After a little over a year in Ecuador, I finally begin to blog!
For the first time today, I really wanted to blog! It began when my host sister told me we were going to go castrate a couple of pigs. When and where else in my life would I have this experience?
My host family has literally dozens of pigs! Noisy, smelly, awesomely HUGE and TINY pigs! Some of these pigs looked more like cows with their overwhelming size and black spots.
My host sisters and host father are all veterinarians. In fact, my first six months here in Machala I lived inside of the Vet and learned a little more than I expected about puppies, kitties, chickens, cows and cuy (guinea pig...my host dad is an acclaimed expert in cuy)
Today I got to learn a little about pigs. The way they roll in their own feces and snort about... the way they seem somewhat affectionate as they acknowledge your presence almost like a dog would.
The most stand out thing? The way they scream. It is all too easy to mistake those yelps for a baby's.
I didn't expect to help... I thought I would just be watching...that's when my host dad called my name and handed me the baby pig, which he had dangling in his hand's by it's back legs. Damn that thing could kick.. it scared me. I was responsible for holding it down while he performed the ....procedure....I won't explain in detail because I know my mom is reading this blog and I can imagine the face she is making right now. hahaha.
All I can tell you is he is a pro and so is my host sister. In a half an hours time, they castrated 6 baby pigs! Whew...and I swallowed my vegetarian pride a long time ago!
My host sister asked me what I thought, I told her I was impressed...but that they should start using gloves when they do things like that. She told me in the campo, (the country) after people castrate an animal, they cover the would with lemon juice. She said its an old remedy to make the animal heal and scar faster. Ouuuch. She says its a lie...that lemon doesn't do anything.
I am so proud of my host sister. She recently graduated Vet school and it looks like someday she will take over the family business.
The truth is up until this point in my service, I haven't been able to really publicize much of the work I have done...(also, I hate looking back and seeing blog posts I have written! haha)
Anyways, I work in a protection center for children who have survived one type of abuse or another and although I have wanted to share many of the amazing experiences I have had, I have been unable to for obvious reasons.
However! Recently, I have taken up a complimentary project working with women in marginalized communities here in Machala and in Puerto Bolivar and am excited to share these adventures! (So coming soon, you will see pictures of my life in Machala, these projects, and hopefully of my host family and their vet too!)
I am teamed up with a women's movement here in my province and their project CAI (a center for attention to women and children victims of violence). Part of the objectives of this organization is to do prevention work out in the communities.
Thus, I am starting a program with a coworker there. We are going into the poorer barrios (neighborhoods) of Machala and Puerto Bolivar and working with these women to develop small businesses and possibly community banks. This way, they can begin to earn for themselves and gain a little bit of independence in doing so. This program will also include workshops on human rights, human trafficking, self-esteem/empowerment, healthy lifestyles and how to handle violence.
Many of these women are wives of fishermen and have trouble making ends meet. After doing 50 surveys in my first area of focus, I realized that almost every single woman had either heard of or personally experienced some sort of violence within her community. All claimed that violence is a problem in their community that needs addressing.
The men come home from their day of fishing and begin drinking. The women told me that their husbands are wonderful people...until the drinking begins. They told me the bottle transforms the man.
They also talked to me about the youth in their community. Many stop going to school at a young age to be able to support their families. The average education level is very low...not many make it to high school. Which leads to a lot of kids, without much money and a little too much free time.. I am sure you can put two and two together and see where that might land a child....
These women talk to me with a sense of urgency and motivation in their voices...they know what they want and better yet, they know what they deserve. Healthier, violence free and drug free lives. They ask us when we are coming back all the time, they are so eager to get started! I couldn't be happier with this experience. I am thrilled to meet so many women in Machala and Puerto Bolivar, with so much enthusiasm for change.
These are truly amazing people...they have invited me into their homes and made me colada (a thick, popular drink here made with oatmeal), they have wasted away entire afternoons with me sharing their life experiences... they have welcomed me into their community!
