Transportation

The most popular form of transportation is walking. Sumpango is mainly cobblestone roads with some dirt roads and few paved roads that lead to small villages. It is wonderful how so many necessities are within walking distance. Sumpango also has microbuses (minivans with a more open seating arrangment), which operate a lot like taxis- they can travel outside of Sumpango and you are charged per distance. Another form of transportation is "tuc-tucs". "Tuc-tucs" are small vechiles, sent from Japan, with three wheels. These most ususally have a flat rate and stay within the city limits.
For those who need to travel outside of their towns the most popular form of transportation is "camionetas" or chicken buses. I am going to do my very best to describe the "camioneta" experience because it is quite intense. I would love to take a photo to show you, but that would be like putting a target on my back for someone to come steal my camera. They are school buses from the US usually decked out with colorful paint, peoples names, Jesus Cristo, radios, and/or flashing lights. I really think that the seats are expanded too. This makes the isles extra narrow. There is not really a consistant schedule. My first week at the school in the village near Sumpango, Pedro and I "missed" the bus and walked an hour and half to our school. We got about four different responses for when and where to get the bus in the future. Bascially, you look at the front of the bus and it says where it came from and where it is going; however, I usually ask to confirm if I am going somewhere I have never been. You also have an auydante, or helper. This job is facinating. The auydante is hanging out of the bus yelling where they are headed next. My favorite is, "Guate! Guate! GUATEEE!!" The auydante is responsible for collecting the money, which may sound easy, but sometimes the buses are so crowded- I do not know how he keeps track of it. When I say crowded I mean really, really crowded- like three people per seat, so the two people are usually touching in the isle AND people squeezed in the isle, standing. Try to imagine the auydante walking through the isles to get everyones money. Not to mention people getting on and off the bus. Sometimes when we stop, I am like, "no way more people are fitting on this bus", but they do. You can enter and/or exit from the back, as well. Often times people will need to put their larger items on top of the camioneta. If we happen to take a turn too fast and the belongings on the roof fall off, the auydante is repsonsible for running to get them while the camioneta reverses on the highway. They also love their horns. I wish I could translate what each "toot" meant.

Peace Corps Safety and Secruity has provided us with training, tips and safety. They recommend starting every day saying, "I am going to get robbed today". This may sound crazy, but it helps keep you safe. For instance, most women secure their money in their bra, not loose in their purse. Peace Corps also suggests having exact change for each travel because the auydantes like to charge Americans more or not provide change. Unfortunately, my second week here, I was robbed on the "camioneta" from San Lucas to Santa Lucia. I was the very last one on the bus, so it was three other Peace Corps Volunteers, myself, and the door. I was super nervous to be so close to the door, so I was holding for my dear life, which, unfortuantely, left my purse dangling in front of me. As a huge group of us were getting off of the bus, in less than ten seconds, someone slit my large purse (probably with a knife), reached into my purse, and grabbed my small purse. My small purse had gum, lip gloss, tissue, wet wipes, etc. The item with the greatest value in my small purse was my flash drive. It turns out that one other PC Volunteer was also robbed on this same bus and antoher PC Volunteer prevented a potiental robbery by grabbing someone's hand as they were trying to reach into her backpack. Fortunately, my money and phone were secured in my bra, and they just got away with small items. What did I learn from this experience?! Use my purse with a shorter strap, so I can keep it closer to me. Always keep one hand on my purse. People who steal are very talented- they can do it within seconds.