A day of rice and getting work done

I used to work in a children's museum. And not the kind of museum that you look at art work. So I know how to do work in loud hectic places. 

However, I was extremely impressed with the community health workers last week. These working conditions were ones I hope to never be faced with again.

It was partially my fault. I waited until the last minute to gather the women to prepare our radio program. This weeks program was about respiratory infections and the two community health workers were from a village across the way and they happen to be having a party on the day that we had to prepare out program. 

(Respiratory infections are quite an issue in the villages of Madagascar because I the methods of cooking over fire in the house or in right quarters.)

It had to be done. So, I marched over to the party, dodging drunk men and attempting to dodge the drunk women as well. But in the attempt of not being welcomed into houses, I lost my way. 

 Fenoarivobe is one of the larger villages I work in and so the very similar houses are placed closely together creating a maze like establishment. I needed help. But with people dancing and singing and drinking and playing dominos, I felt as if I was interrupting but luckily being the only one not celebrating, people caught on and escorted me to my destination. 

Once finding the community health workers we sat in a house overflowing with eager children and work began immediately, as if nothing was going on. 

The two of them created an educational story to tell on the radio while men came tumbling into the homes, children pulled on their clothes, and chickens ran in and out of the house. They greeted people that came by, they were cooking dinner for handfuls, they were teaching me about the festival and getting the job done. They finished the program in an hour or so and the doctor happily approved of the health message. 

I'm impressed with these women not only because they can work in noisy situations but because they didn't even hesitate to say yes to working during a village party. They didn't tell me to come back later or say "maybe tomorrow". They happily invited me into their homes, to join the celebration, to get the job done and done well. 

I was amazed that these two women wore multiple hats in one afternoon, of mothers, friends, hosts and health workers, and that is why I'm impressed, proud and honored to work with such wonderful people. 

The party that day is in celebration of harvesting their rice as a village. They fold their green rice into small folders made out of leaves and give them to friends and family for another year of good harvest and pour rice on their heads to bless them and of course eat rice, for one entire day!