November 26, 2000:

So, now that my stay here in Bassam is coming to a close I guess it is time to fill you all in on how it has been for me. There is so much I could say at this point, this place is alive and vibrant each and every second of everyday. To write about my time here, it has been rather difficult to find accurate words in describing every aspect of this place, and I find words don't do justice in the telling of my personal experience. On that note, I will try my hardest to decribe those things that can be described through words.

The biggest lessons that come to the surface daily has been the lessons of patience and humility. I didn't realize these were my real reasons for needing to come to this place. Before coming, I thought I had enough experience with especially being patient, but coming here has proven this to be false. I don't think I will ever stop learning both of these lessons before my time is complete on this earth. A few examples of these lessons on a daily level are waiting a good hour for your food, which my favorite has been fish, peanut soup, and fried casava. This waiting business is not just for food, but for taxis, buses, and people. It is impossible to expect anyone to be "on time". This is one aspect that I have trully fallen in love with here. Time is definantly not a commodity, it comes and goes and is only valued for what it is. People have time to talk and have a drink and enjoy every minute of everyday. Life is not easy here, people work and work and work hard until it is time to dance and talk and have a good time. These two notions of work and play are so very extreme.

This lesson of patience is one I have also learned from working with Dialo. His words of wisdom I will definantly bring home with me are "un peu un peu", or small, small. This saying is one that seems to be repeated and ingrained in so many aspects of African life. As I am fininshing my family of wooden elephants that I started a few weeks ago, I hear this ringing in my ears through each stroke of sand paper and each chizel of wood. Tha act of carving is a lot of work but, very calmimg and meditative at the same time.

Another aspect of my experince here I am trully going to miss is our time with the drummers and dancers. They come over three days a week for two hours at a time. I was hoping as the program progressed our time with them would increase, which has been the case for some of us. Francis, the leader, invited those of of who had the desire to, to come over to their house during their practice sessions. I have taken full advantage of this invitaion . The fluid, strong beat fills my body with movement. It is hard to just sit and listen without having some part of my body natually want to move itself to the rhythm. The group we have been learning from is called Talehi, they are a fine group of folks with so much enthusiasum for living. It is quite a joy to work with them.

September 25, 2000: After High School I decided to apply for Americorps instead of going directly to college once I graduated. It was one of the best decisions I could have made at this time in my life. After aplying for this, I found out I would be sent to Washington DC, a place I had never been before. I learned so much from this chaotic place of racial and class division. I went here to serve people in destitute and learn more about our country's history. My most memorable experience was working at a Boy's & Girl's Club in an inter-city African American community .. These kids had an amazing spirit and light that I felt shine through all the dirt and pain they dealt with everyday. They had no happy home with a mother and father to rescue them from the streets to go home to at night. They were basically on their own to figure out how to dilute life's challenges.

These kids are one reason I want to go to Africa. I want to feel this same spirit alive. I think this spirit is one that Africa brings to people, people of African descent and those that live on the continent. I want this spirit to be a part of who I am and learn how to bring this home with me.

I love to dance. Africa is full of dance, music, song, and rhythm. I love to create with my hands through clay and cloth. I love to learn about people that are different from my own people and my own places of comfort. I want to learn how to create art like the Africans. I want to learn how to make it part of everything that I do.

© WCC African Study Project