin. It takes a trike to Tubigon, then a midnight ferry to Cebu, then an early plane ride to Iloilo City on Panay. The flight is so short you might think it unnecessary, but without it, the island of Negros stands in your way and that is something you may not want to mess with. From the airport in Iloilo it's a van ride into the city proper, where finally, you catch a 4-6 hour bus ride to Culasi itself. By this time it's dark, and after one final trike ride, the only thing left is to let a small boy to quietly guide you down the road to the house where Dan lives. Now, if you are me, and if this is October 22, you'll find Dan out front kicking a ball around with some children. You'll laugh awkwardly to get his attention, and then you'll go inside the bamboo and nipa house where you'll be staying for the next eight days, set your backpack down, and text Todd and Amy to see how there progress is coming along the same journey. And then Dan will make you dinner, which, trust me, is a great thing.

What follows is three meticulously planned, two-two day environmental science workshops at local high schools. Todd and Amy (his delightful visiting girlfriend) and I had made the trip from Bohol to help facilitate, an offer we jumped at because work-related travel is one of those magical things about Peace Corps that everyone wishes they could do more of. You get to see someone else's site, get an idea of the ways they are choosing to conduct CRM work in their town, and usually come away feeling both productive and inspired. Plus, it breaks up routine, and I can't say enough good things about that.