10 de agosto de 2015

Midnight talks (english version)

As days go by my relationship with Mayoka Village staff gets closer. This is the time to talk and get deeper into different topics. I know that I am still have way of my journey have but i can already feel how much I will miss them.

One of thefirst conversation topics is women situation in the country. In general it's just contradictory. There is still dowry to pay, still women "make mistakes" when they get pregnant in teenage years, still is the women who looks for tricks "to trap" a man; and many assure this country favours females. I'm not sure how though: they take care of their children, cook, are in charge of the house, those who work away from home usually don't have a husband (they don't want them to work), not so long ago they were expelled from school if they got pregnant and couldn't go back to study, in more rural areas poligamy still exists... They do have 3 months of maternity leave, old british laws. And they can easily get divorce if they want to (but with no salary to support themselves it is mostly the husband who makes the decision). But when you hear someone say "I won't get married again, that way I'll be safe" (emotionally, economically and in many cases phisically too), it's clear that as much as things have improved there's a whole lot more to achieve.

Another big topic (less contradictory) is religion. Most of them are religious (catholics or muslims), go to church on Sunday, there is praying before lunch at schools... It is in everyday life. But new "churches" keep showing up (Yehova's witness, evangelists...) and beyond this, you find non religious people that believe in people, that even though they are surrounded by others that put pressure on them to go to mass "so they don't burn in hell" are consistent and respect others believes.

Last but not least homosexuality. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Although many still consider homosexuality as something not-normal, something that is not in the bible (in Nkhata Bay catholics are most common), and something that doesn't belong to malawian "traditions". But you also find people and ven the catholic church standing in the side of choosing who you want to be/are.

I liked these conversations, they surprised me and I hope more wonderful surprises keep coming.

Maua.






5 de agosto de 2015

What would you like to do when you grow up? (English version)

What do you like to do when you grow up?

A few days ago I asked this question to my students as someone I met in my way suggested. In a school as small as Good Hope I didn't expect to find much variety, but beyond the "what", I wanted to know the "why". Here are the results:

- Teacher: I like to teach (she was the first to be asked maybe she didn't have enough time to think about it.
- Scientist: to invent things.
- Doctor: the uniform is very pretty (other boy ouldn't explain why).
- Nurse: for the uniform.
- Policeman: to shoot people and control the traffic.
- Soldier: to shoot people (all 3 students had the same answer).
- Pilot: for the money.

Priceless!

Maua.

¿Qué quieres ser cuando seas mayor? (Versión española)

¿Qué quieres ser cuando seas mayor?

Hace unos días hice esta pregunta a mis alumnos incitada por alguien a quien conocí hace tiempo. En un colegio tan pequeño como Good Hope no iba a encontrar mucha variedad pero más que el qué, quería saber el por qué de esa decisión. Y aquí les dejo los resultados: 

- Profesora: porque me gusta enseñar (igual por el hecho de ser la primera no dio rienda suelta a su imaginación).
- Científico: para inventar cosas.
- Doctor y doctora: porque el uniforme es muy bonito (el niño no supo explicarme el por qué).
- Enfermera: por el uniforme.
- Policía: para poder disparar a gente y para controlar el tráfico.
- Soldado: para poder disparar a gente (los 3).
- Piloto de aviones: por el dinero.

¡No tiene precio!

Maua.