Hope-full: Felicia Bertch

Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child,
Listen to the DON’TS
Listen to the SHOULDN’TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me—
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

-Shel Silverstein


We are in the land of Base-Coat-Brown. Vibrant splashes of color, pattern, and chaos dance across this layer bringing Tanzania to life. If you squint just-so it all becomes a kaleidoscope- a moving, breathing organism. There is the appearance of people standing, sitting, waiting, being… But even in stillness, there is movement: an eye darting; the flick of a finger; the flash of a smile, the ponderings of the mind... Somehow the space-time continuum has negotiated different terms with the Tanzanian people. Each day is teeming with the tasks of survival constantly interrupted by the obligation (or admirable desire, I would argue) to commune with your fellow Livers of Life. This is the land of “Never hurry; Never rest.”

22 students. 2 weeks. A world of theater. 2 weeks. The depths of the imagination. 2 weeks.

Where and how do you begin a creative exploration in a world where hunger generally dictates the routine? Despite appearances to the contrary, this is actually a place of strict rules and structure.

But, we’re one week down and somehow we began. Our students have been excused from classes in Math, Science, Geography, History, etc… to participate in the only artistic outlet this school (or any school in Tanzania, for that matter) has to offer. Each day Laura and I attempt to whisk them away to a land of creative writing prompts [ “Tell us and draw us the best dream you have ever had” OR “If you found a magic lamp and could make any 3 wishes, what would they be?” ]; explorations into the world of story-telling; and dance. And ever so quickly these students have proven that they are still the creativity bearers of our planet. And they have proven that despite the shouldn’ts, mustn’ts, won’ts, and impossibilities that seem to reign supreme in their precious lives, hope is alive and well.

Anything can be…