Monday, January 14, 2008
- Kristin Howell
My Secret Love Affair
Before I left for my unforgettable adventure, several people asked me if I was still planning to go on the trip or if I would pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity. Briefly, I would look at them completely bewildered with the thought of, are you unstable? Then, I would realize I was standing on crutches and thus their reason for the question. On the contrary to popular belief, no part of me felt the need to stay home. I could heal in Ethiopia just as well as I could in America. I was getting on that plane, with or without a cast.
Once we reached the compound and the school supported by the efforts of Four Quarters for Kids, we met the most amazing and gorgeous souls. The children crave knowledge so much that some of them walk 1½ to 2 hours every morning to have breakfast at 7:00am and start school at 8:00am. School ends each day at 3:00pm and then sports begin. Some of the children stay as late as 5:00pm either practicing with their team or in the library studying. Then, they begin their 1½ to 2 hour journey. On their way home many are required to fill jugs of water and gather sticks to make a fire. The next morning, they begin again.
Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia and one of the most beautiful and magnificent spoken tongues I have been blessed to encounter. Everyone at Project Mercy speaks Amharic. I was asked to teach English. Teaching is difficult enough in itself even with children who want to learn. Now, teaching English to first and second graders, who speak a language I do not, was near impossible. It was the most amazing and uplifting experience. It was moving to see them cram four or five into one desk with elbows, shoulders, and arms overlapping because they wanted to learn. I would do my best to show examples of the words and would dägämä (repeat) everything many times. It was thrilling when the children would run up to me during recess everyday and shout a phrase or word I had just taught, "NEAR! THE GIRL IS NEAR THE DOOR!"
Children in every corner of the globe are precious. In Ethiopia, though, they are different. The children of Ethiopia are not only precious, but also strong, independent, hard-working, smart, self-sufficient, beautiful, and above all else, unashamed to love fully. The young boys and girls have so much love for everything and everyone around them it is hard to ignore. Walking down the road, we often saw two boys holding hands or with their arms around each other. In this part of the world, that is a taboo or at least comes with certain lifestyle connotations, in Ethiopia it is a sign of friendship and complete adoration. It is extremely endearing. I could constantly feel the love beaming off every individual we encountered.
At Project Mercy love fills every crack and cranny of the compound. It would serve everyone well to visit Project Mercy in Yetebon, Ethiopia and experience unsurpassed and unbridled love. Absorbing love from a child, peers, and elders is easy, allowing one's self to pour out love for children, peers, and elders is something many shy away from but all should embrace with open hearts. After all, what is the point of having all that love inside, if it is not shared?
People often leave an impoverished place such as Ethiopia with the feelings of shame or guilt for how extravagant their life is, but they should not. The only reason to feel shameful of your life is if you do not enjoy every single minute. The people of Ethiopia taught me one very important lesson among many. I hope you will take this with you and remember it each morning. No matter how much you have or do not have, always remember to be thankful for it, cherish every moment, and love your life and those in it as intensely as possible.
The dictionary defines love as a love affair; an intensely amorous incident; amour.
One night before going into the dinner hall I was stopped by a soft whisper of my name. I turned around and there in front of me stood a little girl who sat in the front row of my English class struggling to see the blackboard. Everyday she wore the same blue striped shirt and bright pink sweatpants with a McDonald's logo. Her innocent face and big, brown, beautiful eyes looked up at me with the most love a human being could have for another human being and said, very gently, "I love you."
Yes, I did have the most intense amorous incident, with Ethiopia. Shhh...don't tell America.
Kristin Howell
Johnson & Wales University, Denver Campus
Community Leadership Institute Fellow