Another day has passed in DC – and yes I am already in bed and it’s only 21:38. I know some of you might be thinking “Oh my gosh Irene, it is not even 10pm and you are in bed?!” – I know my sense of adventure is shot at the moment – so I am happy to vegetate in bed.
That is the one thing about being in a city for a short amount of time – you really have to make the most of every opportunity to explore the city. Have I been doing that? Not as much as I could. Do I feel concerned about this fact? For some reason, some of me doesn’t feel worried about it. I feel content going home after a day of work and SAWIP event and just chilling.
I guess at this moment of my life I am in a reflective stage of my life – and being in a new city and all – I feel the need just to be on my own for a while, which I guess I have done really well in this last week. I guess in these last 6 months of my life I have quietened down a lot. But do I feel as if I have lost myself? Not actually. I feel more comfortable with myself: I do not feel the need to be all loud and vivacious the whole time – I am learning to be content with myself and with who I am. It is a hard job being lively and animated the whole time! Heehee!
One way in which this reflective mode has been expressed out is in SAWIP meetings: since I am in a new environment I have really come to have to force myself to listen instead of just being an active member of conversation. A part of me is nervous to ask questions at meetings – but another part of me is also just content in listening in to what my peers have to say. After all, they are definitely more proficient in these topics. But tonight I was challenged by Claire, our executive director – to partake as much as I can be able to have the bravery to question at events such as these. And it’s true: a part of me wants to – but heck – I don’t even know what to ask! Nothing pops in my head!
I guess that is the challenge that I need to pose to myself (and that Claire posed to me as well): Ask at least one question a week at a SAWIP event. And dear reader – you are invited to ask me what question I asked.
This week’s theme here in SAWIP DC edition is the idea of democracy. This evening we had a discussion with a panel about the idea of democracy. What did I take out of it? firstly, democracy is a set of ideals. Secondly, democracy is for the people and thirdly, to make democracy work people need to be involved. And democracy is different in different parts of the world. What did I gain from this though? Well, for a person that cannot vote in this country, I guess I am apathetic to the political situation in South Africa. But a point that was raised tonight was the value of voting – we can make difference in our communities even if we can’t vote.
And that’s today’s story.
At work summer camp has started: and this is the best description I can think of: holiday club gone crazy but more orderly! I am looking forward to being able to sit in classes and I know that this is the best chance to be able to learn about how programmes such as Sitar work. I think I need to interview each person before I leave DC! What was also really awesome is that one of the interns that I met today is a part of the Urban Alliance (read previous post) – what a privilege! God has really been doing cool things around here in our DC experience!
Fluit fluit, my storie is uit. It’s time to get into bed!
grace k
21/06/2011
aaah u r becoming me: “I do not feel the need to be all loud and vivacious the whole time – I am learning to be content with myself and with who I am. It is a hard job being lively and animated the whole time! Heehee!”