It is really all relevant, isn't it? It just depends on what
criteria we are using as the gauge for success.
After almost 14 months in the village I can see a few
things changing here and there. There seems to be a
bit more activity out of the younger people. They are
playing more sports and participating in cultural groups.
The main goal I have taken on has been that of behavior
change within the community. That really means the
younger generations as the older people are just plain
set in their ways and that's OK. So, the more positive
activities the better chance of keeping them out of the
bars and as a result, cut down the risky behavior.
Another fact that makes me see a little success is that
they are using the fields that we've built when I first
arrived. They had intermittent usage but lately it is
becoming more of the norm to see kids and young
people out there playing some sport.
In the picture you see the updated version of the San (Khwe)
Cultural Dance Group. They stopped in the middle of their
practice today to pose for a photo. They are going to be
going out this weekend to a festival and will be a part
of the entertainment. Usually there are many Mbukushu
(another tribe of people living in the area) dance groups that
perform but a San group at a festival is kind of rare. The
group from the village is about the only one that goes out
to events and it is a good experience and opportunity.
We've also cut a new movie this last week and I have to
say that it is the best one we've made so far. The learning
curve is kicking in and we are becoming a decent group
that works together well. This latest movie is a short 10
minute drama of a true story that happened in the
community. It is about a mother who refused to bring her
child to get polio vaccinations when it was a baby. Later
on, the baby contracted polio and has to live with it the
rest of his life.
So, the drama goes that the child who contracted polio
finds out that the reason is because the mother refused.
He then asks the mother's friend if it was true and she
confirmed it. He then has a part where he is sitting alone
thinking out loud that it just wasn't fair.He then goes to
confront his mother about it.
The good part is that the movie is in a local language
(Thimbukushu) and it is a language that almost everyone
in the village understands. Even the older people who
haven't learned any English can understand and hopefully
they will take action to make sure that their family is
protected by taking the vaccinations.
I like the direction that we are taking the dramas. We are
addressing real situations that have happened in the
village and everyone knows the story. But to see it
again and have the son confront the mother brings the
topic out in the open and reminds people what can
happen to them.
For me, life is actually really good. I have begun to get
serious with the learning of the San (Khwe) language and
it is progressing OK. The only problem is that it is a
language with 4 clicks (but it sounds like a hundred
different ones) and it is nothing like any of the
languages I know. Of course I have killed the click
sounds so far but they are coming. I have one and
half clicks down and they sound pretty good.
The best part I like about learning the language is that
I can start having fun. I can start joking around and
that is one of the biggest reasons why I can say that
life is getting really good. Yes, there are still stresses
from different culture and so on but there is less and
less daily. I guess I am pretty lucky.
So that's about it so far this month.
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