Sonia

It’s the first day of our Women’s Empowerment Group. There are about 30 of us cramped in the dark room. We are in the middle of introducing ourselves when she saunters in, interrupts us, turns her back to us and shakes her abundant rear end  with a confidence.  She announces that she has arrived.  Some women clap. She takes her seat and we continue with our introductions.

So begins my first of many interactions with Sonia, the self-appointed know-it-all of the  group.  No matter what the topic, she has an opinion that is stated louder and more quickly than anyone else.  Her statements often shut down the conversation because the word has been spoken.

We ask the women what skills they want to learn while they are with us.  They want to learn sewing, crochet, jewelry making, sandal making, embroidery:  all skills I do not know. But Sonia knows how to sew.  So she teaches us how to make purses. She teaches us how to crochet.  She shows us how to embroider.

I find a pair of knitting needles and offer them to her.

“Too hard”, she tells Sophianna, my translator.

I give her an illustrated instruction book. She quickly dismisses me

“In English”, she abruptly tells Sophianna.  She uses a tone that clearly delivers a message to me, “Are you that stupid that you don’t even recognize your own language?”  I quickly show her the illustrations.  She looks for a minute but waves her big hand at me and dismisses the idea again.

At the end of the class, I see her discreetly tuck the book under her arm.  She saunters off with the rest of the group.

The next day, I see her, sitting under the shade tree, waiting for our group to start.  She is holding one knitting needle which dangles about 4 inches of product.  She taught herself  to knit with just one needle.  I get her attention and laugh at her.  She laughs back and proudly shows me her work.  She tells Sophianna she saw an illustration that only used one needle so she thought she would try it.

I ask her if this technique is faster than her crocheting.  She says it is much faster and more satisfying. I tell her it will go even faster with two needles.  She dismisses me and tells Sophianna, No, is too hard” and walks away from me.