Oh my!

I finished up that 3-day workshop on teaching HIV/AIDS prevention to villagers. The most interesting part of the workshop came at the end when they needed a volunteer for a condom demonstration. I swear to you, I thought this was going to involve a banana at the most. Also, I hadn’t been participating much that day so I raised my hand.

Imagine my surprise when I walk to the front of the room, a room filled with Muslim villagers mind you, and the trainer plopped three large dildos in front of me. I’m talking huge rubber dildos, the kind you see in sex shops, with the exception of a large wooden one that looked like it may have been locally crafted.

Flustered, I automatically tried putting the condom on the wooden one, but recognizing I was losing composure fast I downsized to the smallest size, the only white dildo on the table. Are white dildos always smaller than black ones?

The workshop was by Africa Consultants International, and it was very well done even if it did run long at times. Unfortunately that can make me impatient and bitchy. In a simulation where seven people were just informed they had HIV, my response tended more toward realistic than nurturing (maybe my blood sugar was low).

That actually hurt my counterpart's feelings. I genuinely feel bad, but I had no idea he he was so caught in the moment. I'm going to suggest he join our village's local theater group. They teach STD and HIV prevention through skits, and I think he could be a good addition. Plus, he shared his sex history during the simulation (told you he was invested) and I think he could bring some real-life experience to the otherwise young group.

Here's a tip I picked up in closing: If you want to buy condoms here you go to the pharmacy and either say "There's no sugar at home," or just plop 150CFA on the counter and the pharmacist will quietly take care of you.

Comments

[andrew]

Well written, but I could summon at leat 25, 35 witnesses(sic?) who would swear you could roll on all 3 in under 30 sec.
Just kidding

[julie morris]

what a lovely photo.