On a hot and humid Santa Maria afternoon, it seemed only fitting to visit Domingo, who is an ice cream maker in the Philippines. We left the van on the road and walked down the dirt path, navigating mud puddles enroute to his neighborhood. Along the way, there was colorful laundry hanging on fences, neighbors washing up and kids playing while curiously...
Continue Reading >>Stories tagged with motorcycle
Jan 1, 2016
Global Update
In the movie Taken Liam Neeson says, “I don’t have money. But what I do have is a set of very particular skills that makes me a nightmare for someone like you.” Kiva is about altruism, not vengeance, but our Fellows are just as skilled (in a non-violent way) as any ex-spy.
Many people assume that all foreign travel is basically a beach vacation, and anyone could do it if they just had the time or money. One friend asked me, "Apart from speaking Spanish, what skills do you have?" This got me curious about what special skills my fellow Fellows... Continue Reading >>
Many people assume that all foreign travel is basically a beach vacation, and anyone could do it if they just had the time or money. One friend asked me, "Apart from speaking Spanish, what skills do you have?" This got me curious about what special skills my fellow Fellows... Continue Reading >>
Nov 11, 2015
Peru
Ebert is waiting for me at 7 am as promised, crouched by his motorbike, his hoodie cinched, looking like a benevolent bandit. He hands me a helmet, I mount the bike behind him, and we're off to visit Avelino Perez, coffee farmer, way outside Pucará, Peru, as part of my borrower verification. We stop once for gas and again when the bike stalls three times and won't start.
"I told the boss this bike had problems," he grumbles, shaking his head. He has a... Continue Reading >>
"I told the boss this bike had problems," he grumbles, shaking his head. He has a... Continue Reading >>
Sep 9, 2015
Peru
Shortly before leaving for my Kiva fellowship, I had an iced coffee so good that I thanked the barista. Today, I got to thank the man who grew the beans--not the actual beans, probably, but the kind of high-quality beans that must have gone into such a drink. Experts say that while Peru doesn't produce nearly the quantity of its famous neighbor, the quality of its coffee can be even bettter, in part because production is on such a small scale, mostly on tiny... Continue Reading >>
Shortly before leaving for my Kiva fellowship, I had an iced coffee so good that I thanked the barista. Today, I got to thank the man who grew the beans--not the actual beans, probably, but the kind of high-quality beans that must have gone into such a drink. Experts say that while Peru doesn't produce nearly the quantity of its famous neighbor, the quality of its coffee can be even bettter, in part because production is on such a small scale, mostly on tiny... Continue Reading >>
Oct 10, 2013
Indonesia
We can all remember an incident in our lives that resulted in a significant, unexpected change of direction. Maybe it was meeting your spouse, maybe a temporary or summer job which opened your eyes to a career you never thought of for you. For me it was taking a course in my senior year with students in first year dentistry, a career I never considered. What I learned from them led me to apply and the rest is history.
Sartoyo’s parents are farmers and live in a small village west of Cilacap. They wanted their youngest son to have an education with the hope of a... Continue Reading >>
Sartoyo’s parents are farmers and live in a small village west of Cilacap. They wanted their youngest son to have an education with the hope of a... Continue Reading >>
Mar 3, 2013
Kenya
Kiva borrowers, their bikes, and their loan officer, Carol, are ready to roll in Kenya.
How did you get to work this morning? How will you get home tonight? How will you travel to see your family and friends this weekend? What was your answer? Most of us probably answer with a combination of car, plane, subway, train, bus, bicycle, or on foot. I’m sure there are a few interesting commutes involving horse rides and boats, but most of us come and go on a somewhat predetermined schedule on... Continue Reading >>
Kiva borrowers, their bikes, and their loan officer, Carol, are ready to roll in Kenya.
How did you get to work this morning? How will you get home tonight? How will you travel to see your family and friends this weekend? What was your answer? Most of us probably answer with a combination of car, plane, subway, train, bus, bicycle, or on foot. I’m sure there are a few interesting commutes involving horse rides and boats, but most of us come and go on a somewhat predetermined schedule on... Continue Reading >>