Vignette: Rusira (West Africa)

 

  
     
 
In August 2001, I spent a few hours in the Denver airport with a friend—to chat and catch up. Drinking coffee in a cafe, we had a view of the big fountain in the center of the main hall. After a while I noticed a woman who was squeegeeing water off the ledge around the fountain. An hour later, she was still at it. Intrigued, we eventually accosted her and asked her what she was doing.

 
 

 

 

  

Here's the story:

Rusira, who is from West Africa, has been in the US for a few years. She likes it here. She has two children and to support them she works as a cleaner in the airport. One day a week, she spends the entire day squeegeeing the fountain, round and round and round.

The jets of water disperse tiny droplets into the air, some of which fall on the ledge around it. Rusira squeegees the droplets off. In the period of a single revolution, enough droplets fall to form bigger droplets which can be squeegeed off again right away. The other people on the cleaning team get their turn too, once a week, round and round and round in a different dance.

Rusira doesn't know why it needs to be done. A lot of people ask her what she is doing, and she can't tell them. Her arms get tired. Squeegee day is the least appealing day of the week.

 

  
 

 

 

  

rusira once aroundrusira around again

 
 

 

 

  

Photos by Marianne Guillen, 2001


Next vignette: Cabdriver (Eritrea)

  
 
© Marijke Rijsberman 2005. All Rights Reserved. 650-868-3432, marijke@interfacility.com