When I saw that the theme for the next issue would be Gender Issues, I thought many of you would write about helping empower girls in your community, or forcing men to wash their own clothes, or educating about domestic violence or sex ed. But, I have to say....my Peace Corps experience has empowered and educated me. My community had to do a GAD project on me, empowering me from the mousy gringa into my full power of femininity.
When I arrived in my community, it seems every guy driving a truck down the road I was walking on had a great appreciation for my feminine qualities, but the women were less convinced. I'm sure my khaki pants, desire to help with the farm, perceived inability to cook anything besides PB&J, and hopeless hair brought them sadness. Once they saw my in rubber boots and all laughed and asked if I'd bought a dairy farm. Thus, when my first summer rolled around, they began to develop “Proyecto Feminize La Gringita.” They insisted I participate in an INADEH course being offered in the community in manicures and pedicures. I insisted that only Panamanian citizens count in INADEH attendance, but they told me that it wasn't true and I had to come. I thought it was because they needed 15 people, now I feel it was my desperate state that made them insist in my participating. Since it was the summer, I obliged. Better to compartir with the women in the community than to read books, right? So, I sat through many hours of hand massages, nail design, aerobics sessions, and lots of lectures about positive thinking, taking care of yourself, and coming to the class even when your husband tells you you can't. We had to put on a beauty salon. At some point in the summer I went to the river with some community members. I was wearing my Tevas. They were all wearing those jelly ballet flats that were popular last summer. They looked at disgust at my shoes and told me I had to get some like theirs.
But, at some point during the summer, something happened. I walked into Podoroso and bought some bedazzled jean shorts, and some plastic ballet flats for 1.69. When I took those shoes into my beauty school class, all the women admired them. I started buying Avon products from those women entrepreneurs of the community. I received free pedicures (from those wanting to “practice”).
And my community noticed the results and the change. While pasearing one day, a girl told me I had started looking better (se arregla mejor) since being in the class. Now I have carried on 30 minute discussions comparing styles of those rubber Grendha style flip flops that are in style (I personally own like 6 pairs). I have gotten myself a boyfriend. And I have laughed along as a women in my community asked “What's up with those gringas you always see in David in khakis and chakaras?” As I look down at my nice fake pink Puma purse from the frontera, and think how I used to be, I smile. So, my fellow volunteers, does your community need to do work on you? Maybe they don't listen to your advice, not because of your horrible Spanish, but because of your wornout REI clothing and Chacos. My community might not remember all the projects I did, but I'm sure they'll all remember how they helped me out, hoping their project will be sustainable and bear results in the future as I go back in the U.S..
My kids making me pose:
