isla Files 2.2

Isla Files 2.2
Moon-lighting, Isla style: Second shift onion crew.
Isla, like nearly every other incredibly beautiful place in the world, is growing. There are currently 4 major construction jobs on the island, a very small base population, and many tourists. In some ways it reminds me of the Wood River Valley in Idaho. There is a lot of work but a limited population to supply the workers. “Help Wanted” signs are in many windows. What to do then if you need something done that you cannot do yourself?
Wednesday afternoon as we stood outside the bodega talking to Arturo about a dive, Jose Luis took off up the road chasing a passing bicyclist. After some heated discussion with the gentleman on the bike, Jose Luis rejoined our group. He apologized and said that was the brick man that he had been trying to get in touch with. He and Arturo then commiserated about how difficult it is to “get good help.”
Later that evening about 8 guys showed up, some with tile-setting tools. They proceeded to swarm the small bathroom in the apartment next to ours. Tap, tap, tap: 8 guys removing and replacing tile until late into the evening. They came back on Thursday and Friday nights to continue working. Most of these young men come from the state of Chiapas or the Yucatan. They are very small and quiet, shy. They don’t speak much Spanish but favor their native Indian dialects. Most of them probably have not gone to school. They look so young.
Last night we came home from town at around 9:00 PM. They were gathered on our steps, sharing a late night snack. They apologized for being in our way. “Esta bien. No hay problema.” we told them, feeling bad about disturbing their break. Keep in mind that these guys have already worked from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM at one of the larger construction jobs. They wear flip-flops, Crocs, cheap sneakers. Blue jeans or shorts. T-shirts or none at all. We watch them in the bodega. They eat almost nothing and live in open-air camps near the construction projects. Where do they get the energy to work like this? How can they continue? Stepping through their gathering on the steps I feel big, clumsy, privileged.

Isla Files 1.29

Politics, Isla style. The election for the municipal offices is on Sunday, February 3 and the competitors are in full campaign mode. Because most people on the island neither have a TV or radio or get a newspaper, the conventional style of campaigning (as we know it in the US) doesn’t really work here. What’s a politician to do?
During the weeks leading up to the election the most common approach is to put speakers in a golf cart, taxi, or private car, slather that vehicle with political signs, and drive around the neighborhoods with the sound blaring your political message. The 2 main candidates on the island are Gilberto Avalos and Alicia Ricalde. Their efforts are everywhere. Every sign post, retaining wall, vehicle, and storefront bears witness to the occupants political preference. Forget your measly yard sign or bumper sticker!
Another good approach is to hand out t-shirts and hats. Everyone on the island is wearing a t-shirt with his or her favorite politician’s slogans proudly displayed. On a recent ride into town traffic was at a standstill in front of the Ricalde headquarters, campaigners lined both sides of the highway literally pushing clothing, pamphlets, and pens into the hands of motorists, cyclists, and walkers. Someone gave me a pen attached to a pamphlet and another person tried to give Steve a ball cap. Ever the federal employee, he declined to offer endorsement, you know that old Hatch Act! I kept the pen and gave the pamphlet back.
In the evening a movie of the Ricalde platform is broadcast on the side of her headquarters. It is kind of like a drive-in movie screen. I am not quite sure what separates the 2 candidates. Both of them talk about supporting tourism and working for the people. The only candidate that offers the slogan of “education is the solution” doesn’t appear to have the financial backing to launch a full-scale campaign. Isn’t that always the case? Also, no one seems to have a particularly emphasis on the environment.
I asked Enrique (our dive master last week) what he thought of the whole thing. He said “Everyone knows that candidate X is a liar.” Will that mean that he is not elected? Only time will tell.