Christine went to jail.

Quite literally, I did. I went to jail, but not because I committed a crime. Our school offered a trip to the "Casa de Mujeres" recently where we had an opportunity to visit a place that houses women that are in the middle of their trial awaiting to be found guilty or not guilty. There were about 38 women but the facility can have upwards of 50 women at a time.

The place is not a typical jail that we think of. We showed up to the building which had tall wooden red doors whose paint had been faded by the sun over several years. We entered into a small dark room to get clearance. Then we were patted down by a guard before going through an iron gate into a courtyard with a couple dozen women weaving. The building is old, the concrete is worn, no air conditioning, with clothes lines pinned to the wall back and forth throughout the courtyard to hang washed clothes. The jail wasn't as strict as what one would normally think of. The women have their own clothes and belongings. They all share a kitchen that includes normal utensils like knives, forks, scissors, etc. They live in dorm style rooms and bed sheets line the aisles. One room we went into had 17 beds and housed 20 women. Doing the math, that means a few ladies share beds. I can only imagine what it's like with 50 women having to share beds with only a couple dorm rooms.

Three women had small children. The policy with children is that the children can stay with their mother in this facility until the age of 4 when the child has to leave. The child can be placed with a willing family member or is sent to an orphanage.

The women spend their time knitting, weaving, and making little things. We all had the opportunity to sit down with some of the ladies and talk about their experiences. In my group, it was myself and two students from Holland. We spoke with three ladies, two in their twenties and one in her 50's. We talked about family, what it's like living in the facility, what they make, and........"the question" why were they there. One of the twenty year olds (the talkative of the group) was there accused of murder. The other would not say. The older lady only said that it had to do with land.

Simple toiletries like toilet paper, soap, and feminine protection (all of which are things we brought them) are not common to always have. If they have family on the outside that is willing to buy them products, they may have some things, but most of the time, their families don't live close and or can't afford it. Clothes are washed by hand in huge concrete "tubs". It's a small place with simple means but the women did get together and in the recent years were able to finance and raise money to put in a computer lab. It doesn't have internet but there are about 10 computers where basic computer skills are taught. It also serves as a classroom for teaching primary and high school subjects for the women who can't read and write or never finished school.

"It's a sad place" one of the ladies told me, but........ looking on the positive side, this group of women, whose stay can last anywhere from a few days to 3 years, can at least see the sky, sun, and moon. I imagine there are worse places to be. So, did I go to jail......yes, but not like you probably originally thought. :)

Saludos,

CW