on wednesday, i went out with the world food programme(wfp) staff to do food distributions. wfp has a FoodforWork pilot wherein beneficiaries work certain tasks and are paid with food. i asked kathleen what she usually does for lunch when she's out in the field and she said "oh, well we don't really eat lunch when we're in the field". oh...ok. i brought a kitkat bar along with me "just in case".
by 11am, we were at our 2nd distribution centre and the men had to pick up more food from the warehouse. i stayed at the school with another woman. the younger children were already done school and sat in front of me staring. after my failed attempts in conversing in english and chichewa, i decided to organize a game: boys catch girls. this took 15min. for the next 2h, we played any game i could recall from my childhood. 2h later the men return and we proceed with the distributions. by this time, i was feeling a bit lightheaded thanks to the hot village sun - what a change from the mountains. i take a sip of water and feel slightly better. the lightheadedness continued and mixed in with feeling faint. i continued to find comfort in water. i felt like throwing up but had nothing to throw up. at 630pm (almost 12h since breakfast), i finally sit down for a meal.
yes, maybe i was being a bit dramatic but eating 2 meals a day is not the norm for me. yes, i could have eaten the kitkat, but it wasnt something i'd be able to share with my 3 coworkers. no, i was not going to faint, so i just sucked it up. if my coworkers are not eating, i didn't feel that i needed to either. this is culture and i didn't want to be a weak little canadian girl.
the reality is, hunger and poverty is real. it's rampant. and this experience was a lesson in humility and simplicity. i'm learning to be sincere in giving thanks for food rather than just saying the words. most malawians can only afford to eat 1-2 meals a day. most times, the meals are the same: nsima, vegetables, and sometimes a bit of meat. one coworker was asked by a malawian "i heard in canada, you eat something different for 3 days". all she could do was smile and brush it off because in canada, it's very easy to eat something different everyday for a month.
so there you have it. the girl that loves food went struggled through 12h without eating (:
world food programme projects
water & sanitation projects
kris, that's an incredible sacrifice. pure inspiration for me... and here I am, trying to maximize my daily food intake to keep up with my body-building routine.
ReplyDeletewhen i read stories like yours, i start doubting a lot of the things i do everyday and take for granted, but i have to keep realizing that despite the incredible difference in life-style, i should always be thinking about what i can do to help others with what's given to me, and continuously appreciate what i have been given in the first place.
thanks, i needed that :)
kris, I don't know why but your pictures get me emotional =\ they are very powerful, you have a very keen eye/perspective.. ever think of becoming a photo journalist? =P maybe its your editing but they have a very news-y feel.. like something out of a Christiane Amanpour special, except not from a war zone, phew!
ReplyDeletead: definitely days like that are eye-opening in how blessed and thankful we should be and also how real global problems are. don't doubt anything you do but realize that with all the knowledge and resources that you have, you're fully equipped to help others. enjoy all the food you have in canada (:
ReplyDeletelei: hahah :**) thanks cali boy! a photo-blogger would be my dream job :D eating and snapping photos of the world :D im glad you enjoy them! im still learning and hopefully getting better. i feel that there's so much that can be said in photos that words cannot explain or describe. dont be emotional! just enjoy =) malawi is very peaceful, don't worry ;p
Hey Kristina. Funny post, but way to bring it together at the end.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely like to hear more about the contrast between our culture and your experience with their culture.
And remember, to keep safe!! No food, sun, and physical activity can take a lot out of you.
Keep up the great work, I am really proud of you.
Peace,
Nick