The Walking School Bus

from Elliott
There is a primary school we pass each day that is on a busy tarred road at the crest of a hill. Cars and trucks often drive over the speed limit through the area. To complicate matters there are no sidewalks or footpaths and the grass is often 3-4 feet high at the pavement edge. The result is young children walking in the lane of traffic and crossing in blind areas. Unfortunately, there have been numerous children hit and killed in that location. We have even witnessed one of the deaths. Tragic.

Finally there was enough community outrage that a number of things have happened. Something as simple as a road hump was added and now there are crossing guards with reflective vests. But just the other day I noticed that there are groups of young children that walk along the road with an adult in a single file. For their safety even they are given reflective vests. And on the vests are the words, 'Walking School Bus.'

While many students ride in minibus taxis, I have not seen what I understand as a school bus here- that is the yellow and black type we know in the US. Regardless of what the reflective vest says, I hope that I never witness another young child killed at Ebenezer Primary School.

The Price of Being an American

from Katherine
We were in the hot, dusty market town of Bizana recently for one of our small business development classes. I had to make a run to the market for supplies to cater the lunch and overheard (and participated in) a conversation of the older couple in front of me.

Husband to Wife: "Let's buy some mushrooms for you to make for dinner for me tonight."
Wife to Husband: "No, I am not buying mushrooms. Just let me shop."
Husband to Wife: "You are always telling me what to do. You sound like one of those American women on the soapies!"

Then someone gives the man a nudge and then points to me. The man looks at me and shrugs his shoulders and apologises. I tell him, "Don't worry, I don't think the women on the soapies speak nicely to their husbands either!

Unfortunately, we bear a burden as Americans from how we are portrayed in television - American or otherwise.  Perhaps our behavior is instructive more so when we are 'counter cultural.' At first I wondered, how did they know I was American and then I remembered that even for those that do not know us personally we are known of here in this town for the work we do and because we stand out just a bit!