Letter 27, June 30th, 2005 / Reverse Discrimination

Dear Fam,

I'm sitting here making photocopies at the PST for the new Health and Environment volunteers out in the "bush" of Kilosa. Fresh off the plane on Thursday, they seem to be a good group thus far. Although, PST is always a lot of work. I always enjoy it. the trainers are so alive and excited, they make me incredibly jealous of this adventure they are about to take.

The PCT's had their first experience of walking around in the village and not being at the training facility yesterday. I clearly remember my own group's "Arusha Walk" and just how exciting and scary that was for me. It was the first time I saw the "Real Africa". Generally, the walk was good for the trainees; they were welcomed by everyone, people were excited to meet them and they got their first glimpse of the environment they were going to be living in.

I also went on the walk, not expecting to see much that was very new to me. One of the African-American trainees though had an experience that showed me I always have more to learn. As everyone else was greeted and welcomed to partake in everything going on, she was virtually ignored. People became angry at her for " playing, at not knowing Kiswahili". She wasn't being given the same respectful greetings other people were given and worst of all most of the other PCT's, with the exception of those in her direct vicinity had no idea what was going on. This morning, as the other PCTs were told about this by other members of her group, you could feel the emotions of the PCTs, see people holding back tears and lack of understanding on their faces. Most African-Americans PVCs come to Africa, excited to learn about "their roots" and not expecting all the problems of fitting in that foreigners tend to have; they expect to be warmly welcomed and have an even easier time integrating. Actually, it's not just African-American PCVs that expect this, but most PCV's are jealous of the perceived ease their compatriot will have. It was most definitely a bonding moment for all of the PCTs as they rallied around her. And although it's a tough situation, I actually feel that this African-American PCT was lucky to have this happen now and have it be brought out in the open instead of having to deal with it for the first time all by herself in her new village. Out in a more " bush" place like Kilosa, people don't really have much of a clue about America's Diversity.There is an African-American PCV in my area that has been facing "Reverse-Discrimination" for over a year now and none of us had a clue about it, nor did he feel he could talk to us about it until another African American PCV came and HE then started to talk about it. I feel like we all could have been a lot more supportive if we had known much sooner.

The other major news with me is that I got to go on vacation between all of these ISTs and PSTs. What made this vacation even better than all the rest (as if rafting on the Nile in Uganda, Safaris in the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara Parks and chilling out on the beaches of Zanzibar wasn't enough in itself!) was that I was finally able to share this beautiful place with someone from home. Chris, who I have known since I was 9 years old decided to use some of the money he had earned in Minnesota since leaving Dunsmuir to come over her for 16 days. All in all, the trip was great, although, it was both interesting and difficult to see his reaction to all of the cultural differences. After seeing his various expressions I am a bit nervous about my own re-entry to the United States next Spring after having been gone for so long. Although, I most definitely don't agree with how every little detail of life over here, I have come to think of my life here as the way life is in general. Just as in the U.S I accepted things to be as they were, even if I wished I could change some things. My entire perspective about time has changed as well. Suddenly, the 6-7 months until I finish the year feels like an incredibly short amount of time (especially, when I've got a million and one trainings to do between now and then) and something like my semester abroad in Spain, almost five year ago now seems like a blink of the eye. (It seemed pretty gosh darn long at the time). I look forward to my next adventures, but can only imagine that they will seem small after this...........................

With much love to you all,

Jessica. X