Field mission report

I had a fantastic time!!

My flight was delayed on the first day, so I could not reach the final destination. We (me and the driver) stayed in a small town on the way. The district where I went is some 4.5 hours drive from the nearest airport. I wa

s able to monitor the GBV training. It was good to get to talk to the facilitators and get their views on how the overall training (this was the 4th one) has been going. Every time I go to the field I learned new things. I was (almost) clueless when I came here for the first time, but I feel that I have come a long way. The participants of the workshop were sharing some cultural practices (harmful and considered as gender based violence) in the far west area. For instance, it is still quite preval

ent to send women who are menstruatin

g or after a child birth to a cowshed, as they are regarded "polluted". Some communities practice "bride price" (yes take out your cultural anthropology 101 textbook), which promotes a child marriage. Girls are kidnaped to be married off etc etc. It is really infuriating to see women are treated in so many many dehumanizing ways.

Anyhow, I really appreciate such an opportunity to interact with people and observe workshops etc.

On the 2nd day, I tag along with my colleague to monitor some activities in villages. We drove about 40 mins and got off the car. I was told "we will be walking for 30 mins or so" which was fine with me until finding out later that I had to cross a river on bare feet! I realized that my colleague was not joking when him and other man (chairperson of a NGO) started taking off their shoes.... The water came up to my knee on some spots and the water was chilly!! I had to say "this was not on the ToR!!!"

We arrived in the village and I was welcome by a group of people with marigold flower garlands. I felt so out of place as I had no idea that this was such a big deal. I was in jeans that were wet and had dirt marks all over. We interacted with women who are taking part in reproductive health class (learning about pregnancies, HIV/AIDs, personal hygiene among other things) watched a street drama on HIV/AIDs. Another village visited was a dalit (low caste and so-called "untouchables") community.

Of course, I always enjoyed other aspects of going to the field. I had no shower for 3 long days, was too cold (ah~!), seretly wearing my pajama pants under my jeans, had tea with black pepper, was invited for breakfast at my colleague's, bought local walnuts and oranges, took an evening walk and finally had a small accident with a samosa which had a big chunk of chilly!*! Many small adventures....