In Africa

The internet is really slow, especially when it comes to uploading pictures and videos. As a result you won’t get to see any of my pictures until I get back. Which is not a huge loss because I am not a great photographer anyway.

The women really do wear traditional skirts and carry baskets on their heads.

The humidity is intense. Like sweating when you walk out the door humidity. But it also creates a very lush and tropical environment. We live next to a field of coffee beans and banana trees.

The roads really are unpaved and rutted and you bounce along them any time you are in a vehicle. Which isn’t often because people walk everywhere.

Time is not as strict or important as it is in America. Today we were looking at planning something for the last week in July, which is not all that far away really, and the person we were talking to said, “ah, we can plan that later, we are not even to July yet.”

People are not as task oriented as they are in America. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. We recently demolished an old structure and we were determined to finish it in one day. The natives we were working with were satisfied with the work that had been accomplished by quitting time but we were unable to see any value in what we had done until the job was finished. So we finished it and were proud of ourselves and the natives impressed. But I think in the future I will try to be satisfied with the work I do each day, even if I don’t complete it all according to my timetable.

Boys and girls have very similar haircuts and so are sometimes difficult to tell apart. In the schools the girls wear skirts so that helps.

The clouds are fairly constant so its hard to see the stars. I have seen them once, but since it is the southern hemisphere they are strangely unfamiliar.

There are no McDonalds, Wendys, Pizza Hut, or chain stores. There is a “Wall Mart” but it is most definitely not the one based out of Arkansas : ) I’m not a critic of capitalism but it is nice to see a part of the world untouched by those aspects of globalization.

Soap doesn't lather the same way. My skin seems to be developing some kind of waxy protective coating in response. Hopefully that will wash off when I am home : )

People are incredibly friendly and helpful. It is rare to pass someone on the street without hearing “Jambo” (Hello) or “Karibu” (Welcome) or some other greeting. People will go out of their way to help you for just about anything and expect nothing in return.

People are not as poverty stricken as I expected. This is probably because I am in a touristy area that provides a steady income for many people. Most people are able to provide for themselves and their children and many people take in those who can’t. It is not a life of luxury for most people but neither is it one of complete destitution.

You have to look carefully for wildlife. I didn’t think there was much until somebody pointed out the monkeys in the trees above the fruit stand and a little boy brought a chameleon into the yard on a stick. Hopefully I won’t be so oblivious to it when I am on Safari this weekend.

I am learning and experiencing a lot of new things. Hopefully I will be able to share more of them with you later.