Birthday Cake and Belly dancing
Good Morning / Afternoon / Evening to you all or whenever you attempt to escape from the relentless conveyor belt of Tesco meal deals, over priced train tickets and pointless paperwork ( this is how I picture your everyday lives guys- just go with it) by reading little old me rattling off at you AGAIN for a few thousand words about funnily enough, my equally mundane and uninteresting day-to-day. Goodness knows why but you do and I am all the more grateful for it.
We’re back to Mañana this week- I really do just like to keep you on your toes- but this is for a very special reason I promise. You all remember DIWC? Did I ever really let you forget? It’s the whole reason I began writing this darn blog in the first place, you have this incredible centre to thank- for better or for worse. On reflection, this is maybe not the best example of its work.
To recap — in case you had some terrible accident and have consequently lost all of your memories of the past 3 months which may seem a tad implausible to you, I would beg to differ. I watch telenovelas (…okay Jane the Virgin-back off) so I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest. Such an accident would certainly be unfortunate but don’t worry I got you covered:
2019 so far…
- The godlike presence of David Attenborough has revealed to us that we are, in fact, cooking our planet and since it’s David Attenborough, everything now makes so much sense
- We’re STILL talking about Brexit
- But nobody actually wants to talk about it but somehow we still are
- Theresa May is still laughable
- Game of Thrones is still good
That is not to mention the obviously most important and perhaps the most jaw-dropping unbelievable thing that has ever or will ever cross your ears. I am running a half marathon in July. Back when I used to write about running, I wrote a post about the reasons why I was putting myself through the horrors of training in the first place. One of these posts: The Tales of a Human Burrito ( in case you wanted to brush up on your facts- there will be a quiz) told you all about my experience with working with Dundee International Women’s Centre.
I mentioned how heart-warming and empowering it was, how inspiring and driven the staff and volunteers were and how vital their work has been ( and still is) over the last 50 years. 50 YEARS. If that isn’t a reason to party I don’t know what is. On Wednesday and Thursday last week, DIWC held a well-deserved two day celebration. What’s a party without cake and decorations and belly dancing anyway? There were women smiling and laughing everywhere- probably at my attempts at Belly dancing. There were women of all ages and backgrounds, some familiar and some not but it didn’t matter. In this room, we were all friends, reflecting over beautifully diverse and precious memories about the centre that has brought us all together.
It’s not everyday that something this powerful happens. I should know, I have worked for charities and organised events since the grand opening of the Carey sisters’ bedroom museum which had a very impressive gift shop, I tell you. The love for this place was almost visible like a tether drawing all these wonderful women together, in the bones of the building and decorated all over the walls. The workers and volunteers had put together a magical exhibition that mapped the centre’s long and exceptional life.
It’s not everyday that we can share a day as special as the one I did at DIWC. I’m sure the women who have come and gone from the centre would agree. It’s easy to forget, when you are surrounded by a room chock full of laughing women, that a day like this isn’t a given. A celebration like this has been a long time coming. It wasn’t always a straightforward road to get here. Like anything, there were obstacles: distance, language barriers, funding, even pride to accept help but despite everything DIWC is standing and thriving.
Just by glancing over the photos, pointing out familiar smiling faces, I caught myself thinking about my place in the centre’s life. Sorry, it’s the narcissist in me . I had come into the centre in September with what I thought was the best intentions. I wanted to make a difference, help in classes and in anyway I can really. I hope in some ways, through the half marathon and the fundraising that I have in some way. Although, I have learnt about myself in the past 6 months, it has become more than obvious that I still heave a lot of learning to do. Since the lesson I went in to the centre expecting to learn, wasn’t the one I was expecting.
My time at DIWC, although far from over has shown me that while the centre plays such a major part in the lives of all the women who have walked through its doors over the years. It has made an impact in unique but equally wonderful ways that will stay with us long after we leave. We are, however, but a fleeting moment, a blink of an eye of what I hope will be a very very long and prosperous life. So long as we continue to love, treasure and protect it, if it’s lucky ,DIWC can have an even more powerful legacy than the Carey sisters’ one-day-only Museum extravaganza and can continue to be part of the lives of even more women for many years to come.
Since it’s their birthday…and you don’t turn 50 everyday…it would be amazing if could send them a little birthday love. Anything at all- £1 or £10 will help to ensure that it gets the chance to help 50 more years of women. Just click the link below and show them some love!
Lots of Love,
Becca x
