BLOG POST #7 - Nice!

While I am finally settling into my life and work here, I'm still being introduced to a lot of new people, new organizations and new places all the time. And, really I'm still being introduced to Mwange Camp as a whole. I've been struck by how friendly and happy all the refugees I've met are, especially after hearing so many sad stories about how their lives have been affected by the war. Everywhere you go, someone is always saying Hamjambo! (Hello!) and Habari? (How are you?). I really like how people are always greeting each other – it's definitely a contrast from what you get in America.


I've also been struck by how different the pace of life is here. As I've alluded to in my other posts, things move slower here, especially in comparison to life at Stanford! Walking through the Camp, it's interesting to notice how many people aren't working on something or running somewhere. Seeing the lack of outlets available for the refugees' creative energy, advancement of education or organized activities makes it obvious why FORGE is so important here. FORGE gives people in Mwange a place to be creative and it empowers them to grow. Seeing how important FORGE is to so many people here makes me really proud to be part of FORGE.

In my day-to-day work, which for the past week has consisted of tons of meetings, I easily find myself forgetting that my colleagues are all refugees. I've realized that when it comes down to it – people are people no matter where you go. Some people are going to make be the class-clowns, some will be shy, some will be perfectionists and some will become your best friends.

I also made my first trek to Mporokoso, the closest real town to where we live. It was a 56-mile roundtrip bike ride on gravel roads. I'm told that it's impossible, but I swear it was uphill both ways! I am completely out of shape and when I finished I felt like I'd just finished a Stanford lax fitness test; but it was definitely worth it because I got to go to my first UNHCR Task Force meeting. It was great to meet all the higher officials that work in Mwange. The whole UNHCR set up in Mporokoso and the UNHCR officials were much more relaxed and inviting than I was expecting. The UNHCR office also just got Internet, so I can update this blog more than I expected!

Thank you for all your emails and words of encouragement! Email me your mailing address and I'll definitely send you a letter!

xoxo