Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Finding the light.

As a female you are told that you have a 50% chance of it happening to you at least once in your life.
I am now another statistic.
A few days ago after returning to my site I went to purchase vegetables after missing market day.
During the week there are sometimes ladies who sit on the street to sell fruits and vegetables. While I was buying goman (a dark leafy green that is common in ethiopia) a man started to harass me. I ignored him and continued my conversation with the women I was purchasing from. 
The man approached me and when I ignored him he reached his hand down my shirt and grabbed my breast.
I don't know the words sexual assault in the local language. I don't know the man who assaulted me.
What I do know is that I have never been more proud of my town. Two men jumped up and pulled him off of me so I could walk home. When I told my compound family the following morning they treated me as their daugher. They made me buna gave me lectures on safety and offered to take me to the police.
At the end of the day I don't feel like a victim.
I feel grateful that I have a town that protects me, many families that love me, and a Peace Corps family to help put me back together.
This is my super precious ethiopian family. They are my light.