The CV

Something rather miraculous happened today, completely unrelated to the rest of the days' events (which I will detail for your amusement soon). Ok, maybe not miraculous, but an apt reminder of why it is I came here and how I am sometimes my own worst enemy.

I was walking down the road from the hospital to my house, hungry and tired, looking forward to my lunch-dinner and my book, when a 'M'e came running up to me.

“Ausi, I need your help.”

I have several conversations a day that start this way. That sentence is almost always followed by, “Give me five rand,” or “Will you pay me to do your wash?” or “Ke batla lipongpong,” (I want candy). As you can imagine, it gets old fast. My solution: ignore the person, tell them I'm busy or, after hearing the rest of their request, yell at them for asking for money or candy. Today, though, for some reason, I didn't do that.

“What do you need help with 'M'e?”

“I...I...I heard on the radio there is a position for a clerical assistant and I am trying to write my CV so I can apply. But I can't write it well.”

“Ok, well, I won't write it for you but if you draft something let me know and I'll be happy to edit it for you.”

“I understand ausi. I have some written but I can't write it well.”

“You already have a draft written down? On paper?”

“Yes ausi.”

“And it's at your house just there?”

“Yes.”

Internal debate between my stomach and my brain. Brain wins.

Ok, lets go and I'll look over it for you now.”

We entered her tidy, two-room house, she pulled out a chair for me and went into the other room to get her CV. A biology textbook lay open on the bed next to pages of meticulous, hand-written notes, all in English. As she came back into the room, I asked if she was studying.

“Of course, ausi.”

Like I had just asked the world's stupidest question.

“Are you going to school?”

“No, just wanting to learn.”

Wow, just wanting to learn? Really? People do that? Huh...

She handed me her CV, written in English, containing only one spelling error. Everything was in the correct order, her education and work credentials all included.

“'M'e, this is really good. What do you need my help for?”

“I tried and tried but I don't know how to write the descriptions of my jobs.”

I asked her to describe to me what exactly she did at each job and that I would take notes. Then, she could use my notes and turn them into her written description.

It turns out this 'M'e has a high school degree, a certificate in business finance, served as a polling clerk during the last two national elections, taught Standard Two (essentially second grade) as an assistant teacher and was head teacher of business studies and development at an English medium middle school and a high school.

“I quit teaching at the English medium because I was afraid my English was not good enough.”

“But your English is amazing 'M'e. You're talking to me and I understand you perfectly.”

She shyly looked away and laughed.

After I took my notes and we went over them to be sure she understood all the words I used, she showed me an advertisement for the job she is applying for. The ad was from the U.S. Embassy in Maseru and, while it didn't list minimum qualifications for the job, it did list the tasks assigned to the position.

“Do you think I'm qualified?”

“Yes 'M'e, I think you should try! See, here it says that in addition to general clerical duties you will be taking down work orders when building repairs and maintenance are needed and coordinating with contractors to ensure the work is completed. So, if you get an interview, you of course need to highlight your business and finance education and experience. But, you should also explain that you are very good at working and communicating with a variety of people and personalities. When you were a polling clerk, you assisted Basotho from all areas, education levels and ages to ensure they could vote. When you taught school you worked with students of many ages and backgrounds. And don't forget patience! You were a teacher. You have to be patient to be able to do that.”

As I left she thanked me over and over for my help. I asked her to let me know how it goes and if she gets an interview.

“I will. Thank you ausi. Please help others just like you helped me.”

Help others just like I helped her. Yeah, in that moment, I felt really, really bad. How many people have I ignored or told I was too busy, people who just needed help like her? The annoyances of life here get in the way, sometimes, of fulfilling what I came to do. Today's simple choice to actually listen, instead of blowing her off, may have helped change a life. Who knows if she'll get an interview, much less the job, but I helped someone with her resume, her interview skills and, hopefully, her confidence. And it took just 30 minutes of my day.

Patience is a virtue. One I need a little more of.