Zopilotes
Live from Guatemala City, ManUnderStress presents…The Mogre…
We had a pretty good morning today. One of the pigs that Cesar and Sarah keep for his mom had piglets and it makes for some interesting video (and audio).
Meanwhile, the building continues on the lot next to theirs. The trick,
apparently, is to scrap together the money for some cement, some blocs and go
to work. The roof is optional, but many people are working to put up roofs
right now before the rains begin.
Also, on the street just outside the dump we ran into one of the guys who
recycles what people from the dump bring him. We talked to him for a while,and he told us some stories about living where he does. Among them, the story of how his 17 year old brother was killed last year. Just as interesting as the story was the very matter of fact way he told it. But he also talked about his hopes for his 2 year old son. I think its a good piece, as it shows a side of living there that we hadn{t seen before.
The zopilotes, or turkey vultures, were really out in force this morning. I
guess when a lot of the garbage trucks dump their loads at the same time, the
birds congregate. It’s like a scene you’d imagine from Tolkien, the birds
signaling the coming of the nazgul…
On the good side, people have begun to recognize us and are treating us pretty
friendly overall. But the fact of the poverty never goes away and never lets
you really feel on a level playing field with anyone, no matter how well you get along.