Karibu!

This means “welcome” which is how I feel in Comoros. 

Today marks 6 months in country, and so far my service has been painted by days that make me feel happier and more in awe than I ever have, days that just feel normal, and days that are very hard. 

Yesterday was one such hard day for me.

Maoulida is the celebration of The Prophet Muhammad’s birth and so my family had an event for this holiday. This meant I spent 4+ hours sitting in the kitchen, while women cooked all around me, feeling generally useless. These types of events are also hard for me because I find myself surrounded by so many people that I cannot adequately communicate with given the language barrier. As a normally very social and talkative person it’s hard for me to simply sit and be during these moments, without worrying that I am not doing enough. So I felt sad, lonely, and anxious by the time the day and event wrapped up yesterday. 

However, as I reflect on the past 6 months, days like the one described above are few and far between, which is something noteworthy in it of itself because living in an entirely new culture, surrounded by a different language, thousands of miles from friends and family is no simple feat. 

Recently I have been thinking a lot about how humbling it is that my village, my school, and my host family have so readily welcomed me into their lives. I think sometimes, especially Americans, we can have a sense of entitlement like, “I’m doing them a favor by being here, I’ve sacrificed a lot.” And while that’s true, I have sacrificed some things to be here, it’s not the full picture. These people, my fellow community members, have welcomed me into their home so readily and that’s no easy thing. They’ve had to trust the Peace Corps, and they’ve had to trust me to teach their children effectively and appropriately. And most of all, my host family agreed to host a foreigner, a stranger, a non Muslim for two whole years. That’s such a commitment, and generosity of such magnitude that I don’t think many of us have ever given that much before. 

Yes I am here to serve my community, to show them an example of what Americans are like, and to hopefully benefit their lives in some way. But I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the people of my village taking the leap of faith to accept a foreigner like me. 

When I think about the past 6 months I remember bad days but I also remember my brother coming to spend time with me one day while I was sitting on the front porch, I remember my 5eme boys inviting me to a soccer game they’re playing in, I remember all the scarves I’ve been given by various women, I remember my grandmother always knowing what I’m trying to say even when the language doesn’t come out right, I remember watching 10 Things I Hate About You with Ryanne and my sister, I remember having interesting and real conversations with my fellow teachers at the school, and so so many more things. This life is so full.