I've been searching for an appropriate metaphor for this program and my experiences while in Ecuador. Last week, I finally found it. My experiences and this program are like the Pompa Mesa pig. Before the metaphor can be fully realized, I must give a little background about poor, Wilbur. Jen and Rumi negotiated the price of a pig with a resident of Cahauzhun Grande. The price was set and payment was to be delivered later in the week. When it came time to pay, however, the price was raised significantly. Jen was put in an extremely precarious position--wanting to make good on our promise to provide a pig for the Pompa Mesa but also not wanting to be taken advantage of. On top of that, there was deep concern with solving a problem with money, particularly with our community partners. When everything was said and done, we purchased our pig.
Last Thursday, he reached his decided life expectancy. We arrived at the school and Rumi gathered the children to come and watch the slaughter of Wilbur. The pig unknowingly sauntered towards the small building where it would ultimately meet its demise. There were a group of men in charge of ending Wilbur; they tied the pig's legs and readied themselves. When one of the men attempted to stab the pig in the heart, the knife broke. Someone retrieved a second knife, but it was not long enough to reach the heart; it was a laborious affair. The entire process was long and painful, Wilbur's screams lasted for more than 10 minutes. We watched as he bled out and life slowly drained from his eyes.
The picture I've painted, while bleak, is in part, indicative of my experiences in Ecuador. Just as there was an agreed upon price to buy Wilbur, there was a set itinerary. Just as initial price agreements were irrelevant, so too was our itinerary. And just as Jen and Rumi did what needed to be done in order to fulfill our commitment to the Pompa Mesa celebration, so too did the OSU students while in the classroom and during discussions with the Luis Cordero school teachers. Much like the death of Wilbur, this trip has been messy, uncomfortable, and painful. Students are experiencing dissonance, fighting off illness and exhaustion, and experiencing previously unknown biases.
However, while the death of Wilbur is representative of my experience in that it was uncomfortable and messy, it also represents fulfillment. With the pig's death, an entire village was fed. The meat of the pig provided nourishment for all. It also served as a means for the residents of Cahauzhun Grande to welcome us into their community. In this way, the pig's death is much like my experience and the way I am making meaning of this trip. This trip is uncomfortable, hard, and at times, sad, but also fulfilling, rich, and full of significance. I am challenging everything I know. I am left not with answers, but with more questions. This trip as provided me with intellectual and philosophical nourishment. And so, I've found my metaphor.
This trip has been "Some Pig."
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