Campesinos Alimentan el Mundo

Today is Labor Day in the United States. We all like to get the day off, and grill out with our friends. But what is Labor Day, really?

As journalist James Warren wrote in this article in the New York Daily News, it is "the day to celebrate the American worker and his sacrifices and economic and social achievements". Oooh. Now that sounds a little more interesting. According to Warren, it all started in 1894 when Pullman railroad workers had a walkout against unfair wages and poor living conditions. Federal marshals and the Army killed 30 of them. This event led to the government proclaiming an Annual Labor Day, to honor the American worker.

I began my internship at Student Action with Farmworkers. I have to say it is one of the most unique organizations I have ever learned about. Its mission is to bring students and farmworkers together to learn about each other's lives, share resources and skills, improve conditions for farmworkers, and build diverse conditions working for social change. It is a true social justice organization - I am so excited to be a part of it!

So today on Labor Day, I invite you to consider the American worker. How can you even begin to describe them? Black, white, Indian, Asian, Latino... the list goes on and on. We are a diverse workforce. And we have a long way to go before everyone receives a fair wage and safe working conditions.

Farmworkers are paid as little as 40 cents for a bucket of tomatoes they picked. Minimum wage laws only apply to workers on large farms (how is that fair?) The Fair Labor Standards Act does not provide overtime for farmworkers. The legal age for a farmworker is 12, not 16 like other jobs. (Source: United States Farmworker Fact Sheet)

Farmworker conditions are still very similar to slavery. They share rooms and substandard houses with many other workers. Many do not have transportation to leave the property. Only 10% of farmworkers have reported that their employer provides insurance. They are exposed on a daily basis to pesticides, which puts them at risk for toxic chemical injuries. 

Immigration to the United States increased greatly in 1994, when NAFTA (the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement) was signed and over 2 million Mexican farmworkers were driven out of business. This article offers an upsetting list of all the damage NAFTA has done, both in the loss of jobs in the U.S. and Mexico.

...It's interesting with farmers markets on every corner, and everyone talking about local food and concern for their diet... Very few people are talking about farmworker rights. I like this SAF fellow's take on it all. It takes a village. On this Labor Day and all days, may we take the time to educate ourselves, and may we begin and continue to take action. 

"In this day-to-day struggle, it sometimes feels like we are spinning our wheels in deep mud. So this is what I’ve really learned this summer: it takes a village. It takes Araceli and Selena lobbying in Raleigh to protect the legal rights so easily stripped from farmworkers. It takes Jessie in South Carolina helping migrant children stay in school. It takes Ramon working with Legal Aid to make sure human rights are not violated in the farmworking community. And it takes me, in Burgaw, working with one patient at a time to make sure those who produce our food stay healthy. It takes a village for this movement, no one person or organization in this fight can stand alone, and together we can move towards real, evident change. Adelante juntos, hasta la victoria!"

-Miranda Schartz, SAF Fellow

"Every time we sit at a table to enjoy the fruits and grain and vegetables from our good earth, remember that they come from the work of men and women and children who have been exploited for generations" 

-Cesar Chavez, co-founder of United Farm Workers

Noventa Mil

What does it mean to be grateful?

Being a white woman in middle class America, I will never fully comprehend how lucky I am and how easy my life is. The restaurants that I eat at, the trips that I take, the ease of going back to school and finding a job and buying the things I need when I need them. The luxury of being able to go out at night, and to feel safe in my own home.

Then I think of all the children that have crossed the U.S. border illegally, sent by their families in hopes of having a better life. Most years about 20,000 children attempt to enter the country illegally, this year we are likely to reach 90,000. 

The young people and families I know that have attempted crossing the border have done so for two primary reasons: 1) Their mother or father lives in the United States and they want to be together 2) They have been threatened by a gang, or may be in the future.

In the 1980's the United States began supporting the El Salvadoran government in the civil war, by training the soldiers in violent war tactics and providing thousands of weapons. Unfortunately, the weapons are still around as is the culture of violence. Many El Salvadoran men sought refuge in the United States during the war, and became involved in gangs out of Los Angeles. These Los Angeles gang members continue to be deported back to El Salvador every day, where the gang population continues to grow.

So I consider, if I had a son who was asked to join a gang in El Salvador, what would I do? If he says no, they will most likely kill him. If he says yes, he will most likely be killed in gang violence. If I send him to the United States to cross the border illegally, he will struggle. But - he may make it. He could survive. But, immigrating illegally to the United States is usually a permanent move - I may never see him again.

A mother's love for her child. That is why there are so many children arriving every day to the "frontera" in hopes of a better life.

People sometimes say "protect our freedom". I'm not sure what freedom is. I do know about safety. I am grateful for safety. To be able to walk through the streets, without fear. 

Someone recently asked me why immigrants can't use the $5,000-$10,000 that they normally pay a coyote and instead fly to the United States and just stay there. The U.S. has made it very difficult to travel from Central America legally. There is a $200 charge to apply for the visa, and then you may get an interview. Almost all the people I know in El Salvador have been denied a travel visa to the United States. They look for financial stability (a regular, larger paycheck) and that you have a family in El Salvador to come back to. 

Planes from El Salvador to the United States are filled with elderly grandmothers, from my experience. I suppose by that age the U.S. embassy just says, "go ahead and go" since they are not physically able to work. They may be seeing their children for the first time in 30 years. Many families may never see each other again, maintaining a relationship over the phone with their parents for the rest of their lives.

I guess what I'm saying is, count your blessings. Whether near or far, it's good to know that you will see your loved ones again. Tell the people you love that you love them.

Berrinche

It's easy to live life in a state of constant tantrum. I don't want this - I want that! I don't want to leave - so I'll just stay! My life is horrible - everyone else is happy!

When the tantrum is over, how do we pick ourselves off the ground, and move on?

This summer, I am nannying for a 5 year old with autism named Jack. He delights in the smallest things. We saw a butterfly on a flower, and he said, "Jenna! The butterfly's saying hello to me!" We saw a flower that needed water and he asked with great concern, "Jenna, is the flower sad?" He also notices things other kids wouldn't, like me missing my turn while driving- "Jenna! I want to go HOME!" or that my coffee cup is in the car from the previous day - "Jenna, is your coffee yucky and old?"

Jack has a hard time leaving things he enjoys. We make regular trips to the museum, a magical place with lemurs and trains and paper airplanes. The last time we went, I gave him warnings: 20 minutes, 15, 10 and 5. Still, at the "times up, let's go home" moment, he sat down and wouldn't move. 

His tantrums are not the yelling type. He just sits there, like he's gone into a catatonic state and physically cannot move nor hear me. 

At least 5 minutes went by. Finally he looked up at me: "I want to ride the elevator, he said". So, we rode the elevator up and down. He proceeded to sit down in the elevator. I held the door open. It began to beep its scary, emergency beep. It was time to move.

"Ok Jenna, let's go," he said. And we ran through the weather exhibits and the building blocks, and made it finally to the car. I was frustrated - what did I do wrong? I wanted him to have a good time and then immediately be ready to go.

Perhaps all Jack needed was a little time. At the end, he didn't hold on to his anger. He left with joy, ready for the next adventure.

And so am I.

"You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with faith, courage and hope."

-Thomas Merton

Adios

It has been over a month since we left El Salvador, and so much has changed. We live again in a world of carpeting and air conditioning, cars and credit cards. I cling to the internet like a blanket, as if it's going to keep me safe. There are things I like about all this. But it feels lonely.

Goodbyes are never easy. At the end of the party, you have to pry yourself from the people you love, get on the plane, car or bus and physically leave. The rest of the goodbye comes later, in the reflection and slow passing of time. It feels violent and sudden, no matter how much you prepare for it. Saying goodbye to a community of people you have come to love. 

We have done this twice recently, once in 2012 leaving Minneapolis, and again in 2014 leaving El Salvador. I feel homesick for both places and all the people too. 

I am not a "better person" for volunteering for 2 years in another country. I don't believe God works on a points system. I have been enriched and filled with gratitude for the experiences that I had and the opportunity I had to share my gifts. In two years I taught: poetry, photography, skateboarding (supervised), choir, music education, music therapy, beginning English, intermediate English, English conversation class, computer skills, drama club (Snow White), preschool camps, and yoga. An incredible smorgasboard of experiences and adventures. I taught in a rural community (La Mora) once a week, and they accepted me with open arms. My dear friend Rina fed me lunch every Wednesday, shared her sweet daughters with me, her stories and her friendship.

I miss my weekly English lunches with Karilyn, my walks down to the lake with Wendy. My English class made up of young adults who truly wanted to learn. We laughed so much. My yoga classes taught in the open air surrounded by the Centro Arte garden. I miss the food... chicken, rice, beans for breakfast, licuados, pupusas... I miss walking by the school and the children yelling "Senorita Jenna!!" 

They knew me. I knew them. Community.

What will stay with me through all these memories?

The relationships. The smiles on the children's faces, the thoughtful gifts and cards that came from people that have so little, the feeling I had when I was singing with them. "You are the best teacher I have ever had," one of the cards said.

Did I really have to leave? 

Here I am, nannying for a wonderful family who can afford a nanny. Taking a class on nonprofit management 2 nights a week. Driving my car. Buying cleaning supplies. Listening to ads about laser hair removal on the radio. 

Letting go. 

Primero Dios

We've been back from El Salvador almost 2 weeks now. It feels like so much longer. Suchitoto and Durham are like two completely different worlds, and yet they are in the same world. Proof that God is creative.

I wanted to reflect on some of the beautiful things that Salvadorans say. I have been missing the everyday salutations (saludos) such as "buenos dias" and "adios". I like that people say "adios" when passing each other, it's a great way to clearly say "I don't have time to talk right now, but I see you." In Suchitoto it is expected that people look each other in the eye as they pass. As you walk down the street, you physically feel the other person's eyes seeking yours, seeking connection. At first I didn't like that, now I miss it.

"Que le vaya bien" means something like... "may it go well". It is said only when someone is walking or driving or riding somewhere. In passing. To me, it is an acknowledgement of the sacredness of our journey. A knowing that we could fall, or crash, along the way. But with the well wishes of others, our journey is made safer.

"Buen provecho" means "enjoy your meal". It is said everytime someone enters a restaurant or home and others are eating. It's also often said at the beginning of the meal, again acknoledging the sacredness of the food and the importance of enjoying it. 

"Primero Dios" means "first God". There's really no good translation of it. I immediately think of a cute elderly woman from the campo when I hear that phrase. It's often said when someone is hoping for something, like a job or a baby or getting well. One person might say, "I hope I get well soon," and the other person might say "primero dios". There is an amazing faith in God in El Salvador, almost mystical. Beautiful. Magic. God will provide.

"Dios se lo pague" is another beautiful faith statement which means, "May God repay you". It is to say that you are very, very grateful. When I think of this statement I think of the wonderful parents from Los Angelitos that I worked with. They each had children with disabilities, working with very few economic resources. They spend much of their life energy caring for their child and fighting for their right to an education and services (of which there are few). They said "dios se lo pague" to me when I said goodbye to them, and those words remain in my heart.

"Cuesta mucho". We desperately need an English word like "cuesta". It literally means "it costs a lot", but really it is to say "it is very difficult." You can say "cuesta mucho" about expensive things, but also difficult things in life like work, raising children, or physical/emotional pain. There is a lot of acknowledging of suffering in El Salvador, that suffering is a part of life and that life is difficult. And that is okay.

"Hay que aprovechar", means "one must take advantage"/"one must make the most of it". One of the things I love about El Salvadoran culture is that they truly enjoy things. If they have the money to go to the pool, they spend all day. They bring hammocks and food. They laugh and share with each other. 

The word "aprovechar" has taken on new meaning as I am aware of the incredible blessings in my life. My car, my savings account, incredible support from family and friends. I feel guilty, but I know that guilt is not the answer. The answer is gratefulness, and living as simply as I can. Enjoying my life and the amazing people in it. Not wasting energy on feeling bad about having resources, but working so that more people might live a comfortable life without economic hardship. 

We all deserve that. To have enough food on the table. To break bread together, to say "buen provecho" surrounded by people we love. To walk together along the road, pebbled with the golden rays of a setting sun. To go our separate ways with a true hug (abrazos fuertes), saying, with a smile, "que le vaya bien." 

Felicidad

It is difficult to describe what the past two years have meant to me. How they have shaped me, confused me, changed my perspective. For two years I walked in the same five block radius, seeing the same people. My world was smaller. I couldn't run away from myself as easily. I couldn't run away from anyone, actually. 

I began to become more in touch with myself. My breath, my emotions, my aching back. I noticed it all. I began to appreciate the people around me, celebrating their hellos, finding conversation in the smallest of things. 

I am struck by how fast we can move from place to place in a car, missing everything that is happening in those 20 miles that go whurring by. The thing that has surprised me being back in the states is that I find it sad. I am sad to have left all my dear friends, but I am also sad to see with new eyes how separated we are from each other. The internet connects us, yet keeps us glued to a computer as opposed to looking each other in the eye. Our supermarkets are big and have everything we want, yet still we are wanting. There is an emptiness in this overdeveloped culture.

What I am trying to say is, I believe that Salvadorans are happier than us. They spend more time in community, with family. When someone dies, they have a vigil all night long. Hundreds of people attend. They don't want the family members to be alone

But, this is a total generalization. Happiness doesn't live in the new house, or a place, or your perfect job. Happiness is a choice. It lives deep within us, at the core of our being. It is not ecstasy, but simplicity. A deep breath in, followed by a sigh.

Pensamientos

Sorry blog, I have neglected you. And I will continue to neglect you for a while longer, because we only have a few weeks left in El Salvador and I'm so busy eating pupusas...

But, I wanted to share a striking Facebook post by my roommate Noel, commemorating 10 years since he attempted to move to the United States. Some food for thought (and a good adventure in Spanish to English translation!)

“March 6^th”. One decade ago, on a day exactly like today, I made a decision that taught me so much about life. 10 years ago I searched for what many call “The American Dream”. This was what I experienced from March 6^th through June 8^th 2004. I can honestly say, in contrary to what many say, “Thanks be to God that this so-called American Dream did not come to pass for me.”

I traveled for nearly 4 months in trucks, boats, mountains, cars, the desert in Arizona, the plane from Los Angeles. Almost 50% of these 4 months was spent in three jails in Miami, Florida, where immigration control arrested me and my 4 traveling companions. On my journey I saw robberies, abuse, and even death.

This decision which I made 10 years ago taught me to love all the people that are a part of my life, and keep them physically close to me. If immigration control had not arrested me I definitely would have had another way of life, and these words would not have been written from our beloved country which has suffered so much.

I know that love for El Salvador continues to grow in our people, it is tangible. Here live the people and family that we love, and the place and geographic location which we call the “bellybutton”, the center of our being. Sadly the social inequality has affected us in many ways and 2.8 million of our people have had to leave (almost half of our population). If these 2.8 million people had not have to leave, they would have been working alongside the rest of us to help develop our country. Unfortunately the political and economic structure has taken so much from us, meanwhile politicians like Paco Flores are robbing millions of dollars. Our country continues to die, without realizing what it is dying from. 

All over the world, we can find people with a lack of economic resources - a lack of food, health, education, fun, etc. The simple enjoyment of life is lost. The false illusion that tomorrow will be better always exists. My four grandparents, may they rest in peace, always lived with this illusion that tomorrow would be better. Now they are dead, and the cycle of this way of thinking continues like it did 90 years ago, or since the beginning of El Salvador. Should the development of a country take centuries? If only those who have been running our country had the knowledge and willingness to help their people, we would not need a century; only a short time would be needed to achieve social justice and human equality, where people are truly dedicated to helping one another.

Ayayaya… so many feelings come up from remembering the experiences that shape our lives… Despite everything I have witnessed in El Salvador, I love this place. I give thanks to God for allowing me to return from that capitalist country (the USA). The only reason to leave El Salvador and live there is to have money. Yes, it’s true that money is the way that we obtain material things and services for our family, but money can’t be a substitute for love from other human beings.

I am grateful to be here, and I hope to continue working for my people as long as my knowledge and physical, psychological, and mental strength allow me. I love my people, I love my family, I love my girlfriend, I love the children, I love the elderly, I love the humble and simple people, I love the people that live in remote and rural places in our country, I love the privilege I have had to get to know so many wonderful friends in my university… Ahhh. I want to clarify that I hate with everything in me the rich that exploit my people and that my people are obligated to be born and die poor. El Salvador is not poor because our people do not work, El Salvador is poor because others exploit it.

I am sending greetings to all of you. I am sending you big hugs and lots of love to my family and friends in all parts of the world – especially in the United States. Maybe you feel that you have more material things than us in El Salvador, but I am sure that the majority of you would give up everything that you possess to give just one hug to your mother or father, to hug your friends and family that you left behind. Our country is so tiny and has suffered so much. Fight for what you love. I hope that all aspects of your personal and professional life will be blessed like never before. I appreciate and admire you all.

Blessings,

Noel