Posted by TJResearcher on April 22, 2001 at 13:07:33:
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I recently read some discussion along the lines of "Where is TJResearcher" and why isn't she doing what she said she was living in Tijuana to do? This is certain to make those of you familiar with how things work in Mexico chuckle knowingly. Here is my reply. Las Magdalenas - sure they existed once, and maybe they organize for particular events... but weekly meetings? A list of participants? An organizational body? Good luck finding them. PAMSIDA - exists on paper; a well intentioned organization of one who has another fulltime job in Planned Parenthood Tijuana and no time for anything else. ACOSIDA - existed two summers ago, but now? PROCABI - state of the art program development funded through the U.S.; a large staff of caring volunteers who are helping me to recruit the sex workers they know (they have regular contact with them, esp. since they sell condoms at 10cents a pop) and are providing me with a meeting room to carry out my interviews. ISESALUD - a small group of overworked health workers trying and failing to meet the demands of a poorly funded public health care system; has an HIV testing office where I sit in and observe clients who are coming in for their test or results; only open from 8-9am, as the lab cannot afford to stay open for more than one hour; packed with people during this time, many are turned away; only one health worker to serve all of those who want a free test; no condoms or safer sex info available except through word of mouth; will help me recruit. The Tijuana prison "El Pueblito" - has many men, women and children living there; first HIV program in the state; 4 psychologists on staff who will help recruit sex workers who are either living there or visiting men who are living there; giving me my first tour this Wednesday. Dra. Remedios Lozada - has her hands in everything; works constantly; is a statistician and the director of HIV/AIDS programs for Tijuana; funded by the Mexican govt.; doesn't make what she's worth; extremely compassionate; giving me all current monthly and annual data on HIV STD trends in Tijuana and is helping to open doors for me. COLEF - a pretty research university overlooking the Pacific Ocean which pays $5 an hour to its very smart employees, unless they can get a project funded; most sit in offices all day writing and planning; nothing going on right now with HIV or sex workers; specialist on staff gave me tons of articles on Mexican sex industry, mostly from Mexico City; gave me an office which I have never used. Obstacles which have forced me to learn patience, self-control, and creativity - nothing going according to my schedule, have had to learn that mexicanos regularly don't show up for appointments, don't keep good filing systems, don't respond well to email, don't care what University you are from, and don't have time UNLESS you know one of their friends or have gotten an appointment through someone in their funding organization. Notes: learning to laugh all this off, as frustrating and maddening as it all is. Having taken up smoking and drinking heavily. :) So where do I stand at this point? Took 2 months to find a place to live which is too far from El Centro but safe; have learned the taxi/bus system; have learned that a one hour appointment in San Diego is an all day adventure (taxi/another taxi/walk across border/trolley/bus/another bus then back again);have improved my Spanish which still sucks; have found a smart billingual assistant who helped me translate my final questionaire into Spanish and who I now take with me everywhere at $5 an hour; have interviewed a little less than 100 health workers from both sides of the border; have about 30 surveys from TJHombre guys (thanks guys!); have had a few informal discussions with guys from TJHombre which have been invaluable in helping me to understand sex/gender stuff from another perspective; have attended two critical week long conferences in other cities; have been able to visit home almost once a month and am totally poor; have been able to visit California parents a few times (I'm on the West Coast for once, how can I resist?); have learned that recruiting participants from the street is illegal and means jailtime when the business owners on that street call the cops; have learned that Zona Norte bar owners and managers don't want to be involved in research projects or health interventions like free condoms or information tables; have learned its not where you're from but who you know and spend time with; should have my first set of interviews completed in May and June; have learned that no one cares that I am on a schedule here!; have learned that one year is not enough to do a good quality research project in Mexico; have not yet (but nearly) gone crazy. My advisors back home told me not to do interviews until the last 3 months of my 12 month project; was also told that things don't really get going until it was time to go back home and write up; I laughed and told them they were crazy - a woman with my work ethic should have no problem getting this done with time to spare!! right???!? Now in month 9 and only now able to get interviews with ACTUAL sex workers organized. Trying not to feel like a complete failure. I'm at least learning my limitations, right?!? Learning to repeat the old adage "Anything that doesn't kill you makes you stronger." each day in the shower. This headstrong girl has now been converted. Maybe my professors do know something after all.
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