MUMENA, Zambia - My sister's second grade class (in Las Vegas) and my ninth grade students recently begun exchanging letters.
This pen pal program is a cultural exchange that I'm more than happy to take part in, although I wasn't prepared for the task at hand. It took more than four class periods just to explain the contents to my students.
My ninth graders have never heard of McDonalds, Disney-On-Ice, yellow school buses, music or art class, lasana, pets, JCPenny or shopping malls.
While they haven't been exposed to American privileges and commercialism, they have heard of things like guns, short skirts and Kesha.
The only things they know about America they learn from the rare occasion that they get to watch TV at a relative or neighbor's house.
In fact, when I first came to Mumena, I told one of my college-educated neighbors that I'm from Las Vegas. He proceeded to ask if I'm afraid of the guns that patrons freely carry around the casinos. Am I afraid that a person playing poker next to me will shoot me?
Sometimes it reigns true that America gets a bad reputation from the entertainment industry, no? I have to constantly explain that violence is not as common as it may seem, that weddings, obesity, beauty pageants, and other events aren't as dramatic as "reality" television lets on.
While my students got a new perspective from the eyes of second graders, they also got to share a little bit about Zambia. They will learn that sometimes ninth grade English is equivalent to second grade English in the states. They'll learn that most of what they eat comes straight from the ground, rather than prepackaged. They'll also learn that the phrase "I love you" is loosely used here.
In fact many of my students told the second graders that they love them. I even confiscated a few notes between classmates that state, "Baby, I love you like a cup of milk." Whatever happened to, "Will you be my girlfriend? Check yes or no."
Even though it may take time to explain the letters, this project has the ability to change stereotypes of America. Unlike many "media-junkie" adults, my sister's second graders are writing true observations about their day-to-day lives. They're not talking about guns; they're talking about the enjoyment that they find in America - the place that I'm proud to call home.
Gracie Geremia is a Peace Corps volunteer and past Lovelock Relay for Life community coordinator for the American Cancer Society. She is now on a 27-month assignment in Zambia, Africa. The Lovelock Correctional Center sends occasional care packages to Geremia. To be part of this package program contact Lt. Olivas at 273-4279 or donations can be dropped at the LCC gatehouse. The Lovelock Review-Miner will publish periodic updates of her adventures in Africa. Dear America,
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