The Liberian Academic Calendar is made up of 6 marking periods (3 per semester). Typically, a marking period consists of 5 weeks of instruction followed by 1 week of testing. Our 3rd marking period was unusually short - 3 weeks of instruction followed by 1 week of testing; but our 5th and 6th marking periods are unusually long - 6 weeks of instruction followed by 1 week of testing. When AE and I first noticed these extended periods, we thought for sure they would go by much slower than the first semester. However, what we have quickly realized is that we need the extra week in the next two marking periods in order to get in the same amount of instruction we would have in a typical period!
When we were beginning the 2nd semester, we heard lots of people talk about the number of holidays we would have. We figured there would be a few, but didn't think there would be too many - after all, who doesn't love a day off school to sleep late and relax? Now, I have to admit, I am amazed by the number of holidays we have, especially this period! Out of 6 weeks of instruction, we only have one 5-day week. Let me give you the rundown:
Week 1: Full week - phew!
Week 2: No school Wednesday - Liberian Decoration Day
Week 3: No school Monday - JJ Roberts' (the first president of Liberia) birthday
Week 4: No school Friday - Ricks Olympics (more details on that soon to come!)
Week 5: No school Friday - Good Friday
Week 6: No school Monday - Easter Break; No school Friday - Liberian Fasting and Prayer Day
That's a lot of holidays! In 4th period we got a day of for Liberian Armed Forces Day, and in May we'll get a day off for National Unification Day. (For a complete list of Liberia's National Holidays, check out this website: http://www.qppstudio.net/publicholidays2010/liberia.htm) The amazing thing is, I've been told that the current number of holidays is greatly reduced compared to the amount of holidays in Liberia at different points during the war. Apparently government officials would want a day off, so they would declare a national holiday - great idea for people with money and the luxury of taking a day off, terrible idea for those who need to earn what they can each day to support their family. Once the country stabilized, so did the number of holidays. I'm trying to learn what I can about each holiday as it happens, but I find that many are like holidays in the US: celebrated for their intended meaning by a few, enjoyed as a day off by all (how many of us really do something special and intentional on Memorial Day?).
The blitz of holidays during 5th period can be a little tricky, especially for my classes that only meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday! Despite the complications that the days off can cause, I'm trying to enjoy the down time and make good use of it - you know, doing things like updating my blog :)
Hope you all are doing well. Are there things I still haven't talked about that you want to know? If so, tell me!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Sometimes, It Just Hits You
I live in a third world country. Liberia is among the poorest nations in the world. I've heard statistics indicating that Liberia has an unemployment rate somewhere around 80 - 85% and estimates that roughly 70% of the population lives on less than $1 a day. In my daily life, I interact with these "dollar a day" people. They are not marked by any obvious physical indicators; most often they are people making an average wage (by Liberian standards - perhaps $60 - $100 per month) who are trying to support so many people - usually children - that their pay ends up needing to stretch farther than it can. They are my students, members of my community, and sometimes my friends. Poverty is a clear reality in Liberia.
Despite the staggering statistics and overwhelming poverty that was impossible to ignore when I first arrived in Liberia, I have found myself growing accustomed to this reality. Although I still notice the tin roofs over dirt floor homes, the children running around in mismatched flip-flops and tattered clothing, and the little boys trying to find a meal from the leftovers at the dining hall each day, I have found that the poverty takes its emotional toll on me less the longer I am here. I want to believe that I'm not becoming hardened to this reality but instead adapting to my present circumstances.
Despite my overall diminished emotional response to the poverty around me, I still have moments when the sobering reality of it catches me off guard. I experienced one of these moments recently when we were in Monrovia at the Sports Commission for one of our basketball games. After our game we were sitting in the bleachers leisurely enjoying watching the boys team play. There are always vendors at the game selling soft drinks and biscuits (cookies/crackers), plantain chips, ice cream, etc. But on this day I really noticed who some of these "vendors" were - children. A little girl and a little boy, neither older than 10 years, working for hours in the oppressive heat selling bags of water for 5LD (LD = Liberian Dollar; 5LD is approximately 15 cents US). The little girl grabbed my attention and I couldn't stop watching her. Her clothes were ill-fitting; a halter top clearly meant for someone twice her age and slippers (flip-flops) worn thin. She worked constantly and quietly. Every now and then I would see her and the little boy stop to sit on the bleachers and watch the game. I could see a certain sadness in their eyes, and I wanted for them the recreation and freedom to play that kids need. I felt so fortunate that the girls at Ricks are able to play basketball - to PLAY. But for these children, their afternoons are not spent on swing-sets or playing hide and seek; their afternoons are spent working, selling bags of waters for pennies to help out their families.
I think this is one of the most striking things about poverty - how it steals away the childhood of so many. It takes away the right kids have to play and forces them into tasks that will enable them to survive - doing anything they can to help their families earn enough money to get survive. One of the first things I heard about Liberia came from my friend, James Blay. As our camp pastor at Passport - Wingate in 2008, he told a story of children who had to sit on the side of the road, breaking apart rocks with small hammers to create materials for building. After hearing this story I remember praying for these children, hearing God call me to be with them, and committing to God and these children that I was coming. I didn't know when or how, but I knew I needed to be in Liberia. Now I'm here, and although the laws, thankfully, have outlawed this particular rock-breaking labor for children, it has not prevented children from engaging in the kinds of labor we would never allow our children to do in the States. Now that I'm here, what am I doing for these children? I felt God calling me to these children, but sitting and watching this little girl at the Sports Commission, I felt helpless. I know I'm teaching at a school, and that is an important step. But what can we, as humans filled with compassion, especially for children, do to help? I challenge you to explore this question with me.
Despite the staggering statistics and overwhelming poverty that was impossible to ignore when I first arrived in Liberia, I have found myself growing accustomed to this reality. Although I still notice the tin roofs over dirt floor homes, the children running around in mismatched flip-flops and tattered clothing, and the little boys trying to find a meal from the leftovers at the dining hall each day, I have found that the poverty takes its emotional toll on me less the longer I am here. I want to believe that I'm not becoming hardened to this reality but instead adapting to my present circumstances.
Despite my overall diminished emotional response to the poverty around me, I still have moments when the sobering reality of it catches me off guard. I experienced one of these moments recently when we were in Monrovia at the Sports Commission for one of our basketball games. After our game we were sitting in the bleachers leisurely enjoying watching the boys team play. There are always vendors at the game selling soft drinks and biscuits (cookies/crackers), plantain chips, ice cream, etc. But on this day I really noticed who some of these "vendors" were - children. A little girl and a little boy, neither older than 10 years, working for hours in the oppressive heat selling bags of water for 5LD (LD = Liberian Dollar; 5LD is approximately 15 cents US). The little girl grabbed my attention and I couldn't stop watching her. Her clothes were ill-fitting; a halter top clearly meant for someone twice her age and slippers (flip-flops) worn thin. She worked constantly and quietly. Every now and then I would see her and the little boy stop to sit on the bleachers and watch the game. I could see a certain sadness in their eyes, and I wanted for them the recreation and freedom to play that kids need. I felt so fortunate that the girls at Ricks are able to play basketball - to PLAY. But for these children, their afternoons are not spent on swing-sets or playing hide and seek; their afternoons are spent working, selling bags of waters for pennies to help out their families.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Monrovia: An International Hotspot
OK, I admit - Monrovia isn't quite up there with the ranks of NYC or Brussels as an international destination. However, when you find yourself in Monrovia, you quickly realize you are not just amongst Liberians; Monrovia is actually home to many ex-pats who find themselves in Liberia for numerous and varied reasons. The last couple weekends I've been reminded of this, so I thought I would share some of my experiences of the international atmosphere in in Liberia.
When we come in to Monrovia to visit our friends and stay the weekend, I often feel like I have briefly stepped back into the US and American life. I suddenly find myself surrounded by people who talk with southern accents, lament the absence of Chik-Fil-a, tell jokes that take advantage of our shared cultural knowledge and understanding of subtleties like sarcasm, and food that can't be classified as anything but southern home-cooking. It's a funny experience because it's comforting and familiar, yet at the same time is a little odd to encounter in Liberia. These are some of my American international moments - I think they both help me keep my sanity and help me embrace and appreciate Liberia knowing I'll be back to full immersion in American life soon enough!
American culture is definitely not the only one we experience in Liberia. Last weekend we had the opportunity to go to a primarily Lebanese party. A friend in town was close with several of the people hosting this party (a goodbye party for a couple preparing to leave), so we were invited by extension. When we first arrived at the party we experienced that initial awkwardness that comes with going to a party where you don't know anyone except the people you arrived with. After a few minutes however, we quickly started making friends. There is a strong Lebanese presence here in Liberia, and many of the more prominent businesses, hotels, restaurants, etc., are Lebanese owned. So, we would meet someone and ask what they do, and the response would often be, "oh, we own the ___." But there was no arrogance or elitism in these statements, just matter-of-fact information. After some time a little dance circle formed (you know, everyone in a circle, one or two people pulled in the middle at a time). We thought for sure the people there didn't know us well enough to pull us in - we were wrong, and had lots of fun dancing with our new friends. Later, people began to throw one another in the pool with all their clothes on - luckily they didn't know us quite well enough to do that ;) Throughout the evening we met lots of new friends, including the Lebanese ambassador to Liberia and the head of Consular Services at the American Embassy. It was a fun party filled with laughter and fun!
This weekend our American friends were having a party at their apartment compound as an early celebration for 2 people's birthdays. All of the people working for their company were invited in addition to an assortment of other friends. Throughout the evening we met people from the US, Liberia, Turkey, Nigeria, Algeria, the Philippines, and Ireland. It was quite the party too - food from lots of different cultures (pizza, zatar, Texas caviar, ice cream, chicken wings, hummus, and a WHOLE pig) and a live band. The Liberian band did covers of everything from Michael Jackson to Garth Brooks to popular Liberian music. Everyone just danced and ate and had a great time.
I came to Liberia expecting to experience one new culture - the Liberian culture. This is definitely the culture I have experienced most thoroughly, and I am so grateful for that. At the same time, I am grateful for the glimpses of other cultures I have been afforded through my time here in Liberia and the friendships I have been able to form with people from so many different places. I think we have much to learn from one another, especially those coming from ways of life different than our own, and I am thankful to be learning a little more each day.
When we come in to Monrovia to visit our friends and stay the weekend, I often feel like I have briefly stepped back into the US and American life. I suddenly find myself surrounded by people who talk with southern accents, lament the absence of Chik-Fil-a, tell jokes that take advantage of our shared cultural knowledge and understanding of subtleties like sarcasm, and food that can't be classified as anything but southern home-cooking. It's a funny experience because it's comforting and familiar, yet at the same time is a little odd to encounter in Liberia. These are some of my American international moments - I think they both help me keep my sanity and help me embrace and appreciate Liberia knowing I'll be back to full immersion in American life soon enough!
American culture is definitely not the only one we experience in Liberia. Last weekend we had the opportunity to go to a primarily Lebanese party. A friend in town was close with several of the people hosting this party (a goodbye party for a couple preparing to leave), so we were invited by extension. When we first arrived at the party we experienced that initial awkwardness that comes with going to a party where you don't know anyone except the people you arrived with. After a few minutes however, we quickly started making friends. There is a strong Lebanese presence here in Liberia, and many of the more prominent businesses, hotels, restaurants, etc., are Lebanese owned. So, we would meet someone and ask what they do, and the response would often be, "oh, we own the ___." But there was no arrogance or elitism in these statements, just matter-of-fact information. After some time a little dance circle formed (you know, everyone in a circle, one or two people pulled in the middle at a time). We thought for sure the people there didn't know us well enough to pull us in - we were wrong, and had lots of fun dancing with our new friends. Later, people began to throw one another in the pool with all their clothes on - luckily they didn't know us quite well enough to do that ;) Throughout the evening we met lots of new friends, including the Lebanese ambassador to Liberia and the head of Consular Services at the American Embassy. It was a fun party filled with laughter and fun!
This weekend our American friends were having a party at their apartment compound as an early celebration for 2 people's birthdays. All of the people working for their company were invited in addition to an assortment of other friends. Throughout the evening we met people from the US, Liberia, Turkey, Nigeria, Algeria, the Philippines, and Ireland. It was quite the party too - food from lots of different cultures (pizza, zatar, Texas caviar, ice cream, chicken wings, hummus, and a WHOLE pig) and a live band. The Liberian band did covers of everything from Michael Jackson to Garth Brooks to popular Liberian music. Everyone just danced and ate and had a great time.
I came to Liberia expecting to experience one new culture - the Liberian culture. This is definitely the culture I have experienced most thoroughly, and I am so grateful for that. At the same time, I am grateful for the glimpses of other cultures I have been afforded through my time here in Liberia and the friendships I have been able to form with people from so many different places. I think we have much to learn from one another, especially those coming from ways of life different than our own, and I am thankful to be learning a little more each day.
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