I feel so much better today. Maybe it's something in the air, or the water, or the food, or the company, but this trip has taken a decided turn for the better. After a great night's sleep that was only interrupted by waking up to to the electricity (and ceiling light) coming on at 5am, we had a lovely quick breakfast of kasha - aka very thin cream of wheat - with trader joe's maple syrup.
The office is located next door to Janice's house which is convenient for commuting and using the wireless internet at all times of day. After a quick introduction to the office, we loaded up and headed along muddy, red roads to a village called Askalon. The scenery was beautiful. Amy has spent the last month traveling throughout the region with her trusty group of interviewers and drivers to find out how a particular program indirectly benefited women in these remote and very traditional villages. The themes she is seeing is that because the young married women
attended these programs on pregnancy, health and breastfeeding, and also received food distributions, they were often able to gain more respect and more openness in their households. Traditionally young brides are seen as very insignificant, controlled by every member of the house, and not allowed to leave the family compound for the first 5-6 years. Their husband and mother-in-law make all the decisions. (photo: Amy in the room where we held the interviews.)
In the home where we were hosted for the interviews, had had a wedding the week before and the hostess brought out plate after plate of sweets, fruit, nuts, breads, and tea and after the interview, they served us lunch. And after all that it made sense to use the "facilities". We had the best loo with a view. A straw lean-to with a view of the river valley and mountains.
This evening Amy, Janice and I made a brief appearance at one of the office staff's going away party. It was an all male gathering, which is extremely typical as women do not meet in public together. And as is also typical, with every toast there is a large swig of vodka of which we were very much encouraged to partake. They do seem to love their vodka. We left early and had a cozy meal back at Janice's house.
I feel so much better today. Maybe it's something in the air, or the water, or the food, or the company, but this trip has taken a decided turn for the better. After a great night's sleep that was only interrupted by waking up to to the electricity (and ceiling light) coming on at 5am, we had a lovely quick breakfast of kasha - aka very thin cream of wheat - with trader joe's maple syrup.
The office is located next door to Janice's house which is convenient for commuting and using the wireless internet at all times of day. After a quick introduction to the office, we loaded up and headed along muddy, red roads to a village called Askalon. The scenery was beautiful. Amy has spent the last month traveling throughout the region with her trusty group of interviewers and drivers to find out how a particular program indirectly benefited women in these remote and very traditional villages. The themes she is seeing is that because the young married women 
attended these programs on pregnancy, health and breastfeeding, and also received food distributions, they were often able to gain more respect and more openness in their households. Traditionally young brides are seen as very insignificant, controlled by every member of the house, and not allowed to leave the family compound for the first 5-6 years. Their husband and mother-in-law make all the decisions. (photo: Amy in the room where we held the interviews.)
In the home where we were hosted for the interviews, had had a wedding the week before and the hostess brought out plate after plate of sweets, fruit, nuts, breads, and tea and after the interview, they served us lunch. And after all that it made sense to use the "facilities". We had the best loo with a view. A straw lean-to with a view of the river valley and mountains.
This evening Amy, Janice and I made a brief appearance at one of the office staff's going away party. It was an all male gathering, which is extremely typical as women do not meet in public together. And as is also typical, with every toast there is a large swig of vodka of which we were very much encouraged to partake. They do seem to love their vodka. We left early and had a cozy meal back at Janice's house.
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