Life in the slow lane can be quite enjoyable once it has
been accepted. I continue to alternate between enjoying it and wanting to do
more. Achieve more, help more. For example today I met with the manager of the
local farmer and technical skills training center. A huge 40 hectare center
with lots of new tools for woodworking, gardening, weaving and at least 10 brand
new, old fashion foot operated Singer sewing machines. There were a few women
using them learning how to make embroidery pillow cases, a popular home
decoration. In a way it was inspiring and sad at the same time. So much
potential but they were at a loss of what to do. Wanting to develop skills to
generate income but not knowing how to do it. I was happy to see them also
making Mert stoves, a fuel efficient stove commonly used for making injera. Now
this is something I hope to help develop further. As so many other project
ideas, I’m not quite sure how but hope inspiration and ideas come at some
point.
It is so interesting being in a culture that has developed
such an ingrained sense of dependency on foreign money. It sounds harsh but
that is the impression I get. I am foreign therefore I have money to give away
and that will be the answer to all the problems. Sadly I have seen many
projects that got a big chunk of money that failed. And if there is no money
there is no reason to try to do anything. That’s what I hear a lot.
Discouraging. It’s a constant practice in staying motivated and overcoming
obstacles.
But I am learning
that once little obstacles are overcome it feels great! Like going to the bank. For the last week the
bank has been out of commission due to a failure in the network, but for the
last few day’s its been working, along with a huge swarm of people trying to
access their accounts. So today I waded into the swarm, shoved my bank book to
the bottom of the stack and sat and waited, and waited. I enjoyed playing with a little girl, wrote a
letter and eventually got my money. Yay!
For the days when
there really isn’t much going on I’m enjoying meditating, playing in my garden,
exploring along the Tagona river and cooking. Simple, enjoyable, peaceful,
life. Oh and the occasional zipping
around on my new bike! Well actually it is old and squeaky and clunky but it is
so fun to be on a bike again. And to see the faces of everyone as I ride by. I
might be the first female to ride a bike in Goba, certainly the first
foreigner, and it’s a blast! I just have to be careful dodging donkeys,
chickens, kids, garies (horse drawn carts), and other random obstacles. But it
is a great sense of freedom and good exercise as well.
Now it’s time to pack as I get ready to go back to good ol
Bekoji to visit my host family and do some planning for an upcoming girls
summer camp with several other PCV’s. Let the good times roll! (Or should I say
I’ll enjoy the high of the rollercoaster while it lasts.) Chao!
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