On Tuesday we had a visit to San Jose and surrounding towns with Laura Guzman, the social work professor from University of Costa Rica. We started out with lunch in the Mercado Central in downtown San Jose. I suppose the most surprising part of the whole day was my reaction to being in downtown San Jose on the Avenida Central. Back in 2006, when I first started working at Intercultura in Heredia, I would commute from Sabanilla by bus (close to San Pedro and the University), to downtown San Jose, walk about a mile to my other bus down the Avenida Central, and then catch my bus to Heredia. An hour, hour and a half later, I'd arrive at work. Everyday the most challenging part was walking the avenida central, clutching my messenger bag in front of me, avoiding eye contact, and trying desperately, and unsuccessfully to blend in. When Laura Guzman put her small backpack on her front, for some reason all of a sudden I was thrust back into feeling totally unsafe again. It was fascinating to watch my experience of feeling tightness in my chest and I noticed how insecure I felt.
On this trip I read Eve Ensler's book Insecure at Last (thanks for the loan, Kirstin!) It was nice to reflect on all her words of wisdom as I sat with my feelings of insecurity. It made me realize how protected and safe I had felt throughout this trip, and what a contrast that was to how raw and vulnerable I had felt in 2006. However, I think Eve Ensler is right, we "…find freedom, aliveness, and power not from what contains, locates, or protects us, but from what dissolves, reveals, and expands us."
After our lunch in the Mercado Central, we headed on a little tour. We saw the "proyectos" of Hatillo, and how they had changed over the years, from the 60s to the 90s. The government mandates that all "proyectos" have areas for kids to play.
Then we went to Escazu, also known as gringo-ville. It is where the US ambassador lives, behind large gates and lots of protection (talk about security). They have the Multiplaza, which is a mall like you'd find in any place in the US. It really does feel like you're back in the US when you are there...good preparation for the reverse cultural shock that awaits me. About less than a mile away, across a canyon are extremely poor neighborhoods.
It is always shocking to see poverty and wealth living in such close proximity without regard for equality. This was a pretty stark contrast, but I know that it exists in the US as well, what neighborhoods can you think of where this happens near you? What sort of conditions exist to allow this to continue?
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