High up, high on the mountain... (Friday)

Friday dawned very early - as in 5 am.  We all trooped to the showers and I noticed a number of Ngobe-Bugle women both in the bathroom and working to sweep, cook, and clean.  Then I remembered that we were staying in dorms run by the Jesuit Foundation of Nuestra Señora del Camino, which is dedicated to improving the lives of the Ngobe-Bugle.  Their objective is to provide "creative alternatives to improve housing and food security and to reduce maternal and infant deaths among the Ngobe-Bugle." So it was hardly surprising that they were there.

The students excitedly explored the beautiful grounds which were jungly and lush.  They eagerly tromped up and down, while Elba and I decided to forego the tour.  Instead, we sat briefly in one of the many chapels on the grounds, and then sat and talked. 

After breakfast, we piled into the bus and headed up the road above San Felix.  Up.  and Up.  and UP.  The bus struggled and at times was barely moving - or so it seemed.  The bus driver had us open windows so he could turn off the air conditioning in the bus.  

The hills were dotted with settlements and everywhere the clothes lines were decked with Ngobe dresses.  It was a gorgeous day as we climbed higher and higher.  We passed people walking up and walking down the steep incline.

Men and women.  Fathers, mothers carrying infants, children.  Young girls and babies.  Sons walking behind their fathers.  

We reached the hamlet of Kato Chami, where we were due to meet the women from the UN who would be our guides, and also to pick up lunch.  School was out, so there were kids playing instead of being in class.  

The sun was hot, so we went back into the shade of a building.  Soon, a pickup came and several Ngobe women piled out.  They quickly went to what turned out to be the toilet.  

We asked for permission to take photos of the women of course, and they agreed.  And while we were there, we asked a bunch of questions about their experiences with mobile phones, computers and the Internet.  Then the woman in the orange dress asked for a copy of the photo.  It turned out that she had an email address too!  So I sent the photos to her - though I had no internet access until Saturday in Santiago.  

Back in the bus, soon, we were engulfed in a cloud - one of those hugging the mountains.  Then out into the sunshine again as we climbed above it.  The countryside was gorgeous and as we reached the top of the mountain, we could see for miles.  

Then a quick turn to the right, down a bit of a hill and stop.  It's the end of the road.  And there is the center we have come to visit.  A bright shiny new building with a concrete floor and kitchen served as both a and latrines.

There, we heard very interesting talks about the programs to improve maternal health, reduce HIV-AIDS infection, increase education and deal with health issues stemming from the annual migration from the mountains to the coffee plantations in western Chiriqui (Panama) and Costa Rica, as well as other issues that result from this migration  We heard from several very interesting Ngobe-Bugle people - this young man described how they have a computer in his school, but, upon more conversation with him, Elba and I found out that they haven't been able to use it yet since they are waiting for Microsoft Office.  (Lydia told him about OpenOffice)

We also heard from these young women as well as others.

We had expected there to be 10 women to meet with Elba and me as part of our initial needs assessment, but only one woman was there.  It turns out that the women needed to get their husbands' permission to attend since there were men present.  The woman who came no longer has a relationship with her husband (although he still lives with her).  We asked a number of questions with the help of the young man above since she spoke no Spanish.

While we were talking with her, one of the girls who had spoken earlier, named "Anna", came over and wanted to make a necklace herself.  So of course I opened up my bead bag and helped her find beads that were easy to string on elastic cord.

Martha from the UN

Then, suddenly, it was time to go.  Immediately!  

We twisted and turned down the mountain.  Poor Elba!  She had felt ill on the way up, and had closed her eyes while I sang to her (at her request)  This worked only to a degree.  So on the way down, she moved to a seat where she didn't have to perch and where she could sit by the window which gave her lots of fresh air since they were opened on the way down.  Until it started to rain.  But she seemed to feel a bit better.

We hurried to try to get to Soloy before the health workers left, but alas, we were too late.  The kids didn't have a chance to make an in-depth site survey, but they did find solar panels that appeared not to be working.  

We returned tired but feeling like we had accomplished quite a lot.  A very good day.