World Map Mistake

Yesterday, a muchacho from my softball team came meandering up my trail to my house holding a large, white posterboard and a plastic bag with a folded-up world map.  He came in and casually handed me the items, explaining to me as if I already knew, here are the materials you've been expecting.

Apparently I was supposed to help some girl who works at the banca (betting/gambling station) in the next town over draw a world map for some assignment for her university.  Actually, "help" isn't a strong enough word.  I was supposed to do the entire assignment for her.  I was reassuredly told that my project partner had told me ages ago that I was to do this.  I confusedly accepted the materials on the condition that she come up the next morning and I could help her.  He replied, "of course, you can just start on it tonight and finish up with her."  Now I was annoyed.  "the project is due Saturday so (since I was leaving before to go to the capital) you'll have to get started right away."

I sent him away.

This morning at 8:30, the girl, who I've never even spoken to, comes waddling up my trail.  "Americano! Have you finished!?"  I responded with "are you kidding me?"  I handed her the materials and told it was a lack of respect to just send up her stuff and expect me to do it, especially since I've don't know her at all.  She was so confused that I was offended by this.

Me: "This is your project, you should do it"
Her: "What do you mean? Let's trace it"
Me: I suggested she divide the posterboard into a grid and transfer the map over square by square.
Her:  I think I'll trace it.
Me:  Well that certainly is the easiest way, as long as you don't mind ruining your map.  And that way, you really don't need my help.
Her:  Ok.  I'll trace it.  I heard there was someone in Higüero (next town over) who could do it for me (referring to Scott, another volunteer who I told this story to incredulously) but it's due really soon so I'll just do it myself.
[she leaves]

Este país.

Semana Santa

For the DR's holy week, I took a pilgrimage south.  It was fun.  It would have been more fun if I hadn't eaten some bad pica pollo, fried chicken, in the capital the day before my journey.  To put it mildly, my ass was smokin!

The South is very different from the North.  I live in the Cibao Region – green, lush, full of diverse vegetation and delicious fruits, mountains, rain, breeze, sandy beaches.  The South was gorgeous, don’t get me wrong, but I wouldn’t change my site for anything.  Because I lost my camera and I suck at posting pictures to this blog anyway, I'll do my best to describe the imagery.  

The South – can’t beat the coastal views.  Rocky cliffs mixed with pebble beaches, making the water a glowing blue with treacherous waves with gnarly rip tides.  PACKED guagua rides (I heard a story about one stuffed with something like 27 people that rolled over, but no one was hurt because no one shifted position in the accident, all packed in there like sardines), less investment in transportation we’ll say (roads and vehicles) inescapable heat, no clouds, no rain, no breeze (in some areas), a more desert feel, sharper shrubbery instead of the bountiful fruit bearing trees I’m used to. 

I visited a batey as well in the South.  A batey is basically a sugarcane plantation; modern day slavery run by large sugar cane companies.  Picture the Dust Bowl: the town is a grid with train tracks running through the center.  There is a lovely breeze, unfortunately it carries with it little particles that mercilessly scratch your eyes.  There is a mix of Haitians and Dominicans all living on top of each other, with a dividing line somewhere cutting the grid into barrios – Dominicans here, Haitians there.  Few kids have shoes.  There is scarce wood to cook on a fogón (wood stove), so coal is used.  

Everyone is a few shades darker than what I’m used to in the North.  There is delicious biskwit, Haitian bread.  People are wearing jeans, coats and hoods in scorching heat…wouldn’t want to get any blacker.  There is running water in the morning and evening and a similar luz situation.  Some people have a place to take care of their bodily necessities, some people use plastic bags.  There are acres and acres of caña, sugarcane, and a barracks next to the fields where the “workers” live under armed guard.  They often don’t have shoes either, not to mention any semblance of a fair wage.  I understand caña is one of the products that can be Fair Trade certified.  I would much like to see one of those plantations.

The scenery on the guagua ride from North to South and Visa Versa is a gradual change.  It’s strange to think how foreign I felt in my site at first, and how comfortable I am now. 

What's Happening

Work is slow.  It could partially be my fault because I’ve been so focused on moving in, but at times I feel a sense of powerlessness when it comes to my main project. 

The cacao association was audited last August.  We had till March 31^st to show we’d made the necessary changes.  I seemed to be the only one concerned about this.  I could have done it myself, but that would kind of defeat the purpose of me being here.  So we finally coordinated a meeting and started making the changes; nothing major – update the memberships list with current data, demonstrate the flow of cacao from the farm to its first buyer, send copies of contracts to make sure they include everything Fair Trade requires (not so easy to find a scanner here, fyi), and most importantly, create a 1 year development plan detailing the purchases and projects you will undertake to improve the organization, farmers’ lives and community’s well being.  I had about a week to send in the changes.  Day after day I accessed the website trying to attach the documents but it just never worked.  About to lose my cool the day before the deadline, thinking they put their trust in me and I’m going to fail them, it finally worked.  Load off my shoulders.  4 days later we received an email saying the measures were approved and we shall continue to be certified Fair Trade producers. 

Today the Association will have elections for their governing body.  I'm anxious to see their methods.

Now I am awaiting a trip to our baseball field to build a table and some shelving from spare cuts of oak and mahogany.  I’ve always wanted some mahogany furniture ever since seeing Anchorman.  Not really, but saying mahogany is good fun. 

My house is seriously lacking in furniture – 2 beds, a small coffee table I put my gas stove on, and that’s it.  Actually I came home from Semana Santa after visiting the South and there was a newly constructed table sitting there with my stove and dish drying rack on it.  Love my neighbors. 

The quest for chairs, tables and shelving is on.  One day I hope to build an enramada, or outdoor shelter (no idea how to translate that, maybe some sort of gazebo?)  There is already a cement patio for drying cacao, but since I have none of that, it would make a great little gathering area.  My other thought is to but a basketball hoop up.  My only concern is that I’d have muchachos there ALL the time.