Our neighbors are becoming more than just people who wave a greeting as we pass. We had dinner with the ones directly across the street this evening and found them to be good conversationalists with some very interesting experiences. She works with special needs high school kids, he currently designs and repairs jewelry for several local shops. Before moving back to the states, he spent many years as a language and skills instructor in the heart of equatorial Africa. We talked at length about his perceptions of the African peoples and the general mess that is the nature of most political and social structures in that region.
One of his insights was there is no real sense of community there. People just have no concept of group effort to benefit the entire community. They will hunt in packs, but co-operation to build roads or wells or sewer systems is unheard of. Life is hard and individual need trumps group benefit. All effort needs immediate reward, instant gratification. Planning today for future needs is not only nonexistent, it really is beyond the imagination. He spoke knowledgeably of Voodoo and Magic, and compared that mind set with European Christian values.
He told the story of a dictator who was ousted, after plundering the nations wealth, and who was replaced with a crusading native with dreams of democracy. The citizens tired of him, with his foreign notions, and replaced him with another democratically elected President. This person also quickly fell from the peoples favour, again because he tried to instill European ideas of equality. Who was next in the line? The people elected the ousted Dictator! The one who stole everything from them at the beginning of this tale! Once again they're under his guns. They are more comfortable with a Devil they understand than with someone who tried new ideas in hopes of bringing better conditions to their lives. After his election, he banned democracy. It was an interesting conversation.
Two of her daughters were present, but his three boys and her other two children live elsewhere. The daughters and their boyfriends, whom we met, were smart, outgoing and courteous. Carolyn's difficulties were met with understanding and grace. No special treatment nor condescending attitudes at that table, she was a treasured guest who belonged there.
You just never know who you're gonna get when a move is made to a new place. It seems we've been fortunate. With any luck at all, we'll soon meet the neighbors in charge of improving the weather and will be able to request one or two minor changes - like, ya know, some Sunshine?
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