Full Bellies, Full Hearts
Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11: 28-30
Is it really May already? It seems that Christmas and New Years just passed and here it is, almost summer again. Last year at this time I was home with my family in College Station, indefinitely. We were, just as everyone was, hunkered down together, ordering groceries, baking banana bread, doing puzzles, and watching movies. As a family, it didn’t take us long to settle into an at-home routine and get quite comfortable not leaving the house, except for when it was absolutely necessary. Even my sister Lauren, who was a senior in high school at the time, became accustomed to staying home, spending Friday nights taking bike rides with her older sister instead of out with friends. This past week she finished her first year of college at the University of North Texas, and is now home again, soon to be fully vaccinated, and ready for a normal teenage summer with her friends. I’m sure you have spent many passing moments considering how different life looks now than it did a year ago. Maybe the introverted side of you has been mourning the loss of time alone and the thought of social commitments floods you with stress and anxiety. Or maybe it’s the opposite for you. Maybe you were feeling too isolated, too alone, and you are relieved to once again be fueled by busy schedules and gatherings. My guess is that most people, like me, are somewhere in the middle, struggling to find a balance between the peace and solitude they love and the connection with the rest of the world that they need.
Even now, nine months after coming back to Tanzania where COVID precautions are pretty much non-existent, I am struggling to find that balance. I usually only leave the school compound once a week (Joseph and I have dinner at the same restaurant in town every Friday), and when I’m not in class teaching, I’m at home reading, working on lesson plans, or watching T.V. I find myself fiercely protecting my unscheduled time, and whenever there is a special event, I have to mentally gear myself up for it. Now, did my introverted self do this even before COVID? Yes, I’m sure, to some degree. But four months of lockdown cemented those most introverted tendencies in me, and it’s something I’m still struggling with today. If you’re feeling some of this too, know that you’re not alone, and it’s okay to be open about it, especially with those who seem to be on the opposite end of the spectrum. I bet, even the most social among us, have struggled too.
Speaking of special events, last Monday was a big day for the seventh graders here at KEMPS. We had just finished their vocational skills lesson on cooking before the Easter holiday, which meant it was time for one of the most anticipated days of the year – their cooking “practical”. The class chose six recipes from their textbook, and then divided themselves into groups of six or seven. They studied the ingredients and calculated how much of each item was necessary to cook enough for all 45 students, plus a few teachers. Then they gave each group member a job- some would wash the fruits or potatoes, some would cut vegetables, some would clean the dishes when they were finished. After I reviewed their lists of ingredients, Joseph helped me gather and prepare everything for the big day, including five live chickens which he slaughtered, de-feathered, and prepped the night before.
On Monday morning I was up early to make sure everything was ready. I had done a cooking day like this in Morogoro, and I remembered how stressful it was having all the kids in the house. Most of them didn’t have a job to do and the food to way longer to prepare than we expected. It was so hot in the house with multiple stoves going and so many bodies all together, and when it was over, there was a huge mess to be cleaned up. So this time, I tried my best to plan ahead and avoid some of those stressors. Madam Peace volunteered to help me with the cooking, and she prepared an area outside to fry fish and chips using small charcoal stoves with two groups. Joseph’s groups were making fresh fruit juice and roasted peanuts and they would work outside on the porch. My groups were making pancakes and baked chicken, so they would work in the kitchen and use the electric stove.
At nine o’clock the kids were anxiously waiting to start their jobs. Madam Peace started overseeing her groups as they washed and peeled potatoes and cleaned their fish. Joseph’s juice group got to work washing and slicing fruit, and the pancake crew rushed into the kitchen and started their prep as well. I advised them when the batter was too thick and helped them flip the first couple, but other than that, they managed themselves. After any dish was used, a student took it to the sink and washed it well with soapy water. If there was a spill, another student quickly found a towel to wipe it up. Students from the groups working outside were always popping in and out of the kitchen, asking for extra bowls or washing used utensils. At around eleven thirty, my group had made fifty pancakes and then cleaned the kitchen, and Joseph’s group had filled five large jugs with juice. Madam Peace had her groups working in shifts to fry all the necessary potatoes and pieces of fish. The group who was cooking chicken came in to get started while the roasted peanuts group did their prep work. I gave them a large basin filled ten chickens (five from the supermarket), and they immediately got to work chopping the raw meat into pieces. Then they placed them back in the basin and marinated the meat with lemon, salt, and minced garlic. I watched them, my thirteen and fourteen year old students, and imagined me and my friends when we were their age. None of us would’ve been able to, or comfortable chopping up a chicken like that, and here my students were, just taking charge like it was no big deal. After the chicken had marinated, I showed them how to bread it using eggs and milk, and a mixture of breadcrumbs, salt, and chili powder. They quickly formed an assembly line and filled the baking sheets with the breaded chicken. Once it was in the oven, they sent members from the group periodically to use the meat thermometer to check the temperature, until all of the pieces had reached 160 degrees.
By two o’clock, all of the food was done, and a serving table was set outside. The students made a semi-circle with their chairs and stared at the food with big eyes, waiting to get in line. Each group introduced their food and how they prepared it, thanked the teacher who assisted them, and then one student said a prayer for the food before the students made a long line to get the lunch they had worked all day to prepare. At school, the students have only two different foods for lunch and dinner – rice and ugali, both served with beans – so to have such a diverse spread, especially meat, was a huge treat. The class sat in near silence eating their food. I noticed them taking small bites and sips, trying to savor it all. Some of them even used small pieces of foil to save bits of chicken or fish to have with their dinner later. When everyone had finished, each group stood and we thanked them for their hard work with applause and cheers. At their request, Joseph grabbed our small speaker and played some music for them. They made a dance floor in the middle of their chairs and they danced and danced and danced. They kept requesting songs and saying, “just one more, please, just one more Mr. Joseph!” After an hour or so, they decided it was time to start cleaning up. All of the serving utensils were brought inside to be washed, dried, and put away. They put away every chair and table, and they swept and mopped all of the floors in our house where muddy feet had been tracking all day. And before they left, they thanked me for such a great day. You could see on their faces that their bellies and hearts were full. Mine was, too.
The house was quiet after all of the students had left. I thought Joseph must’ve been outside checking on the chickens or the dogs. I closed the curtains and switched off the lights, before going into the bedroom to relax for a little while, and there was Joseph, already passed out on our bed. It took us both a couple days to recover from the excitement. I guess that’s what got me thinking about this balance between connection with others and time to ourselves in our safe places. I need, those exciting, busy, connection filled days in my life to fill me up. While they may drain the parts of me that are filled by times of separation, they bring joy and laughter and love that fills in a way that being in my own little bubble never can. And if this is true for me, then I think it is probably true for most people. So if you, like me, are still trying to find the balance between the two, don’t give up. Just take it day by day. Hour by hour. But don’t give up. Connection is worth it.
Even now, nine months after coming back to Tanzania where COVID precautions are pretty much non-existent, I am struggling to find that balance. I usually only leave the school compound once a week (Joseph and I have dinner at the same restaurant in town every Friday), and when I’m not in class teaching, I’m at home reading, working on lesson plans, or watching T.V. I find myself fiercely protecting my unscheduled time, and whenever there is a special event, I have to mentally gear myself up for it. Now, did my introverted self do this even before COVID? Yes, I’m sure, to some degree. But four months of lockdown cemented those most introverted tendencies in me, and it’s something I’m still struggling with today. If you’re feeling some of this too, know that you’re not alone, and it’s okay to be open about it, especially with those who seem to be on the opposite end of the spectrum. I bet, even the most social among us, have struggled too.
Speaking of special events, last Monday was a big day for the seventh graders here at KEMPS. We had just finished their vocational skills lesson on cooking before the Easter holiday, which meant it was time for one of the most anticipated days of the year – their cooking “practical”. The class chose six recipes from their textbook, and then divided themselves into groups of six or seven. They studied the ingredients and calculated how much of each item was necessary to cook enough for all 45 students, plus a few teachers. Then they gave each group member a job- some would wash the fruits or potatoes, some would cut vegetables, some would clean the dishes when they were finished. After I reviewed their lists of ingredients, Joseph helped me gather and prepare everything for the big day, including five live chickens which he slaughtered, de-feathered, and prepped the night before.
On Monday morning I was up early to make sure everything was ready. I had done a cooking day like this in Morogoro, and I remembered how stressful it was having all the kids in the house. Most of them didn’t have a job to do and the food to way longer to prepare than we expected. It was so hot in the house with multiple stoves going and so many bodies all together, and when it was over, there was a huge mess to be cleaned up. So this time, I tried my best to plan ahead and avoid some of those stressors. Madam Peace volunteered to help me with the cooking, and she prepared an area outside to fry fish and chips using small charcoal stoves with two groups. Joseph’s groups were making fresh fruit juice and roasted peanuts and they would work outside on the porch. My groups were making pancakes and baked chicken, so they would work in the kitchen and use the electric stove.
At nine o’clock the kids were anxiously waiting to start their jobs. Madam Peace started overseeing her groups as they washed and peeled potatoes and cleaned their fish. Joseph’s juice group got to work washing and slicing fruit, and the pancake crew rushed into the kitchen and started their prep as well. I advised them when the batter was too thick and helped them flip the first couple, but other than that, they managed themselves. After any dish was used, a student took it to the sink and washed it well with soapy water. If there was a spill, another student quickly found a towel to wipe it up. Students from the groups working outside were always popping in and out of the kitchen, asking for extra bowls or washing used utensils. At around eleven thirty, my group had made fifty pancakes and then cleaned the kitchen, and Joseph’s group had filled five large jugs with juice. Madam Peace had her groups working in shifts to fry all the necessary potatoes and pieces of fish. The group who was cooking chicken came in to get started while the roasted peanuts group did their prep work. I gave them a large basin filled ten chickens (five from the supermarket), and they immediately got to work chopping the raw meat into pieces. Then they placed them back in the basin and marinated the meat with lemon, salt, and minced garlic. I watched them, my thirteen and fourteen year old students, and imagined me and my friends when we were their age. None of us would’ve been able to, or comfortable chopping up a chicken like that, and here my students were, just taking charge like it was no big deal. After the chicken had marinated, I showed them how to bread it using eggs and milk, and a mixture of breadcrumbs, salt, and chili powder. They quickly formed an assembly line and filled the baking sheets with the breaded chicken. Once it was in the oven, they sent members from the group periodically to use the meat thermometer to check the temperature, until all of the pieces had reached 160 degrees.
By two o’clock, all of the food was done, and a serving table was set outside. The students made a semi-circle with their chairs and stared at the food with big eyes, waiting to get in line. Each group introduced their food and how they prepared it, thanked the teacher who assisted them, and then one student said a prayer for the food before the students made a long line to get the lunch they had worked all day to prepare. At school, the students have only two different foods for lunch and dinner – rice and ugali, both served with beans – so to have such a diverse spread, especially meat, was a huge treat. The class sat in near silence eating their food. I noticed them taking small bites and sips, trying to savor it all. Some of them even used small pieces of foil to save bits of chicken or fish to have with their dinner later. When everyone had finished, each group stood and we thanked them for their hard work with applause and cheers. At their request, Joseph grabbed our small speaker and played some music for them. They made a dance floor in the middle of their chairs and they danced and danced and danced. They kept requesting songs and saying, “just one more, please, just one more Mr. Joseph!” After an hour or so, they decided it was time to start cleaning up. All of the serving utensils were brought inside to be washed, dried, and put away. They put away every chair and table, and they swept and mopped all of the floors in our house where muddy feet had been tracking all day. And before they left, they thanked me for such a great day. You could see on their faces that their bellies and hearts were full. Mine was, too.
The house was quiet after all of the students had left. I thought Joseph must’ve been outside checking on the chickens or the dogs. I closed the curtains and switched off the lights, before going into the bedroom to relax for a little while, and there was Joseph, already passed out on our bed. It took us both a couple days to recover from the excitement. I guess that’s what got me thinking about this balance between connection with others and time to ourselves in our safe places. I need, those exciting, busy, connection filled days in my life to fill me up. While they may drain the parts of me that are filled by times of separation, they bring joy and laughter and love that fills in a way that being in my own little bubble never can. And if this is true for me, then I think it is probably true for most people. So if you, like me, are still trying to find the balance between the two, don’t give up. Just take it day by day. Hour by hour. But don’t give up. Connection is worth it.
Mungu akubariki,
Allee
Madam Peace with her fish and chips groups
Dance party!
Comments
Post a Comment