Ode to SheZone.

Every weekend, when I should be doing my homework, I don't. I run off to Norrebro, to the Hillerodgade Swimming Pool. For 3 and a half hours on Saturday, and 2 and a half on Sundays, I'm there volunteering with SheZone. I'm going to go for the next to weekends too, not because I have time and don't want to see any more of the city, but because I'm really going to miss going every weekend. Sure, it was dissapointing finding out I wouldn't be able to spend my weekends traveling... But this was so much more. I can always travel. I have my entire life to travel. But, when will I have 4 months to volunteer in another country? The decision to volunteer while in Denmark was honestly the best decision I made. My regrets? Travel break, and missing two of the weekends. Now, with only two more weekends left, I'm just now solidifying the bonds I've made with some of the women and girls. Yesterday, before we even got in the water, one of the ladies came up to me and just started talking to me. It was one of the ladies I had worked with every Saturday since I started--she has some problems with her kick. She kicks... but doesn't move. At the end of yesterday, I finally said something that made sense... And she could move! It was the same thing I'd been saying since I started, just in a different way. The smile that it put on her face when she finally got to move, though... Was amazing. I worked with her and another lady earlier in the day. The other lady, who doesn't speak any english, was one I'd worked with a lot just so she could overcome her fear of the water. "Bange! Bange!" She would say, while clutching her kickboard to her chest. I learned that that meant "afraid" then gave her another kick board and a floaty noodle and helped her across the pool. Since then, she's trusted me, despite the language barrier. Working with the two of them on floating, was great. The one I've helped with kicking knows english. So, she would translate for the other one. It was great being able to work with them and being able to build that relationship and trust with them. And, it was great seeing the bond that the two of them had made too. I'll miss the two of them.

They're all such sweet ladies and girls. Not a one of them gets angry at me for not knowing danish (like a few of the danes I've met...) and we try to work through it. One thing that still gets to me though... Is when we're in the pool, everyone is friendly and talks to me and smiles and everything. But, as soon as we get out of the pool and into the locker room or the lobby or to the bus stop... It all stops. Even the trio of girls who follows me in the pool talking constantly... Silence outside of the pool. I get smiles every once in a while, but nothing more. Even their demenor changes. Once they step foot outside of the building, everything gets a little more somber. Maybe it is due to the Danes and their stereotype of the Muslim Immigrant. They don't really give them a chance. I even heard a story of a bus driver who shut the door in the face of one before driving off... When he had seen him coming.

I want to do something nice for everyone there the last time I go... but I don't know what I could do? Just a little something, to thank them all. I feel a little bad, building up this trust and this sort of relationship... then just leaving. It doesn't seem fair. But, despite this, I'm glad I did it. And wish I could continue. I don't think there are any programs like this in America, otherwise I'd try to get involved. As it is, if I ever come back for an extended period of time, I'll be getting in contact.