My BaMaayo is a village role model. She goes door-to-door collecting donations for church holiday celebrations. She escorts neighboring women to see the Chief. She demands respect. “Don’t expect me to come to your kitchen party (bridal shower) if you don’t greet me on the road,” she mockingly chides me. She is a powerful woman who protects and provides for her family.
BaJennie is a sleepy new mother, full of giggles and reggae music. She floats around the compound on long, slender legs with various buckets, scrubbing little pink outfits and stringing them up on the line. Her favorite food is green beans. BaClara loves to tell stories. Every time she slyly slips away to buy bread, you know she’ll come running back loudly narrating new bits of gossip in different voices that match the village characters. On Sunday, her hands miraculously become slight butterflies that lead the harmonious voices of the church choir. BaEdith, only recently returned home in conjunction with the reopening of schools, is a primary teacher. Everything about her exudes calmness and she has already taught me five new recipes. She prepares herself tediously, waking up early to pack my lunch and hers. I also have a cat. He is a creamy white with subtle tangerine spots and deep, deep technicolor green eyes. Ansa is his name, a play on the English word “answer”. Calling out to the cat, requesting him to answer with a subsequent approach or rapid dismissal. Ansa likes to fly through my small triangular window in the middle of the night, frightening me awake. He is a mischievous little fellow, full of sneak attacks and purring. My Zambian family is growing, not only at home but at training too. My new friends understand the hurting behind eyes and are there to celebrate the smallest of things, like buying a lollipop on the side of the road or sleeping peacefully through the night. Here, we are all in it together. And this small piece of together gives me the courage to believe and seek community everywhere.
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Author's note:Hi, I'm Helen. Welcome to Lifted ~ I write to lift myself up. Archives
March 2021
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