Equatorial Guinea. Some Scattered Thoughts

Equatorial Guinea. Some scattered thoughts.

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization

Summer 2016

Melania Mora

The more I travel, the world does indeed seem to get bigger…yet smaller at the same time. Going to Equatorial Guinea, being in Africa for the first time, had that same effect on me as other travelling experiences have had of making me stand in awe of how immensely huge our planet really is. Standing at the base of the massive mountain, Pico Basile, that stands in the middle of the island of Bioko;driving from Bata to Mongomeyen passing through the rainforests that seemed to extend on forever; walking along the long beach coastlines in the southernmost part of Ureka; walking to penetrate the most dense rainforest I’ve ever seen to get to a farmer’s plot; and looking up to the African skies at night to see a million stars staring back at me; all made me feel miniscule. If this is a country only short of one million people, only one in the largest continent of our planet, then that means the world is large beyond my grasp.

However, my coworkers and the friends I made there, allowed me to realize how small the world actually is when changing scope from that of geography to that of humanity. That is because being human is so universal that when you meet people from other countries, below the surface of cultural manifestations and traditions, we all have a lot in common, we just express and live it differently. Love for sports, drama amongst friends, laziness to go to work, crisis and victories, care for family, disappointment in the face of disloyalty and lies, hurting when we are judged or excluded, attraction to love and company, laughter, vanity, consumption, etc. are can be found among the people in my hometown in Costa Rica, in Cornell University, in Ithaca, in Africa. Yes our world is huge, but life is life wherever we go.

As for life in Equatorial Guinea for 2 months interning with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations I learned several things about the country and its people, about the FAO, about the work, and about myself.

I deepened my belief in that every country and society is the way it is by its unique history that forms explicitly and implicitly many of its characteristics. Equatorial Guinea exemplified this like nothing else has done. What I liked about it and what I didn’t was, in fact, due to how the people in power shaped the historic processes and how the citizens and generations have reacted to that. You see, this a country which, since achieving independence from the Spaniards, has had only 2 presidents. One conducted an ethnic cleansing of one of the two main tribes (the Bubis) and ruled ruthlessly, violently, and inefficiently. He was overthrown by his own nephew who, although much more just and peaceful, still recklessly manages economic power, and who is the current president of the nation. The country found oil reserves in the 90’s and it has been transformative for its economy. Knowledge of these historical and political processes enabled me to understand aspects of the culture that I would not have otherwise, as well as the agricultural situation of the country. For example, I was able to look past and work with the apparent meanness of the culture, the individuality and lack of trust among people, and the superstitious beliefs that dictate everyday life. On the agricultural side, I understood why there was no agriculture at all as a result of the oil economy and its resource curse effect. These two together allowed me to better understand the situation of food insecurity in the country and what was the role of the FAO, and what was my own role.

I never really thought I’d get an opportunity to work at an institution I regarded with such high esteem. Working with them definitely demystified a lot of my preconceptions of what it is like. I got to understand the complexities of institutions of this kind, as well as the administrative flows and logistical dynamics of an organization with a global scope from the standpoint of a developing nation. These understandings, consequently, allowed me to reflect more on my career path and choices. The need for the world to work together towards a more just and equal world became more evident than ever, but I became aware of skills and roles that were needed which I hadn’t thought of previously.

The most humbling of all realizations is that I was introduced to a whole world other than mine that will continue long after I leave. Right now, at this moment, as I write this essay, life there continues uninterrupted without me. The ocean tides still hit the sandy beaches; the snakes still slide across a bed of thick vegetation; kids still kick the soccer ball along the concrete while wearing Real Madrid t-shirts; the FAO secretary is probably writing another receipt for a seed purchase the agronomists orders; the clubs blast music with African rhythms; and all this life happens while I am not there. It seems obvious and logical but it is not something we always think about as we carry out our lives. It’s a thought that brings consciousness of the good type. It feels me with humility and gives me a better drive to want to have an impact. It changes my worldview into a less self-centered one and into realizing that life is not about my life, but about life in the world. It is a simple thought, but one that our ego tends to overlook.

Equatorial Guinea was a great experience. Its one of those ground-shaking experiences whose full disclosure will forever remain in the book of my consciousness and memories, influencing everything I do because embody else, no matter what, will be able to live it through my own lens. The role of agriculture in a country cannot be taken for granted, and our continuous effort to improve it as a means to improving the livelihood of people in the world cannot afford to be hindered by inefficiencies derived from political pettiness, lack of economic optimum, and social imbalances.

Check out my e-portfolio on this experience: