Retaliation

I spent the last three days in Kawambwa dropping S-- off and spending time with colleagues. Many of my experiences reflected the difficult, frustrating aspects of the human experience. I found myself continually confronted with filth and insects and death and defecation, drunkenness, physical agression, supression, and holding back, anger and demoralisation, frustration, chauvinism, hypocrisy, and ignorance.

This is a part of reality that many seek to avoid and yet, by the mechanisms they use to eschew suffering, they inadvertantly throw themselves directly into the fire. All of this fighting violence with violent acts and misunderstanding with intentional silence perpetuates the grand wheel of samsara. It is absolutely absurd how our patterns trap us and keep us stuck. We could see that and still somehow, the comfort of familiarity would preside over the prospect of healing.

I received a message from A-- today, which made me very very happy. He still thinks of me on the other side of this Earth, even though it has been months since we have spoken. I really wish that I could have spent more time with him when we lived on the same continent. Our experiences together were always extraordinary, magical, beautiful. He was a reflection of the sea and everything it represents.

Southern Cross

Wow! Wow! WOW! The Zambian sky is nothing less than... incredible! Billions of stars, the milky way, all in plain, unobstructed view! I feel as if I could slip off the Earth right into the cosmos!

Today was as series of ups and downs -- a woman engaging in 'witchcraft' was beaten by a police officer in front of our house. I spoke at my first Kala section leaders' meeting, where I heard the concerns of the refugee community met with answers from the UNHCR, Zambian government, and partner NGOs. I also learned how to cook traditional Zambian food with our neighbours when we came back from the camp with rather empty bellies and nothing with which to fill them. The generosity of my new neighbours and friends truly blows my mind!