I would say my experience with the Mexican political system has fallen nothing short of an immersion into the mafia family. Just like any other political context across the globe, it's all about connections and the inevitable corruption along the way. Fortunately, I have been able to utilize an array of connections throughout the Lo de Marcos community, Ejido de Penita, Municipio de Compostela, Gobierno del Estado de Nayarit y Gobierno del Federal de Mexico, yet unfortunately, there is a layer of deception and corruption wherever you turn. My entire winter spent in Mexico working on our project can be told an an analogy of a roller coaster of hope, failure, and uncertainty, but thanks to my Capricorn determination, I will never give up.
I have worked closely with a local real estate consultant, Narciso, who is very knowledgeable and well versed in the dealings of the ejido and state offices in accordance with land use politics and permitting. He was able to solidify connections in several offices to ensure an access to our property that was not yet designated at purchase and attain land use and building permits.
While we are close to accomplishing our necessary steps to constructing our home, the time spent reaching our current position of finalizing permits has been absolutely exhausting. Every angle we have taken and almost every person we have met has been a deception. Friends that were like family have become enemies and greed has been the poison of choice for so many acquaintances throughout the process. People have asked us for money to cross through land that don't even own, others have threaten to send us to jail for moving our own fence line even with legal authorization from a state agency, and we have been subject to a large daily doze of lies and exaggerations. I have definitely taken my 1010 course in patience and strategic planning. As the saying goes, patience is virtue, and if that's the case, some may consider me a saint.
Now we wait. Everyday brings another perspective, another piece of information and another step forward. Hopefully, our karma will be cashed in and the players in this political mess will understand our vision of creating an educational organic farm in Lo de Marcos with incorporated innovative ecological practices. The benefits of our project and prosperous future with the community are endless, but we have had to live in the drenches fighting for our dream from the very beginning. I think an Emiliano Zapata quote is perfect for this moment: "Vale mas morir de pie que vivir de rodillas," which means, "it's better to die on your feet than live on your knees." Of course, this is not a life or death situation, but it exemplifies our determination to achieve our mission and allow my family to follow their dream.