Weekly snippets

Food distribution happened this week. The World Food Program sends the food to the UNHCR and the UNHCR gives it to the Red Cross for them to distribute. Every day this week a different selection of people went to pick up their rations. The refugees have ration cards that specify how many are in their family and I think the Red Cross is now distributing according to nationality. In a few days they have to serve over 11,000 people. This makes for a long day under the hot sun.

I met a few people this week who were keen to know me, to tell me their stories or their desires. One woman begged that I meet with her. She spoke in French, she was from Congo. I told her we could but that if she wanted me to help her case she had to go through UNHCR. I apologized and said there was nothing I could do. I am still not sure if she ended up trying to meet with me the other day at noon...

I met a man yesterday, again, from Congo, who used to be a dietician. He walked with me to the market and was apologetic for taking up my time. I assured him my purpose in the camp is to teach and to talk. The only reason for my getting anxious in conversation was because the sun was beating down on my burning hands and feet and I still had a class to prepare a presentation for. I told him that if I came across climate change articles that I’d try to get them to him. He requested a meeting time-- I couldn’t make one. I’m just hoping if we do meet again, I’ll have something for him. Then again, many people are asking requests and I’m not sure how or if I can fulfill them all.

I’ve been caught off guard a few times buying food. That’s the perfect opportunity for people to ask for money. Both Margaret and I have given away some Kwatcha this week to people asking for money when we’ve been buying small food items. As long as it’s not all the time I’m ok with this.

We got a little exercise last night. Around 4:45 we left our place to buy some bread for the morning. To our surprise we had little entourage of children following us. About 30 I’d say. Needless to say, we didn’t get very far on our search. I stayed with the kids and did some little dances, talked to them about where I was from and one child stood next to me holding my hand for about ½ hour while Margaret bought bread and walked home without me. I stayed with the children and Margaret returned. They showed us some clapping songs and then Margaret and I took off running with the kids. They loved this. We’d sprint and they’d try to catch up. They’re surprisingly fast but it made for a fun challenge and a good way to decompress after a long day.