being a woman – callie daniels-howell

fear

I’ve been thinking about fear. I’ve felt fear in my life. I’ve felt true, full-bodied fear. The day of September 11th, as a confused 8-year-old questioning if Indianapolis was going to be attacked next. Sliding on icy roads with children in my car. The first time I went to visit a child in the ICUContinueContinue reading “fear”

powerlessness

There are times when I feel powerless in Senegal. Much of the time, this powerlessness centers on gender. I feel powerless when I am told the only thing a woman can do when a man harasses her on the street is to keep walking, any sort of counter-remark or telling off by the woman wouldContinueContinue reading “powerlessness”

learning at the beach

I went to the beach today with my host sister, Corine, her fiancée, Michel, her friend, Ellen, Ellen’s husband, Amadou, and my friend Caroline. Here is what I learned at the beach (because every moment is a learning opportunity): Senegalese people are intense. In many different ways, both good and bad, both heartening and distressing,ContinueContinue reading “learning at the beach”

impossible reconciliation

My heart hurts and my spirit is heavy. These are my peers. These are my friends, my sisters, me. And I am furious. I am deeply, deeply sorrowful. Those who know me well (or who have read my writing) know that the aspect of my experiences in Kenya which has pained me, challenged me, overwhelmedContinueContinue reading “impossible reconciliation”