This is the view ...

The village is experiencing a let down after
the last weekend's tournament. It was really
hopping and people are saying that it was
the best one ever held here. In a place like
this that has no working radio or TV reception,
events like this are the main source of en-
tertainment.

But after the curtains have closed what is there
to do? Especially in this holiday season. A lot
of people have left, a few others are coming
back this upcoming weekend.

So, in between there isn't much to do (here
is where the picture comes in) but sit in the
middle of the village and 'look stupid'.
There is actually a story that goes with this. One
of the goals of a Peace Corps volunteer is to
share our culture with the people we are living
with.
When there is nothing to do I usually go to the
center of the village where there are normally
a few people hanging around. During one of
these times I explained the sitting there looking
stupid statement.

When I was younger I played softball for a local
team called the Seagulls that was sponsored
by the owner of a bar. His name was George
(God rest his soul) and he looked almost like
a brother to Burl Ives and he had that Santa
Claus look going on. George was a great and
funny guy and he liked to drink a bit too.
One day me and my friend Ray were going to
go fishing and we happened to poke our head
in George's bar on the way to the pond. George
asked us what we were doing and he had had
a little to drink at the time. We said that we were
going fishing for a few hours and George looks
and us and says " fishing ... every time you go
by a lake or pond all you can see is these people
sitting there with fishing poles in their hands
and looking stupid".
The funny part was that on the way back we
stopped in for a drink (it has to have been over
21 years ago or more because I haven't drank
a drop in that amount of time) and there was
George, sitting in the same place on the end
of the bar.
So we said to him ... who's looking stupid now.
You're still here and also looking as stupid as a
drunken guy with a fishing pole at a pond.

Not a big deal story but while just sitting there in
the center of town exchanging I told them that
one. So now, whenever we ask one another
what we are doing that day, if it is going to hang
in the center of town, we all say we are just going
to look stupid.

Cultural exchange comes in all shapes and forms.
But one thing I do like about this life is the time
that can be taken to just sit and talk and share.
Many time it is an American, Mbukushu, Khwe,
Xong, Mayee, Silozi, Rukangwali, Subia and
Ovambos just sitting there looking stupid together
sharing stories and ideas.
This is what makes this volunteer gig really
something.

Oh yeah, the picture is the view from the place
where we sit and look stupid.

Old George's opinion stills lives on in our little
village in Africa.