1 Week in Chipoka….Feeling Accomplished

I have officially made it through one week of living on my own, alone in this unfamiliar place. Maybe it doesn’t seem like too much of an achievement to anyone reading this, but I can say personally I feel accomplished and satisfied with my first week in Chipoka!

Being a white female in a rural African village is a journey everyday. The stereotypes and assumptions that come along with my white skin and the location where I was born are sometimes discouraging and can make one feel alone. Some people automatically think that I have a ton of money. Others expect me to give them “that money.” Many may think that I am not strong; that I need a husband, or a man to dig me a hole, that I cannot myself do hard physical labor.

But then there are the people who have made the choice to look beyond what others assume, and have truly welcomed me into my new home here in Chipoka. They stand by and watch as I do things that may not fit my gender role according to Malawi norms. They ask questions, because they just want to learn. These are the people I have already grown to love.

In the week I have been in Chipoka I feel blessed to know that I have already changed the perspective of what one may have previously thought of a female in her 20’s from the United States of America (a country that these people know as a country with a lot of money). Instead of paying someone to do my housework, I do it myself. I had someone approach me three days in a row looking for a job to sweep my house or cook me food, etc. However, I explained to her that I was a volunteer and that I would like to do these chores myself, and that if I ever did decide I needed someone to help with these tasks that I would call her. She came back for three days….but I think finally on the third day she understood that I didn’t need a maid/servant/whatever word you would like to use, feel free.

A few days later I built a two-burner cook stove out of nothing but bricks, mud, and water. When I told my landlord that I would like to purchase some bricks so I could build a stove she asked, “You are going to build it yourself?” I just smiled and said, “Yes, tomorrow morning.” The next morning the bricks and mud were piled outside my outdoor kitchen (they cost me all of 50 cents in American dollars), and as I constructed my stove Kathryn sat watching the whole time, with an expression of amazement that I was doing this myself. When I told her this was my first time building a cook stove, she was even more speechless, but continued to support me with encouragement the whole time. When I was done she told me that it looked beautiful and that she would like me to help her make one for her kitchen. I was honored. I explained to her that this method of cooking would save her time and money on firewood, as she can cook two things at once, and that because the stove is enclosed it uses less energy/wood. This made her even more excited.

You could say I’m pretty proud of my stove. It was one of my first projects towards making my house feel more like a home. Because I had never done it before, I was happy it turned out as well as it did. (Peace Corps gave each of us instructions on how to make these cook stoves during training, so I didn’t come up with the idea myself, but I still felt accomplished). And honestly, it’s probably about time I stopped living off granola bars from care packages and actually cooked a real meal. Cheers to cooking over a fire for the next two years!!

After building my stove, my next project was to dig a hole for a compost pit. I want to use compost as fertilizer for the garden I plan to plant within the next couple of weeks (once I have a fence built so my neighbor goats don’t eat all my vegetables that are trying to grow). This task took a little more hard labor than building a stove with bricks and mud, and let me tell you, it also gave the Malawians watching a big laugh.

Peace Corps provided each volunteer with a hoe. Not a shovel, that would make digging way too simple, but a hoe. This is what I dug my hole with. I’d be lying if I said that hoe didn’t kick my ass. The dirt here is like cement. Imagine trying to use a shovel to dig cement. Now times that by 100 and you have how it feels to dig the ground outside of my house with a hoe. Yeah, it’s not exactly an easy task. By the time I had managed to dig like 7 inches I was drenched in sweat and completely exhausted, and my neighbors were dying laughing, not believing that I was actually doing this kind of labor myself. (Like I mentioned before, I should have a man do this type of work for me, according to Malawian gender roles.)

After feeling satisfied with my 7 inches, or just not being able to lift my arms anymore I decided to sit and take a rest. Kathryn then came over telling me I should pour water in the hole, letting it loosen the soil, and finish my project tomorrow. Then she gave me a cold bottle of water. I wanted to hug her so hard for that cold water (but I resisted as I was covered in sweat and dirt.) I could hardly argue with her, so I took the advice and finished the hole the next day. I’m not sure it was any easier, but my pit is done now….and I’m happy to have somewhere to throw my compost.

Over the last week I’ve also made the quick decision to adopt the cute dog that has been sleeping in my outdoor kitchen since the day I arrived at site. If you could’ve seen the look he gave me the first day he let me pet him you wouldn’t have been able to say no either. Puppy dog eyes….they exist. I named my dog Tom, a few days later realizing “he” is actually a “she.” Oops. Minor details. The female dog named Tom….it’s not like she knows it’s a boy’s name. And I have already told too many people her name to change it now. So Tom it is. It fits like everything else seems to fit in this radical life I’m living.

The next day, after telling my neighbors I would like to claim Tom as my dog, I decided to give her a bath. I should tell you first that pets don’t really exist in Malawi. Especially dogs. A lot of times they are seen more as pests, than animals. Or sometimes they are used for security purposes, but are certainly not seen like part of the family, like many pets are viewed in the United States. So giving a dog a bath was not something many Malawians have probably witnessed….like ever. Again, those who saw were laughing hysterically, probably thinking, what the heck is that girl doing. Kathryn just said, “Oh Kaaatie, what are you doing now?” while she snickered a small laugh. I think I’m entertainment for her most days haha. The bath was a struggle for the both of us, myself and Tom, for the 15 minutes it lasted. But she is clean now, or was clean, until she immediately went and rolled in dirt when I was done. Typical dog.

I also made Tom a collar and leash out of some rope and hemp I braided, letting the community know that she is mine. I take her on walks with me, so the village knows that she is not a pest, but my pet and companion, and a lot of people have already learned her name. The small children run by my house yelling, “Tom, Tom, Tom.” It’s adorable. My supervisor also now asks me how Tom is doing almost daily. I love that. And although it probably seems completely strange to them, people have accepted it for what it is. Different.

So many more projects to come, but for my first week here I am satisfied with what I have accomplished. I’m still alive. I haven’t starved to death. I have somewhere to cook and throw my compost. And I have a new friend named Tom. Life is good.

#peacecorps