The $60 Bolivian Hand

This one was told to me by a guy named (Super or Visor) when we were camping at Joshua Tree Spring North of Walker Pass:
Super went down to Bolivia on a teaching mission to a school for kids living in a poor, remote area of the country. Basically what happens in the rural areas is farmers grow acres and acres of wheat and corn, eat enough to keep them alive and sell the rest for nothing close enough to a living wage. The educational system there is non-existent, so the kids learn nothing and end up stuck in a horrible cycle. The school's curriculum is designed to teach them other types of life skills that will help them earn a living in the cities (where the money is) and hopefully allow them to return to their rural villages, ply their trade there and improve the quality of life for the people living there. About as noble of a goal as you can have I think.
Unfortunately things didn't always work out like that and when Super's girlfriend and now wife came down to visit him, the two of them, along with all of the children, ended up doing road construction the entire time.
Despite being one of the most mineral-rich countries in the world, Bolivia is prevented from exploiting that wealth because it is landlocked. No way to ship the stuff out other than driving it to ports in other countries. Other countries of course take advantage of this situation with things like taxes and tariffs thus preventing Bolivia from expoliting their natural resources. Also don't forget that Bolivia is a South American country, meaning that it is required by law to have a corrupt government. So in other words, all future generations of Bolivians are doomed to lives of squalor. In still other words, they're fucked.
This is why an American teacher, along with his future wife and class of students wasted days of time filling giant pot holes with dirt that upon the first drops of rain were immediately washed out and thus the road returned to its perpetually shitty state. A good use of everyone's time.
After hearing of Bolivian road construction and repair policies, it's no surprise then to hear that the Bolivian justice system varies pretty significantly from town to town. Super was warned about this almost as soon as he got down there. The people running the school told him that if there were any incidents involving someone from one of the nearby towns, to get the hell out of there because the locals just might kill you. Like beat and stomp you until your skull cracks open. Have teams of Bolivian horses trample you until you're ear turns into your asshole. Pelt you with rocks until your bones are shattered into thoudsands of pieces. Tickle your feet until the sound of your laughter reaches the ears of angels in heaven and they flyy down to escort you to the golden gates in a chariot made of clouds and silver. You get the picture.
Naturally, Super gets into a motorcycle accident in town with a guy and nearly cuts his hand off. "Hanging by some skin" was how he described it. Super follows orders and takes off, heads back to the school and lets his bosses know the situation. They all decide to go down together and talk with the man and his family, see how they can rectify the situation.
They walk into the house and the guy is laying on the couch, his hand in a beehive of gauze, basically like putting a band aid on a severed artery.
They ask him if he went to the hospital to get the hand looked at, but unbelievably (actually quite believably when you remember that they're in Bolivia) that was what the doctor ordered. Basically, his hand was lost. The only unresolved matter was compensation. What else can you do at that point but throw some money at the problem?
The family demanded 500 bolivianos (Bolician dollars).
"Excuse me?"
"500 bolivianos."
The grand total of 500 bolivianos converts to...50 American dollars. Well then. Super ponied up 60 bucks and they called it a day.
The whole deal was agreeable to both parties. Super got off paying pocket change and El Càpitan Hook was in the black in more ways than one.
He rented out his taxi to someone in town and was making a profit while sitting at home watching telanovelas.
Any naysayers about the success of the school only have to read this story to see how just how profoundly the teachers are affecting the lives of the Bolivian people.
The only person complaining was the guy's wife. He just doesn't lend a...hand...around the house like he used to.