What an opportunity, I thought, to be a sponge: to listen, to learn, to laugh, to dance, and to be filled to the brim. I learned so many lessons from my time spent in the terraced hills of Rwanda and the lush green villages of Uganda but I’ll only share a few that touched my heart deeply. We Are All Connected- We Are All One Field visits were special because they provided an authentic way to engage with women who lead a life quite different from the one I lead. This field visit was one of my absolute favorite visits. As soon as we stepped out of the car I felt welcomed to the space. Each woman smiled at me with bright eyes and an unsaid cultural exchange was taking place. In listening to the stories of the artisans, I gained an understanding of the hardships of fellow humans. One of the women we interviewed in this village spoke English and we began to have a dialogue about our shared humanity. She shared that she used to scream “mizungu!” at every white person she ever saw, but she feels goofy now because she realized that we all have the same blood and the same father. When I looked into her deep brown eyes, I saw myself there. To Be Gracious Since I took a Zen class during the spring quarter, one of my precepts I have been working on is to “not be avaricious.” Working with a precept is a process, but my practice was inspired by the graciousness with which we were received in each village. Many of these women did not have access to clean water, yet they would cook us delicious meals and would find a way to provide us with bottled water. Their graciousness was humbling. Why were these women, who have so little, so willing to give up anything for us, two strangers in their home? I am inspired by these women who exude graciousness in all aspects of their being. I am grateful to have seen what true grace looks like. Joy We are all humans and we are all unique in what we contribute to this world. We may experience suffering in different ways, as people with different socio-economic and social/ familial backgrounds, but we must suffer to experience love and joy more fully. This sentiment was exemplified in the resilience of Rwandans in their journey to overcome a dark past. After I visited the Rwandan genocide museum I was torn apart emotionally. I sat and reveled in the great uncomfortable darkness of such a tragedy. As I learned from Rwandans and heard different perspectives and stories, I learned the importance of forgiveness and love in order to manifest peace. Despite extreme tragedy, I’ve never engaged with more joyful people than the people I met in East Africa. Joy was palpable everywhere. You could hear it as children squealed with delight as you waved to them. You could smell it as fresh chapatti wafted into your nose. What I loved about driving through the streets of Uganda was the freedom in which I could view the vibrancy and exquisite commonalities of everyday life. In Kampala, every corner and every small business was full of old folks chatting, and youngsters screaming and jumping. These scenes were like little snapshots into the lives of others. It was not only the urban infrastructure that reflected the stark openness and vibrancy of the culture. Just about every interaction I shared with an East African was joyful and authentic. I spent a considerable amount of time driving through the countries of Uganda and Rwanda on the way to the field, and one day we stopped next to a taxi bus and a little baby sat across from me and stared at me with curious eyes. I reached out my hand through the car window to touch his tiny hand and he smiled with joy. I was filled to the brim yet again. I now understand deeply the importance of reaching out and showing love to someone you may not know. It’s these little interactions; the smiles, the waves, the laughter shared in which our hearts open and we are reminded that we are all on this earth together. Sitting Together, Finding Solutions “We sit together.” This was a phrase that I often heard while conducting interviews in the field. Co-op leaders and artisans shared how weaving together could help them if they needed help on a design or if they needed any emotional support they could find it sitting together. On my last day in East Africa, I sat with three co-op leaders, and they began to teach me how to weave. As I sat there, amongst thousands of colored baskets, and inspiring women who exemplified agency, I wove. My two months in East Africa working with artisans all culminated to this moment where I physically put myself in the shoes of the artisan. As I wove, I felt gratitude for an experience that taught me the power of a bottom up approach in disrupting unjust equilibriums and the powerful role that women play in their communities. While I learned a plethora about business models, field operations, and cultural contexts, I also learned much about myself. I discovered that I am content to be in experiences that put me out of my comfort zone and challenge me. As I carry with me the lessons I learned from East Africa, I am continuing to discern how my talents, joys, and intellectual interests can be combined to create positive change in this world.
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Terry Bennett
12/2/2018 10:35:45 pm
Sammi ,
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Sammi Bennett I am a dancer, singer, creative non-fiction writer, yoga teacher, outdoor lover, and book-binder. Archives
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