In Manzanillo, partly cloudy, no rain, perfect
We found in the backyard. It has red wings
The nearby beach of Manzanillo
View of the mountains and banana fields when I jog
Cool looking bug in the dining room....
Check out this nocturnal butterfly in my room!!!
University Earth in Guapiles
with youth leaders on the way to a youth congressJuly 8, 2010
I really miss “me time”. Like being in my own place with no one to pound on the bathroom door, ask me what I’m doing, ask me where I’m going, who I’m going with, and whether or not I should go (like I asked for their opinion in the first place) kind of me time. Even little kids ask you. “Where are you going? Why? Where did you just come from? Who were you with?” It’s such an exhausting inquisition if you’re just trying to make it into town or back home or into your room. I would love to be able to walk in and say hello to everyone, go to the bathroom and pee, then to my room to take my shoes off, THEN when I’ve had a minute, share with people how my day was -- how I want to share it. On the street too, the same interrogation occurs. I’ve started asking people who ask me all these questions the same questions, in hopes to curb the onslaught of inquiries. It works sometimes. For the most part, people mean well or don’t mean anything at all by asking all these questions. It’s just part of the culture- how you greet one another. I get that. So, I try to go with their flow. Usually, if I can get past being annoyed, I can have a decent conversation and learn a thing or two. One interesting observation is that women ask women, boys and girls ask women, men ask women.... Not so much do you see women ask men and get a real response from men.
Which leads me to the next observation. Lots of men here (at least in my community) are recklessly, blatantly, openly flirting with women and girls that are NOT their partner. Many of these men are not just flirting but pursuing them just the same and have affairs, lots of affairs. It is so commonly accepted that the men here step out on their wives, girlfriends, etc. And it is just astounding to me. I have had so many married men hit on me, whistle at me, damn near proposition me --- and sure enough, they are married with kids. Of course, when they are walking down the street the next day with their wife and kids they have nothing to say, but as soon as she turns away, there they go. Men are free to go out after work to the local bars, to play soccer, to hang out without “permission” while women are usually stuck at home with their children. Women have little to no social network, recreational activities, or positive outlet. And God forbid, they do get out and do something --- they either have to take all their kids with them (because of course the man can’t watch them) or they go by themselves but are constantly being called on their cell phones by their husbands. Now if a wife or girlfriend were to step out on their man, it is unforgiveable. She’s the town whore, a zorra, a prostitute. What a double standard. And this is reinforced by men AND women. It starts here when they are children. Little boys are told “you’re not a man unless you have a lot of women, and if you turn a woman down, you’re a homosexual”. Of course, there are exceptions. Not ALL men cheat (although if you were to ask any woman here, they would say all men cheat). Not ALL women are in an oppressive role. But it’s pretty overwhelmingly so. Ironically, Costa Rica has elected their first female president.
Whew. Vent session. What else has been going on? Well, I ate sea turtle last weekend. My host dad’s mother is a great cook and brought sea turtle swearing up and down it was the best food ever. I think they noticed my apprehension and responded, “Oh it’s completely legal to eat sea turtle. This isn’t the illegal kind.” Yeah right. I took a bite to be polite, but still felt bad. And for those who are wondering, it tasted like cow meat with a tinge of seafoodness and coconut.
I’ve been working on my Community Assessment that’s due to Peace Corps at the end of August. It’s pretty tedious. But I think there are some great projects and lots of work to be done here in Bribri.
I’ve had more ups and downs. Some days, I feel so grateful and right on time to be here and other days I feel like packing up and going home. They say that’s normal, especially the first few months. It helps that I have a lot of support from a few families here in town and can contact my fellow volunteers so easily with cell phones. They help me get through the homesickness. I try to exercise almost everyday. My ankle started swelling up so I can’t run as much. I roll on my bike as my main mode of transportation. I journal everyday which helps me keep my center. Just finished reading Infidel by Ayaan HIrshi Ali. Great book.
Love you all!!!!!!!
