Challenge Accepted

I was told I need to blog again which is very true and very flattering. I definitely didn’t expect people to read this thing so I guess now that I know more people than my mom do the pressure is on to make sense! 

 There are so many things that happen in a day that it is often hard to remember everything. Thank goodness for my pretty regular journaling or this whole experience would be lost in my terrible memory. I have also found it is so necessary to journal so I do not miss you on all that I am really experiencing. Our days can be very repetitive but no matter what there is something that impacts me everyday. It is far too easy to miss how powerful something small can be when there is such a set routine. We have taken to calling our routine, the Triangle. All of our daily activities, with the exception of Theresa and Grace who add an extra step with the hospital, occur in a triangle. We travel between our rooms, which are attached to the church, the Father’s house where we eat and get internet and the school. While there is some comfort knowing what each day brings there is also some exhaustion from a lack of variety. In an attempt to break up the monotony we have taken to exploring our surroundings more. This has taken different forms. 

This past weekend we went to town to play pool. It was one of the nicer buildings in the whole town with a veranda and store front. Of course it wasn’t a regulation pool table and the balls were only Snookers balls but we made due. It was a great time and the three white girls playing pool became a bit of an attraction. When our viewers hit double digits we called it quits and went home. On our way home we met a great woman named Marsha.  She has been in Maridi for the past three years as a literacy consultant. She was so friendly and a huge inspiration being a woman, about 60 and living here until further notice with her elderly mother! It was shocking but also amazing to see two women in their golden years, that are often spent on the beaches in Florida, sweating in Africa to help educate children. Definitely my hero. We are planning on visiting them soon and learning more about their work and lives. I am very excited! There is a strong sense of welcome and community Maridi as a whole and with the Zande people. This feeling is not lost among the non- African members of the community. For the most part we all know about each other’s presence in the town and our respective jobs. There is always a bright smile and warm handshake whenever we run into a fellow non-African in town or the market. It is like an unspoken support system amongst each other. We all share an understanding of the changes and challenges of our new environment. While some are certainly adjusted to and thriving in Africa it is still not the Western, first world countries that most of us are from. 

The week before was Grace’s birthday and in honor of that we also went to town to a guest house I had no idea existed. It was concrete and tile and really beautiful. It had a small veranda and a bar.  We had a celebratory beer to commemorate not only her 25 great years on earth but her amazing past year in South Sudan. 

This past Saturday was definitely the crowning adventure thus far. Theresa and I needed some fresh air but mostly air time for the cell phone. We decided to walk to town to get it to get some and make a trip of it. We were nearing Wise Man’s, a one room “sports bar” where they show football (soccer) games, when it started raining. 

What better excuse to stop and have a cold Tusker? After the rain and a private dance from the drunken man across the street we continued only to be met by of course, more rain. We ducked into the Action Africa Help compound. Theresa has worked with a doctor from this organization before so we luckily had someone to call instead of being the wet American’s under the mango tree. When the rain had finally stopped we were planning on getting air time and getting home before yet another rain cloud opened up on our trip. The doctor invited us to a party at the United Nations compound. It was a going away party for two employees who finished their assignments. Although we only met one of the employees and only in passing we figured we couldn't pass up an opportunity to meet employees of the United Nations. We hopped on a boda and drove down a daunting road. This stretch of road was exceptionally bad. At one point we were literally inside of a trench which was actually a continuation of the road. When we finally arrived after thanking God we didn't die inside the trench we went into a guarded compound. It was massive. All of the buildings were huge shipping crates that were modified into offices and homes. We walked up to a legitimate BBQ: volleyball, chicken and tunes. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. There were people from every corner of the world including Germany and Fiji. It was amazing to hear the stories and occupations of all the different people. Before dinner there were farewell speeches, an hour and a half worth, about how much of an impact the two that were leaving had made on their fellow employees. It was clear that they were much more than coworkers, they were family and it was a honor to be able to witness. We tried leaving before dinner in order to make it home before dark but we had been assured a ride home and then had food shoved into our laps. We left after making some great new friends and a delicious meal. It was a perfect example of what great memories and opportunities come from spontaneous adventure.

 These few weeks of adventure have left me feeling pretty successful in the challenge of turning our triangle into a trapezoid as Cait now calls it. Our mantra thus far in mission has been “challenge accepted.” Any obstacles South Sudan has thrown at us or will throw at us we have accepted with a determination to conquer them. I would like to say that all of our challenges are noble and will change the world. In reality many of the challenges consist of bug extermination, successful navigation of mud and locating non expired Diet Pepsi. Regardless of the nobility or lack of in our challenges I think the idea that we are committed to going full force at the many challenges of the next year is valuable. I think it is also humbling to see what our challenges are in contrast to those of the community. We are determined to find Diet Pepsi that isn’t expired and a majority of the children are determined to have enough food to survive. The only thing more humbling than seeing our insignificant problems is how generous the people are with the little they have. One of our students invited us to his home for lunch last week. His mother prepared a huge and delicious meal. They were so happy to have us come to visit and to share the food that they needed for their family of 10 boys with us. It was so beautiful to experience such love and generosity. 

 Having this awareness of the insignificance of our problems makes them not only irrelevant but more than manageable. Realizing that our students and their families are up against so many challenges and many that threaten to seriously derail their futures can be overwhelming as much as it is humbling. 

The best way to manage this I have found is seeing the little victories. While there is value in having a larger goal and a desired end result, there is even more value in seeing the small triumphs on the way to that result. One of my little victories was in my religion class when we were discussing peace. This is a concept that is even more important for these kids considering the country has been in a state of war for the past 60 years.  Knowing this I am trying to spend a lot of time with it and really challenge them to think. I gave them a Mother Theresa quote to think about and discuss, “Peace begins with a smile.” After some exaggerated performances on my part about what it means, there was a very rare quiet. It was almost not noticeable but in a class of 50 children, 10 seconds of quiet seems like a lifetime. The brief quiet was a small victory to me because I may have actually made them think. I may have gotten them to look at the idea of peace in a more simple and tangible way. Or i completely confused them and they have no idea what i am talking about. both are very possible but i would like to think it was the former. 

All of my time so far in this beautiful place has done nothing but make me better. The people I am around, the books I am reading or the risks I am taking are all revealing a better person inside. I read a book that Theresa had called Love Does. It is by Bob Goff who is the most amazing person I have ever met. Everyone should read this book. The book talks about us being created to be incredible. We were made to do extraordinary things even if we are doing them in some ordinary ways. The biggest barrier he talks about is ourselves. This could not be more true for me. There are more times in a day that I decline something not because someone else thinks I cant do it, but because I think I cant do it. In the book, Mr. Goff talks about letting go of our own insecurities and fears about failure and damaging pride because they only keep us from reaching our own potential. I am trying to take this heart and live it every day. The last story in this much too long post is precisely about letting go of fears. Grace and Cait have taught the students multiple dances throughout their year here. The kids absolutely love dancing so it has been really successful. Two months ago we started choreographing another dance that the four of us could teach them together. When we started I was uncomfortable even at the idea of performing in front of people, even if it was a bunch of kids. As the dance progressed and cheerleading stunts were added to the routine my anxiety grew. I put on a brave face, practiced the dance and secretly dreaded the day we performed. We met many delays to our debut with sickness, school cancellations and random work days. Each time I was secretly relieved that I did not have to perform. The day finally came. I was less than thrilled but faked excitement until we got on stage. I was still terrified but I had a blast. I messed up a few times but it did not change how much the kids loved it. And that was what mattered. It did not matter that I felt I was never good enough to be a cheerleader or coordinated enough to dance a routine, what mattered was that the students loved it and love us.  What mattered is that we did it as a group, we supported each other and had a blast! That is how I want to define not only the rest of this year but the rest of my life. It isn’t about my anxiety, my mistakes or my faults its about taking opportunities, having fun and giving all I can to another person just because. 

One Month In

After reading some of my fellow SLM's blogs ive realised that mine will be no where near as esthetically pleasing or witty but hopefully its as enjoyable.

It's really just beginning to fully set in that I'm going to be in Africa for another 14 months. Ive woken up so many times literally furious that my alarm would dare go off at 6:30 am only to be reminded that its 6:30 am in AFRICA! After that mental wake up call the dawn is much more tolerable.   It becomes even more so after opening my door to a breathtaking sunrise.  Every morning is even more unique and beautiful than the one before. Be advised now of all the sunset/ sunrise pictures that will be coming this year. 

The 29th marked our first month-aversary of being in Africa! It was unfortunately celebrated by Theresa sleeping from what we thought was Malaria and my stomach in writhing knots leaving me unable to sleep not quite a blow out bash but still monumental.  My mystery illness has unfortunately continued. I've been throwing up and having severe stomach pains which has left me like a turtle on its back the past nights. Thankfully  grace had some medicine and I took some benedryl amd was able to sleep. Cait mentioned having a similar problem in the first half of her year. As I was writhing with pain I was thinking, "Umm Cait's a beast at everything, I'm not that tough... cool im going to die." For now I survived so hopefully my awkward "sample" will give the doctor some idea what's freaking out in my stomach.

During the time I've been sick I've been able to find some peace. Aside from really wishing I was comfortable in my bed I found myself wishing not for the United States but for more time with my community here. I was longing for my bed, but for my bed to be in South Sudan.  I remember during orientation Amber shared a story about when she discovered she had really adjusted to being in Bolivia. She had previously had a difficult adjustment to life in Bolivia and was feeling that she had finally come around. She 

was sick in bed during a celebration in the community. She was wishing that she was with her community celebrating not that she was home in the States as she had before. Adjustment for me has not been a challenge. There are of course modern conveniences and luxuries that I miss like diet coke, internet everywhere and air conditioning, but there is nothing that I have found to be insurmountable. Grace, Cait, Theresa and I were discussing this one afternoon while we were walking to visit a baby that was less than 24 hours old. Victoria, the sister of one of our students, Mariam, who are both very active in the community, school and church had her baby. As is custom here we went to visit the baby and congratulate the family. It was a scary and humbling experience all in one. It was humbling to have such a delicate and precious life in my arms. It was scary because in the United States it is unheard of to have a parade of people not only visiting a newborn but holding and touching them. My first thought was how crazy this was and no wonder so many children become sick being exposed literally the day they are born to so many germs. When talking it over more I realized that it is more often lack of nutrition and vitamins along with diseases that are contracted from the environment such as Typhoid Fever and Malaria, that cause the children here to be sick. We were taking part in, while risky to a degree, a beautiful tradition. We were celebrating the very symbol for love and hope even in the midst of struggle and pain. While walking to greet the new bundle of joy we were talking about our own adjustments and the ease of ours versus some of the ones we had heard about from other current and former SLM’s. Cait said something which seemed to explain our ease perfectly. For all of us, serving in Africa had always been a dream and call for us. We all feel that part of our hearts are truly at home in this place which makes any changes and struggles easier to cope with. 

We are making it more and more our home everyday. Grace has been cooking, amazingly, since she got here. Theresa and I are trying to learn all the techniques and tricks she has for substituting ingredients and cooking over a coal fire pit. Two weeks ago Theresa helped Grace make a chocolate cake for Br. Julius’ birthday with frosting and all. It was delicious! Last weekend Grace and I made pizza. We used a Bobby Flay recipe for the dough and used fresh tomatoes and onions for the sauce. We topped it with greens, onions and cheese. It was a huge success! We paired it with Tusker, a Ugandan beer, and had a feast! In an attempt to counter act all of our feasting, but more so to stay healthy we have all been doing quite a bit of exercising in various forms. Collectively we have developed a cheer leading team. I had to come all the way to Africa to be cool enough to be a cheerleader, thank goodness there weren’t actual try outs. We are choreographing a dance to Roar by Katy Perry with stunts and all. We are going to perform for the students at their morning assembly in a week to get interest and recruit girls for a team that way. We will have them perform for the school’s football (soccer) games. On top of that Grace, Theresa and I have taken to Jillian Michaels. We do one of her videos at least three times a week. Grace and Theresa both have one so we can switch up which format she kicks our butt in. It has been great to feel like we actually earned how much we are sweating rather than just standing, walking or breathing and being just as sweaty. We want to take a picture of us doing her workout in Africa and send it to her to see if she sends something back. Getting fit and famous! But probably not.  It has also been awesome for self care and taking time for ourselves to not only build community but to relax and process our days. Next week we are going to have plenty more opportunities to relax. Next week we are off of school because we will be finished with exams. 

We are taking one day to go to a dam near by and spend the day by the water. Another day we are going to try and explore more of Maridi. There is a boarding school for the girls that we want to visit. They have 50 of the smartest girls that attend from all over the state.Through donors they are able to receive a great education for no cost. It is a secondary school which is like our high school. It is generally expensive and very difficult for anyone to attend. Due to years of war many students had their education disrupted and greatly delayed. This is double for girls. In this budding and still very patriarchal society the options for women are slim to none. We are also going to try and meet up with some other American volunteers. They are here doing different things including trauma counseling with the community. She is the one I am most interested in meeting. I think what she is doing is so needed and amazing. I would love to get a chance to hear her stories and to learn from her. I am hoping to make contact with her this week so we can spend some time with her next week. I am excited for the fun week ahead and the great months to come! Sorry this post is so long, hopefully I will keep up with it better in the future and they won’t be novels every time. Thanks for lasting this long, unless you were smart and just skipped to the end! =)

Two weeks down!

Two weeks in Africa has already come and gone!

It seems like only last weekend we were visiting the Sphinx and Giza pyramids in Egypt.  We feared our 22 hour layover would be spent in the airport to avoid any interaction with protests. We were really lucky to come across an agency thst appeared to be legit in order for us to do some exploring. The South Sudan volunteers, myself, Theresa, Pat and Mike and Taylor (Pat's beloved guitar) and a woman from Canada who was backpacking Africa all shared a private car and guide to show us around. The drive to the pyramids took us over the Nile and through the city of Cairo. 22 hours was definitely not long enough for us to really appreciate the beauty and culture of Egypt but it was a great preview.
My highlight of the night after our day out was hummus, a cold beer (Sakara) and a hot shower. That was my last hot shower but thanks to Nile Special malt it won'tbe my last brew! Phew! Another flight brought us to the capital of South Sudan, Juba. We spent a night there with current volunteer Tom. The next morning we embarked on our journey to Maridi. The trip was only 180 miles but would take 9 hours. Rest stations, right of way, lanes or paved roads for that matter are non existent here. The difficulty of the of the trip is attributed to crater-like holes in the middle of the road every hundred feet which are accented by smaller holes throughout. When we were warned about how difficult the trip was I underestimated the reality of what that meant. I was assuming the local people felt that we were feeble American women who could not handle a little dirt and a few bumps. I do not know if it was that or truly rough terrain but arriving at our compound was a feeling of relief I have never felt before.
We were welcomed to Maridi by Grace and Cait, the current volunteers, with open arms and smiles. Throughout the past two weeks they have been invaluable in showing us the ropes and helping us to understand and adjust the new culture we will be living in. They are truly amazing in all their success and knowledge in this place. Last year they were in our position without any previous volunteers to show them the way. They forged their own path and have made a lasting impression on the people here. I can only hope to have half of the impact that they have had on the people here when I leave next December. We have begun to build an amazing mission family together. The foundation has been made from laughter, love and MUD!!!  

The days since arriving have been packed with new experiences and adjustments. Most notably different is having no internet in my room and no washing machines and wearing skirts everyday. The cold water we use to shower, clean and drink must be pumped into a huge holding tank regularly or we will be without running water which I discovered only when I was preparing to shower and had no water. Doing laundry is not a 2 hour process in which you throw your clothes in the machine and wait. It is a process of soaking, scrubbing, rinsing and repeating all by hand followed by hanging on a line. What I have found and what has made me immensely proud of myself is that every aspect of my life is different but only certain ones are a struggle. At home I have all the modern convinces and American excess items I could ask for and here I am doing without 95% of them and doing well at that. I wore make up only once, which I sweat off immediately, and I never do my hair. There is no air conditioning, tons of bugs and no diversity in my diet, which are all stark contrasts to my reality in America. What I have learned more than patience in the past two weeks is how much more I have than I need. The children here have two sets of clothes, their uniforms and their play clothes. They have no concept of walking into a closet full of clothes and announcing that they have nothing to wear out that night. They do not have a cafeteria with food to scoff at during lunch or a subway down the street to replace the mystery "chicken" patties. The children plant, tend and harvest their own corn and beans so they can have lunch; putting them at two meals a day rather than one.

The idea of appreciation and hard work is embedded in these children and people because they do not have a Walgreens or Walmart down the street to fulfill their needs and unnecessary whims. These children do not drag themselves to school everyday to placate their parents they do it to give themselves a better option in life. They do so even though some have to walk an hour just to get here. In just two weeks I have been inspired by these children and people and can already tell that I will learn more from them in the next year than they could ever learn from me. Everyday since arriving has been a learning experience and I think that everyday coming forward will continue to be so. In the first week I learned more than anything that patience is not only a virtue but a necessity to surviving Africa. This patience is with others, with the systems around me and most of all with myself. Patience is mandatory when faced with washing all your mud caked clothes by hand and then hanging them to dry on a clothes line only to have the daily storm of the rainy season soak them again. Learning how school works when many of the students do not understand English and learning who the students are when there are 500 of them requires self discipline along with patience.