Saturday, March 12, 2011

“We Americans think you have to accomplish everything quickly. We’re the country of thirty-minute power lunches and two-minute football drills. Our leaders thought their “shock and awe” campaign could end the war in Iraq before it even started. HajI Ali taught me to share three cups of tea, to slow down and make building relationships as important as building projects. He taught me that I had more to learn from the people I work with than I could ever hope to teach them.”
Greg Mortenson
“What we are trying to do may be just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop” Mother Teresa

These are two quotes from the book Three Cups of Tea, a book on “One man’s mission to promote peace, one school at a time.” He went into Pakistan as a simple passer-byer trying to climb K2 and left changed forever. People like Mortenson and also Paul Farmer (Mountains beyond mountains, another GREAT book) have given up the “normal” American lifestyle and has dedicated their lives for the world’s less fortunate. I am deeply moved by these men and by others that do the same. To give up the “American dream” filled with large coffees, Ipad2s, the biggest baddest cars and faster fast food is, in my opinion, the bravest thing in the world. After being here for almost 9 months I find myself fighting to be more like the Farmers and the Mortensons but man oh man it is a struggle. I constantly crave what America has to offer and it drives me crazy that I cant just eat my rice and beans and ignore the March Madness. Before doing my international travel I really didn’t understand American culture and even after Bolivia and Kenya I still had only a small idea of what American culture really was. But being here for so long has really taught me thing or two. I was recently talking to my friend Mama Sara when we started to talk about funerals in America and she was just appalled that you had to pay for it! Here in the vil, when someone dies the whole vil comes together and brings supplies and digs the grave and makes a lot of food for the family. The next day all of the shops are closed and everyone heads over to the church for the funeral followed by everyone going to the house of the family and sharing a meal. I started to really think about how much money runs life in the US and how it affects relationships. If you are late in the US, there is just no way you are going to stop and greet someone or even acknowledge their presence, I mean if you are late for work you could be fired!!! But here I am constantly late because I have to greet so many people on the way and simply greeting while walking will not do for the elders, I have to walk over to them and “greet them properly” with a handshake. Could you imagine that in the states? People taking an extra 15-20 minutes to ask about someone’s family, house, work but not just asking but actually listening to the reply? Don’t get me wrong, I love how fast things are in the states I mean you can be eating food after 3 minutes in the microwave! But do we take it too far? Here, I know all my neighbors and almost everyone in my village, but in the states I can only name maybe 25% of my block where I have lived my whole life. After reflecting on this for a long time I have come to realize that in the states, going to my neighbors house to just talk really didn’t fit into my too busy schedule but is that really true? I know I thought I was super busy but is that a good excuse for not making relationships? I really enjoy just slowing down and making real relationships, apposed to the “whats up” relationship where you say “sup” but don’t actually expect an answer from the person. Sorry about all the random thoughts going on here but I have found myself with a lot of time to think here and these are the types of things that go through my head. ALSO I am nowhere near perfect with this whole impersonal quality when it comes to American culture, I mean I am currently typing out a blog on my laptop with my internet phone right here and my ipod blaring in my ears haha, baby steps baby steps.

Vil life has been going well: the preschool is up a running, health club is going well, Big Brothers Big Sisters is in the works, English classes are full of dedicated people, the garden that we built at the mission is HUGE and growing very well and the Bible college classes (health and English) are also going really well. I would say my one main difficulty is the water project that I want to get started ASAP but am having trouble trying to figure out how to do that. I have contacted the District water engineer which just got me nowhere and talking to peace corps so far hasn’t gotten me any closer to figuring things out. But do not fear, I am planning a trip to Dar to go to the peace corps office and sit down and figure things out! On another note I am finally eating from my garden which is nice and Amadeus is growing like a weed! I am in the works of planning a Kilimanjaro climb in June and I am hoping to hike over the Livingstone mountains to Lake Malawi soon so lots on the plate for hiking!

One last thing CONGRATS to the Lady Flyers bball team for winning the GLVC conference and going to the NCAA tournament! You guys are awesome and didn’t give up when things weren’t going your way. To the seniors, I love you guys like family and I wish you guys the best and you ALL had great careers and I am honored to have played with you!!!

That’s about it! Love and miss yall!!! AND a HUGE THANK YOU to the Carbaugh and Turpel families who sent me amazing packages!! I am truly blessed to have the support of so many people as I am here and I also want to say a big thank you to EVERYONE especially God who is always there for you! HAPPY LENT and remember “with the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” James 3:9-10 What you say can help or hurt someone, try to encourage someone and or say something nice to someone everyday this lent, because like Mother Teresa said even the smallest drops makes a difference in the ocean.
Amy