#substanable

Earlier today I wandered out of my compound in order to dispose of my trash in the communal heap for our compound, which is located outside of the fence and next to some of the crops. I stared at the trash that was slightly mixed with the ground and vegetation, and realized that within the past week the amount of rubbish that the family with whom I share the compound disposed of had changed marginally, if at all. The pile was quickly growing with the waste of the various things I had brought with me to my new house and had since unpacked. Plastic wrappings, paper bags, food containers, broken items and vegetables cuttings littered the ground.

I started to consider how it could be that this family, comprised of five individuals, had 1/20th of the trash that I had. It’s said time and again, to the point that it seems factual without the need for any evidence, that Americans are some of the most wasteful people on the planet. I started to ponder this claim, and my role within that realm as I stared at the trash I had deposited onto the ground. How could I have so much waste and the family next to me had practically none? This question quickly turned to comparison between the two as I mentally tallied our differences in consumption.

Peace Corps Volunteers make a comparable sum to their counterparts within the country in which they work. Although I don’t make a large monthly salary, by any means, I quickly have realized that I make more than most, especially within my village and perhaps even the entire district. My role for the next two years is to serve as an English teacher, working at a relatively large secondary school, in an area that has considerably less than many other places throughout the country. I live within the same compound as my headmistress and her entire family. She has a prominent position within the community as she oversees our school, comprised of primary and secondary (in America this would be both elementary, middle and high schools all within one) with roughly 2,500 students. She is the provider for her family, which is her husband, their three children, their umucozi (live in maid/cook/caretaker), their nephew and herself.

When I first visited what was to become my house, compound and the school in which I would teach following training, I was surprised by the contrast between families and even districts. Up until this point and for the duration of training I did not think that my host family, with whom I lived, had a significant wealth or status. My host mother is a farmer; previously she had been a French teacher up until the change in language. She solely provided for the family, since her husband had passed away a few years prior. Three of my siblings lived at home along with the daughter of the oldest sister of the house. My host family had a comfortable home, comprised of four rooms inclusive of a living room and another large building for the outdoor kitchen, bathhouse, latrine and storage room. The living room had a kitchen table, three chairs for the table, and six armchairs with cushions, a coffee table and a curio which held the television and DVD player. The bedrooms had bed frames, dressers and rugs. In contrast the compound in which I was to live was bare. There was a small room to cook, a small room to bathe and a farther building for the latrine. Another small building housed the umucozi as well as the household supplies. The house section was in essence a one floor rancher, but split family. I was to have one side and my headmistress along with her family has the other. Each “house” is split into two rooms, relatively large with two small windows and one door for the house. During my visit my entire house was bare, as I would provide my own furniture and furnishings so I spent the majority of my time within my headmistress’ house. Her front room comprised her living room, the same as mine, however it only held a small end table, a wooden bench and two floor mats. Her bedroom had various floor mats, one bed/frame and suitcases as well as hooks on the wall to hold clothing. I was aghast that this family, with three young children under seven, lived in such a simple manner, especially since she was the headmistress. I revealed in how happy of a family they were, how they seemed to genuinely enjoy my presence, how they wanted to be around each other all hours of the day, how they didn’t mention a desire for wants nor even immediate needs.

And even now as I look around my bedroom, or gaze into my front room, I can see exactly why I alone am responsible for trash. I am one individual, I occupy two moderately sized rooms, and I have more items as one than an entire family of seven put together. Even when it comes down to something as simple as food I am reminded of the difference between our lives. The diet of the family is based off of all things natural, and especially those things they can grow or harvest themselves. They have an extensive vegetable garden and a chicken. They eat a diet of porridge in the morning, and the lunch/dinner meals are beans and spinach or cabbage with maize or potatoes. They do not purchase anything in packaging; their food comes from their own farm or the local market. Although I largely eat vegetables from the market along with the occasional rice or pasta myself, I have many items sitting in my front room that I’m sure would amaze the family. Jars of peanut butter, jelly, honey, nutella, olive oil, instant coffee, and spices are just a few and that doesn’t even take into account the poptarts, chocolate, nuts and various care package items that are also occupying space. The family can clearly see the amount of STUFF I have sitting in my room yet they have never once asked for anything, or even for me to share something that I do have. Instead for the past week they have offered food at every meal, even after I have already cooked something for myself. They are generous to the point of self-sacrifice and would rather share the little that they do have than offer me nothing.

For those that know me well, you also know I purged my life before deciding to enter the Peace Corps and live in Africa. I downsized the entire of my person to five Rubbermaid storage tubs comprised of home goods, memorabilia and clothing, a microwave, and baby chair. I took with me only two suitcases, both under the 50lb weight limit (just barely) and my backpack. I sold baby car, my VW cabrio and also the love of my life. I cleared my debt, deferred my college loans and closed my bank accounts. Despite all of this, which to some in America seems like sheer insanity, I have, easily, ten times as much as an ENTIRE FAMILY. An entire family who daily offer me things for me to have or to share. An entire family who literally an hour ago gave me two fresh cabbages as a gift. An entire family who genuinely want me to spend time with them and enjoy teaching me how to cook (because they don’t believe I know how…. gah).