First of all- mangoes are delicious. Secondly, I have recently discovered, that I am ALLERGIC to mangoes. Of all things! It's pretty rough since mangoes now run like water runs in America. So that's been a little rough. Coping though, and just enjoying the scent of mangoes when everyone around is CONSTANTLY eating them! Ha
Anywho- getting back to site after coming home was a pretty easy readjustment for the first few days. Warm welcomings from the missionaries and my good friends at site. After a few days it was a bit harder, thinking to myself, "why can't I see or talk to my family anytime I want to?" I guess I had gotten re-used to that, for the two weeks I could see and talk to you all whenever I wanted. But, getting used to the limited access again I guess.
Back at site, some of my students were in the "finals" of a soccer tournament and I was invited as the "queen" or female guest of honor. So that was pretty fun. Some other good news- Erich got invited to a Food Security conference in Togo, so that's pretty exciting! Two PCVs from Guinea and their counterparts get to go in June, so that's some exciting stuff.
Had some frustrating experiences in the last few weeks with Guineans. Men continue to introduce themselves to me then immediately express that they want to go to America and marry an American. I think they must think it's a land of desperate women just waiting for them to come and make them their 2nd or 3rd wives. Anyway- that's sadly normal happenings, but it continues even now.
Also, the awesomely generous family in the village we like to visit has kind of let me down. After questioning their motives and deciding that we think they genuinely are just nice and want to be so generous to us, the last time Lisa and I visited, they asked, very bluntly, "ok, so how are you going to get our son to America with your mom when she comes to visit?" TOTAL let down. It just gets a little tiring second guessing peoples' motives for being nice to you. You have to take it all in context, that they live in poverty and take any opportunity possible to escape from this lifestyle. But, it can get kind of draining and can definitely let you down. I still think there's some authenticity in their generosity, it just now kind of stinks that we have to second guess ourselves when they make a nice gesture.
Another kind of frustration is with the LETTERS! (Madame, I sent you the letters with a more detailed letter, for you to flesh out what you think we should do). I felt like Santa bringing in those letters with how ecstatic my students were. They were SO excited. It was awesome to see. So I told them they could write letters back to the students in America in French, as this is their first year of English. So I read the ones I could and unfortunately, most students see this as a way out too. Most asked for books, or money, or help to get to America. Most said "I love you"... One boy even wrote "If I get to America, I will love you like a fish loves water." But, in French. And then! One of my favorite students wrote a really lovely letter. But towards the end he wrote, " I ask myself why my grandfather's grandfather wasn't enslaved. Because, then I'd be an American." That was pretty heartbreaking to read. Wishing slavery upon your ancestors just so that you would have a different life now. Yea. So that was pretty hard to see too.
I don't want this to be such a Debbie Downer blog, but just wanted to voice some frustrations.
In other news, I've been in Guinea for over 10 months now. WILD! Allie and Jake got married the 1st of May. CONGRATULATIONS and best of luck and I love you both! Happy 27 years of marriage Mom and Dad! (may 8) and Happy Mother's Day to all mothers reading but especially my mama, Honey Gram, and Grandma.
Lisa, Conor, and I went to a concert in Lisa's town. More hilarity and lots of fun dancing. And yes, my town is still talking about it.
End of the school year- students have mango fever so just want to be out of class eating mangoes all the time. Frustrating for the teachers, but we're getting by.
Started a girls sports group- really fun. We play basketball and mainly soccer- which I am TERRIBLE at, but that's the easiest sport to play here with limited supplies and no real "courts" for things like basketball, etc. Been really fun so far tho.
Funny note on my Pular- people think I understand WAY more than I do because I pick the two or three words I did understand and out of context guess what I think people said. But, sometimes I guess wrong. For example, while visiting the family in the village, the mom there asked if I had fed my cat before I left. The two words I understood were "food" and "cat" and she was preparing a meal at the time, so I responded with an emphatic "A- oiiii" (NO!) You see, I thought, she asked if we were going to eat her cat (who was meowing and being a bit of a pest at the time). I assumed she asked as a joke, yes, but either way. I was WAY off. Oops. We cleared it up though, but Lisa had a good laugh at me.
Anywho, I think that's about it for now. Awaiting the rains because it's stinking hot, but until next time.
Here's a quote I recently read and liked:
"Most people don't know there are angels whose only job is to make sure you don't get too comfortable and fall asleep and miss your life." ~Brian Andreas
Love and miss you all (as always). Keep in touch
<3 rach
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3 comments:
oh, my, what am I going to do? Maybe I just smuggle him back? I think there is desperation we can't understand, we are by far the priveleged few. Great to read your update will call in a.m., tried this evening but no answer, guessing you're partying hardy. I was in dentist chair this a.m. second in fun to mammogram. Love you, miss you, but so comfortable you know where you are supposed to be, or else, you're deceitful. Love you, Rachel and all your friends. Wish you were here, mom
If I were parent in village I would desperately try to arrange for a love child like your mother to get to US, any means possible. Just continue to love them because they love their family so much. I am often grateful for being born of my mom and dad in USA, wonder how I got so lucky. And am grateful for such terrific grandkids! Tried to call with your new number yesterday, loe you, wish you were here!Popop
I know its really hard. I was pretty frustrated by that, and I was only there for 10 months. Wait until YOU come back to America. I had students tell me they loved me and would marry me (they're 11). Most of all though, they were excited to hear about America and for me to explain to Americans that there are schools in Gambia, and that they know who Chris Brown is.
I know you're doing an excellent job though, and I know you already came back once with a great understanding of just how lucky Americans are. Love you, and hope to see you around Christmas time!!
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