Success

It is often said that Peace Corps teaches you how to fail.  I somewhat agree with that statement, especially after the first version of my Artisan Fashion Show event, but I think there is a more accurate way to describe the experience:  We learn to redefine success.  We learn that success means finding yourself in front of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and finding the courage to get up the morning and try one more time.  Each morning, success can mean something different: pushing yourself outside of your limits, trusting other people, standing up for yourself, or simply staying strong.  It means keeping your personal values and communal goals in mind, even when the outside world provokes you otherwise.

The various stages of the Artisan Fashion Show, from January until now, have brought me to hell and back.  Never in my life have I endured such agony to bring about an event or project.  I know this all sounds really dramatic, but this event and some of the people involved really threatened to unravel me.  That's what happens when you (more-so your event) is publicly criticized on the radio, or hijacked by people with personal interests, or is complicated by very high-maintenance small-town models and artisans, or nearly spins out of your control into some crazy alien form of what you wanted the event to be.  And through it all, some of the people most central to the organization have an unfortunate tendency to turn on each other (and me) and turn their backs on the event in moments of stress.  But, I also learned that when things fall apart and I need to ask for help, there are some amazing people in this world that come to rescue me.

The people who were there for me through the good and bad- Alex, José, Amy (my "sister-in-law"), and César

In the end, I had to trust that if I kept pushing through, a good product was going to turn out.  The artisans and community were so "sparked" by the project that I didn't really feel like I had any other choice.  We brought the Municipality into the picture to bring in the necessary logistical support, but along with that, we brought in a whole lot of shady political interests.  I had to learn that I can't trust anyone in my Municipality, and I had to learn how to politely (okay, sometimes not so politely) put my foot down.

Only time will tell if the event was worth it all.  The attendance was pretty outstanding, around 1,000 or maybe 1,200 people - partially due to the raffle of kitchen appliances that the Municipality sponsored, but hey, warm bodies are warm bodies.  But at the moment, I am feeling very good about the impact of the event.  The majority of the comments on the radio have been very positive (although smaller aspects were criticized) and the mayor publicly promised to put this event on for FEXTICUM, our big regional festival in July.  Our artisan associations really want that because the audience will be regional and national, and they know that they need to organize it mostly by themselves because I won't be here forever.  And they feel empowered that they can do that.

Father-Daughter wonderfulness, the girl wearing a blouse embroidered by her uncle

That might be the best result of the project, but I am also very happy with a personal result of the project.  Leyla, the 22 year-old mom who was in charge of all the rehearsals and choreography had a wonderful, beer-induced heart-to-heart with me last night.  She told me that she wanted to thank me for trusting her as our "Modeling and Choreography Director."  We went through some reeeeally tough times in terms of personal conflicts, but as the event got closer and we believed it could turn out really well, she stopped turning on me and we became a lot better at supporting each other.  Leyla said she wanted to thank me for entrusting her with this responsibility because this event "took her from one level to another," meaning she is now known in Monsefú for her work on this event, directing modeling and choreography.  She's been asked now by various institutions to put together events for them, so she may have just opened up a new source of income.  Which for a 22 year-old single mom, who is just returning to university, is really important.

Leyla doing her thing with the girls

I would happily call my Peace Corps experience a success if I get a few more thank-you's like Leyla's.

Complete photo album from the event: http://tinyurl.com/774au7l

Artisans' website I launched this week: www.artesaniamonsefu.webs.com

Me giving my thank-you's with the mayor

The girls in embroidered and crocheted tops, 1 of 3 "señorita" lines of the night

The crowd!