Post Traumatic Service Disorder February 22, 2010

Well, so much has happened since my last blog. We worked with Building Tomorrow for 3 days in a remote village where we funded the building of a school. We arrived to a HUGE welcome, the entire community came out to greet us. They had already started the construction process, and were eager to meet the people who donated the money to make the dream of an education for their children a reality. We all gathered under a tent to make our welcomes, and the community expressed its gratitude for our efforts and that they were excited to work side by side with us. Once the meeting broke, we got right in and started to make some magic with the official workers that were hired to help with the construction. We realized that we had to move hundreds of bricks from where they were being made to the other side of the site. The day was blistering hot, and the bricks fairly heavy and dirty. We decided to make a chain of people that could pass each brick from person to person. But our line was pathetically small, and would have only gotten the bricks about 1/10th of the way. Seane (at the front of the process) yells out, “We need more people”. Nothing changes. The men who were there to help were already lined up with us, and most of the women were not sure how they could help so they were just watching Im sure wondering what the hell are we doing. Seane yells out again “More people”. Thats when I looked up and saw a bunch of kids, just sitting under the tent, not sure what they were supposed to be doing. I turned to Seane and said “I got this”. I run to the group of children and say “come, come. We need you.” I started whooping loud, and throwing my hands in the air. Screaming “come on. Lets go”. Next thing you knew I was heading back to the chain with about 80 children (the kids who will actually attend this school) at my heels. We were large, and we were loud. Seane said I looked like Moses leading the people. In just a matter of minutes, we were organized and the bricks were moving. What a powerful experience. The energy on the site began to rev up, and all day long we worked side by side, sweating in the dirt.

The next day was quite different. It was raining! The site was one big mud puddle, but that didn’t stop us. With only a few men from the village and maybe 2-4 mothers rotating in to help, we made some serious progress. You have to realize though that there is no equipment. No machines at all. We spent the day “hoeing” (many jokes throughout the day) and it was hard. We also had to move a ton of filler dirt in wheel barrels across the site. By the time we left were were all COVERED in mud. I feel sorry for our drivers who had to clean our bus, and the hotel staff that had to do the same to the lobby, rooms, and tubs. I always knew that \i was a tough girl. A litttle dirt has never scared me (dont get me wrong though, Im not giving up my luxury sap days) but I truly have never worked so hard. This was the real deal manual labor. The last day there we continued the same work, while many of our group taught the kids yoga, dance and did a bunch of other activities. As much as i’m drawn to the kids, I kept working through the recess…and it felt damn good.

Our outreach work with Off The Mat was officially over. At one of our group sessions we talked about Post Traumatic Service Disorder. How in hell can we possibly be able to process all that we have done and seen on this journey. We cant. I know that I will be forever impacted by what I did and saw while I was here. I have no doubt that it will continue to unfold for many months to come. But, not yet. I still have more travel to come. A few of our peeps had to head straight back including my roomie Sofi (her absence has been my 1st BIG post trauma), and our fearless leaders Seane, and Suzanne. The goodbyes to them and our local guides were one big mushy mess. I cant believe its really over.

The next day the rest of us headed north to our safari. I can not do that experience justice with the limited time and space I have in this entry. But it was incredible. The landscape alone will be burned into my memory forever. We saw a lion, giraffe, lots of monkeys and apes, hippos (including 2 mating….LOL) crocodiles and so much more. We also went to Murchinson Falls (the top by car, and the bottom by boat) which is where the Nile River gets squeezed through a crevice in a large cliff, and crushes down with more power and force than I have ever felt or seen. Absolutely unbelievable.

A very long 2 days of travel by buses, cars and 2 planes, the lingering small group of us made our way through Nairobi all the way to the coast of Kenya at Diani Beach. We are now settled into the most beautiful and peaceful holistic beach retreat center. There are 7 of us, and we have the entire place to ourselves with 2 guards, 2 waiters, a receptionist, a private gourmet vegetarian chef, a therapist (massage & facial) and our own yoga teacher. The yoga hut is a large shaded tiki type pavilion with wood floor. Its open air style allows the ocean breeze to flow through and the entire thing is ocean front. I think I’ve gone to heaven. There is no internet there, so I’m exploring the “town” and am at the internet cafe. We’ll be here for 2 more nights then back to Niobe to spend a few days with Paige and the African Yoga Project.

I’m having an amazing ride here, but I’m still holding you all in my thoughts, prayers and heart.

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