(20 May 2013)
I'm not sure I can do this entry justice with words alone. It's one of those phenomenons you might have to experience to really grasp what emotions the words attempt to invoke.
Things have still been pretty slow here. Farmers are preparing their fields by burning the remaining dry grasses. The smoke and dust have declared war on my small bronchial tubes and slightly asthmatic lungs. Mental white flags and meditated gentle breathing wasn't cutting it so the doctor sent for reinforcements as a steroid inhaler which keeps the opposing forces at bay.
The farmer field school idea has been on hold. Perhaps still in the reviewing process of the cosmos awaiting approval...
My goals in this short window before my vacation (¡España!) are more realistically thus:
I bought a bag of cement and traded it for forty bricks already made. Was totally prepared and expecting to erect this raised bed myself. But from the beginning, just stacking the bricks, I had my host siblings insisting their help, even the youngest, maybe ten, who can barely lift a brick was intent on seeing the wall complete before resting. My host uncle, host moms younger brother who I found annoying and not liking initially because he thought copying my wolof was fun, has been incredible. He really is a good guy. I'm really learning to be forgiving, to not take things so personally or literally and to have a sense of humor over some of those parts of me that are hardest to laugh at. And it feels really good.
Next day was the daunting task of filling the raised bed we just walled off. I say daunting because the empty volume looking to be filled would take a lot of dirt which was going to be heavy and take who knows how long. Again, foolishly, something I expected to face myself. As soon as I begun after my host mom's continued nags about when I'd start, I was finishing a really good book, The Corrections, she started shouting something to the general vicinity and continued lecturing me about now how heavy and hard this work was. Well you just yelled at me to do it so...! Soon after her shouts, a heard of young boys and some girls and even little tots came with their empty tin cans, busted bowls, and modified oil containers (bidongs) to help me fill this volume.
I just can't tell you- watching my uncle shovel, and the eager children running back and forth with their little containers. The three year old with his tiny tin can that he insisted to carry on his head! And my counterparts for the village bee keeping project, taking my 25L pan from me and passionately telling me it's their job to help me and that I'd done enough because the pan was too heavy.
As I stood there taking it all in, figuring out how I could still make myself useful after everyone adopted/stole my laborious work from me, I almost cried. Such a beautiful and indescribable scene. What a neat dynamic. How silly I was to think I could do anything alone here. One of those left over expectations from a life in the states.
I still made quite a few solo trips to my host moms glares and laughter, but we got it filled. I love how they put the pressure on me about my work. Roxe, when will you water in? When will you plant? Little do they know the watering will be up to them soon soon. This first bed might fail due to my extended absence but we can always try again. And hopefully produce some good leaf powder for our food bowls. Whether they'll use it or sell it is to be seen. You gotta at least try here.
I'm not sure I can do this entry justice with words alone. It's one of those phenomenons you might have to experience to really grasp what emotions the words attempt to invoke.
Things have still been pretty slow here. Farmers are preparing their fields by burning the remaining dry grasses. The smoke and dust have declared war on my small bronchial tubes and slightly asthmatic lungs. Mental white flags and meditated gentle breathing wasn't cutting it so the doctor sent for reinforcements as a steroid inhaler which keeps the opposing forces at bay.
The farmer field school idea has been on hold. Perhaps still in the reviewing process of the cosmos awaiting approval...
My goals in this short window before my vacation (¡España!) are more realistically thus:
- Distribute new variety bean seeds to selected farmers and for VDC (Village Development Committee) and prepare them to either collect required data or keep in mind data I'll collect upon my return regarding spacing, weeding, etc. (will happen after vacation, July)
- start a tree nursery for the village with the help of the village members including cashew (we did it!)
- begin my own Moringa intensive demonstration bed (also completed)
I bought a bag of cement and traded it for forty bricks already made. Was totally prepared and expecting to erect this raised bed myself. But from the beginning, just stacking the bricks, I had my host siblings insisting their help, even the youngest, maybe ten, who can barely lift a brick was intent on seeing the wall complete before resting. My host uncle, host moms younger brother who I found annoying and not liking initially because he thought copying my wolof was fun, has been incredible. He really is a good guy. I'm really learning to be forgiving, to not take things so personally or literally and to have a sense of humor over some of those parts of me that are hardest to laugh at. And it feels really good.
Next day was the daunting task of filling the raised bed we just walled off. I say daunting because the empty volume looking to be filled would take a lot of dirt which was going to be heavy and take who knows how long. Again, foolishly, something I expected to face myself. As soon as I begun after my host mom's continued nags about when I'd start, I was finishing a really good book, The Corrections, she started shouting something to the general vicinity and continued lecturing me about now how heavy and hard this work was. Well you just yelled at me to do it so...! Soon after her shouts, a heard of young boys and some girls and even little tots came with their empty tin cans, busted bowls, and modified oil containers (bidongs) to help me fill this volume.
I just can't tell you- watching my uncle shovel, and the eager children running back and forth with their little containers. The three year old with his tiny tin can that he insisted to carry on his head! And my counterparts for the village bee keeping project, taking my 25L pan from me and passionately telling me it's their job to help me and that I'd done enough because the pan was too heavy.
As I stood there taking it all in, figuring out how I could still make myself useful after everyone adopted/stole my laborious work from me, I almost cried. Such a beautiful and indescribable scene. What a neat dynamic. How silly I was to think I could do anything alone here. One of those left over expectations from a life in the states.
I still made quite a few solo trips to my host moms glares and laughter, but we got it filled. I love how they put the pressure on me about my work. Roxe, when will you water in? When will you plant? Little do they know the watering will be up to them soon soon. This first bed might fail due to my extended absence but we can always try again. And hopefully produce some good leaf powder for our food bowls. Whether they'll use it or sell it is to be seen. You gotta at least try here.
