El principito, parte 2

Había una vez un principito que era feliz. Tenía para comer y un techo para dormir. Sobre todo tenía música y le encantaba bailar; asi viajaba.
Sin embargo, un día le dijeron que lo que vivía era demasiado bueno para ser verdad, que no se podía vivir bien sin tener un trabajo o dinero -lo del dinero le costó entender porque al principio eran pedazos de papel que no eran comestibles ni producían música ni podía utilizar como ropa cómodamente. Luego se hizo una tarjeta que tenía cables y frecuencias, era como un videojuego.
El principito fue absorbido por la idea ya que todos Los demás eran así, parecía razonable. Así fue como se olvidó de lo que algún día había tenido.

Como todos Los demás, el también decidió que tener vacaciones una vez al año era importante. En uno de estos viajes salió una criatura del agua y le habló de todo lo que el principito habia vivido antes, cultivar su comida, cantar y comparator con la Tierra y Los seres queridos.
El principito no creyó que ésto podía ser cierto, dijo que nadie podía vivir así, que incluso este paseo en el que estaba era solo un sueño.
La criatura del agua le dijo que era cierto lo que estaba viviendo, que sufrir era parte de ser feliz pero que la vida no es para sufrir si no para ser feliz. Estar triste o frustrado o estresado está bien, con moderación, con propósito.
El principito no creyó que la criatura de agua existía así que como solo lo que el observador quiere ver, existe, la criatura de agua desapareció de su vista. Aunque seguía ahí, el principito ya no podía verle. Más o menos como el cerebro borra la nariz y las pestañas de su vista, aunque están ahí, estorbarian la vista.
El principito se fue a dormir y soñó que estaba en su trabajo y era infeliz. Después de todo, era su única opción porque era todo lo que quería creer.

Colonization for Children, a story (titled coined by Kristen Wallis)

Once upon a time there were purple people. They were sovereign and had developed every system so their community was equitable. They had traditions of sacrifice animals and people in the name of their goddess Pachamama. No disease was visible and although they died around their 50s, they had a plentiful life and understood the cycle.
Then came the yellow people. They had things that the purple people had never seen before. Through mesmerizing the purples, the yellows were able to subordinate them. The systems of the purples for sanitation and health, for passing their knowledge from generation to generation was oppressed. With time, some purples grew resentful and wanted what the yellow had. POWER. The yellows raped the purples and were diluted. The purple-yellows were called indigos. A lot of purples died because of all the diseases and abuse that the yellows brought. Indigos also suffered but survived. Indigos did not want to be under the yellows' power anymore so they started a revolution. The indigos took over and the few purples that survived were isolated. They became the 'poor' according to the indigos and yellows. Yellows still thought that the indigos were unworthy and treated other colors as inferiors.
The indigos emulated the yellows for centuries and marginalized the purples. As a result many purples left their communities to become more like the indigos and yellows. The purples struggled because they had lost much of their knowledge on how to care for land and resources but with time they were able to recover many of those systems.

Some indigos started realizing that the purples were some of the wealthiest in wisdom and decided to start listening to them and learning. Other indigos only wanted to be yellow. Very few were happy as indigos but still followed what the indigos that were following the yellows would do.

Since the indigos had also oppressed the purple, one day the yellows felt pity for the purples and decided to help them against the indigos.

A lot of purples were dedicated to get food and water, take care of animals and build their shelters. One day the yellows started handing them money so that they could be "empowered". Some purples liked money and started asking for more. Other groups of purples disliked money because it brought fights to their communities. These groups warned the yellows not to come or they would shrink their heads. Some did not listen.

Some yellows decided to go into communities to tell them that how they were living was wrong, that they needed running water, toilets and jobs (with money involved). They told them that carrying water was a waste of time and offered 'solutions' that yellows had implemented seeing so much disease -the solutions were much like what the purples had had before the yellows came-.

Many of the purples saw that the yellows were unhappy with the recommendations they were making. Their children were alone and killing without understanding the reasons -any times it happened because the yellows wanted power over other colors-. Moreover,the yellows did not have a good relationship with Pachamama. Some purples, seeing this, rejected the yellows' solutions. They would simply smile at the yellows, may be share if the yellows were willing to listen and then let them leave.

The yellows felt good because they thought they were helping the 'poor people'.

Some indigos that were mixed among the yellows saw what the yellows meant by the idea of helping people and decided it was their role to work that way too, so that they can be more like the yellows.

Other indigos with power respected the purples and seeing what the yellows were doing, a governmental bridge was created so that the purples could be sovereign. The yellows thought that the indigos were being evil by doing this. Some indigos even started to pretend to be purple so that they could utilize the yellow to get money -most yellows did not notice-.

Many indigos then started not liking their yellow side and wished they could be more like the purples, but there was no way back.

Limbo (June 16, 2011)

Ultimos dias en el barco. El 13 tuve dia de lectura para estudiar. Me levante temprano despues de la serenata y luego del desayuno me recoste en una banca a ver el mar… Dormi por una hora, la siesta mas placida en mucho tiempo. Regrese a verles a mis queridos en la mesa de siempre por las mananas. Conversamos y luego comence a escribir los ultimos ensayos que tenia que entregar. Al terminar eso Sali otra vez a la banca y escribi otra historia. Es sobre un principe que era feliz pero pensaba que era infeliz… La posteare al final con la otra historia que escribi.

Estudiar, leer, ir a la presentacion de mi amiga Jen que escribio un libro para ni~os para comprar uniformes, entre otros proyectos. Creo que una red social con una base de datos de NGOs y soluciones de comunidades es la solucion para alcanzar los objetivos del milenio.

Por la noche tuvimos una cena formal y al salir de eso mientras seguia estudiando recibi un email. Querian que haga el discurso de convocacion (como de graduacion) al siguiente dia en nombre de los estudiantes. Lo acepte. Empece a preguntar alrededor, que dirias si podrias referirte a todo el barco? No tuve respuestas inspiradoras…

Esa noche si apagaron las luces y pude ver estrellas. Una estrella fugaz paso y le pedi un deseo… Mi amigo Charles vino a contarme una historia, como lo ha estado haciendo durante todo el viaje. Las historias son acerca de esta maquina, UNIVAC que es capaz de responder todas las preguntas si se le ha dado toda la informacion posible. Hemos compartido muchas historias durante el viaje… Han sido geniales.

En la manana me levanter a las 6 para estudiar y escribir mi discurso asi que cuando fue el momento Sali a la cubierta y comenzo a amanecer. Los rosas en el cielo eran de sue~o. En lugar de estudiar, me puse a escribir mi discurso. Tuve mi examen inmediatamente despues de esto y me fue genial! Mi profesora nos dio una charla de aplicacion para educacion superior en ingenieria. He estado hablando con ella desde el principio del viaje y le he llegado a querer mucho. Ahora estoy segura de que eso es lo que quiero hacer con mi vida.

Mi discurso vino despues con cantar imagine en convocacion. Por la tarde solo quedaba limbo. El sol, la conversacion. Decidi ir a recoger mi camara del cuarto y de pronto estaba en un plan de pintar todas las banderas de los paises que visitamos en nuestras espaldas con unas amigas. Fue toda una experiencia.

Cenar y luego escuchar preport para Nassau. El doctor me hizo llorar. Si hubiera sido doctora hubiera querido ser como el. Despues mis amigos y yo nos quedamos bailando por largo rato en el union.

Bailar y conversar y no dormir pensando en que se acababa. Pensar que en la manana tendriamos que salir del barco. Ver el amanecer y tomar la informacion de los queridos. Esperar, esperar y dejar que crezcan raices con angustia.

Decir hasta pronto al explorer sin regresar a ver…

En el aeropuerto tuve la conversacion que necesitaba con el profesor de calidad de construccion de hogares para poder cerrar el capitulo de este viaje.

Alejandro y yo estabamos en el mismo vuelo para Miami. El era mi ultima conexion al barco. Cuando el se fue senti como todo se acababa. Habia pasado una gran porcion del viaje tratando de convencerle que el viaje no era un sue~o y que tanto la realidad en el barco es la misma realidad a la que regresaba para no sobredimensionarlo todo. Para que a persona que regresa pueda vivir y compartir lo que aprendio con los que no pudieron estar ahi. Pero cuando se cerraron las puertas detras de el comenzo a sonar una alarma y una luz azul a titilar. Era mi miedo a que tenga razon y se acabe un sue~o.

Estoy convencida de que el esta equivocado. Mientras esperaba por mi vuelo estaba leyendo ‘El Campo’ y en ese momento estaba describiendo un experimento en el que habian comprobado que el efecto de una gran concentracion de proteina (por ejemplo) cuando es completamente diluida y basicamente desaparece de la sustancia aun deja una memoria en el solvente (generalmente agua) y aun tiene las mismas funciones. Quiero creer que se aplica a todos los que estuvimos en ese barco, ahora que nos diluimos otra vez al mundo, ojala tengamos el mismo efecto a donde vayamos…

En fin. Este fue mi discurso (no lo lei asi que cuando obtenga el video y lo ponga aqui seguramente va a ser un poco distinto)

Storytelling

The wisdom of humanity is held in folk stories. One of my favorite writers, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, says that life is not what you lived but what you remember and how you remember to tell the story.

So, what type of stories are you gonna tell?

I know I’ll be talking about the boys that were trying to teach me how to play cricket in Trinidad and Tobago. I’ll tell the stories of the little girl who had lost her friend in a shooting because of drugs in the streets of Panama. It all happened behind the façade of the growing skyscrapers. I will be telling the stories of the Costa Ricans who are able to be one with nature and have been able to reconnect with the cycle of life. Humans are huge fertilizing machines. After all that is Pura Vida.

I’ll be talking about Fabricio who would not stop telling me about facts of Honduras and how important is the revolution occurring in his country. I will not forget to mention all the people that are dying every day in this fight against the elite.

I’ll tell the story of Ak-tenamit and how the sun that once was God of all is back as the provider figure through the use of solar panels.

I will tell the story about the wisdom of the people of Belize about their plant properties. The same I saw in Guatemala. Did you know that carnations tea can cure hemorrhages?

The people I met do not need saviors, they need allies. Just as much as I do. They do not need get books thrown at them but to be taught how to read and write so THEY can write their own stories and share them.

What has changed? The premise. The question is not What is the problem with…? Anymore. In fact, there is no question. It is a statement. I want to meet the people, learn from them, share with them.

I saw the questions of some communities being answered in others. I am a believer of networking as the solution. All the answers and solutions are already there, they just need to get to the right people and you are the right people.

So, what stories are you gonna tell?

Unbelizeable (June 13, 2011)

I felt it. The end is coming so as I sat down for breakfast I felt as though I should not leave the ship for the last port… Made plans with many people and just stayed. Joey, Meghan and I decided to go to the zoo together. I do not like zoos, never really had. Always thought it was cruel but we were told by the invited guest speaker that it is different. When we got into the tender (first port that we had done this) we found John who wanted to go cave tubing! We joined his plan. We went to cave branch and had the most amazing tour guide who was telling us about the limestone formations and the plants grown in the area. They have the Xata from which the green leaves are used dye the dollar bills and the bullhorn whose bark in a tea lowers blood pressure (mainly utilized when bitten by snake so venom wont spread).

Going into the caves was breathtaking. The Mayans call it Xibalba, where you would go back into the underworld. It was quite a journey. It was explained to us as the path for death. I wish it was still understood in this manner. The small pockets of light with water underneath as I was floating felt surreal. But it was real and wonderful. It felt too short, I decided to start swimming when we were already outside. I wish we could have stayed longer.

On our way to the zoo we stopped for food. Our driver, Rupert, joined us. He was very knowledgeable about the plants around us and was telling us about his life growing up in farmland at Teakettle, a little town outside of Belize City. He was telling me about the fear of the people when the first jet flew over them. He was very young and could not believe it. What a heart that of Rupert’s. You could see it through his eyes.

The zoo was good. I held a boa constrictor (as I always do when allowed to hold snakes).The idea of the zoo was great, taking care of animals that would otherwise be endangered. However, I still saw incarcerated animals. I wish humans would not have created the circumstances in which now the only choice is to put animals in a prison to protect them.

Anywho, back in Belize City the lights were dim and the lack of safety was visible. Joey, Meghan and I went into a bar and talked development for a long time. It was a great discussion! In the middle of it, a lady came to talk to Joey and he said I was his wife so the lady came to me and gave me the most obscene advice I have ever heard. We were laughing at first but then it got a little uncomfortable so we left back to the ship. I was sad I could not dance that night but I didn’t feel safe.

In the morning we went snorkeling and again I was in my element. The waves were fast and the reefs were moving along. The schools of fish were following the rhythm so I did too. I stopped swimming and move as much as I could away from the corals so that I could just let myself be there.

Kelsey and I stayed for lunch in one of the few places opened in town because it was Sunday. I was in a Garcia Marquez tale when the sky started falling with the rain as we were eating. It was beautiful. Got all my souvenirs and went back to the ship.

I had made arrangements with the voice (the assistant Dean who made the announcements twice a day) so that we could stargaze that night by turning off a few lights on the ship. Unfortunately, it was too windy on the front of the ship so it had to be cancelled. However, Alejandro, Perla and I still stargazed. It was Perla’s birthday so I serenaded her from Mana to Maroon 5. It was a wonderful night.

Imagine (June 10, 2011)

The setting was the union auditorium and there were 5 of us. I had brought my tucumba and we were singing around the piano. Imagine there is no heaven… at the top of our lungs. At the same time I was drawing. I wanted to capture the moment in the drawing but the smile in Joey’s face simply happened without my anticipation. It was the wavelength there.

Went to sleep late and woke up to Guatemala. I went with a group going to Ak-tenamit to apply the $100 solution initiative that I wanted to understand in a better manner. We arrived to this small community of mainly Qeqchi speakers and a few Spanish speakers. I was again asked to translate. I love this roll because I am able to hear first hand and ask questions that sometimes I would not be able to ask if I were only a listener.

Interestingly, the settlement was created by an outsider from the US whose company kept receiving applications from Mayans to work for him. After talking with a few of them, he decided to go to Guatemala and learn more about the situation. The trends of Central American countries to make of their land reserves has actually been detrimental to the people who lived there for centuries because they are forbidden to farm or do anything that could affect the ecosystem. I was surprised at this practice since the concept I had of reserves from Ecuador allows the people to use the resources because they have been taking care of the land for so long.

This started 19 years ago and the community has grown and adopted the model, even manipulated according to what they believe is right. The outsider is now just an adviser. He is truly an amazing man, Steve. Anyways, what they have there is what I have idealizing for education. Culturally appropriate education that teaches the community members how they can be productive in society without restraining them. The two majors they regularly have is environmentalism and the other is about cultural traditions. We were told about the success of the community members who created a small restaurant in the neighboring Livingston. A lot of chefs for traditional food have come out of the center and they are doing really well!

We went to see the solar panels that had been installed and now provide for the third of their energy consumption. I’m so glad it is the sun that is now directly again able to provide for their energy source. We also walked to their new tilapia farms which use a three storied system with greens on top, orchids in the middle and the last are the tilapia. It was a representation of the cycle of life… We were talking about the use of the plants and Oscar, our guide, was telling us about the use of the termite hives to be burnt so that the mosquitoes do not bite, among other uses of the flora in the area.

As we were having lunch, one of the future Mayan spiritual guides came to talk about the cosmovision class the people of the community have to take. I kept on translating until the explanation of the meaning in everyday came up. This was half qeqchi and Spanish so I was unable to follow. Megan, one of the videographers took over. She had lived in Guatemala for a long time before and her spiritual guide had taught her. It was amazing to hear.

The $100 dollar solution conversation started with Oscar describing the community concerns and ideas. A year ago $100 dollars had been given with the idea that the corozo nut (tagua) could be utilized as biomass or its oil for biodiesel. They had spent the money on fuel for going to all the communities in the area and talking with them so that they could be part of the recollection. Unfortunately, the results were inconclusive. Not enough oil could be taken out of the nut. The conversation continued to look for alternatives. The community had been composting its human waste for a long time and it had worked perfectly until the population had been 50. Today with over 400 people, the rate does not keep up. I proposed something like the biodigester they had in Chiquita. I think it is feasible and I hope they’ll consider it.

We left the school to get to the clinic. We had a conversation with the residents that were volunteering there. One was from California and the other from Switzerland. I asked a different doctor if I could see the facilities. He guided me around and was telling me about his major concerns. People in the small communities getting used to be given pills and forgetting their traditional medicine. I met Maria, one of the health promoters and she was telling me all about how carnations’ tea can be used for hemorrhage control and all this other plants. As we were leaving I told her I would come back… So I can learn from her. She said she’ll be waiting.

That night a group of us went out dancing. It is so nice to have another Latin American around so we can really dance. Alejandro (one of the singers that night by the piano) and I have grown close. The next day, Alejandro, Kyle, Ben and I went to walk around town and were chatting with a 5 year old who was doing his homework. He had the shiniest eyes I have seen and seemed very happy doing homework. I was glad to meet him. We left to Las Escobas around 12 when we had planned the group going through the ship would leave (we didn’t want to be there with another 100 people). When we arrived, a girl told me that it was not great and that we should not spend much time there. It is all so subjective… I had the most wonderful time swimming and in my own natural Jacuzzi with the small waterfalls that had been established. That place provides for most of the freshwater consumed in the area. Other tourists had been disappointed because there were no big waterfalls to see since it had not rained much lately. It reminded me of what I used to say when in High School, if you make yourself very high expectations of something you cannot control, you will most likely be disappointed. If there is no expectation, you will be amazed with what life has offered. I felt blessed in that water. Then we went for food, I ordered a tapado (with the most delicious seafood). The music was great so I was dancing by the pier and then seating by the water. It had been a great day!

I was finally able to talk to Heshi… My heart still beats fast with happiness.

Then Kyle and I went walking around town on a quest to find his flag, y pin and the post office. We found all plus the most delicious mango smoothie I have ever tried! We were some of the last to board the explorer.

The night was research and development project time…

Bantiosh (thanks you in qeqchi) because we finished on time!

SPS. Golpe de Estado (Junio 8, 2011)

(hubo un problema con el sistema y esto no se posteo a tiempo! Disculpenme! Todo esta ya escrito. Hoy lo comparto =)

SPS. Golpe de Estado

Tanto que paso antes de que llegaramos a Honduras… El dia antes de llegar al Puerto, mi mama adoptive de Peru me pidio que tradujera una clase para el professor Portillo, un historiador que vino representando a la Universidad Autonoma de Honduras. Lo hice y asi les conoci a el y a su hija, Itza, que se convirtieron en mi familia en Honduras. Tambien estuve de interprete por al noche cuando dio una introduccion historica y cultural de Honduras. Por la noche no los vi pero vaya que tuve una noche Hermosa. Le conoci a este chico que va a estar en Ecuador por tres semanas y conversamos largo, al final vamos a coincidar para vernos. Pero bueno, mientras conversamos vino mi hermano adoptive (ya hasta le digo ~a~o) y nos contaron que estaba lloviendo. Salimos a bailar en lluvia pero sin darme cuenta habia dejado de llover pero la musica no paraba y seguimos bailando. Un amigo trajo su guitarra y cantamos y bailamos en el charco hasta que el cansancio nos gano.

En la manana me encontre con Itza y su papa y me invitaron a quedarme con ellos en San Pedro Sula (SPS, como le dicen ellos). Durante el dia yo tenia que ir a la represa de El Cajon y luego ellos me encontraron en SPS. En fin, El Cajon fue muy interesante, realmente una maravilla de la ingeniera de este planeta, la represa mas grande con diseno de doble arco en el hemisferio occidental. Sin embargo, no pude dejar de pensar en toda la gente que tuvo que ser desplazada para que este funcione… No fue mucha y todos fueron indemnizados pero me recordo a la represa the Three Gorges en China y todas las desgracias que he leido acerca de esa situacion. La planificacion para la construccion de represas tiene que mejorar. Yo creo que regulacion internacional para eleccion de tierras tendra que implementarse mas alla de que activistas esten defendiendo tierras.

Llegue para SPS e Itza me recogio con su novio, Roldan. Me llevaron al centro comercial para que me saque el disfraz de turista ;) y luego nos fuimos a las Baleadas express, un lugar que ha comercializado la comida tipica de Honduras, mas o menos como ‘las menestras del negro’, ‘maria diocelina’ y otros lugares de comida tipica en Ecuador. Las baleadas son una delicia!

Roldan me empezo a contar acerca del golpe, de los toques de queda, de como la gente se emociono al regresar Mel (Asi le dicen a Zelaya por alla). Conversamos largo Itza, Roldan y yo. Luego me llevaron a la casa de Itza donde estaban Do~a Maritza y Don Joaquin Portillo. Ellos, siendo parte de la Resistencia me contaron la historia de como el pueblo al fin se desperto. Me contaron de como regreso la radio a ser el medio de comunicacion ya que la mayoria de canals televisivos le pertenecen a la oligarquia. Hablamos largo y tendido. Me acorde de mi Papa Klever mientras escuchaba la pasion con que la gente hablaba en la radio… Se que el estaria orgulloso.

En fin, Itza y yo conversamos en su cuarto por un buen rato, me conto de las historias de sus fotos en la pared y me dio nostalgia de la pared que yo tenia en mi cuarto en Ecuador… Por la manana Don Joaquin me ense~o su jardin. Tiene mangustines, bananas, coco, de todo. Me hizo probar todas las frutas que tenia ahi y me enseno las propiedades de otras, habia una planta (cuyo nombre tengo anotado en algun lugar) que contiene todos los nutrients que necesitas para el dia. Itza se fue a sus practicas (ella estudia odontologia) y Don Joaquin y Dona Maritza me llevaron al Guamilito, el Mercado para todo. Do~a Maritza tenia que irse para presenter una publicacion de seguridad de PNUD y yo me quede comiendo otra baleada en el Mercado con Don Joaquin. Mientras conversamos decidio invitarme a Radio 1 y me entrevistaron ahi con un grupo de la Resistencia. Habalmos acerca de Semester at Sea y luego de los paralelos entre Ecuador y Honduras. Ellos estan seguros de que el casi golpe de estado en Ecuador fue en experimento… En fin, algo importante que acote fue cuando habalron de como quieren cambiar el nombre de Puerto Cortes para que lleve el nombre de un ilustre Hondure~o. Ellos dijeron que es importante para que se nos quite el masoquismo. Yo respondi que deberia tratarse de enaltecer el orgullo Hondure~o. La conversacion fue genial. Ojala me pueda conseguir una copia.

En el mismo edificio habia una escuela de comunicaciones y habia una habitacion que tenia todo acerca de Ecuador. Sin embargo, en la pizarra decia que aun utilizabamos sucres y que el analfabetismo era del 93%. Me invitaron a la clase y les conte como las cosas son distintas ahora aparte de ense~arles algunas frases en Quechua. Pase un buen rato con los ni~os. Mi favorito fue Fabricio que me ense~aba a cada rato otro dato mas de Honduras.

Despues de eso me subi en una buseta para Puerto Cortes. La buseta no era para mas de 20 personas pero habian unas 30. Ni~os colgand de un brazo de sus madres. La transportacion realmente trae la realidad nacional a la luz. Un hombre se subio y dijo que tuvo un accidente y se subio la camisa. Tenia en una bolsa plastic, un intestino de algun animal, estoy segura de que no era suyo pero igual la gente tiene compasion y le dio del poco dinero que tiene de por si. Que lastima que haya gente se abuse de la bondad de otros. En fin, una se~ora estaba paraday se noto que estaba cansada, le di mi puesto y mientras veia todo lo verde de la ventana con las miles de acacias coloreando el paisaje sono en la radio Rivers of Babylon. Heshi se hizo presente.

Decidi quedarme caminando Puerto Cortes por la tarde. Queria probar la cerveza nacional asi que mi amiga Sam y yo fuimos para un barcito. En el primero que paramos estaba una chica que Sam reconocio, era una prostituta que habia contraido VIH y se dedicaba ahora a educar a gente acerca del virus, no mucha gente sabe lo que les puede pasar. La chica parecia estar borracha asi que al final nos fuimos a otro barcito. Es tan incredible como Sam y yo vimos dos lados tan distintos del pais… Ambis problematicos pero aun muy distintos… Mientras tomabamos la cerveza, se escucho un ruido como si hubiera habido un disparo que rompio el vidrio. Nos asustamos, estaba lista para echarme al suelo pero lo que realmente habia pasado fue que exploto un transfomador de la luz. Mi reaccion dice mucho acerca de la inseguridad que senti. Campesinos reclamando su tierra habian sido asesinados el dia anterior en el sur del pais. Se siente la ansiedad y angustia.

Luego estuvimos caminando y probamos mamones, una fruta deliciosa y en eso le conocimos a Yefrei, un amigo estaba buscando un ATM asi que Yefrei nos dirigio a uno. Estabamos conversando acerca de futbol y de sus hermanos. Tenia que ir a comprar un libro de ciencias naturales asi que fuimos con el pero ya no habia. Estaba viiieeendo un cuadernito para colorear y le compramos a cambio de que se siga portando bien. Fuimos a comer y nos dijo que su favorito es Pizza Hut asi que alla fuimos. Mientras nos sentamos me conto acerca de su amigo que els ense~aba a jugar futbol. Habia sido asesinado porque andaba con gente mala, metida en drogas. Escuchandole tuve que contenerme, queria llorar y abrazarle y decirle que todo va a estar bien. Le abrace aun y le dije que tiene que tener cuidado. Que lo mas importante es que le escuche a su mami y que les cuide a sus hermanos. Me despedi de Yefrei y regresamos para el barco. Habia comprador un instrumento y en el camino al barco me pase preguntando el nombre porque me habia olvidado… Pregunte a una docena de personas hasta encontrar respuesta =) Una tucumba, todos sonrieron al responder.

Pura Vida Costa Rica, en casa

Costa Rica truly started the day before we arrived to Puerto Limon… I offered a Salsa/merengue lesson and that just set the most amazing mood! It was fantastic! -I actually saw my students using their moves on another day in port =)

I left the ship as quickly as I could because I needed to reserve the hostel for the next day… A taxi driver said: welcome to Costa Rica, need a cab? I responded in Spanish and he said… Pura Vida, bienvenida a casa… I was definitely home.

I called the hostel (I was trying to get a phone card cause it was Heshi’s birthday- my best friend home but only got someone to lend me her cellphone to call the hostel). We were set for hammock hostel the second day… $5 for the one of the best nights of sleep I have ever gotten ;)

I went to the Chiquita biodigester the first day. It was truly amazing to see how much they have advanced on producing energy from their wastewater. I will leave the technicalities for my energy resources class but I admit I was impressed and asked about an internship there… I may be coming back to Costa Rica in a few months to learn more from them. The manager admitted that in earlier days banana plantations were abusive to the communities but now they are committed to maintain a good relationship with them ( I want to believe this is true, it seemed legitimate). Their biodigester  is used by the community as well and has significantly reduced the bad odors released to the environment. They talked about how they tried to implement good relationships with the passion fruit producers in Ecuador (that is their other office) but the middle men between the farmers and them would not step back… Chiquita Costa Rica is now growing passion fruit. It was disappointing to hear about the middle men back home, I know them… I could recognize their abusive nature with my smell. We need better policies, not for Chiquita to be able to buy their products but for farmers to be able to get fair prices for what they grow…

Anyways, at night I went out with a group and sang, danced and met a lot of really amazing people, including someone that worked for Del Monte… I guess they are all concentrated around here.

The next morning, my friend and I took the bus to Cahuita National Park and I understood. During the 8.3 km walk I was in awe… It was not the yellow viper, the morfo butterflies, the raccoon or the howling monkeys… it was the leaves… Randomly a leave would be rotating on its axis in comparison to the ones that surrounded it being stagnant. My awareness of their anima (Heshi, esta es por vos, su alma, su movimiento) was inevitable. They were there alive and I was there with them… I breathed. I understood then why everyone I talked to was so excited about the commitment of the government to become carbon neutral by 2021 (their 200 year anniversary of being a nation). They all see it and understand that there should not be any other way…  A taxi driver that I talked to said that although major changes will have to occur to change the fleets of cars, he wanted it to happen too, the Chiquita people talked about it… It was pura vida… At a point I just had to jump into the water, it was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen… Ferreira, you were right. The water was so warm and we had the beach to ourselves and swam and walked and walked and walked.

It took us 4 hours to finish the trail… Exhausted we took the bus to Puerto Viejo. There we met other friends and ate rice and beans, had daiquiris, listened to some music and then took a nap in the hammock hostel… It was AMAZING!

Puerto Viejo, on the other hand, reminded me of Montanita back home… I felt harassed by men and the drug offering was abundant and scary… (my tour guide, Olga, said that this all happened because this Spanish writer wrote a book about Puerto Viejo being a sexual mecca and many women coming in with such desires; it was sad to see all the people that were not functioning trying to walk) I was still able to go out dancing, firs reggae (oshi’s) then moved to a touristy place because it had a lot of people (mango) and then I moved to another reggae style place (Johnny’s place) and danced and danced until I went outside and saw the sky… I could not help it and had to go for a swim… The starry night was swimming with me.

I slept for two hours in my hammock and took the bus back to Puerto Limon… It was my opportunity to see Tortuguero… I saw sloths and thought of Sarah Sutliff… I miss that girl! I even made an impression in her name… I also saw a Jesus Christ lizard walk over the water and eat a pretty cricket! This place was breathtaking.  I heard great music by a group of musicians there at the station; I simply had to get their CD… I’ve been dancing to eat since then.

That day, as the first one I had the same tour guide. Her name is Olga. The first day we talked about social problems in Costa Rica and how even though there are so many protected areas, the all-inclusive hotels are taking up a lot of land, even destroying the mangroves without shame but the worst part is that they are using up the neighboring communities’ water without shame. More and more communities are being affected and they are asking for justice. It is not even benefitting the towns, these are hotel chains to which people go to never leave the hotel and meet the people… She was disappointed of the driven society dedicated to take pictures as proof of what they see. I think it is because people do not know how to react to beauty anymore, she agreed that a lot of people have become insensible due to the heightening of emotions and visuals we receive from television… It is not so easy to impress her tourists anymore… Being mesmerized with simple things holds the beauty in life…

Anyways, hopefully the people near the hotels will be heard. I guess it is a theme for this voyage… I do not approve of all inclusive hotels or resorts… She was also telling me that almost a third of the population was from Nicaragua (Costa Rica is also home to the biggest colony of US citizens outside of the US) and that there is a lot of tension as they claimed this island to be theirs because of a google map- ridiculous excuse (I remembering reading these news from Kevin)- because they are working on a new canal financed by Iran… I do not know the other half of the story but I also heard about this when I was in Panama… It is scary to think that they are willing to change the geography of the continent to pay less money to cross… I feel like there should be some amendment to the Human Rights or some type of agreement that inhibits the ability to do this… I know countries are sovereign but taking away hills can definitely affect habitats for all living… I hope this does not happen.

The last day Olga and I talked for a while about how amazing life is, our lack of television and how traveling is even possible from home… I adored her; we are definitely keeping in touch. The afternoon I fell asleep in Playa Bonita and then found the little market… I wished I did not have to leave Costa Rica. The amazing people I met, including Maria and David singing in the karaoke with me –I sang to Selena and got lots of applauses ;) – and Olga… Oh I feel revived and more connected to life again. Pura Vida.

 

Viva Panama!

Ayer llegue a Panama con una sola duda. Sera que el progreso del canal de Panama se refleja en las condiciones de vida de la gente? Queria darles el beneficio de la duda. Llegamos al Puerto de Colon y advertidos de que era una ciudad demasiado peligrosa fuimos para la ciudad de Panama inmediatamente. Casco Viejo guarda una belleza particular. Fuimos en busca de un hostal en esa area y a pesar de que encontramos un lugar de ensueno (Luna’s castle- super recomendable), no habia espacio para nosotros 10. Fuimos para otra zona de la ciudad y terminamos en Balboa Bay, un hostal pequenito con un monton de camas manejado por Alcivez y su esposa (muy Buena gente). En nuestra exploracion fuimos para Amador un camino e isla que fueron creados con las rocas excavadas cuando primero se construyo el canal. Ahi almorzamos un arroz con pollo y dasajo (carne) que estuvieron para chuparse los dedos. La vista es increible y si hubiera tenido mas tiempo hubiera manejado bicicleta por esta Ensenada artificial. Tuve que conformarme con caminar un poco.
Casco Viejo (diferente de Panama Viejo) contaba historias con sus edificios pero sobretodo con sus paredes. Cuando llegamos habia una celebracion en la Plaza de la Catedral. Era el dia de la raza de acuerdo a nuestro chofer (ojo diferente del 12 de Octubre). Habia musica y artesanias y los ninos y ninas bailaron las canciones tradicionales (creo que se llama Alrien de la zona que bailaban), fue espec tacular estar inmersa. Al mismo tiempo habia una protesta por los derechos de LGBTQ (lesbianas, gays, bisexuals, transexuales y cuestionando). Una chica estaba ofreciendo marcahojas para libros con la frase ‘un besito no es delito’. Por todo el casco Viejo vimos grafitis con esa frase y otras como ‘se duzca’. Me acorde de una amiga que no planea volver al Ecuador porque su orientacion sexual no es aceptada alla. Quien sabe y este es el momento para levantarnos como latinos ante el derecho de libre orientation sexual.
En fin, caminamos por el Paseo de las Bovedas, la plaza  de Francia y la Iglesia de Santo Domingo (bueno, las ruinas). En el camino de las bovedas habia un senor tocando el banjo al ritmo de Viva viva viva viva Panama! Baile y baile. Tambien me comi un granizado de nance, que fruta para deliciosa. De ahi fuimos a encontrarnos on los que restaban de nuestro grupo ( en ese momento solo estabamos 6, pero teniamos que encontrarnos con 4 mas) Mientras esperabamos vimos lo increible del hostal, cine pequeno (estaban viendo trainspotting) y galleria de artistas locales. Pero decidi irme para afuera, se veia la cinta costera y queria reconectarme con mi Pacifico querido. Mi amiga Bethany vino conmigo. Habia unos ninos jugando y me entro una urgencia de jugar con ellos que tuve que acercarme. Obviamente los ninos nos recibieron de mil maravillas. Estaban jugando al banco (uno de esos juegos que uno inventa de nino y no tiene nada de sentido cuando ya estas un poco grande). Durante el juego, las ninas me preguntaban de donde era y que como habia llegado, hasta cuando me quedo, si habia ido por aqui o por aca (una de ellas habia viajado por varias islas del Caribe). Una de ellas, Mafer, me pregunto si en Ecuador tambien habia balaceras. Le explique que si pero no en el area donde yo he vivido siempre. Me conto que a un chico le habian matado hace poco en esa misma area, que no sabia por que. Le dije que el esta major pero que ellos tienen que tener cuidado y no quedarse jugando por ahi hasta muy tarde. Otra nina me pregunto si habia visto Rosario Tijeras (estos ninos no tenian mas 10 anos). Le dije que si pero que que hacia ella viendo esas peliculas. Me sonrio picaramente. Hay novela en el canal 2 a las 8pm.  Esta novela de carteles y prostitucion la ven estos ninos sin censura. De todas maneras seguimos jugando volley y nos divertimos mucho. Los ninos querian tomar fotos y usaron mi camara. Estaban emocionadisimos.
Nos despedimos de ellos y caminamos por toda la cinta costera hasta llegar a nuestro hostal. En el camino me acerque a una senora Cuna (una de las tribus mas antiguas de Panama), y le pregunte de que se trataban los brazaletes cubriendo la mitad de su pierna. Me dijo que no estaba segura, que los ancianos son los que saben pero que busque en googlem que ahi seguramente esta la informacion… Esta interaccion me dejo un poco confundida… El grupo de Cunas ahi se pusieron a bailar  lo suyo es suyo…
Despues de no haberles encontrado a nuestros amigos en Luna’s castle ya nos hicimos al dolor y simplemente dejamos una nota. Para nuestra suerte, lograron encontrarnos y caminamos juntos hacia Calle Uruguay donde comimos (en un lugar que se veia caro – yo queria ir a los puestitos de la calle pero siendo domingo noche, no encontre nada), yo decidi comer un ceviche de corvine pero casi me saca los ojos de lo picante jeje. El lugar se llama peppercini, estuvo rico. Luego, en lugar de irnos a donde todos los SASers estaban, encontramos una discoteca mas local que se llama Ashe, ahi bailamos de todo buen rato y luego nos regresamos al hostal. Buena noche.
En la manana, Juan de Dios vino por nosotros (el mismo taxista del dia anterior). Nos llevo para Portobelo, el primer Puerto de Panama (nombrado por el mismisimo Cristobal Colon en 1504) a donde llevaban las mulas llenas de oros desde el imperio inca. Aca tambien habia llegado Henry Morgan para entrar hacia la ciudad de Panama y aduenarse del oro. Mientras caminabamos en las ruinas, los ninos de la escuela cantaban el fondo… Me senti parte de un cuento. Luego visitamos la iglesia de Cristo Negro. La leyenda dice que este Cristo (con otro Cristo blanco) fue traido desde Colombia y cuando trataron de llevarselo otra vez, al momento que lo ponian en el barco empezaba una tormenta, lo sacaban del barco y escampaba y asi trataron varias veces hasta que se decidio que era major que se quede en Portobelo. La gente ahi es muy devota y celebra el 21 de Octubre en vestimenta morada como el Cristo que se lleva por toda la ciudad. Ahi una senora, Medalia, me enseno como hacian los canastos de chunga, toso un arte lleno de ciencia de colores… Me traje uno de sus canastitos. De regreso paramos en un restaurancito llamado los ca~ones. Comi cambombia en leche de coco… Increible sabor! Me chupe los dedos y todo lo que pude.
Nuestra siguiente parade fue el Canal desde el lago Gatun. Esta joya de ingenieria se llevo mi aliento. Ver como nivelaban en agua para poder subirles a los barcos 24 metros arriba me impresiono! Sin embargo, la idea de la expansion me asusta. Tantas areas van a ser dinamitadas para que puedan pasar barcos mas grandes. Pero a que costo? El rescate de animales va a ser limitado, montanas vana desaparecer de mapas geograficos, entre otras. Como lo justifico el experto, si no lo hace Panama, lo hara otro pais. Parecia que estaba diciendo que se estaban sacrificando pero el costo de pasar por ahi va hasta medio millon de dolares (aparte del hombre que nado en 1932 que solo pago 36 centavos porque es de acuerdo al peso). En fin, se que Panama es soberano pero me parece que ni siquiera la humanidad tiene derecho a declarer que una Montana puede destruirse…
Zona libre, colon 2000 y de vuelta al MV Explorer. De inmediato sali a la piscina a relajarme… Empece nadando, luego senti que estaba volando. Un nino (los hijos de varios profesores viajan con nosotros) se acerco al filo de la piscine y me dijo que era una sirena; me pidio que me sumergiera y empece a hacer las pocas piruetas que me se. Otra vez me conecte… Otra vez en agua.
Por la noche conoci a Shaizam, un Pakistani que se acaba de graduar y regresa pronto para su pais a unirse al negocio de la familia construyendo partes de carros; va a comenzar a construir carros electricos. Conversamos largo acerca de educacion y salud… Pensamos algo diferente pero fue interesante ver que en lo que realmente importa coincidimos. Su perspective fue refrescante.
Hoy estamos anclados para ahorrar energia asi que tengo clases y manana Costa Rica!

Guilt

These past days, a lot of things have happened. Two major things I want to share.
Two days ago as regularly I went into ENT. A presentation was made about the women in Ecuador. I felt disgusted and wrote to my family about my frustration. I felt guilty that we, my people could be subjects of study of someone that truly never understood them. I have talked to a few people about my feelings and although everyone agreed with what I had said, one person gave me insightful advice. He said that it is still this person’s perception being presented. He is right. I just wished this was made much clearer in the presentation. This also changed my perspective on how I am learning from other studies and through my own expedition through other cultures. How often do I stop and truly realize that what is presented to me is not a fact? Especially when this is the first time I hear about something… Rarely (or sometimes I completely dismiss it). I cried and talked to my extended family (it was my pseudo mom’s birthday we were celebrating during that dinner). A group was discussing the idea of how horrendous they think it is that women have to carry water all day, as though it was a waste of time. I only added that if you stop and think about it, and ASK. A lot of females will say they feel tires about carrying the water but they see their roles as important. If this is taken away, it also takes away a huge part of their identity.
This is what I wrote as I was angry, I will not translate it as it is in its pure form –I did not make any additions as it mostly reflects my feelings about listening to this woman and then approaching her (if I had said what I was really thinking, I could have potentially been really rude so I just went to her and told her I am from Ecuador), it clearly needs more elaboration to be accurate but this is what I purely felt then:
No existe ningun desarrollo positivo que no venga de la gente misma. Estoy asqueada y aun no entiendo bien la razon. Acabo de salir de una charla acerca de desarrollo e igualdad de genero. Una profesora que ha ido varias veces para Ecuador present su investigacion. Las mujeres indigenas teniendo poderes economicos y manteniendo el medio ambiente en comparacion con las mujeres del ‘grupo’ (como ella dijo) mestizo. Se nota que no entendia muy bien como funcionaba nuestro sistema social. Me desespero la forma en la que describio a mi pais, mi gente. Me acerque a ella y le dije que venia de Ecuador y se dedico a describir su orgullo de haber estado alla y haber ido mas de 30 veces. Habia estado ahi por maximo 3 meses a la vez y cree que sabe algo de mi gente? No importa si es bueno o malo lo que escribe la gente que viene de afuera a describir sus ‘misiones’ para ayudar a los que NO somos pobres ni ingenuos. No puedo permitir que esto siga pasando. Nosotros somos los unicos que deberiamos estar definiendo nuestro futuro y no esta gente de afuera que se cree superior por ayudar. Que asco que asco Tengo iras y me siento responsible! No puedo dejar que esto siga pasando. Solo deEcuador tiene que venir las solucion. La colaboracion intelectual y tecnica es muy diferente que la ayuda/explotacion de la comunidad para engrandecerse por ser “tan bueno”. Esta es nuestra lucha como ecuatorianos. No dejemos que nadie de afuera venga a decirnos que es lo major para nosotros. Para esto, eduquemonos bien pero mantengamos siempre presente nuestro verdadero objetivo: mejorar la seguridad y cualidad de vida que llevamos en el pais, tenemos que comprometernos TODOS y convencer a los que aun no estan convencidos. Ecuador es un pais soberano, conejillo de indias de nadie.
Yesterday on the other hand, I went to a workshop on Theater for the oppressed (thanks Kevin Ferreira =).  If you are reading). This was an exercise called the game of power and used 6 chairs, a table and a water bottle. One person would prepare a scenario using all of these materials, purposefully making one chair seem to have more power than the others. There was one scenario that struck me though. Two chairs were holding a chair up and the latter was ‘protected’ by the table. The other 3 chairs were put as though they were kneeling. The only thing that came to my mind was the almost coup-d’état  that occurred back in Ecuador a few months ago. The chairs kneeling were the people fighting, the protected was the police, the ones under the chair were the powerful, they had nothing to lose really, they could even make the police fall. What was shocking was that I could not get past it. I felt the fear again, when I could not get in touch with my family and felt guilt that I was not there to protect them (as unrealistic as I may sound). We did a few of these before this last one and had been able to imagine the most amazing scenarios, but with this one I was stuck. I carry so many cultural biases… I wonder if this nationalistic sentimentalism is sometimes contra-productive. This guilt is definitely a driving force but in order to utilize it I need to go back or it will eat me alive…
That is what I have been feeling. Last night there was a party and I went but left immediately. I wanted to write so I went out deck 7 and was covered with a sheet of stars as I wrote this story about purple, yellow and indigo people. I will transcribe it at some point. I promise.
Today consisted of studying for my midterm for class (I cannot be any more redundant, I love how much I am learning about resources and how to use them!) and learning about Panama (one of the people in charge of the expansion of the canal gave a presentation today and even gave a piece of the concrete of the canal to SAS as a gift for the continuous collaboration  WOW). Anyways! Panama tomorrow! I will tell you all about it when I come back to the ship in two days!

Love,

More than a dreamer

Trinbagonians!

Siempre se trata de la gente. Llegue a Trinidad ayer con la emocion de al fin estar en tierra! Apenas llegamos fui con una clase a observar el Lago de Asfalto (realmente Brea) en la comunidad de La Brea al sur de la isla Trinidad. La mayoria salimos de ahi con mucha informacion acerca de la exportacion de brea (ya que es demasiado viscosa para tierras calidas, todo es exportado) y en general, la vida de la gente ahi. Cada dia la brea se va hundiendo, hundiendose con ella estan las casas de la poblacion aleda~a. La gente no se quiere mover de ahi. Su conexion a su tierra es mas importante que los arreglos que tienen que hacer anualmente. La gente ha encontrado una solucion con fundaciones flotantes (hechas de arena) que fueron instaladas recientemente en algunas casas. Parece que se convertira en estandar proximamente. Lo mas interesante es que ellos no lo ven como un problema; la comunidad ha vivido en esta situacion por tanto tiempo (se descubrio el siglo 18) que es irrelevante. El grupo que iba por clase seguia cuestionando la seguridad de la gente, por que no se quejan y la respuesta fue que no hay de que quejarse. Es primordial comprender que la situacion de una comunidad es absolutamente subjetiva y las barreras de incluso seguridad son variables y cambiaran siempre entre el observador y el que vive en la situacion dicha. No importa los estandares que hayan incluso para el pais; la comunidad es soberana. Debo mencionar que segun nuestro guia en la planta, la mayoria de la gente que vive en La Brea tambien esta empleada ahi o seguramente obtiene su dinero como derived (turismo, alimentacion de trabajadores, etc). Lastimosamente no pudimos salir a la comunidad. Me hubiera encantado converser con gente que no este empleada el lago. Segun ellos no hay ningun derivado de sulfuro que no este suficientemente diluido como para evitar da~os pero el asfalto pasa por una oxidacion compleja que seguramente emitira SOx en bajas concentraciones que con el paso del tiempo tal vez puedan ser daninas. En fin, de ahi fuimos al temple de Waterloo. Este temple fue contruido por un hombre fiel a su religion. Cuando la immigracion de Indios (valga la pena mencionar, de la India) vinieron en los 1800s despues de la abolicion de la esclavitud, un hombre decidio que debia construer un templo como demostracion de su fe. Primero trato de construir en tierra pero el no era dueno asi que le destruyeron completamente y decidio construir en el mar. Durante 25 a~os se paso en la marea baja construyendo su temple. Se siente la paz al caminar el corridor para entrar. Alrededor se hacen muchas cremaciones de los hindues de la isla. Aqui se concentran hindues, buddhistas (mucha gente China vino los 1800s), cristianos de varias denominaciones, musulmanes, judios aunque pocos, entre otras religiones. La gente vive en armonia con respecto a su religion. Me preocupa la idea de la raza porque hoy conoci a un hombre ‘blanco’ de Trini y me dio la impresion de que se siente superior. En fin, ayer, despues de Waterloo fuimos a ver a Hazuman, el dios mono de hindues (la estatuaes la segunda mas grande del mundo despues de la India). Se levanta grandiosa y dominando los cielos. Mientras almorzamos estuvimos en San Fernando, una zona montanosa donde ucha gente de Venezuela viene a festejar (esta a 2 horas en ferry pero tenemos prohibido salir del pais). La refineria de petroleo se levanta aun mas grandiose, como bocas de fuego se queman los gases restantes. La industrializacion del pais es abundante. Desarrollo de productos agricolas a base de nitrogeno, amonio, gas natural, asfalto, entre otros mantiene un 7% de desempleo en el pais (mucho mas bajo que Ecuador y Estados Unidos) y todos los servicios son gratuitos, desde la primaria hasta la educacion terciaria ademas de seguros medicos. Sin embargo, los indices criminals son terrorificos. Un local me dijo que sobretodo se debe a las drogas pero me gustaria aprender mas. Seguramente hablare con el profesor que es native de aca pronto. Esa noche fuimos a un bar y terminamos en un karaoke en el que los locales demostraron verdadero talento. Mis respetos. Hubiera querido bailar mas calypso pero era Martes asi que no se pudo. La proxima sera ;)

Hoy explore la ciudad en el Norte de Puerto de Espana. Primero desayune en el “breakfast shed” construido antiguamente para los Pescadores. Comi Tiburon y estuvo delicioso! Caminamos con un grupo por Queen’s Park Savannah y ahi jugamos cricket con unos ni~os. Yo fracase pero Sam vaya que fue genial. Al cricket aun no lo entiendo pero ya vendra su tiempo. Nos divertimos conversando con los chicos, tomando agua de coco y conversando con otros locales. Salimos para el jardin botanico y de ahi simplemente exploramos la ciudad pro Frederick St. La gente parecia legitimamente preocupada si cruzabamos calles que ellos definian como peligrosas. Aun me falta mucho para entender mas acerca de la inseguridad en Trini…

Comi pato al curry y bebi jugos de sorrel y Portugal (la fruta)… la tierra de los picaflores me enseno mucho acerca de aves (la nacional de Trinidad es el Ibis y es de color rojo brillante). El senor blanco del que hablaba antes nos dio un tour a cambio de que respondamos preguntas acerca de la industria turistica. Definitivamente fue dificil navegar las calles y encontrar direccion para la comida tipica. No hubo gente haciendo artesanias para vender mas que en Puerto y todo era muy costoso. La verdad es complicado ponerse a definer lo ‘turistico’. Todo lo que se convierte en parte de esa industria a veces se hace menos llamativo, al menos para mi, a menos que sea parte de lugares historicos que siempre deberian ser bien mantenidos. De otra forma, Trinidad se mostro autentica…

La gente fue en general muy amable y creo yo que tenia las sonrisas mas bellas que he visto… Aunque las sonrisas son siempre hermosas.

Pd: DO SO! (Hazlo!) El lema politico para irse en contra de el regimen politico hace un a~o! La gente esta mucho mas satisfecha con los gobernantes actuals que sobresalieron en esta campa~a - Tuve que preguntar en la calle J

PD2: Estoy feliz de estar navegando otra vez. Aun no se por que… Me fascina. Creo que es la gente. Nunca antes me habia sentido tan estimulada a aprender y compartir.

So much to say

Pitch Lake and the attachment of people of the land even though it is sinking

Playing cricket with kids in the park was my favorite part!

Great social policies, advanced industrialism but very high rate of crime and overall insecurity. Drugs? Local suggested.

Mas que una so~adora

The shipboard community

Is this real life? But seriously, is it? People actually want to learn and ask questions in and outside of class. Unlike what I was told almost by the time I was going to come, people did not come to this ship to party, at least not this voyage. We relax and talk about development and the ENT class is a discussion with people that want to listen. Last night I did go to sleep but talked with my roommate Angelique for 2 hours first ;) She is very interested in learning more about how communities are engaged in their own development and was even more interested at what I had to say about intervention and aid. I am so happy she is on board being just a freshman.
This morning I had a lot to read about nuclear power but I also took a bridge tour in which the assistant captain showed us the controls and everything involving the management of the voyage and the ship. Then I finally found one of my partners for the ENT project (present a hypothetical/realistic solution for a problem that you will see in the countries we are visiting) and we chatted for a while. He knew about the MCN and what we have been doing and introduced me to one of the Asian communities onboard (being Turkish himself). I am excited to get to know them better 
In class we talked about nuclear power and then used solar panels to activate a powerhouse and see greenhouse effect. I have it on video! I know I sound like a dork but I don’t care 
During ENT I was concerned with our current view of the provision for appropriate housing. I asked about the environmental considerations about the loss of arable land but it is not being addressed due to costs and security of the builders (regularly volunteers). However, this is an important issue when considering sustainability. After all, in many cases where I have been present the building involves a different construction from the precarious one that is already built (meaning twice as much space utilized for the same people). The old houses are not being destroyed but still used for storage or other purposes. This concerns me and will be addressed at the next Habitat meeting and I am planning to talk to the professor of quality of housing, so will see.
After dinner I went to hip hop! First time that I really try to dance this! Had sooooo much fun and the girl who is teaching us is just another student who felt like it would be fun to share! (see what I mean about this amazing idealistic place?) Anyways, preport (info for Trinidad and Tobago) took a very long time but everything that was said was relevant! (wow). The photographer of the voyage talked about engaging people that you want to take pictures of –people or their pictures are not souvenirs-. IU have officially become a travel photographer. Can’t wait to arrive to Port! Will be reporting after these two days!

En pocas. Estoy en el lugar ideal en el que la gente realmente quiere aprender y esta comprometida con lo que viene a hacer ;)

la comunidad del barco

Perdon por el retraso gente!! Hay tanto que contar… Lo voy a hacer cronologicamente desde ayer para que no se me pierdan detalles. Primer dia de todo! En la manana conoci a gente en uno de los decks y conversamos acerca de desarrollo y de la importancia de saber especificar el tipo de educacion que la gente de diferentes comunidades necesita en lugar de estandardizar algo tan relacionado con el desarrollo de sociedades especificas. Durante el almuerzo vi a una chica botando chicle al mar. Me indigne y despues de pensarlo bien (con el riesgo de convertirme en ‘esa persona’) me acerque a ella y me presente, estaba con un chico asi que nos pusimos a converser acerca de donde eramos y todo eso. Le pregunte si le habia visto arrojar chicle y me dijo que si. Le pregunte si sabia que el chicle se demora 800 a~os en biodegradar (aunque un poco menos en el agua). Me dijo que no, que penso que se desintegraba, que no lo volvia a hacer y nos quedamos conversando un rato mas hasta que tuve que irme. La comunidad de este barco es increiblemente interesante, la noche anterior a este dia conoci a varias personas que estan hacienda trabajo en desarrollo en varias partes del mundo con implementacion de ingenieria y sobre todo hygiene… Mucha gente interesada en el trabajo de Paul Farmer (uno de mis pseudodioses). En fin, genial. Luego a clases. Mi profesora es una experta en nanotecnologias y aeronautica. Ahorita esta trabajando con aerogel y esta hacienda investigacion en como hacer que esta laptop en mis piernas no hierva tanto- depues de eso le voy a admirar MAS. Es incredible. Mi clase se trata de recursos energeticos y economia. Tuve que leer acerca de minas de carbon, gas natural, entre otros y seguire hasta comprender energia nuclear, solar, etc. Luego mas clase. Despues de esto me encontre con una senora Peruana que vive en Hawai en el bote! Se emociono tanto que sea de latinoamerica asi que decidimos almorzar el siguiente dia (hoy). Despues me fui para celebrar el cumple del novio de mi companera de cuarto (el pastel helado estuvo para chuparse los dedos!) Por la noche estuvimos jugando cartas, Charles estuvo hacienda sus trucos, Ming nos enseno heart attack y yo propuse animales asi que fue un desbarajuste. Nos divertimos. Otro Charles estuvo tocando la guitarra afuera asi que fui a verle (estaba solo y me indigne, como puede ser possible que no tenga audiencia! ) el grupo que estaba conmigo se unio (unos 15) y cantamos un rato. Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, etc. Luego trate de hacer trabajo pero el movimiento del barco se siente como arrullo asi que me qude dormida!
Hoy en la manana como prometido es deuda me fui al gimnasio pero tengo ful miedo de correr en la caminadora (siento que me voy a caer)! Asi que camine. Estuve hacienda deberes –cada dia aqui equivale a una semana- y de ahi me fui a conocerle al coordinador de aprendizaje del barco porque me parecio interesante lo que dijo durante orientacion. Conversamos un buen rato! El maneja una ONG encargada de dar tutoria a estudiantes de escasos recursos y es exalumno de semester at sea de hace varios a~os. El piensa que estoy demasiado ocupada y necesito un respire… Estoy de acuerdo, pero el mundo no espera… Estoy en los momentos mas radicales de mi vida asi que le meto ~eque ;)
 Almorce con Graciela (la senora Peruana), su esposo y un grupo de latinos que he conocido y convoque. Conversamos de todo un poco per sobre todo con esta pareja.  Luego mas trabajo y a clases. Hoy hice una bacteria con limones y active una celula de hidrogeno usando electrolysis ademas de activar un carro con el hidrogeno! Fue genial! Que incredible que hayan estos kits hoy en dia. Nunca me hubiera imaginado. Luego la siguiente clase. Engineering a new tomorrow (basicamente Fabricando un nuevo ma~ana) Hablando acerca de proyectos de agua en Sudafrica tuve que preguntarle a mi profesor acerca de como esta revisando el progreso de la implementacion de educacion en hygiene (estan ensenadoles a los ninos pero no a los adultos, como para que ellos les ensenen). Me respondio que es dificil saber, que es mas la voluntad de la gente… Diferentes metodos tienen que ser desarrollados apropiadamente para las comunidades. De acuerdo.
Luego le conoci a mi familia!!! Aqui hay un programa en el que te juntan con otros estudiantes y demas (generalmente profesors o gente conocida como ‘life-long learners’ que van viajando y quieren aprender mas despues de sus carreras son gente retirada). Mi ‘mama’ es una de las psicologas del barco y mi ‘papa’ trabaja para el FCC en Washington, la organizacion federal encargada de comunicaciones. Mis hermanos son James, Andrew, Melissa, Grace y Grace. Somos una bella familia jeje conversamos acerca de social media como facebook y los riesgos de tecnologia. Estuvo bien. Hace un rato estuve planificando viajes en Trinidad y le conoci all profesor al que le hice las preguntas en clase antes (en esta clase hay 300 personas). El es de Trinidad y nos dio algunos consejos de adonde ir! No puedo esperar a llegar. Hoy vi Puerto Rico y algunas de las Islas Britanicas. Antes de venir al cuarto vi Saint Croix y en la tarde hubo delfines a los lados del barco pero yo estaba en clase asi que no les pude ver, ojala haya mas oportunidades. Al momento me siento un poco mal con el movimiento de barco asi que creo me voy a dormir (aunque ibamos a jugar juegos de mesa arriba, tal vez cambie de opinion)… Besos a los que estan en tierra firme…

PD: Hubo otra Ecuatoriana en este programa el semestre pasado! Ojala pueda contactarme con ella! Les contare...

Vocation vs vacation =)

Yesterday was amazing! I am finally on the ship (note- not a cruise, a SHIP). As we left the port of Prince George I felt as though I was leaving a piece of me there. The city looked so different from up the ship and when we started moving I felt the butterflies in my stomach! I could not believe the time had arrived! I can only see ocean everywhere I turn! I am not going to lie, last night I was a lame SASer, a group of us were gonna play cards but I felt nauseated (note- not nauseous, If I were nauseous I would cause nausea to other people- my friend Sam would laugh at this note). The day went by fast, we were in orientation for the whole day and I have to say, everyone in the crew and staff are eloquent and incredibly nice. During the speech of welcome we had an exercise and I thought our voyage was finally put into perspective. Imagine you were on an island and you lost your wallet and the ship left without you. What would you do? To survive, you look for the embassy and get yourself into contact with the ship but to do that you need people. At that moment people seem to be the means to an end. If you want to thrive, you have to see people as people even in those situations.

At night I was introduced to the tradition of writing behind the frames of the artwork in the room! Past voyagers wrote very insightful advice (some not so much like ‘get the girls –with a different word- the first 3 weeks because they get fat’) besides leaving pictures! They all said we are on the best room! I am on a quad with Melinda, Lauren and Angelique! They are fantastic!

I went to bed early and woke up feeling much better about the rocketing of the boat!

Since not much happened yesterday I wanted to go on a rant about how much resorts disgust me- inspiration from seeing the Atlantis from the sea and a reminder from Cuba, Punta Cana, San Andres-. The amount of resources exploited; these superficial paradises only seem to dilute the culture of the people by bringing different standards for treatment for the satisfaction of the customer and the performance of cultural traditions for their delight (sometimes some of these traditions are only for visitors to see now)… But they bring so many work opportunities for people and enhance the economy… Is it worth it?

'Too blessed to be stressed'

Nuevamente perdon por el retraso, creo que va a ser mas conveniente comprometerme a escribir por la ma~ana.

En fin, ayer fue genial. En la ma~ana sali con un grupo de amigas para el "Straw Market' que es basicamente el mercado artesanal de la ciudad. Habia cientos de puestitos y mientras me puse a filmar me di cuenta de que la mayoria de mujeres estaban basicamente en linea en ambos lados y todas tejiendo con paja... Decidi comprar un monedero y mientras la senora tejia mi nombre nos pusimos a conversar con el grupo de vendedoras que estaban a nuesrto alrededor, uno de ellos se hacia llamar el Turtle master (el maestro de las tortugas) porque tenia estas tortuguitas de madera que se mueven omo mascotas. El se unio a la conversacion porque escucho que me apellido era Valencia- aca en Bahamas Valencia es primer nombre, su nombre era Valencio -como 'Silencio' en su espanol acentuado y las senoras le molestaron diciendo que ojala fuera mas parecido al nombre en espanol, seguimos cnversando entre todos y riendonos, se sintio como un momento tan cotidiano para ellos y al fin me senti bienvenida... Seguimos caminando y vi un cuadro pequeno del que me enamore. Era un farol definido en madera. En la parte de atras decia REM, la senora que vendia me conto que era su marido el que los hacia (con iniciales por Ricardo E. M.) y que el farol era el que estaba a mis espaldas. Me lo lleve, asi como una concha pequena que es lo que les hacen famosas a estas islas... Aqui hay un link con una foto http://thundafunda.com/33/travel-world-pictures/Conch%20Shells,%20Cat%20Island,%20Bahamas.php

Por la tarde fuimos a Paradise Island... Realmente un Paraiso, supuestamente a un lado esta la isla Atlantis que se hundio. En su nombre se creo este resort "Atlantis", uno de los lugares mas ostentosos que he visto en mi vida. La entrada solo para explorar era demasiado costosa asi que nos abstuvimos de ir- despues de todo, las cosas mas hermosas muchas veces son las menos costosas- Y se comprobo! Fuimos a la playa de Paradise Island y me meti a nadar- tanto tiempo sin estar en el oceano- Es ahi donde me encuentro con la energia que nos une a todos y todo- Las Bahamas definitivamente exemplifica la belleza delos 7 colores de mar que alguna vez en otra visita la Caribe me dijeron que existian... Mientras nadaba, una pareja empezo a lanzar pedacitos de pan y un monton de peces angel vinieron. Alimentandose me salpicaban y rozaban suavemente... Fueron hermosos. La misma pareja me recomendo ir a pico de la isla donde podia ver varios peces, les convenci a una chicas del grupo y caminamos -en este pico tambien estaba la casa de Michael Jordan jeje) La caminata fue larga pero no lo cambio por nada, cuando me meti al oceano, vi una raya y mi miedo casi me obliga a salir del agua -despues de todo ya me pico una hace algunos anos cuando estaba aprendiendo a surfear- pero me quede. Les alerte al otro grupo que estaba por ahi y uno de ellos, Sean me comenzo a ensenar todos los peces que estaban por ahi, una escuela de Sargentos Mayores y unos pocos peces azules... Poder nadar con ellos en su habitat sin que se asusten o alejen fue undescriptible, como que se abriga el corazon... ojala se me entienda...

En el regreso tuvimos el taxista mas divertido de todos. Su lema era "too blessed to be stressed" -demasiado bendecido para estar estresado- y tenia una forma positiva de ver la situacion del pais. Bromeaba diciendo que el pais tiene 0% de desempleo pero 6% de vagos... Que encontrar trabajo no era dificil y describio todas las oportunidades que hay en hoteleria y pesqueria. Quiero pensar que tiene razon pero hay muchos otros factores seguramente afectando la situacion de esa gente- quien sabe. Bueno, hasta nos hizo un juego de trivia para saber cuanto sabiamos de las Bahamas - las pude todas ;) pero porque tuve suerte jeje la primera isla que visito Cristobal Colon en America -San Salvador, Bahamas. Colores de la bandera celeste por mar y cielo, amarilla por el sol y negro demostrando la fortaleza y union de la gente de Bahamas. Nombre de las Bahamas viene del espanol Baja mar. Me paso sus buenas energias y me pase la noche bailando y luego a nadar!

Hoy al fin voy al MV Explorer, el crucero que me llevara por todo Centro America. Sigo sin poder dormir mucho por la emocion! Les seguire contando.

Casi me olvido! La comida... conch fritters!!!! MMMM una delicia en el paladar... Esto fue en Araway Cay que es donde comen locales y turistas. Para chuparse los dedos!

English

- Straw Market in downtown Bahamas and hang out with locals. Valencia is actually a first name here so that sparked lots of funny conversations; it felt like everyday life and I was welcomed.

- Paradise Island offered me a wonderful spiritual experience with marine life- that's where I am unified with all...

- Too blessed to be stressed was our cab driver's motto, he had a very positive way of thinking and even made us play trivia... Today was amazing!

The Ocean is solid and the world is very very small

(Para que todos los que adoro, puedan leer este blog he decidido intercalar un dia espanol/un dia ingles! Ojala que lo disfruten- voy a escribir 3 frases en el otro idioma al final para que al menos se entienda lo que paso en el dia si no lees el otro idioma)

(So that everyone I love can read this blog, Im writing one day in English, on e day in Spanish and then writing a short outline in the other language at the end. I hope you enjoy!)

As I was in the plane I kept on looking at the sea (It looks solid due to the high speed of the plane) and I couldn't stop imagining myself diving into it/sailing for the first time on a cruise. I had boarded the plane earlier with guilt because the extra 9 pounds in my luggage were due to my MCAT books. I started studying on the plane but then got overwhelmed-didn't stop for 3 hours straight-. So I started looking through my Iphone notes- It was on airplane mode (hopefully that actually works)- and I found a list of the things I want to do before I die. One of them says - go on a cruise for a valid reason- Im so happy it is finally going to happen. As I arrived to fort lauderdale I got excited (I even completely forgot to eat) because in the voyage's facebook group SASers agreed to use a yellow bandana in our wrists and I knew one of the girls was on my same flight! And found her- Kristen- and another girl were there! We talked and have been hanging out since then. (Kristen and one of my roommates Samantha are sitting next to me blogging). In the plane I met Shanika. She is a Bahamian dedicated to Finance but interested in make up so she took a course in Florida, that's why she was in the US then. We talked about the economic situation in Bahamas. She told me that over 80% of the GDP comes from tourism and that 80% of the food eaten is imported. There is not much diversification of labor (besides tourism, banking and in a smaller scale fishery), that the land is not exploited. She said she was worried that even though they have fertile land, nobody wants to work it... Unfortunately, easy money comes through tourism so people do not feel motivated. The lack of auto-sufficiency worried her. With a small population (The size of my hometown, actually) the abuse of the environment is exaggerated and energy/environmental resources are abused, but I am almost certain that a lot of this has to do with the maintenance of hotels. She said people do not recycle (there is not an appropriate system in place) and telecommunications are lagging (they just got 1Gb internet speed). I was glad to be able to talk to her! She gave me her phone just in case! She says she dies to go shopping in NY ;)

In my room there were Paige and Sam. they joined the group that I was with and we went out to Senor Frogs. As I was dancing, I recognized someone... A group of 7 Wagnerians were there. They got so excited! It was hilarious! It is definitely a small world. Some of the girls went to a club. Sam Kristen and I were walking around the Prince George dock (where we will be embarking Friday). On our way back, our driver, Samuel, convinced Sam to get herself Goat Key Island (Yes you can buy one of the 700 islands of the Bahamas in Nassau for 1 million dollars, how about that?) and live in these ten miles with her little goat hehe. The three of us walked in the beach (the other girls had come back because the club was closed). It was a nice evening... Then I blogged but my computer died so here I am. Finishing it at 9am the next day... Im sorry I didnt keep my promise but Ill do my best ;) An amazing day awaits! Ill tell you about it later!

Love

Mel

mas que una so~adora

- Emocion!!! No puedo creer que al fin viy a estar en el oceano, navegando.

- Conoci a una local, Shaniska y conversamos acerca de la situacion economica/social del pais

- Me encontre con mas gente que viene en el programa y salimos a comer/bailar/caminar en la playa!

Todo genial- Ya les seguire contando!

Un abrazo

My promise

Alright. The time has arrived. I am not really blogging today. This is just a statement of commitment, I guess. Starting tomorrow (I take my flight into Nassau, Bahamas at 1pm) I will post daily and let you know of my adventure. If you have not heard about Semester at Sea before or the voyage I am taking, here is some info http://www.semesteratsea.org/current-voyage/overview/current-voyage-map.php

Please please please leave comments as we go along!

Love,

Mel