So this blog post is a little different than my previous ones. Instead of writing one long blog about a certain event, thought or experience, I have put together three separate journal entries that I wrote during different times in my village. They are just thoughts and observations taken at different times throughout the last month. So here I go, hope everyone enjoys.
Bamaayos (Mothers/Women)
As I sit here reading, waiting for my participants to finish their tests, I am amazed. Bamaayos, women in Zambia, are incredible. They sit through their trainings with babies on their backs, having to get up and leave the room every time they start crying. They learn and take notes as their babies’ breastfeed on their laps. Then, when the big final test comes a child gets sick and throws up over her mother's lap. The mom looks frantic, trying to take care of her sick girl and move her paper out of the way of her child's vomit, all the while still trying to take her test. She calms the child, makes sure she is ok, put her back on her lap and whips out a breast for her to breastfeed on. Now it's finally back to test time. Bamaayos- the strongest people on earth.
Education
With all of the problems that are talked about with the American school system, and I agree with a lot of them, it's nothing compared to here. I just finished going around to all of my zones and giving Post Tests to make sure they had been trained properly as an NHC. At every one the question would have to be asked, " who doesn't know how to read and write". Remember the test that was given was written in Bemba so the people who don't know how to read or write are illiterate in their own language. At every single one of my 14 zones, at least two or three out of 15 and sometimes even topping off at half the group would be illiterate. When my counterpart would ask the question (only so he would know who to take outside and verbally give the test to) the few people almost always women would shyly raise their hands and giggle in embarrassment. I would always try to flash them a reassuring smile trying to tell them without speaking that I was so proud of them. They just sat through a 3-day training where their only learning tool was to listen. They are doing this voluntarily, for no money, only to help their community who has failed in giving them a proper education. So maybe that's why they are so brave and strong. Maybe they are trying to give the education they were deprived of to their children, grand children and great grand children. Education. The longer I am here the more I am convinced it is the key to the future of this country. With better education Zambia could grow into the successful country it's meant to be. However like all things, it's so much easier said than done.
Dancing
Why don't we dance after meetings or trainings in America? I think I might try to start a revolution when I get back to America. After every single one of my NHC trainings that I have visited over the past two weeks, we have always ended with singing and dancing. They are celebrating being finished with the training, being given this gift of education and a chance to help their community. Plus they just love to dance. Think about it, it could revolutionize the work place. After every meeting or long conference call, everyone gets up and sings and dances. It would lift worker's moral, get people moving a bit (maybe a small step in the fight against obesity), and its just a little extra fun in your day. It will probably be years until I have a "proper office job" (sorry mom and dad) but when I do, I am dancing.
