I
am dedicated to crime shows. I’m not really sure where or when this obsession
first took hold, but it has fostered throughout the years. In middle school I’d
watch San Fran’s private detective with Obsessive Complusive Disorders in “Monk” when parents had to go to Young
Life. In high school my brothers and I would stay up for the dynamic pineapple
loving duo of Shawn and Gus in Santa Barbara based “Psych.” I’ve seen the
classic “Miss Marple” and Sherlock Homes that BBC does and the most recent
Sherlocks. During the summers at college I would watch “Murdoch” with Grandma
and “Mysteries at the Museum” with Grandpa. I’ve seen the high school based “Veronica
Mars, ” the chemically altered in “Beauty and the Beast,” and the
anthropologically tied “Bones.” Now, thanks to my amazing Peace Corps buddies,
I’m hooked on “Castle” and “Elementary.”
My
friends and I laughed awhile ago, about all the lessons crime shows teach us.
For example, don’t threaten, just take action. More people are killed on TV
because they threatened to go to the cops then those that actually called out
bad people. Other lessons include: don’t run from cops, avoid cameras, don’t
leave angry voicemails, don’t go into debt, deposit and withdraw money in small
amounts over a large period of time, and call for an ambulance if there was an
accident so you aren’t charged with murder. A bunch of random lessons I hope
none of us have to deal with.
So
what does all of this have to do with Peace Corps? Unlike embassies, we don’t
have diplomatic immunity (like consulates). If something happens…well, Peace
Corps would try to get us out, but it might be awhile. So…getting closer to my
point.
If
you were to teleport into Selekleka right now, all you would have to do is ask
3 people where I am and at least one of them could tell you. Ask the kids and
your odds of finding me improve. People know where I am pretty much all the
time. My name is shouted wherever and whenever I leave my room or compound. I
have found my sitemates by just standing still at market and hearing kids yell
for them! People come up and tell me they saw me or my sitemates like it is
something odd. (“Really? I was walking out of town towards the school?!”) This
could be said for many volunteers. We are “on” all the time whenever we leave
our houses. People are watching us whether we know it or not. We always have
alibis.
These
alibis though aren’t just strangers. They are students, colleagues, friends: an
extension of our family away from home. One, if not the best part, of my job is
becoming integrated into the community that I live in. It’s actually part of my
trimester reporting form to tell Peace Corps how I’m integrating into the
community. I see it as part of my job to learn the language, become familiar
with people, build relationships and really live
in the community I’m a part of.
In
big city America, I walked around in a cloak of invisibility. I didn’t notice
anyone, and didn’t try to draw attention to myself. I could name my neighbors
in the dorm, one in my theme house (Whitworth’s Presidential Family), but none
the year after college. I couldn’t tell you who I bought groceries from, or the
person who brought the mail. Here? Community is family. You know everyone and
they know you.
A
couple weeks ago I went to a suk after a walk when a friend called me over. She
had oranges and I thought they sounded great. Plus we haven’t had much fruit
besides bananas in a while. However, I hadn’t brought my wallet. I had left it
in my bag from school. I tried to explain that I didn’t have money. She smiled
and told me to come back later with the money. She knew me enough to trust me. Where in America could you
do that?
To
be honest though, sometimes I want
that invisibility back. I just want to go for a walk and not have thirty people
call out to me. I want to come to my house and just be. But then I see a kid
smile or have a great moment with another person and I remember that
invisibility just puts up a barrier. Life is meant to be lived with people that
care, love and know you. And to figure out how to be patient when annoyed,
joyful when homesick, and calm when anger wants to come out.
The
two things every mystery show suspect has to consider, besides alibis, are
motive and opportunity. I don’t have the time to plan and execute a plan for a
crime. Instead I plan out lessons, clubs, other programs and time for myself
and friends. Most days I take a nap so that I can keep going. Besides, as
mentioned before, I’m watched all the time so I don’t have an opportunity
without someone seeing me. As to motive sure, people annoy and frustrate me,
but that’s shouldn’t be a basis for a crime. The people I see are my friends
and fellow humans. I’ve never been hurt by them in ways that I couldn’t rise
above. My motive for being a Peace Corps volunteer and loving the opportunities
this job opens is a greater driving force in my life.
I
may love crime shows, but I could never commit a crime. I’m too well integrated
into a community of love to have a)motive
or b) opportunity. Instead, I have more alibis then could fit in any
interrogation room, but that all have special niches in my heart. Besides,
orange is not my color!
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