Big Day

[Stewmuse]

I can't get them all, but I've made a significant dent in the localized mosquito population the past 2 days. With T-shirt as a swatter, I'm slaying 'em right and left....

Kip Fisher - Great White Hunter. Look out, Africa!

[Kip]

Here are some pics of one of the local coffee-growing families that my friend took yesterday....

[Stewmuse]

So, we have shade grown vs. sun grown coffee? In the bottom pic, is she roasting or brewing?

[Kip]

She's roasting. There are coffee plants all over the hillside - some covered, others not. Don't know why the difference...

...sent by smoke signal from Cigar Country

[Kip]

100% cacao, locally harvested, crushed, and pressed into lumps. Looks like a turd. Tastes delightful....



...sent by smoke signal from Cigar Country

[kurtdesign1]

I can almost sense your glee after this morning's cup o' joe.

[Kip]

I can't remember which thread had the request for a pic of the Campo cigars, but here you go. These folks just grow tobacco on the hillside and roll it up in sticks to smoke. Believe it or not, there is actually some structure. My buddy just unrolled one and we found wrapper, binder and filler. Rough as a cob; strong as balls....



...sent by smoke signal from Cigar Country

[Stewmuse]

I can't remember which thread had the request for a pic of the Campo cigars, but here you go. These folks just grow tobacco on the hillside and roll it up in sticks to smoke. Believe it or not, there is actually some structure. My buddy just unrolled one and we found wrapper, binder and filler. Rough as a cob; strong as balls....

The moonshine equivalent of cigars, no doubt. Given the opportunity, I'll certainly try one!

[Kip]

I have recently found it intensely fascinating to see old pictures of various Caribbean islands "back in the day," particularly Cuba and the Dominican Republic. I've been noticing pictures from the '30s and '40s in particular, and the state of affairs, technology, buildings, and dress are very American-like for the same era. Nailing down the exact causes would be tough - and I know it'd be a long and varied list - but I wonder what all the factors are that set them back (forgive the term, but I don't know a better way to describe it). I know political revolutions, economic boom/busts, and corruption are largely to blame, but the differences in day to day life now (here vs. the U.S.) and then (also here vs. the U.S.) are pretty radical. Although not always the case, the U.S. and D.R. have been pretty friendly over the past 80 years. The channels have mostly remained open - especially after the death of Trujillo. Heck, even during his reign. Today, the infrastructure and technology here is a frenetic patchwork of "bandaids."

It's a daily struggle just to do many routine tasks. I can't help but wonder how things would be different had the apparent pathway from the '30s had continued alongside US progress. Don't get me wrong; a lot of our "progress" is undesirable for me. My mind just wanders a lot. I'm not so elitist to think the rest of the world should follow the US - particular over the past 20 years - but there are lots of things that could definitely use some development here. It would be a boon to the people.

Some things are reversed, but not many. Healthcare for example. Technology here is similar to US standards, and far cheaper in general. However, because of the other developmental issues, only a very small proportion of the population can even afford it.

Technological advances of the past 20 years here are mostly behind here. Everything is dealt with on a cash basis (which I find appealing)...and paper rules the day. Computer systems - when even installed - rarely work. When they do work, the employees often don't know how to use them. Every month, I have to figure out which place I'm able to pay some bills. I don't know that we've ever been able to pay at the first place we try. There's typically some reason the first office or two (take your pick which bill) can't accept payment on that day.

I have a friggin paper bankbook for crying out loud - and without it, a transaction never happened. The bank has this massive ledger where they keep track of everyone's accounts - and there are 700,000+ people in this city. Every deposit has to be signed and stamped in my book and theirs. Same applies for cell phone contracts and the like. You can absolutely forget about paying anything online. TriCom, our internet provider, claims they have online payments available....but their site is not set up to do it. There's about a 10-step process for "applying" to do it, and the site's database crashes somewhere around step 6.

Buildings are built without codes (or at the very least enforcement) and left to decay. Roads are pretty much the same. The majority of traffic lights and controls don't work because they're installed and forgotten. Many roads are further "enhanced" by missing manhole covers that need to be dodged. People steal them to scrap the metal.

I'm not complaining, although it certainly appears so. I love life here so far. Many of these things are what give the island its flair; its character. And, whenever Americans come in and throw money and resources at things here, it usually goes awry anyway. It's just that I see so many things that are truly detrimental to the populace.

I no longer even know why I started this post. Many of these issues are really the things that lend this island its charm...but whenever I see them in light of the people who are affected by some issues, it's tough. It's charming for outsiders who visit for a week, but makes life tough for this country's citizenry who have to deal with it every day.

Overall I dig it, though.

[Stewmuse]

I would imagine that most of the issues you describe here are not readily fixable. Not without, at least, a major reworking of how municipalities handle (if they ever get a significant amount) their finances and how people feel about their role as citizens. Other nations can help with equipment and initial manpower, but just coming in and "fixing" things for them is not a long-term solution. Perhaps if their infrastructure is greatly improved their could be an influx of foreign businesses or investments.

Or we "help them" the way we "helped" Japan. Bomb and rebuild anew... okay, maybe not. But if there was an internal/domestic demolition and rebuild, that might speed things along. "Okay, guys. Things are gonna be real shitty for a few years but when we get done it'll all be worth it." Or they can continue to keep the status quo and flounder until they're just gone.

Obviously, I have all the answers. Tell'em to just chill until January and I'll get it all straightened out.