Gambella Chillin’

The drumming and singing today (Saturday) is so cool. As I sit here typing, I can hear about 10 men creating a booty-bumpin’ beat as the villagers sing their hearts out. It made for a motivating soundtrack to my afternoon of clothes washing. I have worked through all of my clothing, so Saturday became wash day. I grabbed all of my soiled belongings and used the new bar of Popular Soap to scrub, scrub, scrub. I turned on the shower and dumped everything out, then, for two hours, I worked hard to get rid of all of the dirt, sweat, and bugs from the fabric. Then I spent ½ hour rinsing. I took the roll of first-aid tape I brought along and made a linen line in my room. I took great pride in hanging everything out and adjusting everything just-so in order to assure the fastest drying and the fewest wrinkles. I sat for 20 minutes just looking and admiring my handywork. Very satisfying afternoon.

Yesterday, after our program with the kids, Andy and I headed over to our favorite hang-out in town to chew chat with friends and talk about what needs to be done in Gambella to assure the abatement of conflict. My new good friend (and one of Andy’s best friends from his time here last year), Sinai (spelling wrong) talked about the need to build community and offer education to everyone. We came up with some good ideas for how to best assist this beautiful place. Sinai is about 30 and is a lawyer for the government. He wants to go to school to further his education, but can’t afford the $800 it would take to go on. Two of our students, Ojud and Omod were with us. Ojud has year to go until he finishes secondary school, but he doesn’t have the money. Same story…tons of potential, but no money. The only barrier to education both of these extremely bright people is money.

After our chill afternoon, we headed to Pact to meet Marc and his team of male and female dancers. He is a musician. His band has a CD already (home) made, but they wanted a music video to go with it. So, of course, Andy and Jody hatched a plan to help him out. We showed up at 5pm and got to work. I helped choreograph as Andy filmed. The dancers were amazing. We had a boom-box out so that Marc could sing along and the dancers could move to the beat. We came up with some great shots. I think this video is going to be bitchin’.

We went out to a bar for a beer after our filming. I took the opportunity to continue my Anuak language lesson. When you’re sitting and not participating, someone will say, “Kwagi” (spelling wrong). This means, “play”…or “come on you wet-noodle, participate in the conversation!” I love that saying.

We went to bed early and I lay awake thinking about this life-changing trip and how hard it is going to be to acclimate myself to the abundance of life at home. Ojud (about 20) took me to his house yesterday. Again, he is one of our students. He is so incredibly smart, but can’t finish school. He built himself a small (10 X 10) round hut last year. It is beautiful. I sat on his mat on the floor and he showed me his treasures. He has a book about economics, a book that Andy gave him last year, and also a Time magazine from last year that Andy also left. The hut has no water or electricity. The ceiling is low and the floor is earth that has been planed flat and hard. I told him that Andy and I would stay with him in his hut when we came back. He was SOOO proud after hearing this. Talk about distilling everything down to the very basics. All you need is a roof, a bowl, a spoon, one set of clothing, and a great attitude. I love, love, love hanging out with Ojud. He is so calm. He loves to learn English and laughs out loud every minute or so. I love his lifestyle. If only he could further his education…

We awoke to a thundering rain this morning. As we walked with Ojud to Pact after the rain had stopped, we became covered in red mud. The NGO trucks speed past and splash you with mud from head to foot. We tried again, at Pact, to use the Internet, but it wasn’t cooperating (hence the three new Blog entries today). We were hoping to see our computers, but the rain has slowed down the progress from Addis. Maybe tomorrow (Sunday)! We bought some Coka, water, and clothes washing soap and headed back to the hotel.

My friend from the blog entry below, Muluken, showed up to show me the footage he had taken of his father’s village last night (using a Flip). Muluken has become one of my best friends here, and I am going to miss him terribly when we go. He has a good plan for his life. We gave him $60 the other day to help his grandmother feed the family. She refused the money because she wanted him to save it for school. Last night, he went to his father’s village to film for his movie and ran in to his brother. He told his brother about the $60 we had given him. His brother told him that this was a good sign. He said that Muluken should not be carrying heavy sacks on his back because he would ruin his health. He gave Muluken enough Birr to add to my $60 so that he could buy a shop to sell potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers.

So, Muluken and I sat watching the footage of his father’s village (great stuff) and then he told me about the shop. He said that he had just gone to the ministry to register for a small hut on an alleyway and that his brother had ordered him enough inventory to start. He will open his shop next weekend after Andy and I leave. He is so excited. He told me that he knew he was going to succeed because he is “not lazy like so many other people. I work hard and will go to school in the morning before the shop opens. My sister (the sister he saved from malaria the other day with our $12 worth of Birr) will stay in the shop when I am at school. I will save money, save my back, and maybe get to run the 100 meter dash in Addis some day.” He walked off smiling and waving and I then sat on the bed and cried. I was so happy that he was going to make such a profound life change…all from $60…but I knew that the odds were stacked against him. That said, if anyone can make it happen, he can.

Andy and I are going to finally go fishing with Agwa on the Openo (Baro) River tomorrow. We also have to edit the students’ narratives and place them on the (we hope!) computers. Then, I am going to go to Muluken’s house to meet his sister and have a meal with the entire family. They want to thank me for helping Muluken open a business. It seems so odd that you can change the outlook for an entire clan with just a small amount of money, but it can be done. Muluken promised to make movies about his experiences and post them for us to view after we leave.

More later,

Erik