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Stranded on the Beach

I remember the buzz about cities. In Ted Talks and magazine articles, people were raving about the efficiency of cities because, according to some grandiose regressions, the larger a city gets the more productive it becomes per capita. Megacities were claimed the future of mankind. I was not impressed. I lived in a mid-sized city and I didn’t see how someone living in Chicago or New York had a leg up on me in productivity. My perspective was clouded, however, by the fact that I already lived in a city. Now, living in a village of five hundred, I feel the lack of connectivity. Almost everything that I want to do requires more time and effort.

Say I want to check my e-mail. I put documents I need on a flash drive. I take a ten minute uphill walk to the internet house. There is no guarantee that the internet house will be open because, like most storekeepers here, the proprietor operates on a personal schedule. If it is open, there’s always a chance that the internet is abysmally slow because internet here comes almost exclusively from satellite. It’s strange to have to say “Sorry I bailed on our Facebook chat, it’s storming here!” After using the internet I walk back down the hill, making the entire trip at least 30 minutes. The same errand in my home takes one or two minutes.

Even more difficult, say I want to buy clothes. I haven’t had to buy clothes yet, but this is the process as described by community members. In order to find reasonably priced, quality clothes, I would have to go to Salvador, the capital of Bahia. First, I would have to walk 30 minutes to the highway. Then, I have to take a 2 hour bus ride to the bus station. From there I could take up to another hour riding city buses to get the right mall. Then, I do my shopping, probably without stopping for a meal. On the return, I do the same route, taking another two to three and a half hours. Once I arrive back home, the day is over. To shop for clothes takes a minimum of a full day.

That things take longer is a rule of living here in Diogo. Whether it is washing clothes, washing dishes, or buying ice cream, everything is slower and more arduous. A large part of it is simply a lack of labor-saving technologies: washing machines, internet, cars, etc. These technologies are becoming more common in Diogo but haven’t become a part of the lives of most people here. Another difficulty that slows things down is simply the lack of certain services. To find a hospital, mechanic, locksmith, etc. one has to travel, navigating through the pitfalls of public transport.

The result of all these challenges is a solid barrier to being productive and, as a result, a barrier to development. As I’ve conversed with tourists who pass through Diogo, I’ve seen that it’s easy for outsiders to point fingers at a slow, rural culture as a cause of slow development. Perhaps there is some truth to that, but more concretely, living in a rural, somewhat disconnected location lessens the potential of each and every day. I don’t know how I feel about a future of megacities, but from my experience, rural environments have serious drawbacks. As with everything, however, it’s a balance. Where else can I come across the serenity and natural wealth that Diogo has to offer?

Drew Hayes

About Drew Hayes


Drew loves meeting new people and learning new ideas. Through Global Citizen Year, he hopes to learn a lot, gain perspective, and be greatly humbled. His focus is on a sustainable society, and he's been a part of a local initiative to put solar panels on high school buildings. His other lifelong pursuits include swimming, playing piano, and reading literature.

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