Friday, November 21, 2008
photos
gift from america! neighborhood girls with their candy necklaces. their shrieking reaction was priceless. kids in the house looking at their photo albums, which are constantly being pulled out to this day. and then theres jeremiah teaching kids at a primary school how to plant vegetables- the beginning of a huge income generating garden project-inchallah.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
real life cinderella
theres a lot of real life cinderellas here. i think im remembering the story correctly. anyways, over the last year or so Ive been living here, Ive seen about 5 or so girls (probably 20 years old but everything about them in girlish) come in the house and essentially live a slave life. Cook, sweep, do laundry, repeat. Then go home to her house and come back again the next day. Im pretty sure her family gets money for it. Sad thing is, all she has going for her are these skills, which dont get me wrong, she is damn good at, her next logical step is marriage. A few times she has asked me for 100 CFA which is 20 cents, which I obviously give to her. Right now I am super broke, like literally no money and so when she asked for it the other day I told her to wait until December when I get paid and then a second later I gave it to her. I mean, are you joking... you know... I can find a piece of change still.
I am creating a project I think I will love with The American Corner as well as other organizations who work with womens rights, AIDS, gender development, etc. We will do activities and trainings with 30 of the best students from 5 middle schools, followed by theatre performances in their schools. The focus is: AIDS prevention/protecting your kids and yourself, Womens Needs (often neglected), and the importance of not dropping out of school and creating plans to ensure that. I am kind of obsessed with these, particularly the last.
I mean with the regional coordinator of the education of women/school inspector/consultant today. I got his information from the Director of PLAN International, an NGO who works with kids whose programs I really admire. Anyways, we met today and I was really impressed with him. He works a lot in gender development which I havent heard anyone say thats one of their main job priorities, particularly a man. Like I straight up asked him if he thought I was his equal. Forward, yes, but acceptable. And he was like yes. And most men here (and in many places in the world) struggle to answer that. Ridiculous, right? Thats what I (and many women) deal with every day.
So, its really cool. I have found a passion in me of girls education/education in general. And there are a lot of great people here happy and willing to work with me on this project and that is what makes it inspiring.
Please watch the videos I posted in my recent posts. They are inspiring and eye opening.
I have been here 14 months now and I have really learned so much. Things are going well in my personal life, too. It is all intertwined, but in my family and neighborhood n stuff. I really like my host family, I feel comfortable and able to speak my mind, which is something I have a whole new appreciation for.
There is a gym in Louga now and I go there a lot because its something to do and I havent been able to work out very much over the last year. It does wonders for the mind, not to mention I really dig the mananger/trainer. Working out at the gym here is a whole other experience. Its fun and as everything here is, its community based. You are left to yourself to push yourself, but things like people always counting reps for eachother and you know, greeting everyone as always, and saying see you tomorrow. everything beautiful about senegal but in a gym. These people are some of the fittest people in the world, too.
The school garden is at a standstill because some fiscal year business with USAID who funded it, the money will be 3 weeks later than expected. But Jer already did classes with all of the kids about gardening and planted a bunch of vegetables at the school. I am teaching English classes again, too. But I still have a ton of free time, which is awesome, but easily accomplished.
My situation was brought to light when I was talking to a friend in America online and I mentioned I showed my Senegalese friend pictures of bowling and swings to explain that having public activities besides football to do would be freaking cool. Martin was like BOWLING!? SWINGS? wow you really gave up a lot Claire.
I got a good laugh out of that, because bowling never seemed so novel as it does now.
Anyways, life is going well! Jer has been in Kolda (down south) for a week and I miss my site mate!!! But I have special people in my life here and so, well, at by far the poorest state Ive ever been in (still not that bad, though I doubt you would know how to deal with it ;) ) im doing well. Money SO doesnt buy happiness, though please send me some!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have learned though that I can get around town on the generosity of people alone. I catch rides from random people all of the time and sometimes taxis give me free rides too. its kinds ridiculous. little acts of kindness for a poor white girl, you know what im sayin. loves it.
And to touch back into life in America, GO OBAMA, right?? Everyone here is so happy. People knew the same moment here when you did there and its nothing but smiles. Not only because his dad is african and maybe that gives them some much needed hope, but also because of his foreign affairs and youthful perspective.
Cheers! Jamm ak Jamm. Peace only.
I am creating a project I think I will love with The American Corner as well as other organizations who work with womens rights, AIDS, gender development, etc. We will do activities and trainings with 30 of the best students from 5 middle schools, followed by theatre performances in their schools. The focus is: AIDS prevention/protecting your kids and yourself, Womens Needs (often neglected), and the importance of not dropping out of school and creating plans to ensure that. I am kind of obsessed with these, particularly the last.
I mean with the regional coordinator of the education of women/school inspector/consultant today. I got his information from the Director of PLAN International, an NGO who works with kids whose programs I really admire. Anyways, we met today and I was really impressed with him. He works a lot in gender development which I havent heard anyone say thats one of their main job priorities, particularly a man. Like I straight up asked him if he thought I was his equal. Forward, yes, but acceptable. And he was like yes. And most men here (and in many places in the world) struggle to answer that. Ridiculous, right? Thats what I (and many women) deal with every day.
So, its really cool. I have found a passion in me of girls education/education in general. And there are a lot of great people here happy and willing to work with me on this project and that is what makes it inspiring.
Please watch the videos I posted in my recent posts. They are inspiring and eye opening.
I have been here 14 months now and I have really learned so much. Things are going well in my personal life, too. It is all intertwined, but in my family and neighborhood n stuff. I really like my host family, I feel comfortable and able to speak my mind, which is something I have a whole new appreciation for.
There is a gym in Louga now and I go there a lot because its something to do and I havent been able to work out very much over the last year. It does wonders for the mind, not to mention I really dig the mananger/trainer. Working out at the gym here is a whole other experience. Its fun and as everything here is, its community based. You are left to yourself to push yourself, but things like people always counting reps for eachother and you know, greeting everyone as always, and saying see you tomorrow. everything beautiful about senegal but in a gym. These people are some of the fittest people in the world, too.
The school garden is at a standstill because some fiscal year business with USAID who funded it, the money will be 3 weeks later than expected. But Jer already did classes with all of the kids about gardening and planted a bunch of vegetables at the school. I am teaching English classes again, too. But I still have a ton of free time, which is awesome, but easily accomplished.
My situation was brought to light when I was talking to a friend in America online and I mentioned I showed my Senegalese friend pictures of bowling and swings to explain that having public activities besides football to do would be freaking cool. Martin was like BOWLING!? SWINGS? wow you really gave up a lot Claire.
I got a good laugh out of that, because bowling never seemed so novel as it does now.
Anyways, life is going well! Jer has been in Kolda (down south) for a week and I miss my site mate!!! But I have special people in my life here and so, well, at by far the poorest state Ive ever been in (still not that bad, though I doubt you would know how to deal with it ;) ) im doing well. Money SO doesnt buy happiness, though please send me some!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have learned though that I can get around town on the generosity of people alone. I catch rides from random people all of the time and sometimes taxis give me free rides too. its kinds ridiculous. little acts of kindness for a poor white girl, you know what im sayin. loves it.
And to touch back into life in America, GO OBAMA, right?? Everyone here is so happy. People knew the same moment here when you did there and its nothing but smiles. Not only because his dad is african and maybe that gives them some much needed hope, but also because of his foreign affairs and youthful perspective.
Cheers! Jamm ak Jamm. Peace only.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
my current life in a video
Elle Travaille, Elle Vit! (She Works, She Lives!) from Barry Pousman on Vimeo.
This is such an inspiring video! It is made by RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) Barry Pousman. Please take the time to watch it. It is made for and used by SeneGAD, the Gender and Development Committee in Peace Corps Senegal of which I am a regional representative of. Turns out a whole lot of my work here is focused on education and even more of it on girls education. Everyone and everything in this film is a representation if every day Senegal but with extraordinary women here. We hope to see many more of them emerging in this generation. Peace. Jamm and Jamm.
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