GLOW big or GLOW home, baby!

Oh man oh man… I don’t even know what to say. Today is Sunday, the day after Camp GLOW has ended and the day I had planned on returning back to village. In the grand tradition of not doing the things I thought I would, I am staying in Parakou for one more night to recover from ALL THE EMOTIONS. (I’m trying to say that in such a way that doesn’t sound like I dissolved in a puddle of tears in middle of the bank, but since that is what happened, whatever.)

Camp GLOW was amazing. Top to bottom, left to right, and every which way, it was absolutely incredible. Bethany and I brought six amazing girls from the Peonga girls club (my village is too small for a high school so I’ve been working in Peonga for all high school-y things.) Our journey began when we piled 13-deep in a 6 person car – just the beginning of the “things that would never work in America” list from this week. During the week long camp the fifty-something girls were divided into six teams, each led by two or three volunteers. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but Equipe Violet totally stole the show with our extra-loud cheering section (Devon and I) and our glitter signs and outrageously displays of spirit and camaraderie. Throughout the week the girls participated in sessions for nutrition, hygiene, feminine health, sexual harassment, Q&A’s with professional Mama’s from all over Benin, study skills and goal setting, and the occasional water balloon fights. (It just melted my heart to see these girls just soaking it all up like a sponge, to have someone to talk to, someone to ask questions, someone to play with.) It was the weirdest summer camp I have ever attended – the girls sang songs, like at any old camp I suppose, but the songs were about how if you get malaria you die. I taught a girl how to jump rope. (She was terrible but she loved it.) I mean, is there any girl anywhere in America who doesn’t know how to jump rope??? In America summer camp is extra fun because you’re away from home and doing fun things. In Benin summer camp is fun because you’re away from home and not doing unfun things – this is the first time these girls didn’t have to wake up 5 in the morning to sweep and pull well water and wash clothes and take care of babies. They got to have fun! And study! And be young girls who sing and dance and play!!

As if my heart weren’t melty enough, I taught yoga to an enthusiastic (and patient) group of young ladies. You can only imagine, I’m sure: Et maintenant, on va faire le chien. Et la chien difficile gauche. (Downward dog became difficult dog in french. To make things more interesting we had the tree pose, but then also the tree-with-strong-wind pose, and the tree-who-jumps-around-a-lot-and-giggles pose.) At the end of a very weird week, the girls presented their new yoga skills to the full camp, who seemed impressed but mostly confused. (The volunteers watching were especially confused: “that’s the weirdest yoga I’ve ever seen.”)

Not only did I have my lovely Peonga girls making me all proud-mama-bear happy, but then I had my team Violet girls (totally won the award for best team spirit!), and my yoga girls, and the exemplary girls chosen to come back next year and help. (Oh by the way, I’m helping to run it next year. Wooty woot!) So by the end of the week I am just SOARING on this we-changed-their-LIVES kind of high, and then yesterday I just crashed. I made a scene in the bank, I yelled at a friend, I called America and made ANOTHER scene, I sat in the rain and cried. And that is just SO indicative of what it’s like here, to go from soaring to wailing to drinking gin out of mayo jar to napping in the work station because you are just so emotionally and physically drained. I went HARD this week, and I’m so happy I did because Camp GLOW is by far the most amazing thing I’ve done in this country. Maybe that was the best I have ever felt about myself, who even knows. This country is just kicking my ass – hopefully in a I’m-being-refined-like-a-precious-gem kind of way and not I’m-being-whittled-away-to-nothing kind of way. 

If you are interested in taking a gander at some pictures, feel free to click here! A big huge thank you to everyone who donated to make it happen and to the amazing group of volunteer who came together and made it happen.