Forbidding Fun

[I wrote this post because a lot of Americans don't really know what living in a developing country is like.  In particular I'm talking about the government (or lack there of in some cases). Yes, the US Government could use some changes, we can all find things we don't like about one party, we can find flaws and complain away about every other thing but in comparison to other places, we have it pretty damn good.]

Sometimes I really question the direction this country is going in.  There seems to be so many systems that are working in opposition of progress.  After living here for almost 2 years I’ve come to feel apart of AZ and as discouraging as some things are, I still hope for better for these people.  Yet, I’m constantly wondering the government’s thought process.

Besides the annoying frustrations of traveling and irregular gas, water, electricity, corruption is everywhere, genders are beyond equal and any health care is only a dream.  It’s inevitable that I’ll compare AZ to the US given the disparities but I try to keep hope that one day AZ will be functioning on it’s own and people can lead happy fulfilled lives without having to worry about where their money for tomorrow’s meals will come from.

I try to remain positive but it can be difficult when the government seems to take away any reason for people to enjoy themselves.  This comes from the recent forbidding any graduation celebrations by the educational ministry.  Apparently it was broadcast on television—the way the government sends messages to nationals.  There would be the regular ceremony at school but people were not to celebrate beyond school grounds.  I asked locals why this was to try and understand the reasoning behind the decision but the only answered seemed to be that too much money was spent on children buying one another graduations presents.  Suddenly giving gifts is a bad thing? Sometimes it’s beyond what I can understand. No other decisions have bothered me so much as denying the children the right to celebrate the end of the school, the end of  [possibly some] hard work and get to enjoy some time together with their classmates outside of school.

My counterpart’s son was one of the graduating students this year and she wanted to let him and his friends come to their yard and dance.  She asked if I would help her make pizza for them (most of these kids have never eaten pizza.) When she asked the director of our school about her idea he said no and that was that. No party, no dancing, no pizza. 

After the ceremony at school last week I went to their house and it was as if it were any other day.  I couldn’t help but feel like we should be doing something special.   Her son was understandably upset when his friends had all gone to a local restaurant but his father wouldn’t allow him.  Apparently the police would be around the park and restaurant and would punish anyone who might ‘celebrate’. I could understand him being upset by missing out but also I understood his father’s reasoning. However, wouldn’t it just have been better/safer if they celebrated in their own private yard where they could see what they were doing?  After hours of his moping around the house his father eventually let him go to the restaurant only to receive a call from another teacher that police were in the park scouting out students.

I left in the early evening but found out a few days later my counterpart told her son to come home and bring his friends with him.  They would sit in the yard and have tea together.  Not exactly a party with dancing but they’d at least be together.  Not long after they arrived and my counterpart was serving the boys tea and cookies the director showed up and told everyone to leave.   I’m not sure how others would react to this, perhaps it’s quite acceptable to have someone come into your house and tell you not to enjoy yourself.  But I could not imagine my principal from high school (or anyone really for that matter) coming into my parents house and telling any of us what or what not to do.  What is the harm in the boys spending an afternoon together?  It was their own private yard.  Apparently they could do the exact same thing the next day and it would have been okay- just not that specific day. One might think that something is missing here, there has to be some more reasoning behind logic.  But, sadly, no.  I’ve asked all the questions.  This is the state things are in and I saddens me.  The youth seemed drained for all fun and enjoyment and I cannot figure out why.