Pacora Stories


Combie Driver's Test

Seat belt frayed, deteriorating, tied to the door and throw over your lap so it looks like a functioning life-saving device—check. Pulling out in front of oncoming traffic with your hand sticking out the window signaling to them that they should stop or there will be a massive traffic accident—check. Being able to get gas at the gas station withou...


Three Things

[b]Three Things that make me...[/b] [b].... shake my head in disbelief[/b] -Combies passing while there is oncoming traffic...the oncoming traffic is assumed to make room for our car. This is especially exciting from the front seat view. -The policeman stopping our taxi wanting to see my passport and asking if I was working in this country legal...


Mashca con Leche

I eat almost all my meals with my host family, but breakfast…that’s mine. I just can’t handle the really oily fried egg that early in the morning. That was until my host mom started making this delicious concoction, mashca con leche. It’s basically ground up toasted corn boiled with milk. It has the constancy of runny oatmeal and I LOVE IT. I decid...


Karen´s Birthday

My sitemate, Karen, lives on the edge of a protected forest and for the past 2 years has spent every Tuesday working with the women park guards. It took her the first 6 months to convince them that sweeping the leaf litter of the forest paths, putting it into piles, and burning it, was not actually necessary. Considering that they now are producing la...