Features

In some ways, things are improving for women in Sierra Leone. More women are in positions of power and leadership than ever before.

However, there is still a long way to go for the average woman, especially in rural areas.

One major area is work. This was really emphasized in a small group activity I observed at a gender sensitization workshop. Each group was assigned a person (man, woman, boy and girl) and had to write down all the activities that person typically did in a day.

 1. You arrive at the airport. The furniture is unconventional — the lighting fixtures look like bubbles and the chairs are shaped like stingrays and eggs. You’ve just had your first encounter with Scandinavian design.

2. You feel like a snack. You step away from the baggage carousel to a stand selling hot dogs. You order one wrapped in bacon, covered in a thick yellowy sauce and possibly pickles. It goes down well with a bottle of chocolate milk.

Nicole Ward worked with the farm and allied sector of CORD (Chinmaya Mission for Rural Development) in Himachal Pradesh India.

Since being in India my whole concept of normalcy, as I know it, has been tossed right out onto the middle of the 401 during rush hour traffic and completely crushed by a giant Mack truck, and then crushed again by a million others.

I have to readjust everything in my mind and body to conform, if even a little, to the ways of the East. Everything from waking up in the morning is different.

Almost half the world lives on less than $2 a day.

That’s a lot of people.

Like most students, I’m not well-known for my exemplary eating habits. There are days I forget to eat, or I’m too busy to eat, or I can’t justify spending money on campus food when I could have packed a sandwich.

However, for me, food is always available.

Could I make it on $2 a day worth of food? Could you?

The $2-a-day challenge is one that is taken on by many development organizations.

Comparative politics at 8:30 a.m. is hard enough. With an empty stomach and no caffeine, the class became almost unbearable.

My roommates often wake up to the smell of my mushroom, asparagus and cheese omelet. Making breakfast motivates met to get out of bed at 6:30 a.m. Today I skipped the most important meal of the day and I couldn’t feel worse. Still, my biggest fear going into this challenge was not having coffee. Starbucks wakes me up every morning and keeps me occupied during long boring lectures.

I breathe Starbucks.