"The Womens"

I work with a women's group in my area, doing some business training activities, doing some craft making workshops, and last week organizing a local celebration for women's day. The chairlady of the Lwimba Area Women's Association is a lady named Saphi. The other day she was telling me about a discussion that came up at an agriculture field day, about gender and why there were only 2 women in attendance. She said that women sometimes are kept from being active in the community because their husbands don't let them or complain they aren't at home, etc. Then she said: "I tell you it was really embarrassing!... for my husband."

When Saphistra started getting involved in development projects aimed at women her husband told her she had to give the goats back. Then he said she had to choose between being his wife or being involved in projects and community activities. She moved back to her parents house and now is paying him to weed her field because she is too busy.

I heart Saphistra Chiposo.

The other day the women's group had a broom making workshop - which I was excited about it missed because someone from the ministry unexpectedly showed up and wanted to go to a community school down the road. I got back in time to teach English that day and afterwards asked them to quickly show me how to make a broom. When I started to plucking the wrong grass ("the fakes") a group of ladies ushered me down the path to where the good broom grass was. We stood in the tall grass, in the dimming light, pulling stalks from their sheaths. The women saying "No teacher, like so. Like so," gathering quickly and efficiently. They all handed their little bundles to me to add to my broom, making sure I patted the ends level to make it tidy and nice.

People here clap each others hands a lot, when they are sharing in a moment. It is a really natural response to them but I often forget to hold my hand out to be slapped for a moment- causing a bit of awkwardness in the gesture. I am getting better now. That and patting my heart when I greet someone.

I danced with the women on women's day and they were really happy about it. A lot of women slapped my hand.