Coulda sworn I wrote something last weekend but I guess not. Last weekend everyone else on our project left. I have to say that it was a bit weird to see them all drive away as I walked to go get copies made for the next day’s work. It also made me realize my time here is wrapping up. I now only have a week left of work, a little traveling, and then I’m heading home.
The intervention finished well and we got lots of hugs and thanks. Overall it seems to have resulted in a lot of change in their lives – some that we expected and some we didn’t. I think there were also things we might have hoped they would get better than they did but we are all extremely happy with how things went. I was able to see a few of the mothers during an optional question and answer time this week and it was great to see they are still trying things and thinking through their parenting behaviors. Time will tell what lasting changes have been made.
This week I’ve been running the post assessments, which entailed training 3 guys to work for us and conduct the survey and interview questions. This has been great experience and a lot of work but well worth-while. I enjoy the pressure of being here myself and problem-solving as I go. It’s not all fun and games though – I talked for an hour to the highest suicide-risk person I’ve talked with to date, which can be a little draining.
On a personal note, I have learned that roasted maize is not the same as roasted sweet corn (it’s still hard and a lot more corny tasting I guess); I learned that when you climb mango trees large ants bite your feet (but sometimes the kid below you picks them off your feet for you); I learned that giving a few extra balloons to the neighbor kids was a horrible idea (caused some fights); and I think I can fairly confidently say that I could live comfortably off local food + Nutella and spreadable cheese slices. Tomorrow one of the guys working for me said he’d come on a jog with me – he asked if I could go 2k – maybe he misunderstood what I mean. Then I’m going to a meeting for a community-based youth organization to sit in – with the hope that it is another step toward a dissertation project here.
Alright, goodnight.
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