This morning's Temne class was interesting. Just as I was getting the hang of Krio, I'm starting from scratch with the Temne. I found it a little weird that my notes were translating the Temne into Krio rather than English. It kinda made sense that way.
The Temne isn't bothering me, it's just another challenge I have to take on. Especially since I don't have the luxury of practicing with the Bo community unlike the other folks learning Mende.
I'm happy to finally find out my placement but the more I learn about my community I find myself feeling a bit melancholy. Everything just seems too easy, I suppose.....
I mean, I got everything I asked for and actually got more than that. Basically, I was told that I won the Peace Corps Salone Lottery. During my interview, I told Andrew, my PM, that I don't mind being in a somewhat rural setting as long as the market and another volunteer was within at least a 1hr travel time. I also said that I didn't want to be in a big city b/c I wanted to know my community and vice versa. The only luxury item I asked for was an indoor bathroom, but wasn't a mandatory deal breaker for me. It was more of a security issue so I can use the bathroom in the evening. Over here in Bo, if I don't get home and shower by 6:45pm I'm screwed. By then, it's dark and my family wants to lock up and won't let me use the bathroom. I mean, it's not so bad here b/c I live with other people. At my site, I have my own house and I wouldn't feel safe washing up in an outdoor latrine at dawn or dusk by myself, unguarded. So this is in no way of me being all prissy about it.
I met up with my Salone1 counterpart today. She was visiting her host family in Bo as she prepares for her Close Of Service (COS). I found out that Lunsar is a "big town" with a banks and clubs. The market is literally right outside my doorstep. Her house, or I guess my house now, also has electricity from 5-10pm. Our Lady Of Guadalupe JSS & SSS is one of the best schools in the country for girls. The classroom sizes are small, averaging about 25 students. The school has electricity and even a computer lab. I mean, mind you, all of this is in no way comparable to American standards for both my home and assigned school but I guess I had something else different in mind.
I had been preparing myself for the 100+ student classrooms and all the challenges that came with the lack of resources. I came for the extreme challenge, right? It's not like I was wishing for a classroom full of illiterate hopeless children that run into the bush to avoid getting flogged by the principal......I dunno.......
I really have mixed feelings. My counterpart made a point saying that the girls in the school have real potential to go to the university level. I just don't want to feel like I came all the way to Africa for a "teaching gig". As frustrating as the stories sound from our Salone 1&2 Resources and hearing about all their challenges and roadblocks, I was getting ready to throw down and show my "badasserie".
I read in my volunteer handbook that alot of volunteers expect a certain level of suffering to validate their Peace Corps experience and that is not what the Peace Corps is about. I am trying to come to terms with the assignment, but a part of me feels like I'll be missing out on "the real PC Experience". I feel like I'm losing my street cred a bit, lol, I don't fuckin' know.......
I know the reason why I got sent to Lunsar. My assigned supervisor wrote a letter to PC specifically asking for someone with computer experience. One of my strengths listed on the PC forms was training in computer applications, something I did from time to time at my previous employer. Also, I had pitched a computer literacy class for the community as a possible secondary project if the resources were available.
I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little bummed but I guess I have to withhold judgement for now since I haven't even been there myself. Joey, my Salone1 counterpart, said that the successful functionality of the school just means that more secondary projects can be taken on instead of the usual constant battle of fighting the injustices of a poorly managed school.
I really hope to find what I'm looking for, whatever it may be.......
I don't know why it had to be Peace Corps, or why it had to be in Africa, or why I feel this need to "suffer" to gain some type of credibility. Does "life slumming" for a duration of time add substance to whatever makes me "ME"???
I'm jumping ahead of myself. I just need to take on this challenge, whatever it may be. I trust that Daryn, Andrew, and Isatu saw something in my skillset where I can make a significant difference at Our Lady Of Guadalupe JSS/SSS.
Today's Emoticon :*/
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