Olá gente!
I have just finished my second to last week in lovely, magnificent Rio! I had a loved one come visit me recently and we explored more of the city (where once again, the Botanical Garden was voted the best site we visited). My unfortunate update is that no interviews have been scheduled, and it has forced me to think about this experience in its entirety. Although there is a chance that in the coming week maybe something surprising comes up, there is a chance that I leave here having not accomplished my one project. It is very easy for this to feel like failure, but I have decided to list what this experience has provided me, even if I was unable to conduct these interviews.
- Discipline - The task of finding interviewees was left to members of CatComm who were well-connected to the favelas and would have a better time establishing trust that would allow residents who were evicted feel more comfortable in the process. My task was largely to conduct my own research about whatever I felt like I needed to know and come up with interview questions. For the past six weeks, these were essentially the only tasks given to me, and given that I work from home with the beach four blocks from me, I can testify that the urge to go explore the city is certainly strong. However, I have spent hours every day becoming well-versed in ROW’s site, reading nearly every article they have produced over the last 16 years. I have volunteered to translate articles and assist with any tasks that may be overwhelming for any other team members. I have been very proud of my persistent, sustained drive and dedication to make the most of this program, and as a result, have continued to learn so much about the history of the city and the inner workings of the organization.
- Exploration - I am completely not an adventurous person on my own. I was so worried when I came here that I would restrict myself to my home and the beach, but I am so proud of the way I have become independent and explored the city. A large part of that is definitely with the help of some of the friends I met in the first few weeks here who showed me fun little markets, took me to Lapa, and would find all kinds of fun little spots throughout the city. Since then, I have been the one to take myself out, to try new restaurants, to go to a random museum in the city, etc. I think this experience has taught me how not daunting it is to live alone and how possible it is to make yourself part of a new city.
- Dealing with things not going my way - As I have said, it is looking like my one task is not going to work out. Should I feel like a failure? While I let myself sit with that a little bit, I ultimately decided that would erase everything else I did here. Moreover, it has helped me better develop ideas of how I should deal with projects like this in the future. I think I should have asked to have a back-up assignment that would serve as an alternative if my main task did not work out, discussed what other opportunities were available if I had significant free-time, and more defined expectations of what I should be doing while I was waiting. I think my idea that this would definitely work out disregarded the reality of the situation. I think I should have considered that revisiting your eviction ten years later would certainly be difficult, and I think it has reminded me once again of the empathy needed when you approach such sensitive matters. I think all of these considerations will give me a better perspective in the future when it comes to approaching human rights related issues and any other project where its desired outcome may not be certain.
I think these are my main reflections and I am sure I will have more after my time with CatComm has ended. Hopefully I come back with better news by the end of next week!
Tchau!
Update: I wrote this on a Thursday and many things have changed since then… stay tuned for next week!