although i am happy to read David's account of Cepeda, filled with joy and magic, I feel like bursting, or at least balancing, the bubble a little bit with an account from Tzucacab. My host familiy is not unusual. The father works construction in the urban centers of Progreso and Merida. For the past three years he has been dedicated to drinking alcohol and now wanders the streets sleeping whereever he collapses. Doña Berta, the mother of his children is a big, strong woman. She says she doesnt let him inside anymore. Along with her young son of two years, Jesùs, she also cares for her brother's children, whose mother died. Both her brother and her younger sister work in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. Family disintegration is rampant due to alcohol, drugs and migration. Neighboring Peto has 8,000!! of its natives living in the United States, the majority in San Rafael, California. The youth suffer for lack of guidance, often living with grandparents, they take to television, video games and motorcycles at best. six were recently caught with drugs at a local school.
speaking of DRUGS, last year a band of narcotraficantes was almost apprehended here in yown. seven were caught, and three got away. now the townspeople are edgyu and suspicious of strangers because the narcos threaten to kidnap their children. into this enters bearded, long haired, red gold and green shirted I. talking to the kids about what they want to plant, they say MOTA, lets make some money. walking out to cut wood, they threaten to cut my throat with machetes. scenes of the Guerra de Castas flash through my mind, of which hardly anyone has even heard.
The school's attendent explains to me why they dont use k'aanches. he said, "our fathers looked at the k'aanches and decided that they werent very good. a strong wind comes and they fall. and then you have to do all the work over again. we prefer to use wire, it lasts forever and the chickens cant jump up onto it" Gorda, Doña Berta's 16 year old charge asks me, "why do students always come here to study the things we dont like to do?" The reality of people leaving the campo culture for modernity and city values has a staggering affect. Literally between one generation and the next knowledge of local trees and traditions are lost in favor of "emo vs. skate" "OH MY GOD!" girls shout at me imitating a popular song. When i say to Gorda "baax kawaliik?" she replies "i dont speak maya!"
I wonder about the people's interest and investment in the projec, and what would they suggest be changed if they were asked.
Both the top down structure of PROTROPICO and the authoritarian school teachers leave me in the role of taskmaster, the youths frustrated and bored, and the community members ranging from slightly involved to disinterested and fearful. There is very little communication between PROTROPICO and community members. what is discussed is readily misunderstood. I am afraid that all it comes down to for local members of the community is that students pay rent and they are desperate for money.
I am reminded of the phone conference regarding the Sping Break Tzucacab project where everything that was discussed was focused on the students: their experiance, what will they do, where will they live, will there be adequate photo ops, etc. I just want to express now what i didnt then: Why is the experiance of the community not being discussed? Why is no one from Tzucacab being asked what they want a band of 10 gringos to do in town for a week? or if they want them at all= I know were all excited and Dr Jimenez has 10 years working in the community but in reality he isnt from this town and there are serious communication and cultural gaps between Tzucacab and Merida, not to mention Santa Cruz. So let's take a deep breathe before we send in the invasion force and consider: who do we know in Tzucacab? with whom are we communicating? and if the answer is NO ONE then why are planning socalled "participatory" projects without input from the local community?