chilangizo

First thing after I got dropped off was to pick Amai up from a funeral. So we got in the truck and started driving on these dirt roads in maize fields…and then we stopped and Abusa conferred with the guy in the back of the truck and then tells me that we’re lost. We think we missed the turnoff. This brought up memories from last year in which I contemplated and once wanted to get myself lost in a corn field—on foot but this was just as good. We asked a woman on the side of one small field of tobacco and she pointed ahead then right…so we went on and found a stand of huts but not the ones we were looking for…so we turned around and tried again and made it with no problem.
The training didn’t start until after dinner (interesting as there was no electricity so we worked by standing lamps—very bright). My translator was Esther a teacher from a little ways down the road. Very helpful. I was given the option of presenting from 3 topics—salvation, STDs, and relationships between boys and girls. I picked salvation (which meant I started the whole thing tho I didn’t know that at the time). Esther took the Chilangizo booklet (in chichewa) and translated the part it had on Salvation. I added some and in we went to the church and the girls. I spoke in English and Esther re-translated it into Chichewa. It went pretty well (I think).
The next morning I was given the topic of STDs and so the same thing happened with the AIDS section. Esther translated into English, I added some, and she retranslated after me to the girls. Amai then took over and did the rest of the subjects. One of which was appropriate dress—and I was used as an example of what not to wear!! I had a tank top and teeshirt but you could see the tank top straps and evidently that is too provocative. Oops! (good to know for the future trainings)
I was relieved to get the topics I did because they aren’t culture specific. I don’t know if I could have done relationships because that is so culturally based. And in this culture it pretty much isn’t allowed to have relationships with boys…I think this is changing but then again it seemed like all the translation I was getting was that after puberty you have to stop playing and talking with boys because it would end in sex—pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and death. Before the lunch break we all went outside to dance…circle up, lots of clapping and singing (no music) and then small groups at a time or in a line would go into the middle and dance. Of course being a part of the group I had to join in but I didn’t notice too much extra laughter at the azungu.
After lunch I was told to go to my room to rest. So I did and when I came out I was told that Amai was with the advisors and they would come to get me when they were ready…but then they didn’t…I think I’m getting pretty good at waiting…the program was almost over (or already over) but Abusa thought I should give them some closing words so in we went again and I thanked the girls for coming to listen and learn and follow God, thanked the advisors for their roles in showing the girls good examples and being involved, and thanked Amai and Abusa for having me and for doing all that they do for the community.
That night Abusa went to bed before dinner feeling a bit like he had malaria (he was up and going the next day). After dinner Amai said she was tired and ready for bed—so 8 pm and we were all in our respective beds—as there was no power there wasn’t much for me to stay up for either.
Sunday was church and then waiting for Abusa to return from one of the prayer houses so that they could send me off. (more waiting) At three they put me on a minibus for lilongwe with a bag of maize, pumpkin and cucumber. It was a good weekend. And I arrived at home about 6…