Last Village and Back to Java

          

  We (team awesome to the left deep in thought) have just finished the last surveys for my research this summer. We have talked to 120 people, have conducted 13 focus groups, and have talked to various village leaders throughout western Lombok. What I have concluded about my research is I feel like I know so much, and at the same time I feel like I know nothing. I feel like I could make so many conclusions about what is happening in and around these villages, but I also feel like those conclusions would be debatable. This feeling may go away as I look at trends in the data, think about the stories from the villages, and start calculating fuelwood use in Lombok more in depth. For now I will remain lost in my thoughts and all the answers I have received as I finish entering the data for Dasan Griya.

            Dasan Griya was our last village, but was one of the most challenging, if not the most challenging. The village is in a hook like shape, and the only way to get to the northernmost hamlet is to cross through another village. The hamlet is completely different from the rest of the village, but this is where the Mandor lives. The Mandor is the village level protector of the forest, and we have been staying with them since my work has been through the regional forest management entity. The problem with this hamlet is primarily the roads. They are bumpy, full of rocks, narrow and steep. The drivers of the motor cycles always have to leap from rock to rock with their feet to keep the motorcycle going. The road further into the hamlet is even a bit worse, and conveniently next to large drops in the forest. I will never have a career as an action adventure hero, and this trip has confirmed it. My arms are always sore after I get off the motorcycles from holding on so tight.

            Although the roads are a little more adventurous than I would like them to be, I have to say this is the nicest place I have stayed climate wise. There are very few mosquitos, it is slightly cool with a breeze (which I have come to appreciate), and it has been raining. That is a great bonus to this village. 

            So everyday we would start by slowly maneuvering around the road down to the village where most of the people live. On my quest for interviews I was able to taste some palm sugar, watch a community health worker immunize babies (I am scared of needles and I wanted to cry for the babies), a learn about how industries operate in Indonesia. I met a traditional blacksmith, some women in a cracker producing factory, and a lot of palm sugar makers. This village has been very interesting in that regard.

            When we would finish down in the village we would come up the scary road back to our homestay. There we would break our fasting for the day due to Ramadan, and we would eat too much. Then we would go quest for respondents in the evening, which was a lot of fun trekking in the dark through the forest to people sitting in their homes. By the time we got back I just want to fall down and sleep, but there is always something happening like talking or singing karaoke.

 

           Somehow the two months I needed to do my research in Indonesia is almost over. I have 4-5 days left in the country (days dependent on when I post this). Sometimes it feels like I have been here for months, and sometimes it feels like I have been here for days. My time in the villages was wonderful, and I am sad to leave, but time for more adventures like analyzing my data and finishing my Master’s, both kind of important things.