Today was a slow day. Poli Poli as they say here in Kiswahili. Africa does not do things on a "schedule". They just do. Brother Felix is a great monk here at the Center. He is constantly doing things and yet nothing seems to get done, but the difference is that he is not bothered by it. Most people I know would throw a fit if they were working themselves into the ground and nothing was getting done.
It's not the activity but the outlook that is just so different here. I'm not quite sure how to explain it, but I'll try nonetheless.
I think I need to establish some points of comparison. First I'll take my experience of Mayan Mexico. They're lazy. You know the saying if it isn't broken don't fix it? Well, they take that to a whole new level. If it won't kill you, leave it alone. That's how they go through life. At a lazy pace, doing things when it's convenient. The thing about the Mayans that was so frustrating to myself and the other volunteers was that they were just floating in life, and they didn't seem to want anything but to live relatively purposeless.
That's the first point.
The second will be the Western Man. We will not stop until we have found the most efficient, convenient, and cost effective method for any activity or system or activity systems. We have an internal need to progress and do better in a purely physical sense as opposed the ancients want for transcendental things. We are so driven to complete tasks and are totally confused by those who linger.
Africans. They're sort of in the center. They want to move forward but can't seem to care enough. They want to want to move forward. Very similar to my academic experience. I wanted to want to study for my exams. Hah. On the other hand, however, living state does not seem to be of much concern for them at all! The city of Nairobi, after going downtown once, I'm convinced was an absolutely beautiful city. It might have had some electrical and water infrastructure issues, but in an architectural way it must have been very pretty. The evidence is there today but they've reused each building and road down to every brick and block of asphalt 100 times over. I won't even compare the slums, but here's the real kicker: everyone has really really clean clothes! EVEN IN THE SLUMS. All clothes look brand new. Sometimes I'll see someone wearing a shirt with a permanent stain, but oh my goodness their clothes are cleaner than mine at college using ultra bleach and dryer towelettes.
So when it comes to it. All of this affects even time itself. They always make their meals and tea times(used to be a British Province), and they are always running around looking busy. Everyone will stop what they are doing and talk to you. Tomorrow is always a better day to accomplish something.
One thing that is essentially different from both the Mayans and the Westerners is the commitment to education of the kids. Maybe the children aren't educated that well, but boy does everyone give everything they have to give it their best shot. People with college degrees are living in the slums, and they are happily sharing their knowledge with the children.
I haven't figured out the value system here. But it's certainly interesting to say the least.
-Harris Moriarty
PS
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PPS
Here's a giant slug.
TIA
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