Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Week 40: Plaited, Books, and Gratitude


I got my hair plaited! Aka braided. This took three and a half hours and the dedication of three women. The end result left me with a dull headache and after a look in the mirror, I felt partially bald. However, the community would disagree and they could not get enough of it. This new hairstyle coupled with my favorite purple pants means there is no end to the conversation about my physical appearance. Lucky for me it is all positive. Fun fact these purple pants are also the favorite of many of the teachers who repeatedly tell me that the pants make me look smart. I realize this is the equivalent of saying that they are flattering, however, I prefer to think that they make me look intelligent. Admittedly I feel pretty cool, with my hair plaited, which means that the teachers braided my hair in many very tight braids, however, it was decided to not braid my fringe (bangs) which I think was a wise choice. It is a very odd sensation when I touch the back of my head and am met with either my scalp or a new bumpy texture.

Thanks to the generosity of the Books for Africa Project, my school has received 17 boxes of books! The library has doubled in size and everyone around the school is taking much more interest in it. My school head even pops in to discuss the creation of a “reading culture” at the school, I am blissfully happy. I am particularly excited for reading-comprehension appropriate books for the kids and some of my personal favorite books. For instance we have acquired a HUGE copy of the under rated book Piggies, which consists of adorable drawings of pigs in various climates and settings. 

I am so grateful for all of the people I have met and the ideas they open me up to. This is relevant to many people in my community, fellow PCVs, and I particularly wanted to give a shout out to my friend Liz (Kelebogile) for our honest conversation and her never ending kindness.

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