Lost in Translation
After 4 days, we have 6 people and a number of projects underway! We've been clearing a wall that was knocked over by the storm surge, playing with children at the Safe Spaces, and pulling together the final details of the HODR Half homes that we'll be building. We'll also be starting tree clearing and planning on the playground project I mentioned in the last post.
Language is a challenge here; most people know a couple phrases "What is your name, what is your country, ok thank you, goodbye," but there's a lack of deeper English comprehension. Right now we have Rajeev, our landlord's son, working with us as a guide. He's great, but we need more than one person. I'd especially like to have a female guide, since it would give a woman an employment opportunity, and would also give us a different perspective on the community.
I've "interviewed" about 4 different college students, and it kind of feels like that scene in "Mrs. Doubtfire" where Robin Williams is posing as a nanny candidate and he says "I...am...job." Today I tasked a girl with finding plastic folders at the market, and she took me to a cosmetics counter. I explained to another girl that I would ask her some questions, and she misunderstood and thought I wanted her to ask me questions. Later, while I was talking, she blurted out "Your conjugal?" (Marriage is a popular conversation topic here.)
It's also difficult to ask questions using why, where, how - concepts that are central to assessing community needs. The girls are very nervous - I think it's pretty uncommon for a female to be walking around and talking to so many people in a neighborhood, and they're definitely brave for trying. I try to engage them in conversation about school, their families, and what they like, before trying out their English in a variety of settings - one-on-one with me, shopping for household items or tools in the market, and talking with families in the neighborhood.
I haven't quite found the right person yet, but every girl is still eager to continue to "help" me as much as they can in the market. (That seems to be the favorite locale.) Now I have a posse of girls who follow me around as I buy mosquito nets and crosscut saws.
Language is a challenge here; most people know a couple phrases "What is your name, what is your country, ok thank you, goodbye," but there's a lack of deeper English comprehension. Right now we have Rajeev, our landlord's son, working with us as a guide. He's great, but we need more than one person. I'd especially like to have a female guide, since it would give a woman an employment opportunity, and would also give us a different perspective on the community.
I've "interviewed" about 4 different college students, and it kind of feels like that scene in "Mrs. Doubtfire" where Robin Williams is posing as a nanny candidate and he says "I...am...job." Today I tasked a girl with finding plastic folders at the market, and she took me to a cosmetics counter. I explained to another girl that I would ask her some questions, and she misunderstood and thought I wanted her to ask me questions. Later, while I was talking, she blurted out "Your conjugal?" (Marriage is a popular conversation topic here.)
It's also difficult to ask questions using why, where, how - concepts that are central to assessing community needs. The girls are very nervous - I think it's pretty uncommon for a female to be walking around and talking to so many people in a neighborhood, and they're definitely brave for trying. I try to engage them in conversation about school, their families, and what they like, before trying out their English in a variety of settings - one-on-one with me, shopping for household items or tools in the market, and talking with families in the neighborhood.
I haven't quite found the right person yet, but every girl is still eager to continue to "help" me as much as they can in the market. (That seems to be the favorite locale.) Now I have a posse of girls who follow me around as I buy mosquito nets and crosscut saws.
posted by Stefanie at 10:54 PM
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