Ups and Downs

The past few days have been such a roller coaster ride. I've (indirectly, don't panic) been robbed of all the cash I had left for this month's projects and expenses, I've had a motorcycle ride--deliciously helmetless (low speeds, again, don't panic) through the stunningly gorgeous nearby countryside, I've pigged out on Indian food in the city, watched old movies on HBO India, been inspired to think big and try selling CNN Africa on the idea of coming up here to cover some of our projects. I've had some good laughs...then almost cried...and waffled between "I want to go home...NOW" and "I never want to leave this place", more times than I would have imagined possible. I've marvelled at a world where technology lets me run to an ATM to restore my lost funds...and then marvelled even more at the fact that I am so incredibly fortunate to have that option! I've travelled to Arusha in the saddest looking Peugeot of the fleet...cracked windshield, masking tape over the blade-less wiper arm that sprang to life at will several times through the trip, indescribable engine noises at startup, and nine of us sitting in the seven available passenger seats...some more calmed than others by the windshield stickers which declare the car to be "Protected by the Blood of Jesus". I'm sitting at my 'dining room' table, with a cool breeze blowing through the house (everyone keeps telling me how COLD it is, though I'm ever so comfortable in just my jeans and t-shirt), listening to the chorus of bird songs that is so ever-present I rarely even notice any more. Somewhere a few houses down, Arnold is having a good giggle about something, and it's tempting to stop and go out and get my afternoon hugs from the little guy.

And, since this is Africa, and time spent here in the village is the best lesson anyone ever could have in 'living in the moment', I'm now shutting off the computer and heading outside to do precisely that!!

Of compost, rodents and the deep chill

Back in Longido after a very quick visit to the city (I needed to get some chocolate into me). I was teaching a class on business planning Saturday here at LOOCIP so I needed to come back to the village early in the morning. The class was fun as always. It's tough having to teach via a translator, but my co-teacher and I have pretty much got that down to a science and we've even got a few comic moments built into our spiel now. The students love it when I tell them stories about starting a business in Canada, or about how I'm really bad at negotiating prices and on arrival here was being charged about 4 times the going rate for everything from tomatoes to clothing. At the end of the class, there was the customary formal closing of the session by the class leader. I was really touched when this fellow stood up and said something loosely along the lines of "thank you teacher and please don't leave us until we have learned to do this work well".

Today's been a quiet day, but as always one with a few surprises.

This morning Mama Farrajah's kids came by to clean the house...I always feel lazy when I ask for help with the housework, but honestly I know that I couldn't possible manage to bend over and 'mop' the floors with a rag for more than a couple of minutes. So, the whole crew arrived to get the job done. Loveness wondered about using the bucket on my back stoop for a wash bucket. However, I knew I'd thrown a few bits of overripe fruit into it yesterday...the beginnings of a compost bucket (something I'm trying to encourage all the women of the compound to start doing). So, I tried explaining that to her, and was somewhat bewildered by the look I was getting...one of those 'are you nuts, lady??' looks. Anyhow, she set the bucket down and went off to find a more suitable one. A few minutes later, Michael was peering into the bucket and he too was getting my brief lesson in the values of composting. He kept staring hard into the bucket and was giving me the look as well. Round about that time, I happened to walk over and look into this controversial bucket...only to see a sadly drenched baby rat lying on top of my rotting bananas (it rained last night). I thought it was, literally, a drowned rat...but just then I saw some definite twitching going on.

Now, these kids are getting used to my sensibilities when it comes to the treatment of animals, so I guess they weren't too surprised when I asked Michael to dump out this soaked little rat onto the ground so it could go and find its mama. Poor little thing was so bedraggled, but managed to get on its feet and scoot off into the grass. So, maybe I've been here too long. I remarked to someone the other day that I had been sitting out on the stoop, watching the rats go back and forth from the grassy area to my garbage pit, and thinking how darned cute they were. They're not much like the urban rats back in Canada...the adults are only about the size of the white lab-type rats that Drew used to keep as pets and train to do tricks. And, their faces are more like hamsters or gerbils...without that ratty snout and beady eyes thing going on!

Much of the rest of my day was spent trying to keep warm. It's been raining off and on for the past few days and the temperature has really dropped suddenly...probably only about 65F today. Last night I slept comfortably under two blankets...something I couldn't imagine doing most nights. Apparently it may get even cooler over the coming weeks as we get into the African winter. And here I am, one fleece sweater to my name. Guess I'll need to hit the used clothing stores in Arusha next time I go to town. Who knew???