Learning about humanity through Rwandan people
Many Rwandans I have met speak very good English, but sometimes things translate a bit differently.
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Many Rwandans I have met speak very good English, but sometimes things translate a bit differently.
The other day was the one-month mark for my return home. In less than a month, I will be leaving this crazy, sometimes frustrating, and yet amazingly fulfilling place.
Kigali and Rwanda are both beautiful, but there are certain sacrifices you make living here.
My first week in Rwanda, a few cases of Ebola were reported in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
I can safely say it was Rwanda where, for the first time, I was swarmed by dozens of children.
“Paved roads! We can’t believe you have paved roads!”
I love rain.
I knew it was going to ?happen.
Living in Kigali is like ?living in any big city.
My friends and I were meandering around a Rwandan city we knew nothing about, all because we thought we had seen a sign that said “ice cream.”
In a region of Rwandan called Bugesera, there sits a genocide memorial site inside Nyamata Church, where about 10,000 men, women and children lost their lives in 1994.
KIGALI, Rwanda — In my neighborhood, dirt roads suddenly turn into concrete.
When I told friends and family that I would be traveling to Rwanda for an entire semester, I got two typical responses.
Almost all students start their first year of college stocked with everything they could possibly need. Band-aids, toothpaste, dental floss, granola bars, cold medicine, loose-leaf paper, etc. Move-in day is full of over-prepared freshmen and their anxious parents making last minute trips to Wal-Mart for socks or an extra toothbrush.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU-Bloomington is undergoing a federal investigation for its handling of sexual harassment cases as part of a nationwide effort to improve how college campuses respond to sexual assault.Contrary to initial reports, this investigation is not random. Education department spokeswoman Dorie Nolt said information from parents and advocacy groups, statistical data and other forms of information sparked an investigation at IU “to remedy possible violations of students’ rights.” This type of investigation is exactly what IU and colleges around the country need. I am proud to go to a school that usually treats sexual assault seriously and a school that had Slutwalk and a surge of anti-sexual assault programs in anticipation of Little 500. Our freshman orientation features an anti-sexual assault segment, and we have a 24-hour Sexual Assault Crisis Service at the IU Health Center. The Indiana Daily Student has made reporting instances of sexual assault and rape a priority. But despite the number of resources IU already has available, we have to keep talking about it. We have to keep working towards a solution. The national statistics are pretty bad. For women, they’re worse, but college men are also victims of sexual violence. Ultimately, though, the exact statistics don’t even matter. For example, IU is only obligated to report rapes on IU-owned property and many go unreported. One sexual assault of an IU student is already too many. The good news is not only are college campuses becoming more accountable, the White House is also getting involved. Last week, it released a video featuring the president and a string of male celebrities speaking about preventing sexual assault. The way to prevent sexual assault is to stop it at the source, and the majority of sources are men. But this is not a men vs. women issue, a stance that simultaneously insults both sexes. It’s an issue of rape vs. not rape. We need to work through the stereotypes “boys will be boys” who can’t help themselves, women are either helpless victims or at fault for the way they dress and the idea it is always women who are raped. None of these are true. The White House video was an amazing step to defeat these stereotypes. Even James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, took part in the video, proving you can still be the height of masculinity and care about sexual assault. IU’s pre-Little 500 “Don’t Rape” program for men was another step in the right direction. It was a much more effective method than just telling girls to watch their backs and carry pepper spray. I hope the current investigation does not reveal IU mishandled any sexual assault cases, but I recognize the importance of such an investigation. As long as sexual assaults are still happening, there is a need for preventative programs, treatment for victims and overall awareness. It’s about time schools are accountable for incidents of sexual assault. cjellert@indiana.edu @cjellert
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s tough being a liberal arts major these days. Actually, it’s tough being any major these days. We hear how our college degree is worth less than it would have been 20 years ago, and that’s true. The rate of unemployed recent college graduates in 2009-2011 was higher than it’s been during the past two decades. The bad economy left over from the Great Recession seems to factor in our generation’s college decisions, even when most people don’t know exactly what that means.What we do know is that current prospects for college degrees are bad — but without a degree, it’s even worse. So many of us choose the slightly better bet and cross our fingers, hoping it pays off. Literally. The good news is not every major company agrees that only specific college degrees equal success. It’s possible to be idealistic and ambitious. The New York Times, for example, recently released a set of tips from the head of hiring at Google. Not only does Google not care about your major, they apparently don’t even care that you have a degree, saying that talent and grit is more important than a formal education. But for the most part, we can’t count on future employers being so open and flexible. With grim unemployment statistics, many students are pulled towards the more “practical” majors — the ones that may not guarantee you a job, but at least give you better odds. Majoring in English and political science, I’ve always known that I’m not taking a very practical path. But I also knew that a “sensible” degree wouldn’t guarantee me a job anyway. So I decided to do something idealistic and possibly naive — I majored in what I wanted. College may feel useless at times. We’ve all had those existential moments sitting in a lecture. For liberal arts majors like myself, we’ve all had too many people ask what we plan to do with our lives when we would like to know ourselves. The point is, none of us really know for sure what we’re doing. And that’s okay. Maybe I am idealistic and naive, but I can’t imagine taking the “practical” path. Maybe because today, there really is no such thing. Maybe seeking a traditional or more stable major will guarantee us a job, and then money, and thus a happy life — so the theory goes. And it doesn’t even work all the time anymore.Some of us, though, are ditching so-called practicality. I get to learn how to think. I get to practice analyzing and critical thinking, and as a result, I feel more prepared to find my way in the “real world.” The practical path isn’t for everyone. Nor is it the only path of value. The moment we stop valuing critical thinking and creativity, we inhibit progress. We need these skills in our society. So maybe my little liberal arts major isn’t so bad after all. The moral is, find your own path. Because there isn’t just one. cjellert@indiana.edu@cjellert
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Every time I go on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, I’m reminded we live in a time where we think everyone wants to look at pictures of ourselves. All the time. I had the amazing opportunity to see Meryl Streep receive an honorary doctorate Wednesday at the IU Auditorium. Other than the fact that Meryl is perfect in every way — and yes, we’re on first-name basis now — the biggest thing I took away from her talk was when she spoke of being “unselfconscious.”Streep will appear in the upcoming movie “Suffragette” portraying Emmeline Pankhurst, a real-life figure in Britain’s women’s suffrage movement. There is only one video that exists of this woman, because that’s how rare that sort of media was at the time. She was unaware of how her movements looked or how she appeared to other people because she didn’t really need to be. Unlike us, Pankhurst was not used to her “outer performance.”This is one of the major issues with constantly taking selfies. We’re so focused and legitimately concerned about how we’re perceived on Facebook or Instagram that it’s actually affecting us.I’m part of the social media generation, and I’ve looked at way too many pictures of myself. I’ve also learned the eating and showering habits of way too many people. Yet I’ve also heard the argument that selfies, social media and technology are ruining the world. And I think it’s an exaggeration. Sure, teenagers have always been narcissistic. Now they just have a better way of expressing it. However, there is a major difference between Emmeline Pankhurst’s generation and ours.Rather than being consumed by trying to find their best angle, they used their time to do other things. Like, you know, political activism. Instead, we’re preoccupied with the selfie you take alone in your bedroom, where you can try dozens of different angles until you find the “Just woke up! #nomakeup” picture to post. The obsession with appearances is a problem for everyone in the age of oversharing, but it also has other consquences. Often it becomes a bigger problem for young girls, who already are taught a very specific standard and expectation for beauty. That’s where girls’ obsession with the “best angle” comes from, how girls learn to take the picture from above to eliminate a double chin or how to tilt their heads to make their cheeks look thinner. There is something sad in the fact that we’ve all lost a sense of “unselfconsciousness.” That we’ve had to look at way too many pictures of ourselves so we do know about bad angles, bad lighting, bad poses. For young people especially, it’s just another way to feel self-conscious. As we get older, it’s just another way to hold onto our obsession with ourselves. I want to go back to a time when we didn’t know or care what we looked like to other people. I wish that we could give up selfies and constant documentation for this kind of peace.I wonder what we would look like if we knew no one was watching. Or Instagramming. cjellert@indiana.edu@cjellert
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>April 8 was Equal Pay Day, a time for debate about the gender pay gap — and the accusations that it is actually a “myth.” The controversy has to do with the oft-cited statistic that women earn 77 cents to every dollar a man earns.According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, once you take into account difference in occupation and number of hours men tend to work compared to women, the pay gap shrinks to about 88 percent. “The supposed pay gap appears when marriage and children enter the picture,” the article argues. The two male authors say that because the pay gap doesn’t always have to do with obvious discrimination, the pay gap is a myth — employers don’t actively check off a box marked “77 cents” for every woman they hire. This argument blatantly ignores the power societal expectations and gender roles have on the gap.Overall, the arguments against the gender wage gap grossly oversimplify the many factors and statistics that come into play. It’s partly the fault of the rhetoric President Obama and Democrats have used to frame their argument. During Saturday’s weekly address, the president compared current workplace policies to a “Mad Men” episode. This analogy makes it seem as if all gender discrimination today is as blatantly obvious as it is in “Mad Men.”Granted, like the president, I am not convinced that the “Mad Men” era of sexism is over, as evidenced by the number of sexual harassment lawsuits that still are filed today.But the comparison oversimplifies the number of social factors that account for the wage gap — a concept difficult to grasp because it requires us to distinguish between personal choice and reinforced gender roles.The idea that women give up their careers for their families always by choice is wrong.The United States does not provide much flexibility in its maternity- or paternity-leave policies and is notably different from other developed countries. The system makes it difficult for both parents to remain in the workforce.Since the U.S. does not offer paid leave for mothers or fathers or child assistance, at least one parent usually has to remain at home with the children. Because of gender norms and the fact that women physically need time to recover after childbirth, it is usually the mother who stays at home — without pay. Then there are discrepancies within the women who do work full-time. The Bureau of Labor Statistics collected data showing that of 115 jobs cited, men out-earned women in all but three categories.This is within both traditionally “male” careers, such as finance and accounting, and also traditionally “feminine” careers, such as teaching and nursing. It is difficult to know exactly what accounts for these differences, and certainly the lack of policy that enables women to better balance work and family comes into play. But there is also room for other types of discrimination. So yes, there is a gender pay gap. I am more inclined to attribute its causes to the social structure that makes us subconsciously categorize men as the primary breadwinners, even though that is not always the case. Ultimately, though, the biggest takeaway from recent debates is that the gender wage gap debate is more complicated than a sound bite or a headline. cjellert@indiana.edu
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Interfaith Winter Shelter closed for the summer April 1, leaving 50-some guests sleeping on the streets.Finding a replacement shelter for the summer is complicated, mostly because the support for the only low-barrier overnight shelter in Bloomington is just not there. Out of the roughly 3.5 million people experiencing homelessness each year in the United States, 35 percent are families with children, 23 percent are U.S. military veterans, 25 percent are children under the age of 18, and 30 percent have experienced domestic violence. Drug and alcohol addiction only affects about 20 percent of the population of people experiencing homelessness, a much lower number than the traditional stereotype.Often, the stress of homelessness exacerbates these substance abuse problems, creating a dangerous cycle that is difficult to break. According to an April 1 Indiana Daily Student article, Interfaith is the only shelter in Bloomington that does not require its tenants to be sober — the only requirement is respectful behavior. Drug addicts should certainly be given the tools to overcome their disease, but there are countless other reasons that people can be turned down from high-barrier shelters for simpler reasons than addiction. In all Bloomington shelters other than Interfaith, tenants have to be Monroe Country citizens and be able to prove it with documentation. They also frequently have to be free of bedbugs, agree with the shelter’s associated religion, be willing to be separate from their spouse and be free from mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder. In other words, we have high expectations for those who already have the lowest chances.People experiencing homelessness have some of the lowest chances of finding employment. Employers rarely accept applications without a permanent address listed, and they consider time spent in a homeless shelter to indicate a risky applicant. Often, the very efforts people experiencing homelessness make to better their situations are met with hostility from employers. One barrier is destroyed only to have another one pop up. Mayor Mark Kruzan has said he does not support the summer shelter, because he believes it encourages out-of-town homeless people to come to Bloomington. The city simply does not have the resources to sustain an influx of homeless people, he said. Really, the problem is about image — the mayor does not want to have Bloomington known for its homeless population.The lack of volunteers and resources, however, is a valid logistical problem that has prevented Interfaith from finding a replacement shelter for the summer. And it stems from the fact that because of negative and untrue stereotypes, many members of the Bloomington community frankly don’t care. Shelters do not solve the issue of poverty, but they do provide the bare bones of survival. Shelters are not hammocks — they’re lifelines.By rejecting low-barrier summer shelters, the Bloomington community as a whole is giving up on those who need help the most. Everyone deserves a chance. cjellert@indiana.edu@cjellert
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A University of North Carolina student athlete received an A- on one of the most terrible final papers I have ever read.He received special treatment so he could continue doing what he came to one of the nation’s top academic institutions to do — play ball. An essay about Rosa Parks deserves more than a single paragraph of made-up dialogue and factual errors. I wasn’t surprised to hear of a student athlete receiving special treatment. Luckily, IU has not been exposed to such blatant accusations of special treatment for athletes. But it’s not that much of a stretch. Last October, Athletic Director Fred Glass said the average student athlete GPA is 3.15, and 57 percent of student athletes have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. At IU, if a student has a GPA below 2.0, they are put on academic probation. I can only hope that the 57 percent of student athletes who have a 3.0 or higher genuinely earned these grades because they deserved them. Keep in mind that the overall culture of Big Ten schools places a high importance on athletics.In the case of IU, sports are an integral part of school spirit and identity. A crowded Assembly Hall can bring students together like almost nothing else can. Some believe that a successful sports team increases alumni donations, although studies have shown that this connection is not always strong throughout the nation. But I can’t ignore the clear unfairness that comes with giving only certain students a grade boost. It’s important to examine our own habits and actions at IU. We should not hero-worship student athletes and turn a blind eye to academic indiscretions that hurt both athletes and the credibility of the institution. You could make a case for a million different circumstances that require a teacher to boost a student’s grade besides athletic involvement. If UNC or any school boosts athletes’ grades, they must also consider the needs of other students. Although I think academics are extremely important, I know that not everyone wants to take that path. It’s not an issue of academic snobbery or a clear-cut sports versus academics debate. Student athletes must be both students and athletes. If the UNC student is too busy to write a decent paper on Rosa Parks, he shouldn’t be taking classes at all. The university is failing him by failing to provide a proper education. The reason this paper stood out, and that someone decided to expose the student and school via Twitter, is partly because it is so disrespectful to an important American historical figure. If this student was too involved with sports practice and games to write a “final paper” longer than a single paragraph, we should consider how to better the balance between sport and study. cjellert@indiana.edu