juliagladys (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} juliagladys) wrote,@ 2007-05-29 11:23:00 |
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Amerika
I feel that it is time for me to make a little update here, although I have not prepared anything profound or moving. Turns out that life isn't always profound or moving, so there you go.
I'm writing this from the comfort of my sister's bedroom in Mapleton, Utah, with my good old friend from the college days, "PowerBook G4" and the convience of wireless internet. In short I'm happy not to be sweating while paying for the priveledge of internet time.
I'm home in Utah for a little vacation. Mali got hot and I had some vacation days to use up. Plus I needed this. I have been equally enjoying the luxeries America has to offer, warm showers, cool weather, sandwiches, drinking fountains, and coffee, while being disgusted by how fat the cows and horses are, and how much mountain side the city of Springville is allowing to be cut down in order to build HUGE houses. I'm realizing things are going to contiune to change here and that I'm just going to have to let go of the idea that "home" will stay as pristine as my childhood memory of home is.
As my father likes to say, "Life is hard and then you die." (I'm not sure why I've just included that...)
As far as Mali goes, I'm in the home stretch. I was playing with the idea of extending for a few months to a year, but that is slowly slipping from my mind. I realize that even if I put off making life desicions for another year, they will still be waiting for me. Procrastination and/or guilt are not good enough reasons to stay. Besides, something is telling me it is time to move on.
All the wonderful things I said about my new life in Markala were maybe a little premature. Not that things are bad, but as they say, "not all that glitters is gold." I say this becuase my new people are not used to treating me the way I want to be treated. I'll call it forceful pampering. And I won't say there wasn't a lot of tension between myself and my host family over issues such as the quantity and quality of my meals (they were upset that I wasn't eating enough, apparently enough is a family size bowl of rice or macaroni or any speciality dinner swimming in oil just for me), my lengthy bike rides (a three hour bike ride is just excessive), and me handwashing my own clothes. But things are slowly straightening out. They think it strange that I want them to treat me "disrespectfully" but really I'm trying to hold onto to a little bit of independence.
As far as work goes, I'm discovering the tension between the NGO and the testing center. It is interesting to learn the dynamics of each organization and see how, when push comes to shove, and it does often, who can behave professionally and who can afford to sulk like an eight year old. Nevertheless, I'm pleased to be part of something that is actually working and that is important, like AIDS prevention. I've had many casual conversations on this topic and it amazes me the range of what people understand compared with some of the myths others believe: you get AIDS from eating rice, using condoms, or AIDS is a lie the white people created to control Africans. But still I'm happy to be working with educated professionals on important issues.
And finally, I just have to say, to all my wonderful friends, that I'm so proud of you. It is amazing all things you are doing. You may not think so, but that is because you are too zoomed in. When I come back, and I haven't heard about all your going ons, and we catch up, I am floored by all the impressive things you are working on, and I'll admit a little jealous too. So here's to all my atheletes, musicians, PHD students, movers and shakers. You guys are making a profound difference in the world just through doing what you love to do. I honestly believe that this is the most important thing. Effective change in the world comes from self-improvement. As cliche as it is, this is what I've learned in Mali. So you all, don't underestimate yourselves or downplay what you are doing, because I'm amazed by you.
I feel that it is time for me to make a little update here, although I have not prepared anything profound or moving. Turns out that life isn't always profound or moving, so there you go.
I'm writing this from the comfort of my sister's bedroom in Mapleton, Utah, with my good old friend from the college days, "PowerBook G4" and the convience of wireless internet. In short I'm happy not to be sweating while paying for the priveledge of internet time.
I'm home in Utah for a little vacation. Mali got hot and I had some vacation days to use up. Plus I needed this. I have been equally enjoying the luxeries America has to offer, warm showers, cool weather, sandwiches, drinking fountains, and coffee, while being disgusted by how fat the cows and horses are, and how much mountain side the city of Springville is allowing to be cut down in order to build HUGE houses. I'm realizing things are going to contiune to change here and that I'm just going to have to let go of the idea that "home" will stay as pristine as my childhood memory of home is.
As my father likes to say, "Life is hard and then you die." (I'm not sure why I've just included that...)
As far as Mali goes, I'm in the home stretch. I was playing with the idea of extending for a few months to a year, but that is slowly slipping from my mind. I realize that even if I put off making life desicions for another year, they will still be waiting for me. Procrastination and/or guilt are not good enough reasons to stay. Besides, something is telling me it is time to move on.
All the wonderful things I said about my new life in Markala were maybe a little premature. Not that things are bad, but as they say, "not all that glitters is gold." I say this becuase my new people are not used to treating me the way I want to be treated. I'll call it forceful pampering. And I won't say there wasn't a lot of tension between myself and my host family over issues such as the quantity and quality of my meals (they were upset that I wasn't eating enough, apparently enough is a family size bowl of rice or macaroni or any speciality dinner swimming in oil just for me), my lengthy bike rides (a three hour bike ride is just excessive), and me handwashing my own clothes. But things are slowly straightening out. They think it strange that I want them to treat me "disrespectfully" but really I'm trying to hold onto to a little bit of independence.
As far as work goes, I'm discovering the tension between the NGO and the testing center. It is interesting to learn the dynamics of each organization and see how, when push comes to shove, and it does often, who can behave professionally and who can afford to sulk like an eight year old. Nevertheless, I'm pleased to be part of something that is actually working and that is important, like AIDS prevention. I've had many casual conversations on this topic and it amazes me the range of what people understand compared with some of the myths others believe: you get AIDS from eating rice, using condoms, or AIDS is a lie the white people created to control Africans. But still I'm happy to be working with educated professionals on important issues.
And finally, I just have to say, to all my wonderful friends, that I'm so proud of you. It is amazing all things you are doing. You may not think so, but that is because you are too zoomed in. When I come back, and I haven't heard about all your going ons, and we catch up, I am floored by all the impressive things you are working on, and I'll admit a little jealous too. So here's to all my atheletes, musicians, PHD students, movers and shakers. You guys are making a profound difference in the world just through doing what you love to do. I honestly believe that this is the most important thing. Effective change in the world comes from self-improvement. As cliche as it is, this is what I've learned in Mali. So you all, don't underestimate yourselves or downplay what you are doing, because I'm amazed by you.
