Focus on integration, they say. Do as the people do, build relationships, work on your language, be a learner. Take these first 3 months of service to stay at your site as much as possible, avoiding trips back to the city and seeing other volunteers regularly. These instructions were encouraged at the end of training.
So here I am at the end of my first 3 months and by golly I have yet to learn everybody’s names. Help! According to the most recent census (calculated by previous PCV), I have 430 names to learn, 200 of those are children. I have no idea how many I know at this point but I’m feeling decent about it, but not good enough.
Speaking of names and keeping everyone straight, the villagers are having quite the time keeping the two of ours straight. Adding a “t” to Suzie Kay’t’ is very popular as well as just calling either of us by either name. How they keep Shenada straight from shanimba and Oohma straight from MmmMa, but can’t quite grasp ours is baffling. Oh wait, just one more. How about Sakilena and Sasilena for not being confusing? J
I set my alarm. NOT. People rise and shine at different times, but the majority is early. The first visitor usually stops by around 8 or 8:30am. We had to train them first however, after having a few people knocking at the door at oh, 6:30am’ish. Thankfully for me, my roommate likes to be up earlier than me so she can entertain even the 8am’ers for me.
After waking up, my must do daily chores are waiting for me. These include washing myself, washing the dishes (from the day before and breakfast), and washing clothes (though this isn’t quite a daily chore). These tasks all include a ¼ mile schlep to the river, carrying a large bucket (think laundry basket) on my head (still holding it with one hand), and the correct soaps and towels. I can't do them all at once so usually it takes 2 trips per day to the river, but often 4 trips/day. Sweeping is a big deal and a never ending chore.
The most important part of the day and in being here is spending time with the villagers one way or another. Some days I walk to a certain part of the village to see who I can run into to chat with, some days I go directly to someone’s home to see them specifically, and other days I feel content with time I’ve spent with people that have come to our house to gi odi (to visit). Gradually I’m learning about people’s lives and gradually I feel like we make a connection. It’s in these moments that I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be and I feel really grateful to be here.
Other parts of the day I do things for myself like sew pangies, clean house, yard work, try to build something, attempt the harmonica, do yoga, go walk or run, take a nap, cook/bake. Oh yeah, and did I mention play games with kids. Yes, kids are at our house nearly at all times unless we tell them to go to another place. They mainly request to color, do a puzzle, jump rope, play with a ball, play Zingo, or go play slagball. It mostly is great, very good for speaking the language, just the monitoring and disciplining that gets exhausting.
Three times now I’ve gone to grounds. Each time has been with different people and doing different things. Going to grounds is an eight hour workout, a bonding experience, humbling, and full of adventure.
Now defining work varies culture to culture, so as far as the work I do that would be equivalent to how an American would probably define work, is not how I spend most of my time right now. This American style work would include doing readings for our PC Early Service Training happening now. Readings
So while my day might sound like vacation compared to your day (American readers), in many ways it is. J But with the amount of constant cultural differences, adjustment to everything, foreign language use, and missing what I was used to having, being here is nothing like vacation and somehow is just as much work.
