Monday, September 19, 2011

knock on every door

you really never know what you'll find behind the next door you knock on. on several occasions i've gone out walking with some business cards, my notebook, pen, and some surveys in an effort to introduce myself to my community. i can't tell you how many times i've really not wanted to knock on a door. maybe there is a dog barking on a roof, maybe the place looks deserted, or really dirty. whatever. sometimes i just don't want to. and then i think about whether i have a good reason not to knock on the door. and most of the time, i don't. so i knock.

here in grocio prado, women for the most part have been marginalized in that they are the designated amas de casa. they take care of the kids, cook, and knit artesanías when they have some spare time. few have more than a high school education. however, most of the artesans are women. and so it occurred to me as a bit strange that their artisan association, and basically everyone in control of the artisan community, is headed by men.

i've been looking for a female artisan with an education to serve as an example. to be the face of the female artisans. something like that. today i was walking, hungry for lunch when i passed by what looked like a kindergarden or pre-school. i'm a business volunteer, but i am in the process of getting to know my community and so i decided to introduce myself. it turns out that the teacher of the kindergarden is a young 20 something female with knowledge of how to use the computer. not counting my chickens before they hatch but she could be someone good to work with.

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