It’s been almost two weeks at cluster and at this point I am happy, but also very ready to return to the hub site for a few days just to recharge my proverbial batteries. Life hasn’t been terribly demanding or frustrating, but it is a lot to take in all at once and I’m looking forward to a (very) short break.
The kids are still pretty shy around me, but they’re still very curious about the strange white lady…which means that they frequently like to sit and stare at me, sometimes petting my hair or randomly knocking on my door while I’m trying to get dressed. Fred and Shirley are very concerned and more than a bit overprotective of me. I understand that they’re looking out for my well-being, but it is a bit frustrating when I’m used to being so independent at home.
Most days I come home from class around 5:30 and once I’m home, there I stay. In the last few days we decided to try and have a movie night at one of the other trainee’s house. My house was no good because I didn’t know if the DVD player worked, the TV was problematic, my family has shows that they regularly watch in the evening and none of the movies that we had brought were what you would call family friendly. The idea of entertaining three guests in my room where we could watch on my laptop (which I’ve been keeping on the down low, particularly since my family keeps going on and on about how very, very poor they are- though they’re really quite middle-class) was not an option. There were similar problems at the house at another house, theirs having two very curious children under the age of 4. The other trainee said we could come over, that his family already knew he had a laptop and they are pretty laid back about having guests and were sans small children.
At 7:30 when I was ready to leave to walk to meet the two married volunteers and walk with them to movie house, my host parents not only insisted in walking me there but entertained the idea of waiting at the next house for me to finish so that they could walk me home, even though my fellow trainees had volunteered to walk me back. They also insisted that I dig out my pocketknife to carry with me, “just in case“. Mind you, there was a full moon that was better than the few streetlights around here at lighting up the road and the biggest threat on the walk were the dogs that bark as you go by.
After our movie, we walked back and arrived safe and sound before 11 pm (the kids are still up watching TV at that time and there was no class the next day) but I could sense that they were not terribly comfortable with the idea of me being out after dark. This wouldn’t be a problem if it stayed light here as late as it does at home during the summer- but the average sunset since I’ve been here has been 6:00 pm. In fact, it’s 5:37 as I write this and the sun is very close to the horizon. I understand that my family is concerned for me, but I’m also not a child and specifically not their child. It’s been difficult trying to figure out the balance of how much to adapt and what I need to stick to. Peace Corps constantly reminds us of this, adapt but don’t stop being an American- part of PC is cultural exchange. Smooth interpersonal relationships are very important here, but I cannot make myself uncomfortable of unhappy simply for the sake of not stepping on a couple of toes- that would make for a very long two years.