“Do you see the moon in America?”

There are many luxuries of the western culture that we don’t realize we have until we forced to live without them. Of course there’s the obvious like electricity, running water, and roofs which don’t contain rats. However one luxury I believe we all over looked is the knowledge we have of our world around us. During our time in Simaubi, I suppose I assumed these people would have some concept of what American culture was like; due to the fact, that America seems to be known all over world these days. However as I spent time with the villagers of Simaubi working on the VSLA, I realized they had no concept of anything other than their own village. This came as a surprise as I was asked questions about America. The idea that we didn’t eat any Nshima in America was a difficult one for many of them to grasp. Imagine trying to explain what an American kitchen was like if the only thing they knew was an open flame fire for cooking dinner and light. Or in another situation, how do you explain what our houses look like, if the only thing they knew is a house of mud bricks and a thatch roof. After having many conversations with individuals in the village, I came to understand what the people imagined about America. One person thought America was huge with probably 15 states. I have to admit I chuckled a little to myself when I corrected him with the fact that there were actually 50 states. Others thought our houses were made of sheet metal and there was an over flowing supply of Nshima. (Corn meal and water that basically when is cooked it becomes a puffy white mound of bland starch). Life as we know it is something that is more than difficult to explain for those who live in the humbleness of the simple life. I think I speak for us all when I say we saw the Africa we knew existed and never believed to be true. However, this past week we didn’t just see it, but lived it, and now we all know that it’s true.
This past week four of the seven of us made the venture back to Simaubi for more training in the Village Savings and Loan Association project. For those who may not know what VSLA is all about, in short, it’s essentially like starting a micro-bank owned and operated completely by the association members. The point of this program is to make the people self sufficient through saving Kwacha (the local currency) and taking loans out from each other. I am proud to say that we have successfully started two of these associations this past week. Monday we woke up extra early to make the two hour truck down to the Simaubi village. We all tried to get a little extra sleep as we bumped around in the over loaded and crowded truck. Needless to say, the ride to Simaubi from Choma is more of an obstacle course as Ron tries to dodge as many bumps and pot holes as possible. Monday I believe we were all extra sleepy when we arrived just before nine. However as discussed last week at our sessions, if anyone was late to the meeting on Monday they would have to pay a fine. By the time we got to the church, we had to put money into their fine’s bowl along with many others. This past week Monday and Tuesday were both intense days of training and frustrating at certain points. These two days we were helping the associations to fill out their Constitution, or rules for the group. In the guide book we were using for this project, it’s supposed to take only 2 hours. However for us it took two days. We found that some of the questions in the Constitution took two hours of nothing but discussion in Tonga before a conclusion was decided. Both Monday and Tuesday the trainings went from 9 to 5 with only brakes for tea/ breakfast and lunch. Wednesday Matt and my association had quite a lot to do, while Laura and Larry’s association was almost finished with all of their trainings. Our goal was to try to finish early and get done on Wednesday. Matt and I didn’t think it was going to possible however we succeeded in doing so. Both of our associations made it through the training process and held their first savings meeting. We were all proud of their accomplishment! Laura and Larry’s association saved 2,446,500 Kwacha ($489) with their saving shares and fines combined. Matt and my association saved 871,000 Kwacha ($174) with the saving shares and fines combined. The feeling was bitter sweet as we hugged and shook hands of the 56 members of the associations we trained. They were extremely grateful for our time with them and asked if when we were coming back. It was good for us all to be able to see our project we were working on all year come together and become a success.
We all enjoyed our time together as a team and with our host families. Laura and I had quite some adventures together as we bore through rats, the roof snowing on us at night, a bird squawking somewhere in the roof, sharing a single bed together, and still yet four other ladies trying to squeeze into the tiny crowded mud hut. Our neighbors, Matt and Larry, had their own adventures to deal with. One of these obstacles being the “shower room” which contained straw walls which were too short for our seven foot man, Mateyo. Because our host families were neighbors and relatives, the four of us had many meals together which we all enjoyed each other’s company. Our time in Simaubi was stretching, humbling, and a success. We all got a glimpse into a life full of struggles, and hardships. The faces of the people we worked with will live on through pictures and our memories. We taught them business skills and did what we could to help improve their lives for the future. However we didn’t just educate them on business skills but on the world outside of their village as well. In conclusion, our time in Simaubi was one to remember. When we go back to America and look up at the moon in the night sky, we will think about our conversation with our friend Sebastian when he asked “do you see the moon in America?”

Mary High