2010-12-24
Strangers used to point and call me “Alemão” as I passed by their gates in Massaranduba. I was unknown, and so I was “The German”. But not just me—it had nothing to do with skin color. Because, blame it on poverty or fear or failure of public transportation, there are large areas of Massaranduba that...
Read More2010-12-20
Saturday morning in Otavalo, the downtown is flooded with locals and tourists alike. People from all over Ecuador and the world come here on Saturdays to buy souvenirs in the famous market. Starting with the nucleus in the Plaza de los Ponchos, the market sprawls down several blocks in the city of Otavalo. Some of...
Read More2010-12-20
As I look back on all of my mistakes, I ask myself if the path that I have chosen to pursue is the right one for me. All of a sudden I shed a tear, I soon wipe it of my cheek and then I begin to listen to my conscience. Little by little I...
Read More2010-12-15
It was stark black outside with the exclusion of the stars that illuminated the sky. On nights like this when the power went out I found myself just outside the house seated in a chair staring up at them. A beautiful sight they were. Yesterday was no exception, only instead of watching the stars I...
Read More2010-12-13
This is probably a biased statement, but: my house and neighborhood are absolutely gorgeous. Here follows picture-evidence: [slidepress gallery=’my-home-by-chloe-bobar’] Note: Move your mouse over each photo to see the captions!
Read More2010-12-13
I went to the santé first thing to ask for permission to be dismissed from work so that I could go break ground on the community garden my advisor and I had been working on creating. We dug and sifted and sweated for three whole hours before he looked up and said “Jusqu’a demain” (until...
Read More2010-12-13
The first day I got my Wolof name, I wrote it down on a piece of paper and put it in my pocket. Everyone asked for it, and even if it was in consecutive conversation, I had to look at the paper to remember the strange sounds that defined me. For three days I peeked...
Read More