The Story of Cristina Álvarez
An excerpt from "We Belong: An Anthology of Colombian Women Coffee Farmers" by Lucia Bawot
Hi friends! Today, I’m honored to share an excerpt from “We Belong: An Anthology of Colombian Women Coffee Farmers” by Lucia Bawot. Lucia’s book is “a collection of intimate photography accompanied by short vignettes, [and] is an artistic declaration that brings to light the life stories of 25 Colombian women coffee farmers.” The photos and accompanying stories showcase the complexity and multifaceted lives of these coffee workers, whose narratives are often overlooked.
In our podcast conversation this week, Lucia and I specifically referenced the story we’re sharing below: that of Cristina Álvarez. Cristina, a coffee picker, is one of the youngest people Lucia interviewed for her book, and her story was probably the one I thought about most after I finished it. Cristina had a quote about dreams and accepting life that made me put the book down and reflect on what it takes to follow your ambitions, and what it means when you’re blocked from doing so. But Cristina’s story doesn’t end with the excerpt you’ll read below.
I recommend you go back to the podcast and listen to the last few minutes of the episode to hear an update to Cristina’s story. But for now, please enjoy this excerpt, and if you’re moved to learn more, consider picking up your own copy of “We Belong” here. This excerpt also includes two photos from the book.
Cristina Álvarez, 28 | Picker | El Canuzal, Concordia, Antioquia
Cristina rarely looks in the mirror—she dresses to hide from the sun, taking less and less time to get ready or put on any make-up. At age 28, her life has become a cycle of memorized activities, more familiar to her than the lines that cross her palms. She wakes early, puts on her boots, and adorns her face with multiple rags to protect her from the sun. After she packs her lunch, she walks hours to “her office,” one (or several) of multiple coffee plantations, and picks coffee for up to ten hours a day.
During the off-season, when time sits still, she remembers she once wanted to become a doctor. “I wish I had someone to support me, but now it is late. I currently believe that dreams will remain dreams.” It feels like Cristina has a flat acceptance of the life she was offered, and picking coffee is the only thing that brings her joy and happiness. With the money she save from last year’s harvest, she is building herself a house.
As we looked out at the mountains over the rice pudding her mom offered, she shared with me: “Who does not want to study? I remember when I was little, I enjoyed studying very much. I finished the fifth grade of primary school. But unfortunately, my mom could not support me anymore, so work had to become my priority.”
As I shared my feelings about the immense value coffee pickers bring to the coffee industry, she smiled, and spoke: “Every time I have to speak with someone more educated than me—I feel I am shrinking under the pressure of not knowing how to speak properly.”
