Things are pretty good here and I've got some internet time and some battery so I thought I'd throw up a live blog post! Actually my first one written while actually on the internet. So you are looking at now. Don't ask about then. This is now.
It's been a good couple of weeks, recently. Health issues clearing up, though still a variety of minor cuts and whatnot, starting to be able to contact more people and more regularly to say hi to the people important to me around the world, and feeling good about life here.
It's starting to be life, too, which is nice. It's a weird life, that's for sure but it's life. I'm starting to feel more in control of myself and my surroundings - though we are still a long way from actually in control, if that is ever possible - and that helps a lot. I'm working out almost every day and I've started teaching Tae Kwon Do! I almost forgot how much I love TKD and teaching TKD too - but I really do.
It's hard for me and for students to be consistent here, in a world without a real focus on exact times or communication about tomorrow, but I've taught almost every day for the last week or two with at least some overlap in who came to learn. We are starting to put the formal stuff in more deeply - bowing and all that - but we've got the basic rules down at this point. No hitting other people and you have to have pants on to do the class. Both can be a bit hard to maintain, unfortunately.
I also started teaching English yesterday! Not exactly a roaring success, but not bad for no training, no things, and no way to communicate to the larger population what's going on! About 10 people came by and we had enough pens, paper, and chairs to make it work. And chalk! Unfortunately, I was a little late asking the Captain about the chairs so he was slightly miffed. Only slightly, but you forget that it is in fact a very hierarchical structure here...sometimes.
He knew I was beginning the lessons soon...I just didn't think to inform him of the exact date and time because I knew he didn't want to come learn. Still should have though so he could ask me how he could help, rather than me asking for chairs the day of. But, that's the nice thing about doing a small, informal projecty-thing like this. I'm learning. I've learned how hard it is to communicate things to a disparate population within the village. A couple specific people or the whole village is doable, but finding the people interested in a thing is tough. Also, tell Captains. Other lessons forthcoming, I'm sure!
I'm also getting better at cooking! What does that mean? Less rice, more pasta. And more lentils and similar products! Split green peas have even more protein, did you know that? I'm still eating a tremendous amount of green beans because that's what my garden has right now, but they are tasty so that is fine with me.
In terms of work, I'm excited that things are beginning to begin. I've learned a lot about the village and I am now constructing the baseline report that will help me educate potential donor organizations about Pikin Slee and the needs of the people here. It's cool to see how much you can learn by just living in a curious and friendly way. It's hard to do formal research both because of the lack of formal resources and because that might send the wrong message.
I think of it as semi-passive sponging. You just kinda float around to the hot spots, see what's going on, soak up some fun and some knowledge and some relationships, and then float on to whatever's next. People know I'm here to help and they are friendly, so it's easy to learn if you have the right attitude - and there is so much to learn! For me, and for people outside the village with the resources to help us improve things here.
I've started making a map of Pikin Slee with the doctor here - that is definitely something I wouldn't want to do on my own for fear of making the wrong impression. We've managed to find 2 historical resources from past government work and have been filling in details base on the doctor's and others' living experience here - where the water is, the stores are, the places people wash and work, etc. We've been trying to walk around with it to fill in more details, but we keep being delayed.
And that's the crux of life here - patience, because plans are tough. We wanted to begin walking around last week, but there was a pregnant lady. And then, very unfortunately, she died. The whole village went quiet for a few days - a mother and unborn baby dying together is very rare and very unlucky. Even worse, some people think they saw an evil spirit lurking around the hospital around the time of her death. It's not on me to judge their view of things and so I don't - this is something they take very seriously here.
A medicine man arrived yesterday to help cleanse the hospital, the doctor, and maybe the village - I'm not sure. I have not been involved in it, but I know a lot of things were put on hold while they were waiting for the medicine man to arrive and do his work.
But today they have finished and just in time for a party here in the village. A visiting soccer team has arrived and there will be games and dancing today and tomorrow! Hopefully there is some time in all of that to get started on this map!
Hope things are well for all of you!
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