So, since i began work I have been aggresive about mentioning to anyone that would listen that I would like to go into the field. It paid off. The past week I have spent in the northern part of Bolivia, in a remote, tropical region experiecing the most enriching, exhuasting and fulfilling 5 days ever. As ACDI/VOCA we help implement small mico business plans that people propose, such as a juice stand, a bakery, etc, by helping purchase a new oven, a blender, to help them get started and expand the buiness. My role was to interview beneficiaries of the project, to see how it all worked out. To felt like I was contributing in some small way was both exhilerating and rewarding, and to see the success of these programs was humbling to be a part of.
The week started at 6 am, at the office, where I piled into a car with Martin, a programs coordinator, and Vlady, the driver. Certainly the most luxurious roadtrip I have taken since I got here: I had the whole backseat of the car to myself. And after ten hours of driving along dangerous dirt road (that means 10 hours of conversation in Spanish) we were right outside of town, about 5 km, when we saw a family killing and slicing a cow, that was hanging from a tree right next to the road. We stopped because we KNEW them. It is one of the people i will be INTERVIEWING because we gave them a new table, a refrigerator, and a display case for their meat mercado! the veins of the thighs were still pulsing and flies were swarming as the family patiently peeled the skin, seperated the four stomachs, and with a regular carpenters saw cut right down the spine of the cow. they usually slaughter two cows on Mondays, I learned, but this was a big one, so they were just doing one that day. quite an experience.
We continued on to the hotel, with a veeery old dueno (owner) who did not remember our reservation, nor did he remember which rooms were occupied. We would come in at night and he would be in front of the television full blast, with eyes shut and mouth wide open, his snoring competing with the commercials. I got settled into my room, amd went to wash my hands. Turned on the faucet, and i felt like i was in a movie where someone was playing tricks on me. the water pressure would surge and then stop, trickle and then stream. drip and then slash. it had a mind of its own. later that night i got home to bursh my teeth... there was no water. no water at all. not to flush the toilet, brush my teeth. that makes the shower decion pretty easy, i thought! then i was laying in bed and WOOSH, i guess i had not closed the faucet and the water was back on.. full blast! I jumped out of bed, toothbrush in hand, and by the time I got to the faucet it was already at a drip, drip drip.
Palos Blancos. a very very humid little town, in the Alto Beni region, was our home base. I keep imagining it would be exactly like hawaii before it was developed. dirt roads lined with banana, papaya and coconut trees. wild orchids, and houses made with palm fran roofs. really beautiful, but very dusty too, because this is the dry season, so the red dirt from the roads kicks up a lot. and i drenched myself in insect repellent to avoid mosquitos, polvillinos (little dust bugs that pínch), and the mutitpldue of other insects. There is an ACDI/VOCA field office in Palos, with internet and electricity that work occasionally. And when the internet doesnt work, that means the entire towns internet isnt working because there is only one server in the town. There are very few glass windows. Most are just a green screen to let air pass through. The front door is a screen door. People work late into the night because it is cooler then, and so after checking into the hotel we went straight to work until 11 pm. This town is DEFINITELY not in the lonely plant. but it is just a normal town, with normal rhythm and normal people, trying to make ends meet. ah, traveling sure opens your eyes huh?
The next morning I woke up at 5:45 sharp to an entire flock of roosters outside my window. and could not go back to sleep. Late nights. Early mornings. Very full days.
MORE SOON:
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