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Fellowship Update from Alex Katona
Hey all,
I have officially been in Ecuador for well over 3 months, and my time is coming to an end.
I leave for the states soon, but I must say that my time here has been amazing. I have learned an incredible amount about my family, Ecuadorian culture, my future career, and myself.
However, I am going to be honest with you all. The last few weeks in November were very frustrating, and I'll know what to expect from an international working experience the next time around. My last visit to the communities did not end well. When we met with the Kallari President to discuss our next task, craft collection, he informed us that the communities were not ready to receive us. He told us that we would have to wait another couple of weeks, which did not work into our schedule. The president chose not to inform us before we made the 6-hour bus ride (one-way) to meet with him because there was a lot of politics involved (for example, his community was not placed on the list for craft collection, therefore he did not inform the communities). After speaking with him, I understood that my role in Kallari was no longer functional. I left Tena frustrated and disappointed.
When I arrived back in Quito, I did some research and found another organization, Ecotrackers, that was doing similar work with indigenous communities throughout Ecuador. I met with the Director, Andy, and I was able to talk with him in detail about my frustrations with my previous organization. He informed me about a community in the Sierra (the Andes), about 2.5 hours away from Quito, called La Chimba. After doing some research I decided I would volunteer my time with them.
I spent 5 days in La Chimba, living with a local family in the community. My time spent with them was absolutely incredible. I accompanied them to their farms every day and helped milk the cows, upon which their livelihood is based. Unlike the families in the jungle, they opened up to me and shared stories of their pueblo and their family. La Chimba has a long history of indigenous exploitation and abuse: my host parents were basically slaves for more than a decade. I was able to learn more about the land and people of La Chimba in 5 days than I learned about the jungle in the weeks I was there.
In addition to living with my host family, I was able to conduct interviews and attend a meeting of an all-women indigenous association, named after Tránsito Amaguaña. Mama Tránsito, as the people in La Chimba lovingly call her, has fought for indigenous human rights for all of her life. She has even traveled to Cuba and the former Soviet Union, and was imprisoned after returning from the SU on the basis of gun trafficking. She is now 97 years old, and lives in a quaint 2-bedroom house overlooking farms and mountains. I had the privilege of meeting her and discussing her experiences and travels. She is quite a fascinating woman, and everyone in La Chimba respects and appreciates her efforts. Without her determination, the people in La Chimba would not own the land that is currently theirs today.
Aside from my time in La Chimba, I was able to thoroughly enjoy Quito´s annual fiestas. They last about 10 days, the last weekend being the most chaotic. There are over 400 activities to choose from, ranging from concerts to parades to bull fights to chivas (an open-air truck where people play instruments and drink, pretty much). I had a great time, but it is quite dangerous. Over 45 people died in the parties, which I thought was absolutely absurd.
In my last week, I will be spending a lot of time with family and visiting a couple of museums. I am really sad to go, but I am also looking forward to a new start in California.
Ok everyone, sorry this is so long, and if you made it this far, thanks for reading. I hope you are all doing great!
Good luck to all who enter for the DTRW fellowship in 2006.
Besos,
Alex Katona
DTRW 2005 Fellowship Winner
alexandrakatona@hotmail.com
More about Alex’s Fellowship:
◊ Alex Katona meets Colleen Kinder
◊ Update and photos from Alex in Ecuador - 10/05
◊ Update and photos from Alex in Ecuador - 11/05
◊ Update and photos from Alex in Ecuador - 12/05
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