Sweet Sunday

Soundtrack for this post: Jason Derulo's Whatcha Say

I am coming off the high of a great day, which was preceded by a great week (but I'll get to that in another post).

This is the second Sunday that I've gotten a free lunch at a coworker's house. I guess there's something to be said for showing up to the office on a Sunday that makes people want to give you free food. I'll take it!

I spend the rest of the day (minus church of course) at my next door neighbor's house. To preface, I've gotten this idea to start a girls' group in my community. It was partially because I read some English essays by the girls at the secondary school nearby and was appalled at how subpar they were compared to their male counterparts. There is an English club but only about 2 of the 50 members are girls. Girls claim they 'have too much fear' to speak English openly like that, and therefore don't advance. I also am an advocate of education being single sex at that age, mainly because I went to an all girl high school. It works better for some people. And these girls are clearly shirking in their male peers' shadows. Add that to the health lessons that girls need to learn QUICKLY and it seems that a girls' club is the best option to have some open, frank discussions.

So back to my life working out perfectly and everything falling into my lap…I am invited to visit my neighbors. I instantly have a crowd of four adolescent girls (and one baby thanks to teenage pregnancy) to bounce my idea off of and to give some impromptu English lessons. One of the girls, Mediya, is on the football team of school, which consequently is just the group of girls I wanted to tap into. I have made a few friends on the football team and these girls have too much confidence for their own good. They are just the girls that will stand up, be heard and allow other girls to not feel so awkward. Let's just say the visit ended with all of us singing Jason Derulo's Whatcha Say…mumbling most of the words since none of us know them, and dancing. Now that's how I like to spend my Sunday. We planned a future visit for tomorrow when I get off work. Coming off this slump of feeling uninspired, powerless, out of my league, and just generally in a bad mood, I'm glad my community once again gave me a boost.

I can piggyback this story by talking about integration for a second. It is perhaps our biggest assignment as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Sure, you want to produce sustainable change and a cultural exchange, but none of that can be possible if you aren't integrated, trusted and welcomed into your surroundings. Imagine someone moving in next door and telling you how to live your life before learning your mom's name. Many of the volunteers have been having trouble - whether it be because of the culture of their site (some people are more open than others), the size of the community (sometimes bigger is NOT better), having their lodging segregated from their community, working very long hours, etc. And I would like to count my blessings about my placement. I dare someone to move into my village and not integrate. I swear my neighbors would force me. They understand that I am a horrible student at learning Kinyarwanda. I clearly oppose some of their cultural norms. And yet, there they are with their open arms. They know that if they help me pull my weeds (as they did yesterday), I won't seek their help, and I won't pay them. I think they do it because my yard is an eyesore. Nonetheless, integration.