Once upon a very very sunny day I was headed out to Elke and Arend’s farm when the small bus I was riding on died. Being only 5 miles from the farm I decided to walk, and along the way I happened upon a public works project to build a drainage system along this main road.

Tarija, the department or state where I live and work is currently making more money (relatively) than they ever have before due to the sale of natural gas from the department. Some of that money is being used to build severely needed roads, bridges, and water management systems.

Lucky for me, even I don’t need to review my economics notes to understand that even though machines are limitedly available (and arguably there is momentary money to pay for them) there is greater economic benefit to hire workers (usually women) from the countryside to remove rocks from the roadbed by HAND. 

When I first noticed this a year or so ago I was shocked. The sun is unbelievably strong all day long – and whatever your skin color you will get burnt if you leave yourself exposed. Thus, as you travel around Bolivia you will see the occasional work teams in long overalls, long sleeves, and big hats. Moreover there are rarely water sources and never bathrooms to keep laborers hydrated or comfortable.

However, these are good jobs for the people. They make more in one day laboring in the sun than 2 – 3 days of working in their homes making bread or what have you. And still the local government cuts costs by avoiding using expensive machinery. Unfortunately, this results in even small projects taking at least 6 months – but at the same time that is 6 months of relatively constant wages for each worker’s family. Trust me, it looks just as harsh a life as it sounds.

On a happier note – as you continue down the hill you see in the pictures above you come to a small river with the cautionary sign in this photo – appropriately admonishing all to be careful not to drown, litter, drink alcohol, cut down trees, or leave someone to drown while at the river. Despite the sign all of the above happens more frequently than anyone would like to imagine. But luckily for the bathers across the street a former Peace Corps Volunteer has built public bathrooms in the unfortunately vain hope that folks will use them rather than the river; as the river is also used for drinking, cooking, & farming water.

More often than not “development” is a complicated process.  

Now playing: Indigo Girls - Galileo

Posted by Sarah Robinson on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008 at 10:18 am.