Saying that I was underwhelmed with my previous blog post is putting it lightly. I know that travelling is an important and really fun aspect of the experience I'm having here. It feels very different however, than reflecting on my work in the community. I might even say I feel shallow.
One experience I had this past weekend that I left out of my blog (purely out of bad memory, not intentional omission) happened when our whole group was dining along one of the main streets in Granada. As soon as we got off the bus Saturday morning, I felt very different. Granada is quite the tourist city and I couldn't stop noticing how many cheles there were anywhere we went. We were constantly being harassed to buy something, or go on this or that tour, which didn't really make that much of a difference. It was just odd going from a community where people are accustomed to seeing you and treat you as a friend or family member to a place where we were just a few of many foreigners coming to visit the city.
But back to dinner. There are many restaurants with outdoor seating, which we took advantage of, and many people pass buy trying to sell almost anything you can imagine. One girl came up and was selling gum (very aggressively I might point out) so I shooed her away. She kept looking back at me, sticking her tongue out occasionally, clearly annoyed that I didn't like her marketing tactics. My eyes followed her and when she looked back the next time I signaled for her to come back over. Finishing rounds at a neighboring restaurant, she waited at an empty table for me. I got up and went over to sit down with her. I apologized for having so aggressively sent her away, and gave her three cordobas, telling her that maybe if she had been more subtle, people would be more interested in what she was selling.
Upon returning to the table, Madi asked me what I said to the girl and I recounted our conversation. I told her that the girl reminded me of kids in Cedro Galan who might come to Camp JAM or be in a public school class and while I didn't support what she was doing, I thought it could be an opportunity to make a connection. Madi then told me that the last time she was in Granada she had eaten at O'Sheas (the same place where we were at that point) and there had been a story on the back of the menu asking tourists not to patronize the many street vendors that would come up during the course of a meal. She said that as long as these kids knew they could help their families or themselves by working on the streets, they would spend their time doing that rather than go to school. Not giving them business was the best way to support them.
I instantly deflated. I knew that buying gum from a begging child was not a sustainable way to support under-served communities but I thought that maybe making a connection with this little girl on a personal level would outweigh the money I gave her. But talking to Madi, I realized that I drowned out the sound of my own words with the clanking together of the three cordobas that to me made no difference, but for that girl was the difference between working on the streets and going to school.
Even though I carry Cedro Galan and the people I've met here everywhere I go, I have to remember that not all people here are looking for a connection or to be understood. Working in sustainable development has me wired to think that there are always actions to be taken and empowerment to help foster. But honestly, some people just need money to support themselves and the best way I can show them about sustainable change in their lives is by not supporting such a fleeting and undependable income. Although I feel like being one person can't make a difference when these kids see so many people a day, having solidarity with those who want better for them makes me part of a much bigger movement.
I can't go back and find that girl. The deed is done and I know the impact it had. I will be going to Granada again next weekend though. And strangely, the best thing I can do to help that girl and others like her is nothing.
One experience I had this past weekend that I left out of my blog (purely out of bad memory, not intentional omission) happened when our whole group was dining along one of the main streets in Granada. As soon as we got off the bus Saturday morning, I felt very different. Granada is quite the tourist city and I couldn't stop noticing how many cheles there were anywhere we went. We were constantly being harassed to buy something, or go on this or that tour, which didn't really make that much of a difference. It was just odd going from a community where people are accustomed to seeing you and treat you as a friend or family member to a place where we were just a few of many foreigners coming to visit the city.
But back to dinner. There are many restaurants with outdoor seating, which we took advantage of, and many people pass buy trying to sell almost anything you can imagine. One girl came up and was selling gum (very aggressively I might point out) so I shooed her away. She kept looking back at me, sticking her tongue out occasionally, clearly annoyed that I didn't like her marketing tactics. My eyes followed her and when she looked back the next time I signaled for her to come back over. Finishing rounds at a neighboring restaurant, she waited at an empty table for me. I got up and went over to sit down with her. I apologized for having so aggressively sent her away, and gave her three cordobas, telling her that maybe if she had been more subtle, people would be more interested in what she was selling.
Upon returning to the table, Madi asked me what I said to the girl and I recounted our conversation. I told her that the girl reminded me of kids in Cedro Galan who might come to Camp JAM or be in a public school class and while I didn't support what she was doing, I thought it could be an opportunity to make a connection. Madi then told me that the last time she was in Granada she had eaten at O'Sheas (the same place where we were at that point) and there had been a story on the back of the menu asking tourists not to patronize the many street vendors that would come up during the course of a meal. She said that as long as these kids knew they could help their families or themselves by working on the streets, they would spend their time doing that rather than go to school. Not giving them business was the best way to support them.
I instantly deflated. I knew that buying gum from a begging child was not a sustainable way to support under-served communities but I thought that maybe making a connection with this little girl on a personal level would outweigh the money I gave her. But talking to Madi, I realized that I drowned out the sound of my own words with the clanking together of the three cordobas that to me made no difference, but for that girl was the difference between working on the streets and going to school.
Even though I carry Cedro Galan and the people I've met here everywhere I go, I have to remember that not all people here are looking for a connection or to be understood. Working in sustainable development has me wired to think that there are always actions to be taken and empowerment to help foster. But honestly, some people just need money to support themselves and the best way I can show them about sustainable change in their lives is by not supporting such a fleeting and undependable income. Although I feel like being one person can't make a difference when these kids see so many people a day, having solidarity with those who want better for them makes me part of a much bigger movement.
I can't go back and find that girl. The deed is done and I know the impact it had. I will be going to Granada again next weekend though. And strangely, the best thing I can do to help that girl and others like her is nothing.
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