The Positive Side

This morning, things were still feeling a little uneasy… I had to teach Photoshop to fifteen people. This would not have been so much of a challenge if we had the necessary resources. I finally truly understand what it means to be a teacher without the funds to teach—we have two computers, fifteen people and one teacher. The ratio is completely off. It’s stressful. It’s impossible. I realized that I must get creative; I have to come up with a way to teach everybody… I have a new plan that I’m going to execute tomorrow—let’s hope it works.

            After a semi-traumatic morning, I was beginning to feel deflated. My teaching techniques were failing. I was failing. Then, things took a swing for the better… I had forgotten about the most important rule in teaching: “one mustn’t only be a teacher, but also a friend”. I started talking to my ‘students’ and getting to know them… sharing stories, making jokes. We began to really understand each other. We compared our life stories; languages, cultural norms and we began to realize that we really are not so different. I even learned how to speak very simple Setswana, the language of their tribe.

            After the day was over, I was feeling high again—energized by the fact that I finally felt welcomed into the lives of the people around me. I felt like I was one of them, skin color and differences were irrelevant. The culture shock was beginning to ware off. 

As the sun began to sink in the sky, I sat on the hood of an old truck, taking shelter under the shade of a widespread thorny tree. I watched the ladies soccer team practice, kicking up rust colored dust as they dribbled and passed the ball. The big ants were migrating hurriedly across my toes, but this time I was too content to care. A tall, beautiful African man from SEDYEL (South East District Youth Empowerment League—the place where I’m giving the Photoshop class) came and sat next to me and flashed me a big, white smile. We began chatting—he spoke slowly and gently in a smooth Setswana accent. We talked about his tribe and the hierarchy of chiefs within his village. I asked him when he would be chief. He asked me about California. He told me he had never seen the ocean before. Or snow. It made me realize how much I’ve seen and done. I am lucky that I have the means to do so.

African skin is so beautiful. It’s velvety and silky like 80% dark chocolate. It’s flawless. It makes me yearn for dark skin, or at least a good tan…

                                        Over and out… until next time!