Schmoozing with Politicians

Also known as going out to dinner with the 5 seniors who ran for student body president!

Last night Olu and Ottolee Menjay, Ann Elizabeth, me, and the 5 seniors who ran for president all loaded up in one of Ricks 12-passenger vans (they have 2, one donated by Brookstone School in Columbus, GA and one donated by First Baptist Church in Columbus, GA) and headed to Monrovia for dinner.  The van ride on the way into town was unusually quiet for a van full of seniors!  We eventually got into a conversation with one of the students (he grew up in the states but moved here when he was 15), but overall the van was strangely quiet.

When we first arrived at dinner, there were a few awkward moments where everyone seemed to be waiting for someone else to make the first move.  We eventually sat down and began to look over the menus.  At that point Olu asked the students, "Do you know how to read the menu or do you need help?"  Several of them admitted to needing help reading the menu.  And just like that I became aware of knowledge I didn't realize I had: that going to a restaurant requires certain social rules be followed, and that reading a menu is much easier if you've read a menu before.  I clumsily began to try to explain risotto and various pastas to one of the students.  Seeing how unnecessarily arduous the task might be, Olu eventually just asked, "What do you want to eat?"  Before long, the students decided: two orders of boneless chicken (chicken without bones is not something often seen here!), one order of fried chicken wings, one order of chicken fried rice, and one pizza (clearly the menu had a variety of offerings!).  Ann Elizabeth and I both went with our new favorite meal to get out: a big ol' cheeseburger and healthy portion of french fries!  I ate every bit of it.  After dinner we had a real treat... I scream, you scream, we all scream for... ICE CREAM!  I am undeniably an ice cream addict, and this was my first taste of it in over a month and a half... needless to say, I ate every bit of that as well :)

Throughout dinner, the conversation gradually became more comfortable.  Before we knew it, the students were excitedly debating with one another just like they had in front of the whole school in the presidential debate.  Although they were still challenging one another and genuinely debating, there was also a feeling of solidarity among the students.  Although opponents, they are all clearly still friends, and ready and willing to work together.  The president elect Mohamed Dukuly said that his government will be one of inclusion and unification, and invited the other candidates to apply for positions within his government.  There was more talk of a Ricks FM radio station, of how money made at the Saturday night movie would be spent, and who would be involved in the government. 

In the van on the way home the students talked about their desire for a legitimate debate team (we are hoping we can find the movie "The Great Debaters" to show on one Saturday night here).  They talked about their dream of college, medical school, and law school... but how both med school and law school are nearly impossible to get in to unless you know someone, have an inside connection, or have some money that can casually exchange hands.  We laughed about the upcoming Inauguration Ball for the newly elected president, laughed about some Liberian expressions I didn't know (e.g., "sour belly" = upset stomach), and laughed for sheer happiness of being out and spending time together.  It was a fun night, getting to know some students a little better.  Of all the places I could be in the world, I was especially glad to be here in good company and enjoying some needed laughter last night!