I’ve never been sympathetic of celebrities, not even the
ones I like - I’ll admit it. I’ve always perceived them as attention-needy,
overpaid, vapid-brutes with an insatiable desire to be liked by everyone. If
you know me then you probably know that I have no patience for people who
desperately want to be liked by others – so annoying! Of all celebrities I find
celebrities like Kim Kardashian (who doesn’t love to hate her?) who are famous
for, well, being famous, most irritating. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we have
to hear her complain about how hard her life is - “too much paparazzi! Not
enough love! Wahh!” Put a lid on it rich girl. You’re rich, you’re popular - we get it!
It wasn’t until I moved to Shone, Ethiopia that I finally
began to feel Kim’s pain – what a shocker! Since I moved to Shone approximately
7 weeks ago I’ve been followed, harassed, grabbed, yelled for, and greeted by
complete strangers. I’ve been forced to skip people at the local bank, have had
many meals paid for, and never pay at the Internet cafe. At first it was kind
of flattering that everyone thought I was such a big deal for doing, well,
nothing. But as the weeks passed I began to miss my anonymity. I wanted to walk
in peace and be left to my own thoughts. I wanted to walk and think about
Daniel, get a coffee at a cafe, read a book and write him a letter – but I
couldn’t. Everywhere I went I was met with questions about who I am, where I am
from and why I am here. I couldn’t get a second to breathe and just be, like we
human beings are meant to.
So, like any “celebrity” I looked for sanity amongst other
“celebrities.” I got together with other PCVs and decompressed in a beautiful
house while consuming delicious food. I laughed, played and laughed some more letting
down my hair in a way I hadn’t been able to for months. It was all good and
fine until I saw someone peeking in from the next house “oh my God they can see
us” I thought, and I was terrified. I felt like a celebrity caught without
make-up in her backyard by a paparazzo. It was frightening and all too telling
for it revealed just how hard this integrating process is. Will they ever see
me as one of them? Will I ever feel like one of them? Or will I have to endure
local celebrity status for the entire duration of my service? I still don’t
have the answers, but Kim I feel for you girl, I really do.
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