We have about 10 chickens on the Ango base and I am particularly amused by them. I do not know why, its just how it is. This last week we had too many roosters around (or more fittingly, lets call them by their French name... cock). The trick is, when there are too many cocks around, they don't do their job - they spend too much time fighting and not enough time making me eggs for breakfast or chickens for future lunchtimes.
Cock-block anyone?
So, this week I had had enough. I sentenced them to death and they were delicious.
I got way more joy out of seeing those headless cocks in my kitchen than I think would be considered healthy. This past week, injustice was waiting for me at every corner, every step, every moment of the day and night. Funding for a health project runs out, death rate skyrockets. Local military exploiting the population they are here to protect, all remain quiet out of fear. Evaluator comes to inspect projects, takes 2 unnecessary days of stress to work with then changes it all, throwing off 3 days of planning for our current projects. Empty markets for fear of theft. Village leader drowning in the river. Armed roadblocks. Beatings unseen. Killings unresolved. Rapes normalized. Authority abused. Children sick. Mothers abandoned. Fathers workless. Dogs abused. Chicks eaten. Young men dying. Young women sold. Families torn. Cultures lost. Disease prevails. Death steals.
If I were living a "normal" life, perhaps getting such joy from eating a mean chicken would be unhealthy.
In Ango, it is just how I cope.
How I can control at least a bit of the injustice we wake up to every day and go to sleep with every night.
Cock-block anyone?
So, this week I had had enough. I sentenced them to death and they were delicious.
I got way more joy out of seeing those headless cocks in my kitchen than I think would be considered healthy. This past week, injustice was waiting for me at every corner, every step, every moment of the day and night. Funding for a health project runs out, death rate skyrockets. Local military exploiting the population they are here to protect, all remain quiet out of fear. Evaluator comes to inspect projects, takes 2 unnecessary days of stress to work with then changes it all, throwing off 3 days of planning for our current projects. Empty markets for fear of theft. Village leader drowning in the river. Armed roadblocks. Beatings unseen. Killings unresolved. Rapes normalized. Authority abused. Children sick. Mothers abandoned. Fathers workless. Dogs abused. Chicks eaten. Young men dying. Young women sold. Families torn. Cultures lost. Disease prevails. Death steals.
If I were living a "normal" life, perhaps getting such joy from eating a mean chicken would be unhealthy.
In Ango, it is just how I cope.
How I can control at least a bit of the injustice we wake up to every day and go to sleep with every night.
1 comment:
You certainly live a life uncommon. I'm amazed at the strength and love your heart holds. I also love hearing about your daily life. Thank you so much for sharing. Glad you enjoyed your chicken dinner. I guess some times you just have to find "normal" especially in the Congo. I love and respect you.
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