right now i am sitting in a computer lab in antigua next to posada ruiz, the hostal i'm staying at for a whopping 25 Q a night (about $3.25). i came here to have a reunion of GAD, Peace Corps´Gender and Development committee. i, along with another woman, will be editting the "gender bender", the quarterly publication published by the organization.
this issue is supposed to be on dating in guatemala. hmmm.
i can see why for many peace corps volunteers, especially women, it would be difficult to overcome the cultural barriers between sexes here. Guatemala is a much more traditional culture and many female volunteers may have qualms about fulfilling some of the more customary aspects of women
's familial roles. still, there are many volunteers that have successful relationships with HCN (host country nationals).
side note.
last week i practically tripped over a former volunteers exboyfriend. he was passed out in the middle of the street at 3:00 on a tuesday afternoon. ive heard a few women say how he is one of the better men in our community. i have yet to see any of his more redeeming qualities.
the town in live in has a serious drinking problem (52% of my towns population, including children, are affected by alcoholism). the majority of those who suffer from alcoholism are men. according to my boss there are more cantinas (bars) than panaderias (bakeries). what do you do as a full grown adult unable to provide for your family? how does one over come the monotomny of living in this remote place? it is a hard reality. with this serious drinking problem comes other issues such as domestic violence. it is the poorest community in guatemala and many of its challenges, including alcoholism, are symptoms of this wide spread poverty. if you walk by alcoholics anonynous on a wednesday evening it's just as lively and raucous as an evangelical church. whether this community´s poverty is a result of or a cause of of social issues is a matter of debate. honestly, i am not really sure if it matters either way.
despite challenges faced by people here i have met a lot of amazing men, most of whom work with my organization. one of the men on our board of directors has made it his life´s work to serve his community and neighbors. he has received little formal education, but his expertise in animal care is amazing. another male promoter wakes up before sunrise to ride his bike to neighboring communities often ignored by NGO's because they are inaccessible by car. he works tirelessly and exudes compassion.
one of the goals of the organization i am working with is actually to make it more of a familial based network, and less concentrated on solely women. i have mixed feelings about this shift in focus, because i see women´s involvement as one of our greatest strengths although i do see the necessity to make it more inclusive.
men dominate the public sector. the local government is a sea of men's faces, and women are constantly denied access to these more influential public domains. our organization gives women the opportunity to be leaders and promoters. i have several friends who work in local municipalitys´offices and constantly deal with gender issues. it is something that wares on them day in and out and they along with Guatemalans in the public arena sharing the same sentement fight tirelessly to try and even the field.
i am not sure how my experience would differ if i was a male volunteer serving here. it is hard to say. maybe women in the community's i work with are more open and comfortable with me and this is certainly a great advantage.
female leader del puesto de salud
mariella, my mam teacher and amiga
women on foot loom in our organzation's weaving center
my patio more than slightly disorganized
amalia, my "chit" (puppy in mam) and me
hatching pollitos
papa taller
view from my road