Where Do the Children Play?
By Shana Ogren
Today, on the six-month anniversary since I left my home of two years in Malawi, Africa, I attended a skateboarding competition in Templeton, CA, USA.
As I watched 7 – 30 year olds do adventurous jumps and flips into the air, I sat on the bleacher and part of me observed our local youth. I'm not fully here. Another part of my heart imagines the Malawian children I spent two years with while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 2007-2009. So I see USA and Malawi side by side. Serving in the Peace Corps in Africa has given me the gift of cultural double vision.
All of the skateboarders here are boys. I would have liked to have seen some tough girls out here. I notice the clothing of the boys. Everyone is wearing blue or black jeans that are hip, tailored at the ankle (maybe so you don't trip while skate boarding), bright t-shirts, and basic sneakers in black, red, blue, tan, and green. Wow . . . I am so impressed just by their nice clothing Do they know how lucky they are?
In Malawi, each sport would also be separated by gender. Children's clothing would never be as new and undamaged as the skateboarder's here in Templeton. In Malawi, not everyone has shoes. So, maybe the children would borrow a pair of shoes from someone else that had them. The t-shirts would mostly be torn and very used. The pants would be a variety of bargain bought suit pants, jeans, or sweats.
Have you ever donated clothes to Africa? What happens in Malawi is that someone starts a small business by selling them. I am still wearing a random, used, orange hooded sweatshirt that I bought in a Malawi market for the equivalent of $1.50 - thanks to your contribution.
Again, I see how lucky we are here. Because we HAVE a skate park These do not exist in Malawi, because there are not enough resources. You know your country is doing well when resources and funds can be focused directly on children's fun and activities.
This is a beautiful skate park. Trash cans are available all around. I'm on this comfortable bleacher where I can sit and watch the competition. The organizers of the event have put up large posters with information on the next contest. There is a loud speaker playing music. There are public toilets, so participants and the crowd don't have to urinate on the ground.
None of these things would be available in my village in Malawi. There are no trash cans. There are no bleachers. There are no toilets.
Malawian children learn to play with what is available at no cost. Dirt Mud Trees My Malawian neighbor kids make their own art during the rainy season. The mud soil becomes like clay and they mold it together and create little men and women, chairs, and tables. Homemade dolls.
Look at your watch. See the time here. This skateboarding contest has been going on for the last four hours.
When do the children in Malawi have this much time to play?
Time is used differently in Malawi. Everything is always slow. Nothing is rushed. Patience is abundant.
Yet there was always work. For mothers and children, daily work included walking to the water pump and getting water, farming, washing clothing, washing dishes, making corn flour from scratch, making fire, cooking, feeding cows, and watching after the youngest children. There are not four hours available for children in Malawi just to play. Work always needs to be done.
The Templeton skateboarding competition is ending. Skateboarders are still having fun and playing with their boards. Half of me admires them. Half of me finds them spoiled.
I miss you today, Malawi, Africa. You are six months away, but I have cultural double vision. I still see you every day.
Ball Python image on banner by Richard Chambers
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