Fields of Gold

I don’t normally do this but I was so impressed by the size of these fields and the amount of labor involved in maintaining them that I’m posting a picture. It’s not that I’m against pictures or anything but they always throw off the text by ruining the alignment and it also takes a lot of time to upload a picture.

This is one of my host Mom’s groundnut (nyemu in Tonga) fields (and this is my Mom!). She has multiple fields, larger than the one depicted, about a 30-45 minute walk from the house. She proudly gave me a tour of this field a few weeks ago and I can’t even describe how much respect I have for Zambians.

This field may not look huge. Coming from Indiana, where the fields stretch as far as the eye can see. But, when you begin to think about how the fields are prepared, planted and maintained, who wouldn’t be impressed and astonished? Preparation and the first weeding is done (in Southern) using oxen to plow and cultivate. This process typically takes a few weeks. After that, it’s all manpower. Everyday from now until April, farmers will  spend in their fields, hoeing row after row of weeds. They’ll also continue planting things like sweet potatoes until mid-March

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Now, take another look at the photo. Imagine having about 5 more fields this size or larger that you manage and maintain using only your hoe and the strength of your back and arms. It’s incredible.

I was also impressed by the diversity in my Mom’s field. Interspersed with the groundnuts are a few rows of sweet potatoes, sprinkled here and there are squash plants and okra.  My Mom has a right to be proud. She’s dedicated a lot of time and energy to her fields. The process of planting a field doesn’t begin and end merely with the planting of a few seeds. It is a process that takes an entire year and many, many steps. From harvesting to drying to storing seeds to preparing fields, planting and weeding it is something that can be seen in daily life throughout the year. I’m starting to realize that I can learn a lot from my community. Things like dedication and hard work, about building your life on the land. I thought I was placed here to teach people improved methods of agriculture. What I’ve experienced and learned is that instead, I am the one learning techniques that I hope to bring back to America and improve my home garden and fields.

The Cycle of Peace Corps

            During training, PC covers what they term “The Cycle of Vulnerability and Adjustment.” There are graphs and tables to help you chart the various cycles throughout your service. I shrugged it off and chased my own thoughts down the rabbit hole when the topic was presented on numerous powerpoint slides. Yeah, training was difficult but I thought everything would be great once I got to my village. I’d be on my own schedule, teaching people, integrating into the community, learning the language (piece of cake!), and sailing through my 27 months of service on gleeful wings of rainbow joy. Or so I thought.

            Recently, I dug up those handouts on the cycle of vulnerability. And, you know what? It’s pretty spot on. I'm in my 12^th month of service, labelled “Acceptance.” This is when your mid-service crisis strikes. You are struggling to fit in, reflecting on your failures, becoming withdrawn and disappointed, attempting to overcome loneliness, and becoming lackadaisical in the pursuit of work.

            Reflecting on this, I’d say PC is pretty close to the mark. Lately, I’ve definitely been struggling with being here, with feelings of ineffectiveness and uselessness in my village. Almost like I’m merely existing here and not being a productive, contributing member of society. I don’t have a lot of contact with other volunteers so looking at graphs and tables reassures me that others are experiencing this same thing (PC had to acquire these statistics and information somewhere, right?) Even if I feel like I’m a terrible volunteer and that I’ll never accomplish anything during my service, at least I’m not alone in these feelings and thoughts.

            The life of a PCV isn’t easy. It’s really tough. We struggle with keeping our spirits up when, for the tenth time in a week we’ve been told we don’t know Tonga/Bemba/Nyanja/other random African language or that we don’t visit our neighbor/headman/school/village that’s 20 kilometers away enough.

            But, looking back at the graph, it suggest that PCVs will begin to feel normal between months 11-15 and that the pace at which projects occur will increase. And for every forced smile in response to not sweeping your yard correctly there are twice that many genuine smiles. So, since PC has seemed to be right on target for each stage of the vulnerability cycle, I’ll trust that they’re right about the whole normality feeling kicking in soon and ride out the storm of my mid-service crisis knowing that it happens to everyone. Even those who though their wings would always be dry and lifted towards the skies.

Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World)

           Internationally, women in many countries do not experience the same freedoms and liberties as women in the United States do. In some instances, women still can’t own land, ask a man on a date, control household money, or decide when they want to marry and start a family. In Southern Province, the land of the Tonga’s, many women is even 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4^th wives. It is common to be told by a man upon the first meeting that he loves you, wants to marry you, or wants you to give him a child. Men are expected to pay a dowry to be allowed to marry. If this isn’t paid in full even after marriage, a woman will be told to return to her parents until it is covered. Many times during conversations where I’m explaining about Peace Corps and the work of the organization and my project and that I’m here alone, people exclaim, “And your husband gave you permission?!”

            As a way to empower and encourage respect of women, PCVs around the world host Camp G.L.O.W (Girls Leading Our World). GLOW is an attempt to instill a sense of self-worth in young girls, to encourage them to respect themselves and their bodies, and teach life skills.  We do this through organizing something like a summer camp for girls between the ages of 11-15 and inviting community counterparts to attend sessions as well.

            In December 2013, volunteers in Southern Province sponsored a camp. For one week we dedicated our time to mentoring 16 girls and 8 counterparts. We covered topics such as self-esteem by providing profiles of successful women like Oprah and Joyce Banda, the president of Malawi. Girls wrote positive things about themselves on flower petals and pasted them in journals that they were encouraged to write in so that they could be reminded of the good characteristics and qualities they possess. The girls also learned about budgeting, healthy ways to respond to peer pressure, healthy relationships, and sexual health. They participated in arts and crafts such as making friendship bracelets as well as doing team-building activities.

            Through programs like GLOW, volunteers touch the lives of young women in their communities. They’re exposing them to ideas and topics that are often avoided because they’re uncomfortable. They’re attempting to raise the next generation of young women into confident, self-respecting teens and adults. In my mind, children are the real way that change is going to happen. Whether it’s worldwide or in a small African village, children are the key to change, development, and to a country that is filled with strong, independent, and creative individuals. It also brings about the topic of the importance of women in society and can lead to mutual respect between genders and within communities and households. A girl who has expectations, confidence, and knows how she wants to be perceived and function within a community can be a strong driving force behind change and development. Lets support our girls as they navigate the obstacle course that is teendom and encourage a sense of pride in being a woman!

The Camp GLOW Song by Amanda Eilefson

Girls are strong

Girls are smart

Girls have big hearts

Oh yeah!

Girls leading our world

Girls leading our world