The majority of 'boda boda' drivers here (young men with rickety bicycles and big padded seats for their passenger) do not get enough nutrients in a day to do their job of carrying people. But they have no choice. If you're black you pay 10 bob (about 15 cents) for a ride almost anywhere, even 5 kilometers.
Lately I take boda boda everywhere. I'm a bit of a softy and I usually pay them the tripled price they ask for, but why not? It's toss up; reinforce my white wealth, or pay someone according to their sweat and need for dinner. When unemployment is so high, people are working as hard as they can to survive each day, political efforts are not promising anything (especially right now), and you are treated with overwhelming respect it's hard not to want to pump all your money into an economy.
I no longer have a "rasta". My head was getting so itchy, I was convinced I had lice (which I did not, thank goodness), and the smell was starting to keep me from sleeping, so out they came. Actually when I was out in the field, the women we were visiting asked if they could remove them for me. Before I knew it they surrounded me, and went to work for 2 hours. During this time I was overcome with a feeling of acceptance and belonging as these women touched my skin, smiled at me and laughed at my jokes that they likely didn't understand.
Lately I take boda boda everywhere. I'm a bit of a softy and I usually pay them the tripled price they ask for, but why not? It's toss up; reinforce my white wealth, or pay someone according to their sweat and need for dinner. When unemployment is so high, people are working as hard as they can to survive each day, political efforts are not promising anything (especially right now), and you are treated with overwhelming respect it's hard not to want to pump all your money into an economy.
I no longer have a "rasta". My head was getting so itchy, I was convinced I had lice (which I did not, thank goodness), and the smell was starting to keep me from sleeping, so out they came. Actually when I was out in the field, the women we were visiting asked if they could remove them for me. Before I knew it they surrounded me, and went to work for 2 hours. During this time I was overcome with a feeling of acceptance and belonging as these women touched my skin, smiled at me and laughed at my jokes that they likely didn't understand.
As the synthetic barbie hair was being pulled away from my scalp, I felt that my own hair was limp, dirty and lifeless. I thought about sometimes when we look at the sky, climate, plant life and precious waters of the planet that were once clean, pure and full of life, we see that much of it has also become limp, dirty and lifeless. I don't know why I made this analogy then with such conviction at that time but I couldn't help but realize how man-made has often destroyed creation. In other words, putting synthetic hair into my own is harmful and unnatural and now don't you ever call me a hippie again. :)
The whole experience was profound. I imagined us as monkeys. Then I decided that when we humans interact like monkeys, we may feel much more human than if we try to interact like “humans”. At least I felt more human from this experience than many other attempts to relate to these people.
Things have been good and busy. Nimu and I have good times. Fidelis comes home today.
I'm finding myself taking initiatives because my work plan is quite basic and a bit boring.
I'm currently designing an outhouse with a removable floor board (with the key-hole shaped cut-out to squat over) that can be sanitized. I'll only say that I have never seen so many maggots and different colors of diarrhea in one hole.in my life.and I don't want to again.or know that someone does everyday.
Today I hired some men to put up the sign for the MICH cafe (where I do my work, eat and now help cook and clean as of 6am today!). I'm not sure why it wasn't put up before, but like most things here that you wouldn't expect, the endeavor drew a crowd and a lot of unexplained laughter. You just give in, it's way easier and funner, especially when you're suspicious that they are laughing at you. I often catch men in groups joking about me as I walk by. I am learning from my interpreters that they are usually making inappropriate comments or arguing about which of them could "get" me. Sometimes I shake my head at them and they quiet down, or I just play deaf. Next time I get the 'hey-lo baby, please madam, come sit, I want to talk to you beautiful ladee", I think I'll pull out some Hungarian sounding response next time.
I'm learning a lot about MICH and how important staff unity is. I am learning a about conflict and peaceful means. There have been times this week where corruption has been so incredibly evident, I want to give up saying, "if someone can't live peacefully as an individual, how can one expect a peaceful future for a country?", but I keep my mouth very shut and look for patience and better opportunities. It's honestly hard not to judge and fire out a sermon about trust and trying to live peacefully among one another but then I remember that I am mostly clueless about this countries history especially compared to Canada's, and that literally fighting for your life is something I'm very unfamiliar with. My hope is that people human trust will become reinforced within these communities as they develop. I don't see a future with this prevalent each-ma- for-himself idea. "You gotta have a tough skin and watch out for yourself. Don't trust anyone!" Turns out, I have a lot to learn here. Canada just never forced me to learn those lessons. I think I may have written about this last time, so I'll stop.
Next weekend I'm going to go camping in the wild with my new mzungo friends. The locals think we're crazy. My friends here seem to have absolutely no fears or hindrances in the presence of people. They are tough and never seem to need space. However, they fear being places void of people more than anything. I crave it. So we'll check out the kakamega forest reserve just north of here. eeeeeee.
I plan to go to Uganda in a couple of weeks and meet up with Sarah, Lynda and Bryce. That will be so sweet!
Thanks for reading. Please pray for wisdom and strength for me and MICH.
I love you all.
I'm finding myself taking initiatives because my work plan is quite basic and a bit boring.
I'm currently designing an outhouse with a removable floor board (with the key-hole shaped cut-out to squat over) that can be sanitized. I'll only say that I have never seen so many maggots and different colors of diarrhea in one hole.in my life.and I don't want to again.or know that someone does everyday.
Today I hired some men to put up the sign for the MICH cafe (where I do my work, eat and now help cook and clean as of 6am today!). I'm not sure why it wasn't put up before, but like most things here that you wouldn't expect, the endeavor drew a crowd and a lot of unexplained laughter. You just give in, it's way easier and funner, especially when you're suspicious that they are laughing at you. I often catch men in groups joking about me as I walk by. I am learning from my interpreters that they are usually making inappropriate comments or arguing about which of them could "get" me. Sometimes I shake my head at them and they quiet down, or I just play deaf. Next time I get the 'hey-lo baby, please madam, come sit, I want to talk to you beautiful ladee", I think I'll pull out some Hungarian sounding response next time.
I'm learning a lot about MICH and how important staff unity is. I am learning a about conflict and peaceful means. There have been times this week where corruption has been so incredibly evident, I want to give up saying, "if someone can't live peacefully as an individual, how can one expect a peaceful future for a country?", but I keep my mouth very shut and look for patience and better opportunities. It's honestly hard not to judge and fire out a sermon about trust and trying to live peacefully among one another but then I remember that I am mostly clueless about this countries history especially compared to Canada's, and that literally fighting for your life is something I'm very unfamiliar with. My hope is that people human trust will become reinforced within these communities as they develop. I don't see a future with this prevalent each-ma- for-himself idea. "You gotta have a tough skin and watch out for yourself. Don't trust anyone!" Turns out, I have a lot to learn here. Canada just never forced me to learn those lessons. I think I may have written about this last time, so I'll stop.
Next weekend I'm going to go camping in the wild with my new mzungo friends. The locals think we're crazy. My friends here seem to have absolutely no fears or hindrances in the presence of people. They are tough and never seem to need space. However, they fear being places void of people more than anything. I crave it. So we'll check out the kakamega forest reserve just north of here. eeeeeee.
I plan to go to Uganda in a couple of weeks and meet up with Sarah, Lynda and Bryce. That will be so sweet!
Thanks for reading. Please pray for wisdom and strength for me and MICH.
I love you all.
4 comments:
thanks for the update. Tell me how the Hungarian response works..hehe. Say hi to Bryce, Lynda and Sarah for us here! take care
Justine! I'd just like to tell you that you are a wonderful writer and an inspirtation to me, as I feel my writing here at Kings is quite insufficient. But that is beside the point! I am so glad to hear things are going well! Your stories fascinate me! I enjoyed your hair analogy, brilliant! But I miss you so much and I am having hard time grasping that you're so far away! We have a lot of catching up to do and I gotta get to buying an international calling card! I'd love to hear your voice! I love you sooo much! God Bless!
let me know how that sanitary toilet thingy works.
i am dying to know. :)
Wonderful writing. Enlightening, motivating and encouraging. God has blessed your richly Justine and I am glad to know you.
Your adventures are great to read. I especially liked the connection you made with taking out your hair and environmental degradation. My heart bleeds when I think about indigenous tree forests being cut down for firewood. You must see it all the time. Does MICH address this? I hope you have a safe vacation with lots of relaxation and joy! Thinking of you as the cold gets colder.
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