During my time in Central America, I was always wondering how my life was going going to be related once I got back. The following are two emails I have sent about an issues that is happening with my Honduran host family. If you have any thoughts on it, let me know.
"Hey guys,
I just got off the phone with my host mom in Honduras. She was telling me about how she is having a stomach problem and needs to have an operation, but can't afford it. She asked me for $200 to pay for it. If it were just an interpersonal relationship, I would have no issues doing it because it is someone that I care about that I can actually help. but at the same time, I am getting the feeling that the Dad in the US who was sending remittances has been moving out of the picture and so I am really afraid of becoming a new source of remittances. I just would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you so much."
"Hey guys
Thank you to all of you who replied to this dilemma. I should give an update. On tuesday morning, my host mom called me again at 6:30 am, so I called her back a little while later and when I asked how she was doing, she started crying and telling me how much pain she was in. That is when I realized that I needed to help them out. So, tuesday afternoon I wired them $200 through Western Union. I haven't talked to them since then, but am trying to make sure that it is understood that this is just to aid her health and is a one time thing. I am still not sure whether or not it was the "right" thing to do, but at the same time, I don't know if there is one. There is just no way that I can say no to something that i can actually do to a woman who is in tears about her pain. I will definitely continue to be in contact with her and hopefully all will improve. Thank you all for your input and if you have more thoughts, please let me know. You are all very special in my life."
I also received some good thoughts from people. If you would like to know, let me know too.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Krista Foundation
Some of you may know this, but I was accepted to be a Krista Foundation (KF) Colleague for the 2009 Cohort. KF was founded by Jim and Linda Hunt after their daughter Krista was killed in a bus accident in 1998 in Bolivia. Krista had gone on the Central America Study Program and then was living in Bolivia with her husband serving. This tragedy guided the Hunts to found the Krista foundation which provides a grant and even more importantly support for young adults who are serving their world. I knew about the foundation because of my time with the Hunts in Nicaragua, but had kinda forgot about it. Then when Anna, Rachel and I were flying back from Louisville after the YAV placement event, we ran into them and Linda basically started shaking me saying "you must apply" (ok a little exaggeration, but you get the picture). So I did and thankfully was accepted. So this last weekend, I was fortunate enough to go up to Camp Spalding for the conference. There are 17 people in my cohort (15 were able to make it). They will be serving everywhere from inner-city tacoma with AmeriCorps, to Chicago with Tony Blair's interfaith foundation, to Florida, to Nicaragua, Ecuador, Africa and South East Asia. It is pretty awesome to see the different ways that people are living out their faith. One of the most impressive thigns about KF is their commitment to keeping people invovled. So there were lots of other colleagues from the previous 9 years of KF. It was really awesome to see the different ways that people lived and continue to live out Jesus' callilng to "go." So we had discussions on "what is beauty," "how the church is changing in Africa," to how to just be present in wherever we are working. So, I want to say thank you to those who put it on and check it out if you're unaware of this work.
Friday, May 1, 2009
1 Year
Today marks the 1 year mark of being home from Central America. I really can't believe it has been that long. I guess that allows for a natural reflection on how I am living my last year. To being, I had to go back and look at my journals. This was my final reflection from CA:
"This is it. The adventure is ending, but it is also beginning. I write from seat 21F somewhere over the gulf of Mexico. Central America has changed me and created memories that will stick with me forever. I can't forget the tears in Flor de Maria or Argelia's eyes, the poor people on the street, the man at the dump, Juan Carlos, the people in Las Vueltas, Quebraditas, and every person I have met. I can't remember them all, but I can try to live for what they stood for.
Now, we are on the last plane off from Seattle. I feel as if I need to write something profound, but I really don't know how to do that. I don't know anything else to say except this is just the beginning. The change is just starting. Only God knows how it will affect me. I love everyone on this plane, seeing Dad and Callie in the airport. So now is the time to act. One quote, not necesarily the most important, but one/two "Apathy is the biggest sin of the society" and "the poverty of Latin America is Unbearable."
Thankful
When I returned from Central America I was definitely changed. I had been living in a world of groupthink and of the extremes being shoved into my senses all the time with almost no time to let it sink in. In that way, I know that there are some things that never sunk in. I honestly did not have time to really comprehend what I saw and what it meant for my life. But what I did come away from it all holding was the need to be intentional with my life. I needed to be intentional with my relationships. People are so important. Each one holds a story that is more unique and more special than anyone could imagine. I have met people and heard stories that no one in my culture would ever hear. I had spent 20 days living in a town where I was literally the second white person to ever enter and the previous had been 10 years prior. No one from our culture had ever heard a story of Quebraditas. I am literally the story sharer of the town (though you can find it on google earth). I was really pleased to see myself holding some amazing conversations with people during my first few days back. Holding them with a depth and focus that I had never known before because it was not important. I feel that is still important to me. I hate the majority of the conversations I hold with customers at Starbucks because they are so often fake and trite. that doesn't completely negate the fun of pointless interactions, but it is really hard to recognize the humanity of someone when the conversation topic is consistently about the weather.
One year away, I feel that I am doing a decent job of living up to my goals of simplicity and in harmony with the world God created. I do not own a car and instead commute around on a bike I found in the back of a shed at camp and was told to "get rid of." With the exception of the current gashes in my hands due to a little spill, this has been a wonderful experience. I still get everywhere I need to go in good time, but have not spent a cent on gas. I have lived basically every day in 1 of 2 pairs of chordoroy pants. We have a compost and have been recycling more than ever. So for a bunch of dudes living a post-college lifestyle, I feel that we are doing well. I would not say that this life is the most amazingly simple or that the environment is totally stoked about the way that I have been nursing it back to life, but it is OK.
This last year has been an interesting one from the political standpoint. Barak Obama and Mauricio Funes were elected. Does this mean that everything is going to be great and equitable for everyone, NO. I sadly feel that I have not been as active in creating changes in my society. That is one area where I want to do more. I do have time, but instead am more apt to spend it watching something stupid on TV instead of trying to utilize it for a good purpose. I know that my mom has written more letters to our senators than I have (since I've written zero). I get angry, but that is worthless without action.
An interesting thing about these experiences is that a year out, I am still searching for the best way to tell people about my life. It is strange working at a place where I am the most liberal, most traveled, most politically opinionated person. It is really had to talk about what matters to me with someone who loves Starbucks for Starbucks. When I got back from El Slavador in January, everyone was more interested in my tan than my stories. When I went to Louisville to see if/where God was sending me with YAV, the question was "did you see any horseraces?" How do you explain to people that you just don't care about that stuff? How do you say what matters in your life in a sentence so that when they move on, maybe, just maybe, something poinent will stick in their minds? I don't know how to do that. Now that I am going to Peru, how do I give my little speech about where I am going, what I am doing, and what I don't know without wanting to punch myself in the jaw for saying the same thing AGAIN? I guess this goes back to what I was saying about intentionality, the US culture is not good about it. I know this may seem ironic that I am saying this in a blog which may or may not be read by people. I will never really know. I hate twitter and facebook status because it is just telling people trite pieces of your life that they don't really care about but just are curious. There are no real interactions.
Now that I have written a ton, I probably should wrap it up. This year of being back in the states has been good. I loved my time at Camp Spalding because I was with people. I did forget about the issues that were so important to me when I returned, but it was a summer where it was the relationships that really mattered. I have enjoyed living in Spokane because I have been able to keep up on the relationships with the amazing CASPers. I have enjoyed working (that is something to be infinitely thankful for these days). I had a great trip to El Salvador/Honduras (for more, read those posts, just scroll down). I am so excited to go to Peru. I love my family and friends. I am still going to be on my bike (though it has some bent brake handles at the moment). So, CASP 2008 changed me and I feel that I am a better person for it (that is an understatement). But when I was on that plane from Seattle to Spokane, sipping a beer (funny enough, the best of the trip), I was afraid that a year from then I was going to have forgotten everything that was important to me. That hasn't happened. It has changed. I think that I am a little more realistic about it all, but still have so much more that I can do. Peru is just a step in this process as will be going to work tonight. My life keeps going and each step has shaped me into who I am and who I will become, but the experiences from Central America have become and will continue to be some of the strongest reminders of how to life my life.
"This is it. The adventure is ending, but it is also beginning. I write from seat 21F somewhere over the gulf of Mexico. Central America has changed me and created memories that will stick with me forever. I can't forget the tears in Flor de Maria or Argelia's eyes, the poor people on the street, the man at the dump, Juan Carlos, the people in Las Vueltas, Quebraditas, and every person I have met. I can't remember them all, but I can try to live for what they stood for.
Now, we are on the last plane off from Seattle. I feel as if I need to write something profound, but I really don't know how to do that. I don't know anything else to say except this is just the beginning. The change is just starting. Only God knows how it will affect me. I love everyone on this plane, seeing Dad and Callie in the airport. So now is the time to act. One quote, not necesarily the most important, but one/two "Apathy is the biggest sin of the society" and "the poverty of Latin America is Unbearable."
Thankful
- The Group
- Opening my eyes
- Safety
- Support Systems
- Central America"
When I returned from Central America I was definitely changed. I had been living in a world of groupthink and of the extremes being shoved into my senses all the time with almost no time to let it sink in. In that way, I know that there are some things that never sunk in. I honestly did not have time to really comprehend what I saw and what it meant for my life. But what I did come away from it all holding was the need to be intentional with my life. I needed to be intentional with my relationships. People are so important. Each one holds a story that is more unique and more special than anyone could imagine. I have met people and heard stories that no one in my culture would ever hear. I had spent 20 days living in a town where I was literally the second white person to ever enter and the previous had been 10 years prior. No one from our culture had ever heard a story of Quebraditas. I am literally the story sharer of the town (though you can find it on google earth). I was really pleased to see myself holding some amazing conversations with people during my first few days back. Holding them with a depth and focus that I had never known before because it was not important. I feel that is still important to me. I hate the majority of the conversations I hold with customers at Starbucks because they are so often fake and trite. that doesn't completely negate the fun of pointless interactions, but it is really hard to recognize the humanity of someone when the conversation topic is consistently about the weather.
One year away, I feel that I am doing a decent job of living up to my goals of simplicity and in harmony with the world God created. I do not own a car and instead commute around on a bike I found in the back of a shed at camp and was told to "get rid of." With the exception of the current gashes in my hands due to a little spill, this has been a wonderful experience. I still get everywhere I need to go in good time, but have not spent a cent on gas. I have lived basically every day in 1 of 2 pairs of chordoroy pants. We have a compost and have been recycling more than ever. So for a bunch of dudes living a post-college lifestyle, I feel that we are doing well. I would not say that this life is the most amazingly simple or that the environment is totally stoked about the way that I have been nursing it back to life, but it is OK.
This last year has been an interesting one from the political standpoint. Barak Obama and Mauricio Funes were elected. Does this mean that everything is going to be great and equitable for everyone, NO. I sadly feel that I have not been as active in creating changes in my society. That is one area where I want to do more. I do have time, but instead am more apt to spend it watching something stupid on TV instead of trying to utilize it for a good purpose. I know that my mom has written more letters to our senators than I have (since I've written zero). I get angry, but that is worthless without action.
An interesting thing about these experiences is that a year out, I am still searching for the best way to tell people about my life. It is strange working at a place where I am the most liberal, most traveled, most politically opinionated person. It is really had to talk about what matters to me with someone who loves Starbucks for Starbucks. When I got back from El Slavador in January, everyone was more interested in my tan than my stories. When I went to Louisville to see if/where God was sending me with YAV, the question was "did you see any horseraces?" How do you explain to people that you just don't care about that stuff? How do you say what matters in your life in a sentence so that when they move on, maybe, just maybe, something poinent will stick in their minds? I don't know how to do that. Now that I am going to Peru, how do I give my little speech about where I am going, what I am doing, and what I don't know without wanting to punch myself in the jaw for saying the same thing AGAIN? I guess this goes back to what I was saying about intentionality, the US culture is not good about it. I know this may seem ironic that I am saying this in a blog which may or may not be read by people. I will never really know. I hate twitter and facebook status because it is just telling people trite pieces of your life that they don't really care about but just are curious. There are no real interactions.
Now that I have written a ton, I probably should wrap it up. This year of being back in the states has been good. I loved my time at Camp Spalding because I was with people. I did forget about the issues that were so important to me when I returned, but it was a summer where it was the relationships that really mattered. I have enjoyed living in Spokane because I have been able to keep up on the relationships with the amazing CASPers. I have enjoyed working (that is something to be infinitely thankful for these days). I had a great trip to El Salvador/Honduras (for more, read those posts, just scroll down). I am so excited to go to Peru. I love my family and friends. I am still going to be on my bike (though it has some bent brake handles at the moment). So, CASP 2008 changed me and I feel that I am a better person for it (that is an understatement). But when I was on that plane from Seattle to Spokane, sipping a beer (funny enough, the best of the trip), I was afraid that a year from then I was going to have forgotten everything that was important to me. That hasn't happened. It has changed. I think that I am a little more realistic about it all, but still have so much more that I can do. Peru is just a step in this process as will be going to work tonight. My life keeps going and each step has shaped me into who I am and who I will become, but the experiences from Central America have become and will continue to be some of the strongest reminders of how to life my life.
Monday, April 27, 2009
The inconvienent truth
Ok, first of all, I need to apologize for the title of this post. Al Gore did his bit, but it just fit just too well not to jump on that band wagon. Please just laugh a little and we will move forward.
As most of you know, I am going to Peru this August with the Presbyterian Church. I will be going with 5 girls from across the country (yea, I'm the only dude). For more information, please see my previous post. The reason for this message is that I must raise $9,000 for this trip. When I first learned of that sum, I felt very overwhelmed, but I feel that God has reminded me of how he is involved in my life. He helped me make it through my Whitworth education with minimal debt and I have no doubts that he will guide me in this process also. Therefore, my first realization about this process is that I cannot rely solely on outside giving. During this year "in a holding pattern," I have been saving money to pay down/off my student loans. Therefore, I am confident that I can provide over half the sum needed for my YAV year. I feel that it would be completely unfair for me to ask others to make financial sacrifices if I were not willing to do the same. If you would like to contribute, the easiest way is through the YAV web donation site. Simply click my name at the bottom of this page.
If financial giving is not your thing or you are unable to monitarily support me, I still want to thank you. By simply reading this blog, you are being interested in my life and I am so grateful for that. Please keep this entire experience in your thoughts and prayers. I am truly unable to express my excitement for this experience (3 words that begin with "ex" in one sentence, alliteration overload!!!!). Thank you for being in my life and please be in contact throughout the duration of the year because I want to know what is happening at home as well as you want to know about Peru. Thank you again and please be informed about YAV and its purposes through the YAV site. You are all fantastic.
As most of you know, I am going to Peru this August with the Presbyterian Church. I will be going with 5 girls from across the country (yea, I'm the only dude). For more information, please see my previous post. The reason for this message is that I must raise $9,000 for this trip. When I first learned of that sum, I felt very overwhelmed, but I feel that God has reminded me of how he is involved in my life. He helped me make it through my Whitworth education with minimal debt and I have no doubts that he will guide me in this process also. Therefore, my first realization about this process is that I cannot rely solely on outside giving. During this year "in a holding pattern," I have been saving money to pay down/off my student loans. Therefore, I am confident that I can provide over half the sum needed for my YAV year. I feel that it would be completely unfair for me to ask others to make financial sacrifices if I were not willing to do the same. If you would like to contribute, the easiest way is through the YAV web donation site. Simply click my name at the bottom of this page.
If financial giving is not your thing or you are unable to monitarily support me, I still want to thank you. By simply reading this blog, you are being interested in my life and I am so grateful for that. Please keep this entire experience in your thoughts and prayers. I am truly unable to express my excitement for this experience (3 words that begin with "ex" in one sentence, alliteration overload!!!!). Thank you for being in my life and please be in contact throughout the duration of the year because I want to know what is happening at home as well as you want to know about Peru. Thank you again and please be informed about YAV and its purposes through the YAV site. You are all fantastic.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Peru
As many of you know, I have been looking for a way to serve God and other people with my life. So I have been applying with various international development agencies and churches. I am very happy to say that I will be going to Peru with the Presbyterian Church's Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program. I will be heading out on August 24 for orientation and then will leave for Peru on August 31. I am so incredibly excited. I am very happy to have an answer to the "what are you doing with your life" question. There will be 5 other YAVs traveling with me to Peru, including Anna Gray who also went on the Central America Study Program in 2008. We will be living with families for the duration of the year and will be working with organizations through a network of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) called "holding hands." At this time I do not know exactly what work I will be doing or where I will be living, but the sites are in the general region around Lima (within a few hours busing). I have to thank all of you for being supportive of me in my persuits and ask that you will keep me, the other YAVs (in Peru and other sites), and the general movement toward a better future in your prayers. Thank you all for being in my life.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.pcusa.org/yav
For more information, please visit:
http://www.pcusa.org/yav
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Life is amazing
It has been a while since I've written. I don't have much to say in particular and am watching a little of the first round of the tourney before having to get ready for work.
First, I just have to say how fopeful I am for the new administration in El Salvador. I really hope that Funes will be able to step out of the mire that has held the political establishment of that country for the last 20 and/or 200 years. He talks big, with thoughts a on reconciliation and directly quoting Romero's dream of a "preferential option for the poor." Wow, I hope that pans out. Right now Cheri, Allyn, Travis, and Glen are down there. If I hear from them, I may add some of their thoughts.
As for me, I am still in the processes about doign stuff. I am flying to Louisville next week to interview for YAV. Specifically, I am interviewing for positions in Peru and Guatemala. I am really hoping for Peru. I am really excited about the programs that they are working with. I have read some of the blogs of the current YAVs there and it gets me really excited. I am a little less excited about Guatemala, not because of anything specific, but it is based out of Xela and I am a little less excited to go back to the town I've already been to. I know it is kinda stupid and that it would be awesome if that is where God wants me to go, but just thoughts I'm having.
Well, I have to fid a way to shower and be ready in the next 45 minutes, but can't turn off the TV because the Cal State Northridge-Memphis game is amazing. I LOVE MARCH!!!!
First, I just have to say how fopeful I am for the new administration in El Salvador. I really hope that Funes will be able to step out of the mire that has held the political establishment of that country for the last 20 and/or 200 years. He talks big, with thoughts a on reconciliation and directly quoting Romero's dream of a "preferential option for the poor." Wow, I hope that pans out. Right now Cheri, Allyn, Travis, and Glen are down there. If I hear from them, I may add some of their thoughts.
As for me, I am still in the processes about doign stuff. I am flying to Louisville next week to interview for YAV. Specifically, I am interviewing for positions in Peru and Guatemala. I am really hoping for Peru. I am really excited about the programs that they are working with. I have read some of the blogs of the current YAVs there and it gets me really excited. I am a little less excited about Guatemala, not because of anything specific, but it is based out of Xela and I am a little less excited to go back to the town I've already been to. I know it is kinda stupid and that it would be awesome if that is where God wants me to go, but just thoughts I'm having.
Well, I have to fid a way to shower and be ready in the next 45 minutes, but can't turn off the TV because the Cal State Northridge-Memphis game is amazing. I LOVE MARCH!!!!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Home
Hey,
I am sorry that this blog posting has taken so long to happen. The second week of the trip was a whirlwind and my last week here in Spokane has been very full of work, JVI applications, Andrew being in town, and having the internet break at our house. So, thanks to the bucks, I'm going to get this out before work in 17 minutes.
I think my last entry was the day before I was to leave San Salvador for Ilabasco to actually observe the elections. Friday morning we had a good lecture in SS about the economic status of the country. It was by one of the FMLN diputados. He apparently had basically written the agenda for Mauricio Funes (FMLN presidential candidate). It was a good lecture, but it did make me want to know more about the ARENA platform. I know that they have some ideas and that the party is completly evil (though that is how it seems to be more and more painted). I want to see how they are planning on moving the country forward. I know that my leaninings have been and will continue to be oriented toward the left of the country, but there has to be a reason for people to lean right. I know that no matter how much I disagree with something, people do actually believe that way for a reason.
That afternoon, we piled into busses and drove to Ilabasco. There we met an organization that was working to give artistic and technical training to local kids. The had an enourmous gang problem and they had helped to GREATLY reduce the violence by working with both sides. They were really well acclaimed and were doing great work. That night we continued our awkwardness when we had dinner at a lady's house. For an organization called Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad, we have not had enough exchange or solidarity. That has been frusterating, but that is probably because many of the group do not have the sufficent spanish to make this work.
Saturday morning we headed to a town called Victoria and visited Radio Victoria. It was a small community radio that had existed since the war. They were really cool and were devoted to making good radio for the community to get news. Good opportunities for local kids too. I love small operations like this. In the afternoon, we had more meetings with various elections officials and in the evening we went back to Ilabasco and met with the local Municipal Elections Board (JEM). They showed us the voting center for the town, which was 8 blocks of the street. There were going to be 98 tables (with 450 potential voters at each table = about 44,000 voters). There was a company that had been contracted by the government to set up each voting center in the country, but here they decided that they didn't like what they company had decided and opted to set it up the classic way, which was to put the tables in a long line and allow them to move back and forth to stay out of the sun. So, we helped set up the first table and Wayne (one of the other observers of whom I've got a few funny stories, ask me some time) pretened to vote and check if they worked.
Voting day started at 5 am (an hour later than Miguelitro's group). We arrived at the center at 5:30 and each table was supposed to recieve their voting packet at 6 to be ready to start the voting process at 7. The table that was designated as "mine" (random picking) got there at 7:19 because the handing out process was taking so long. A info on how the system works. Each table has 3-5 members from the parties that have candidates and then 3-5 vigilantes (1 from each party) that was there to watch the system and make sure everyone was working well. So they set up, members of the table (JRV) voted and general voting started around 8. The day was a zoo. There were about 20,000 people who voted during the course of the day. At many points it felt more like a fair than a voting center. Quite an odd situation. There were long lines, no one knew which table they were to vote at. There were quibbles about whether or not to allow DUIs (ID cards) and all kinds of stuff. One woman didn't get to vote because someone had already voted as her. Another man found his dad that had died 5 years ago on the voting list. But for the most part things in Ilabasco went decently smoothly. It was very interesting seeing the salvadorian system because it is completly based upon mistrust. Everything is done in the presence of multiple parties and therefore everyone is making sure that their interests aren't getting screwed. It is also interesting seeing how you vote for the party not the individual because it puts so much more power in the hands of the party. It is also interesting because the parties do basically all the transportation on voting day. There is no public transport on that day and so it is hard to imagine that there sin't propaganda of some sort happening on these busses/trucks/etc. There is a lot of other stories, ask me some time. But in all, these elections went well but there is a long way to go. As far as I know, no one died which is good. So, thumbs up for the future.
After voting day, we went back to San Salvador for writing reports, listening to reports, a press conference and some dancing with the Whitworth El Salvador trip. On wednesday, Mike and I hopped on busses and went to Honduras. It took longer than we thought it would and so we didn't end up at our home stays until thrusday morning. It was fun to talk into the house and have my family be totally surprized. The time there was really good. I was only in Quebraditas for 48 hours, but it was the perfect amount of time. I got to play soccer, see my host sister's new baby (she was barely pregnant and we didn't even know last time), pick coffee, take lots of pictures, and just be present with them. This time was hard though. I would say that the family and the town are in a worse position than they were last year. The rains of this fall ruined the country's corn/beans/rice crops and the coffee crop was smaller and of a lower quality. The bridge to the town got washed out and so they can only come/go during nice weather. One of the hardest parts for me was knowing where I was there. I wasn't there to help, to do school, but just visit. How can you justify 2 trips to see people that have never left their country? Just some of the stuff that has been running through my mind.
After leaving Quebraditas, we had another long day of travel, then sunday went to the beach, sunday night I got really sick, monday flew home, tuesday started working again at the bucks. Yea that does mean I was picking coffee on friday and selling it on tuesday. Quite a turn around. Now I am trying to figure out what this trip meant to me. Where I am I going to go with it? I just finished a few applications to some organizations that could send me back for 1-2 years. So we will see. You have been reading for quite a while now, so I'm going to call it. I am going to try to write a little here and there, but I won't be sending out mass emails, so keep up if you want. Thank you all for your prayers. If you want to hear more, let me know. We can get coffee or I'll cook for you or something. Paz de cristo
Here are some pics
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027393&l=f02b4&id=59400432
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027089&l=2fc02&id=59400432
I am sorry that this blog posting has taken so long to happen. The second week of the trip was a whirlwind and my last week here in Spokane has been very full of work, JVI applications, Andrew being in town, and having the internet break at our house. So, thanks to the bucks, I'm going to get this out before work in 17 minutes.
I think my last entry was the day before I was to leave San Salvador for Ilabasco to actually observe the elections. Friday morning we had a good lecture in SS about the economic status of the country. It was by one of the FMLN diputados. He apparently had basically written the agenda for Mauricio Funes (FMLN presidential candidate). It was a good lecture, but it did make me want to know more about the ARENA platform. I know that they have some ideas and that the party is completly evil (though that is how it seems to be more and more painted). I want to see how they are planning on moving the country forward. I know that my leaninings have been and will continue to be oriented toward the left of the country, but there has to be a reason for people to lean right. I know that no matter how much I disagree with something, people do actually believe that way for a reason.
That afternoon, we piled into busses and drove to Ilabasco. There we met an organization that was working to give artistic and technical training to local kids. The had an enourmous gang problem and they had helped to GREATLY reduce the violence by working with both sides. They were really well acclaimed and were doing great work. That night we continued our awkwardness when we had dinner at a lady's house. For an organization called Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad, we have not had enough exchange or solidarity. That has been frusterating, but that is probably because many of the group do not have the sufficent spanish to make this work.
Saturday morning we headed to a town called Victoria and visited Radio Victoria. It was a small community radio that had existed since the war. They were really cool and were devoted to making good radio for the community to get news. Good opportunities for local kids too. I love small operations like this. In the afternoon, we had more meetings with various elections officials and in the evening we went back to Ilabasco and met with the local Municipal Elections Board (JEM). They showed us the voting center for the town, which was 8 blocks of the street. There were going to be 98 tables (with 450 potential voters at each table = about 44,000 voters). There was a company that had been contracted by the government to set up each voting center in the country, but here they decided that they didn't like what they company had decided and opted to set it up the classic way, which was to put the tables in a long line and allow them to move back and forth to stay out of the sun. So, we helped set up the first table and Wayne (one of the other observers of whom I've got a few funny stories, ask me some time) pretened to vote and check if they worked.
Voting day started at 5 am (an hour later than Miguelitro's group). We arrived at the center at 5:30 and each table was supposed to recieve their voting packet at 6 to be ready to start the voting process at 7. The table that was designated as "mine" (random picking) got there at 7:19 because the handing out process was taking so long. A info on how the system works. Each table has 3-5 members from the parties that have candidates and then 3-5 vigilantes (1 from each party) that was there to watch the system and make sure everyone was working well. So they set up, members of the table (JRV) voted and general voting started around 8. The day was a zoo. There were about 20,000 people who voted during the course of the day. At many points it felt more like a fair than a voting center. Quite an odd situation. There were long lines, no one knew which table they were to vote at. There were quibbles about whether or not to allow DUIs (ID cards) and all kinds of stuff. One woman didn't get to vote because someone had already voted as her. Another man found his dad that had died 5 years ago on the voting list. But for the most part things in Ilabasco went decently smoothly. It was very interesting seeing the salvadorian system because it is completly based upon mistrust. Everything is done in the presence of multiple parties and therefore everyone is making sure that their interests aren't getting screwed. It is also interesting seeing how you vote for the party not the individual because it puts so much more power in the hands of the party. It is also interesting because the parties do basically all the transportation on voting day. There is no public transport on that day and so it is hard to imagine that there sin't propaganda of some sort happening on these busses/trucks/etc. There is a lot of other stories, ask me some time. But in all, these elections went well but there is a long way to go. As far as I know, no one died which is good. So, thumbs up for the future.
After voting day, we went back to San Salvador for writing reports, listening to reports, a press conference and some dancing with the Whitworth El Salvador trip. On wednesday, Mike and I hopped on busses and went to Honduras. It took longer than we thought it would and so we didn't end up at our home stays until thrusday morning. It was fun to talk into the house and have my family be totally surprized. The time there was really good. I was only in Quebraditas for 48 hours, but it was the perfect amount of time. I got to play soccer, see my host sister's new baby (she was barely pregnant and we didn't even know last time), pick coffee, take lots of pictures, and just be present with them. This time was hard though. I would say that the family and the town are in a worse position than they were last year. The rains of this fall ruined the country's corn/beans/rice crops and the coffee crop was smaller and of a lower quality. The bridge to the town got washed out and so they can only come/go during nice weather. One of the hardest parts for me was knowing where I was there. I wasn't there to help, to do school, but just visit. How can you justify 2 trips to see people that have never left their country? Just some of the stuff that has been running through my mind.
After leaving Quebraditas, we had another long day of travel, then sunday went to the beach, sunday night I got really sick, monday flew home, tuesday started working again at the bucks. Yea that does mean I was picking coffee on friday and selling it on tuesday. Quite a turn around. Now I am trying to figure out what this trip meant to me. Where I am I going to go with it? I just finished a few applications to some organizations that could send me back for 1-2 years. So we will see. You have been reading for quite a while now, so I'm going to call it. I am going to try to write a little here and there, but I won't be sending out mass emails, so keep up if you want. Thank you all for your prayers. If you want to hear more, let me know. We can get coffee or I'll cook for you or something. Paz de cristo
Here are some pics
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027393&l=f02b4&id=59400432
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027089&l=2fc02&id=59400432
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