Fieldwork is gooooood!! (with some inconveniences)

yes yes, I am finally writing from my own computer, thanks to Jonah and Carla who made some great and stressful efforts to deliver it... and today.. it did arrive :) thanx!!!

I have to think about what I wrote last time because I am not so sure anymore, but can tell you that I have suffered some health issues, but I am getting better!

My two fellow collegues from INMIGRA (Institute of Migration in the Andes Region) arrived, José David and Alex, and it has been really nice to be able to talk about our projects and to discuss the concepts, strategies etc. Together we are trying to give an overview of the situation of transnational families in the region of Junín, and I am doing the family part, and they are doing the contextual part. So although we do different things, we are visiting cities and villages together and help each other out when we can. We have been to some places to find families, interview mayors, agrarian organisations and women's and children's rights organisations (especially interesting for me to see what problems they detect also in transnational families). At the same time, we have also taken some time to relax, eat in some 'traditional' places and go out dancing. Yesterday they left, but will come back in about two weeks, and we are in contact by skype, just as with Carla as she is traveling constantly (to Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia).

I saw the last time I wrote I had found 2 transnational families and I can let you know that I have now 7 very interesting cases with very nice people that are proud to receive me and tell me about their lives. I have only been struggling a litlle bit with the time, since I have to transcribe the interviews (which takes a really long time) and was analising with the guys and our 'fantastic' SPSS (especially for us, antropologists haha)... Anyway, Carla was very positive about the first results so I hope to go on with the more interesting and fun parts: talking to the families, listening to their members, observing them, and helping them with some things as far as I can (see pictures).

Ow jeah, about the other small inconveniences: walking in a small town searching for a family (we had only the street name, not the number) one of my feet slipped a little bit, and two dogs attacked me from two sides... Fortunately one only bit in my pants (Lies, sorry it was the one you so carefully brought to me, but saved me from one more wound!!) But the other one did bite me in my hip.. we directly went to the medical post around the corner and they helped me carefully cleaning and giving advice. I was mostly worried about the rabies... But my collegue and the doctor went to the owner of the dog (it wasn't a street dog) and she showed a certificate that the dog was vaccinated. Well, they told me (and I also asked at two more medical posts that told me the same) that then there counts a 10-day period to observe if the dog behaves strangely or dies.. so that I have only to take the vaccinations if it does. Well they told me the dog was ok but I will check tomorrow (10 days later) myself as well to be sure..

When we went a second time to that village (called Chupaca: watch out there people ;) ) I came back puking in a plastic bag in a crazy-driving bus, and later got told that I have an infection in my intestines. Well I am taking some medication now and feel better.. But still have to go back tomorrow to that 'evil' village to meet the dog.. Wish me luck!

Well while choosing the pictures I will remember some more interesting details from my adventures hopefully..hanks for your reactions and saludos from Huancayo..!

chaoooooo

Really starting...

Hej everyone!!

Here just some short pieces on what I did this week and some pictures!! hope you can imagine a little bit more what I am doing..

- Have been buying necessary things in the big supermarket, but also at the indigenous market... two times a week there is this big big market on the street next to my house so I will go there now as well to buy some cereals, fruits ect...! The closed market is really near too and there I have bought my meat etc. this week..

- but, Carlas mother (who lives in Spain) anddaughter arrived, so now she is cooking 3 times a day and inviting me too.. she is a really caring person so its nice to have a ' mother' in the house..

-I have been analising and selecting the right families that I want to make cases of.. though of course the first 3 families did not live at the directions that were written down, or the number did not exist, or the house was just really old and looked like there did not live anyone any time.. So a little bit frustrating,, but I am happy to inform you that I do have my second' case' family that seems very nice.. SonowI also have to decide how many in total I will make cases of, and I am thinking about 10.. Let`s see... This afternoon I will pass (with Angela, Carlas daugther) for some other families to see who is available..

- I had dinner withmy first case family, they are so nice, and met an aunt who lives in Switzerland, another aunt who has lived in Brasil,and the otherfamily-memberswho all want to migrate, so seems like a really interesting case!

- I have been on a trip with German (a friend and collegue of Carla who does agricultural projects in the surroundings), who showed me the different villages my respondents live in.. It was really nice to see some of the surroundings!! Here some pictures.. mostly of that!!!

well.. I hope everyone is fine.. sorry I can´t tell some more really exciting things but will try to do so next time ;)

besos!!

La vida en Huancayo

Dear people,, from now on I will write in English so that everyone understands...! Here a message from the Andes-city of Huancayo.. I have been in Peru for a little bit more then a week.. sorry for not writing but you know how time flies..

I arrived in Lima and had a great arrival as Anna arranged everthing for me.. She lives in this nice apartment from a really nice Señora that helps with everything you need.. Well, I met my local supervisor who is the BEST, so nice, helpfuland we are laughing all the time. The first days I was just getting to know Lima and also the latin american life again,,, and socializing with Anna

Well after staying two nights at Carla´s (my supervisors) house and a total change of my research question (I will now be focusing on the dynamics in the transnational family and social remittances), we could finally leave by train (12 hours)... This stupid taxidriver did not know where to go but in the end we ran with all our heavy bags and managed to enter the train.. We got breakfast (airplain food), studied a little bit and listened to the touristic explanations.. it was not that bad.. and.. we met this real transnational family ... jejjj!! I was happy to arrive in Huancayo, I am staying in Carla´s parents house, Frida Kahlo - but less luxurious- style, and we arranged my own office in the house!! So these days I have been reading, getting to know her ´aunt´ (that is not really aunt but best friend of the mother) that showed me, really slowly (as she is like 75 years old)the center and some good places to buy foodetc.. She even took me to the church and a diner with two other widows and an oldercouple... haha still good to hear some family stories... I also had to say goodby to my computer and bought some basic things. Now I am analising the questionairres that are done in 2007 to make a selection of the families I will make cases of. Yesterday I went to the ´train´ family and to some girls that did the questionaires in 2007 and can show me the neighbourhoods..

So, I am getting used to my place, getting to know more and more people and feel my start is ok.. I do not have internet at home but think I will in 1 week,, then it will be more easy to write etc.

Beso grande!!!

Eva

Llegando a Lima

Hallo lieve allemaal,

Hierbij mn eerste 'echte' verhaaltje vanuit t verre Lima, gister had ik iets geschreven maar t werd weer gewist en toen had ik geen zin meer om t opnieuw te schrijven.. Dus hier een nieuwe poging!!

Nou ik ben goed aangekomen in Lima, na een vermoeiende maar wel voorspoedige reis..Na mijn verbazing over t vliegveld van Madrid (ik moest met een metro naar een ander deel van het vliegveld)en de vreemde volgorde van het vliegtuigeten was ik blij toen ik perfect werd opgehaald op het vliegveld: mijn privé-taxichauffeur met 'Eva de Bruine' naambord stond klaar! In de taxi deed de stad me erg herinneren aan Quito: de gebouwen, geur, geluiden, maar das alleen maar positief! En.. t is hier heet!! maar dat mag voor mij ook wel weer even na de nederlandse vrieskou! Ik was blij om Anna (mijn studiegenootje die nu al iets meer dan een week in Lima is) te zien en zij ook om mij te zien: eindelijk kon ze weer even engels praten.. En het was leuk haar eerste veldwerk verhalen tehoren en te beseffen hoeveel ze al in een week heeft gedaan!

Maar dat idee heb ik ook:na 1 dag in Lima heb ik het gevoel dat ik er al een paar dagenben! Ik heb nog een beetje een raar ritme, wordt elke dag om 6 uur wakker, maardan sta ik rustig op en bereid mevoor op de dag ;) .. Gister heb ik ontbeten met de eigenaresse van deze appartementen voor studenten en ze heeft me alvast de eerste contacten in Huancayo gegeven: ze heeft daar familie.. handig!!Daarna ben ik naar de supermarkt gegaan en heb een telefoonkaart etc gekocht om Carla (mijn begeleidster hier) te bellen om haar te ontmoeten. Daarna ging ikde stad in met Anna, we gingen naarde moderne boulevard, al heb ik geen zee gezien vanwege de mist!Na een stuk verder te zijn gelopen de stad in hebben we nog wat gedronken en besloten we samen een taxi te nemen, zij moest naar een afspraak met haar begeleider en ik had nog een paar uur voor mijn afspraak, dus wilde graag naar het nationaal historisch museum. Na haar te hebben afgezet reed ik dus verder, maar natuurlijk was het museum dicht, t was maandag,, owww.. dus toen vroeg ik of er een ander museumwas dichtbij waar ik mijn afspraak met Carla had, ende taxichauffeur zou me naar het 'museu de oro' brengen.. Zou ja, want na mijn inspectie in de lonely planet die wel een museo de oro beschreef maar aande andere kant van de stad, bleek er daar geen museum te zijn. Toen ben ik toch maar uitgestapt en ben gaan kijken waar ik mijn afpraak zou hebben..

Nou jaen handig datPeruaanse afspraken wat flexibeler zijn dan de Nederlandse: ik was namelijk anderhalf uur te vroeg, maar de guard en secretaresse zeiden dat ze er was dus ik besloot te gaan kijken: en ze was blij dat ik eerder was. Na een stortvloet van informatie was ik een beetje in shock, maar ik heb er zin in, haha!! Ze hebben een dorp geselecteerd waar ik me in moet onderdompelen en waar ik wel uit 'mag'als ik even terug naar de stad wil :) ..Omdat er wat problemen zijn met de wegen weten ze nog niet hoe laat, maar we gaan vandaag met een auto naar Huancayo (de grotere stad waar ook het hoofdkantoor van de organisatie INMIGRA is).Dan gaan we woensdag naar 'Chongos bajo' (dus 'mijn' dorp:zoek maar op op google earth..!) en spreken we met de burgemeester. Het verblijf is al geregeld.. Verder wordt er van me verwacht dat ik elke 15 dagen een verslag uitbreng en een lezing op de universiteit in Lima (waar Carla nu een Masterprogramma aan het opzetten is) geef over mijn onderzoek.. Vamos aver!

Na dit'overwelmed' gevoel moest ik op zoek naar een telefoonkaart om een nummer te hebben: dus mn nummer hier is: 0051-1-986496315.. Toen heb ik een taxi naar ´huis´ genomen en het gevonden... woww.. ik viel meteen in slaap maar moest mijn interviewlijst voor morgen afhebben dus heb me ertoe gezet en nog gezellig met Anna gegeten.

Nu ben ik dus al vanaf 7 uur klaar om opgehaald te worden voor onze trip naar Huancayo, maar het kan ookpas in de middag zijn. Nou ik heb genoeg te lezen..

Tot de volgende keer en een dikke kus!!

p.s. ik zal de volgende keer proberen wat fotos erop te zetten, maar nu heb ik nog niet veel interessants.. het hangt er ook vanaf hoe mn internetverbinding is!!