A Place of Our Own

Leaving Cochabamba was bitter sweet. We looked forward to the next step but stepping out into a world of only Spanish and a different culture was a bit scary. We had friends and projects that we were leaving behind; relationships that had just started to develop and a lifestyle in which we were quite comfortable. But we felt the time had come for us to move on. Jake, especially, was getting very antsy and wanted to so physical work rather than brain work. The only thing holding us back was that our truck did not have the air conditioning installed. Jake had driven around and found a place that built bumpers and racks. Since the truck has a very small box, we needed something to haul larger objects and needed a rack over the cab. We were promised it would be done on Thursday, and in spite of all the warnings that it would not be done on time, it was completed by Friday afternoon. We loaded the rest of our belongings and headed for Yapani on Saturday morning.

Sunday was the day of the meeting, the day in which the community would hear what was happening and would have an opportunity to ask questions. We really had no idea what to expect – did we have to make a formal presentation? Nathan was with us to interpret. We were told the meeting started at 2 and we would be the last item on the agenda, but we thought it would be good for us to be there on time. It was evident that all of the men (yes, it was a men only meeting) were happy to see us and there certainly did not seem to be any animosity. It is Bolivia and things change. We were the first item on the agenda, and the middle item, and the last item. First, Jake was asked to tell them what he was planning to do. So, in his best Castellano (Spanish) he started. After the first two sentences, the men asked him to speak in English and have Nathan translate! After Jake finished speaking, there was a time for questions. Silence! Finally someone asked how much land we wanted and there were a few other questions for clarification. The general consensus was that we would be welcome but the conversation continued. It reminded me a church council meeting! Salidonio finally said that they should make the decision so that we could get on with our lives. That was settled and they went on to other items of business, one of which was how this was to be written in the minute book. That was decided and then they discussed other items and finally the last item came up – the signing of the official papers. By this time it was six in the evening and the sun was rapidly setting. Poor Eduardo was writing the official transfer document and I could not believe that he could see what he was doing. Thankfully, Nathan had a flashlight and the final documents were signed by all the officials.

Because many of the people in the community do not have carnets (proof of citizenship) they are not able to vote, not able to marry, not able to own land. Although they are in the process, there are many problems. For example, the person has to have his parents and two other people in the community sign that he was born on a certain date in a certain place. If the parents are not alive there are more problems. All of this has to be done with a lawyer so the process becomes very expensive. Some of the people from Patajusal did the work and then were told that the papers were illegal and they had to start over again. It is very frustrating for them and are now considering filing in Santa Cruz since it is easier there. But then they have to pay for the transportation. Either way they face obstacles. When all the paper work is completed and the people have carnets, the land can be transferred to the individual owners.

So, we are now land owners (kind of) in Bolivia and the community has accepted us. We have 35 hectares of prime Bolivian soil that used to be a river bed. There are 4 kinds of bananas planted in the front of the property and there are a couple of relatively cleared areas where Jake can start some of his planting. And of course, there is a house. And yes, we will live under it in our tent for the first while. At least we will be sheltered. Many would like us to move there immediately but we want to take some time to get a proper house built. We will start working there in the next day or two but we certainly will not move. Our lives for the next few months will be a few days in Yapacani and a few days in Patajusal