F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, “Wherever you feel like criticizing any one…just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” Well, you’ve got that right Mr. Fitzgerald. I’ve officially been at my site for a month and the more I time I spend here interacting with the people, the more I realize the truth in that statement. I have had more advantages than these people. I’m not being pompous; it’s just the simple truth. All of you who are reading this from your fancy computers in your cushy houses also have had more advantages than these people. However, it is too easy to forget how good we have it. The truth is that sometimes I struggle to remember that these people have been raised completely differently from us and that they view the world and life completely differently. It could be so easy to just write everyone off as lazy, unmotivated, impatient and uneducated. Well, the truth would really be more complicated than that. Like I said, I’ve only been here for a month so I won’t pretend that I understand all the layers behind what’s going on in this community, but I’m starting to get a glimpse.
There is a cycle of poverty happening here and it’s a very difficult one to break. The fact is that they lack the opportunities here and it takes parents away for months at a time so they can provide for their families. It also robs kids of role models to look up to. Not only is it common for children to grow up being raised by only a mother, they are not exposed to people who live differently. While they live close to the bigger town, there just aren’t many opportunities for professionals. Why would a kid struggling in school want to keep going when all he sees in his future is working in construction or if he’s lucky, in tourism? Why not sell drugs on the street? It looks like a fast and easy way to make money. Oh, you got your girlfriend pregnant? Well, that’s all right, your parents had you at 16 too. What I’m trying to say is that it’s hard to strive for something different when you don’t know that different is possible or that it even exists. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’ve been pointing out a lot of the less shiny sides of the community without really pausing to understand the things going on underneath. Well, I’m thinking I’ll have a lot more to say about it after 2 years.
So, this week has been crazy busy. However, I prefer having things to do rather than having nothing to do. It’s really amazing how motivated you can be when you don’t have a TV to veg out to all day. I mean you can only sit and stare out into the mango fields for so long before you start to feel a little bit crazy. During the weekdays, I’ve been conducting interviews and slowly inputting the data into excel. I know, it sounds riveting. Actually, I have to say that I now have a whole new respect for door-to-door salesmen, Mormons, and Jehovah’s witnesses. I mean seriously, have you ever tried to talk to random people all day? It’s exhausting. Actually, I’m lucky. I’m the crazy gringo girl who doesn’t really look gringo who surprisingly speaks English and yet no other language other than a poor version of Spanish who likes to run even if nobody is chasing her. I’m the weird novelty. Thus, people have an interest and are more willing to talk to me. Yet, I do get rejected every once in a while. Although, when people look uncomfortable and uninterested, I don’t push it. I mean seriously, who likes pushy people who can’t take a hint? Yep, I bet you didn’t respond with an, “I do!” It’s really not the best way to win people over.
On Friday, the 5th and 6th graders and the school had a their graduation from DARE. Oh yes, they have DARE here. That’s right! Drogas, Abuso, Resistencia, Educación. They have implemented the DARE program from the States here in Costa Rica. It’s a great program, but studies in the States have shown that kids who have gone through the DARE program are more likely to do drugs in the future. I don’t really have the heart to tell anyone that here. I just think that it’s great that they are making an effort in educating the kids about staying away from drugs and such, but who knows if it will work. From what it sounds like, a lot of the kids in that class are already exposed to drugs as their parents sell them. I don’t know how true that is, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is. Anyway, the ceremony was really nice. They made a big huge deal out of it. The whole school watched and a lot of the parents came. Although, I did think that it was interesting that before it started, they were playing some Michael Jackson in the background. I mean it is kind of funny considering the man died of a drug overdose himself. Yes, his doctor was the one who did it, but still…you know what I mean.
On Saturday, I hung out with my friend Rocío and her family. I met her older brother who lives and works in San Jose. Their family is awesome. All 4 kids are currently attending or have graduated from university. In this community, that is an accomplishment. Their mom really had some foresight when she pushed her kids towards education. Their mom is also one of the cooks at the school, and she is a pretty good one. She’s also one of the nicest women I’ve ever met. They took me for a walk to the next town over. On the way there, they showed me this plot of land that they own that’s really big and has an amazing view. Right now, the uncle is living on it keeping watch over some produce that they are growing because if someone’s not there, then people will try to steal them. I think they want to eventually build a big house on the land. That would be an amazing house. Anyway, it was fun hanging out and learning new Spanish words. It was a great cultural interaction, and it’s also nice to have some local friends to hang out with. I mean, who doesn’t like having friends? They want to take me to Puntarenas this weekend, so I’m really looking forward to that.
Later that day, I tagged along with my host family to a baby shower. It turns out that the parents are 16 years old each. It was definitely an interesting event. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a baby shower that took place at night. Also, there weren’t any of the typical baby shower games. We all came and sat on the porch for a while. We ate a bit and all the ladies gossiped. Well, that part is pretty similar to our baby showers I suppose. However, I wasn’t very into the gossip. Probably because I didn’t know who they were talking about, and when they got very excited it became harder to understand the Spanish. So, I basically sat there thinking to myself. Then I looked over at the celebrant and I realized, that she might have been the only person having less fun that I was. All I could do was wonder about what she was thinking. Was she scared? Was she wishing that she were anywhere else in the world? Was she wondering how she got there? I mean if I were 16 and pregnant, that’s probably all I would think about. All I know is that I’m really glad to never have been in her place. I hope everything works out for her and her baby.
Yesterday, I did more interviews in the morning, but in the afternoon, I went to a meeting to this group called Red Contra. It is basically a group with a representative from all the major institutions in the county (ie: PANI, the Municipality, the Ministry of Health, etc.) who get together and figure out ways to fight violence in the communities and create more peace. It was really cool because after a few minutes, I realized that everyone there was a woman. It is really amazing that a collection of important people in a very machismo culture end up being women. It was also really good to sit in on the meeting, because I found out that they have goals for my community that overlap with my goals so there is a potential for working together and having their support. Also, since I’m living and working in this community and hopefully earning their trust, when they need to do workshops and such, I can support them and hopefully get the community to participate and listen.
So I’ve been contemplating about my time here and I’ve only been here a month, but I feel like I’ve been learning a lot. I know that I have a lot more to learn and a lot further to go, but there is a slight feeling of accomplishment in having survived the first month. It kind of makes me feel like I really can live and work here for the next couple years.
When I was applying for the Peace Corps, their little motto was “Life is calling. How far will you go?” A couple years back, I understood that question on a single dimension. I thought it to mean, “To what extent are you willing to do in order to live life?” Well, I was running the other day, lost in my thoughts, and I realized that it is a perfect catch phrase for Peace Corps recruitment. It has so many meanings. How far will you be sent? How long will you make it? How successful will you be? How much will you experience? Well, thus far my answers are: Apparently, I’m willing to serve in the Peace Corps. I am living about 3,030 miles away from home (give or take a 10 or so miles). I don’t know how long I’ll make it, but I’m hoping 27 months. I’m not really sure how successful I’ll be, I’ll get back to you hopefully in 23 months when I’m getting ready to go home and I’m reflecting back on my experience in the Peace Corps. I’ve experienced plenty as you’ve been reading about, and I’m sure there’s way more of that to come.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed my deep thoughts. Catch you later.
No comments:
Post a Comment