Scrappy Reflections

I took a couple of weeks off from updating this so I've got a lot on my mind to share. Apologies if it's rather muddled....

So I'm still trying to sort out flights back in (very) early 2009 as I have been invited to attend an event in Saudi Arabia! Not only do I need to get back for the flights, before then I have to provide my passport and completed visa application, this means that I'm fighting the clock in terms of fitting in everything left that I want to do here.

It's also been time to face the harsh realities of life as an unemployed activ (ish) ist I could face upon my return and to do my best to circumvent them. I've completed a number of applications to various organisations for work paid and unpaid (mostly the latter)and been dwelling on other ways to subsidise my passion for earl grey, cereal, books and music. Truthfully speaking it's been a big leap to take 3 months off to work unpaid abroad and one which is difficult to explain to people here. Most kids have to work so hard to pay for their education in order to keep hope alive for a meaningful career here that doing something that doesn't provide any livelihood, even short term, isn't an option, culturally or practically.Unless you are very well off the same is true in the UK, we just work harder to deny it and get in more debt, something we seem very accomplished at! Whilst I'm aware of this condition, it doesn't mean I'm immune to it, as a look at my finances would tell even the most casual observer. I'm really grateful to have had the chance to come here regardless. Time in another environment has given me a very productive space for reflection and growth and the work I've undertaken has helped me develop my range of skills generally.

Most recently I've been reading up on work in Masculinities, that is to say different symbolic identities for people of the male gender, and their role in development. It was refreshing to find this strand of thought as soemtimes in Gender work it appears that Men are conspicuous only by their absence, or the intention of the work to negate the negative impacts the attitudes and actions of men can have on womens' capacity to realise their full potential. Of course male and female identities are almost always intertwined and, in order to address the fundamental inequities of gender relations and also work toward a safer society for all, a new way of addressing the gender roles of all people, is necessary. For example might the same aspects of male identity that influence high levels of domestic violence not only be linked to those that associate masculinity with strength, fighting etc and that also are a factor in gang membership and high levels of male on male violence? If so how can anyone engage positively with young men to empower them to be able to negotiate their identities differently and embrace new versions of masculinity that reject that violence? Likewise if men and women are able to adopt more balanced identities in their youth, and hopefully grow into more fulfilled and rounded individuals, that could have positive implications for relationships between all people. This applies, in different ways, as much in London as it does in Santo Domingo.

I've made some more friends locally in the city and spent more time chilling, drinking , going to the cinema and eating sushi but I've still found time to visit Juandolio, Dominicus, La Romana, San Pedro Macorix, Callete and Boca Chica. All bar the middle two are beaches of varying popularity and character, the best of the lot being Dominicus, which has the whitest sand and clearest warm sea water I've ever seen.

Also for World Aids Day there was a great Skate/BMX/ Hip Hop event sponsored by UNAIDS and hosted by a friend of mine called Jose Polanco, in Parca Montesino, a popular haunt for local youth. It was cool to see such a progressive event pitched at young people in way that wasn't cringe worthily patronising. The serious message regarding sexual health and contraception was never ignored but it was accompanied by a an entertaining afternoon of competition, fun and unexpected extras (like a random Par Court display). I really enjoyed myself and it was great to see all of the artists who performed mixing so readily with the crowd. On one level this is what hip hop should be about; and attention was given by the artists involved to discussing the positive potential of the genre for bringing communities together and helping express a unique local identity. On another level I think it's just symptomatic of island life; it's a small world and a lot of people I've met know big local politicians, business men and artists, which to an extent means those individuals aren't put on so much of a pedestal as they might be elsewhere. Music, and Merengue and Bachata in particular, are so ingrained in everyday life that I think people take their level of access to the artists for granted. Kids definitely still idolize big international stars, or at least the lifestyles they represent. It's sad to see kids who can't afford shoes wearing 50 T shirts or caps with dollar signs on them, all promoting a certain hustler mentality. It's sad enough to see that at home, but here the celebration of materialism and the 'Get Rich or Die Trying' attitude becomes much more than an abstract problem. Crime and drugs are rife and homicide is the number one cause of death in the country. In fact one of the more interesting projects INSTRAW may be working on in future will explore the various factors that influence gun violence in DR, Jamaica and Trinidad. I'd love to be back around to contribute to that study but I don't see it as likely at this stage.

On another INSTRAW note I went with the organisation to a Human Rights Day event, whilst I certainly enjoyed the free food and enjoyed what I could understand of the various speeches but it does grate a little that an event that should remind us of the supposed universality of certain basic entitlements can be held in a exclusive, expensive hotel, in a country rife with poverty, inequality and injustice where most people probably aren't even aware of many of those entitlements, for the prime benefit of privileged expats. The symbolic of value of the day is important and its fine to celebrate progress so far but I look forward to a Human Rights day that can be genuinely celebrated by all.

That's about all for now. I'll attempt to post again soon in a more orderly fashion.

Peace