The Importance of Sitting

9/25/16

As a well-seasoned volunteer one year into their service, there are many things that I have learned to be unimportant. For instance:

• Hot water: not important
• Electricity: insignificant
• Bed bugs/fleas: trivial
• Mud up to your ankles during rainy season: hey, at least we have water
• Discomfort on local transportation: whatever
• Bugs falling on your face at night: so boring
• Gastrointestinal disturbances: over it

However, if there is anything I am sure of, it is this:

• Sitting: VERY important

Here in Ethiopia, sitting can manifest itself in many different forms. Sitting in the grass with your students...sitting on a mud floor peeling carrots with a spoon...sitting with all of my teachers during class break...sitting on a mattress in the dark because the power is out and your neighbors invited you to drink 3 cups of coffee at 10 p.m... Sitting awkwardly in a stranger's home who just invited you in for a meal and a coffee ceremony...sitting on your doorstep with your 5 year old best friend while she strokes your leg hair and you "culture share" your 90's R&B collection...

Ostensibly, sitting seems rather insignificant. As an American coming from a fast-paced-to-go-cup-express-lane-why-is-this-red-light-taking-forever lifestyle, sitting definitely took some getting used to. 

So, why is sitting important? Going out of your way to sit, even in silence, with your friends is one of the greatest possible gestures to show that you care. Accepting invitations to sit and drink coffee, even from strangers, allows for my Ethiopian friends to exercise their deeply rooted values of hospitality an kindness. Sitting allows me to really listen and observe and soak up everything around me. Sitting breaks the barrier between "foreigner" and "Ethiopian," and fosters unforgettable, meaningful relationships with people in my town. Sitting can snowball beautifully into infinite conversations, laughs, personal growth, perspective sharing, and mutual appreciation. I become humbled everyday from my experiences I have while sitting. I cannot wait to sit a whole lot more this upcoming year. 

My best friend and I sitting.