Friday 23 September 2016

Welcome to My World

So Butters is back.  He brought with him the rainy season and great power and water, so I’ve decided to keep him.  At least until we move again – at which point I may be sharing with a newly-hired service worker in the area or... something.  I’m on a need-to-know basis.  I think all of us are, really – it’s a regional hazard. 

Work is going... fairly well, aside from a few differences in opinion surrounding teamwork and efficiency.  I’m noting a few difficulties in reporting from the field, and I find myself wondering if I’d be any more consistent if I hadn’t had water in days and my hair was still smouldering from dinner.  Combined with cell phone connections from the Paleozoic era, it’s no wonder we’ve had to strive to attain cohesive monthly reports.    


Tuesday 20 September 2016

All My Single Ladies

Well, I guess it’s time to address the elephant in the room. 

I’m sure it’s the biggest question on everyone’s mind at this point.

Do I have a crush on someone.

Do I - to use the technical term - like-like someone. 

And the answer is yes. 


Friday 16 September 2016

Glimmers of Potential - Part II

On Wednesday, I was followed part of the way home by a cute guy who wasn’t quite as tall as my shoulder.  I tried to give him vague answers to his prying and was unwillingly impressed when he kept up with my roadrunner pace.  When I pretended I only knew English; he manfully soldiered on.  

“Okay!  You’re good!  Good!”
*people-pleaser given the best of all gifts*  “I... am?  R-really?”
“I mean, beautiful!  You are beautiful!”
*hopes dashed again*  “Right, yeah.”

We eventually progressed to French because I slip into it naturally (and then proceed to drown in it) now and he confessed that he was very happy – whether to see me or whether to get some exercise, I have no idea. 


Glimmers of Potential - Part I

I am going through a bit of a personal crisis and, for the first time, am too tired to write. But as I can’t ask to be let off this ride, here’re a few salient memories of the past few days...

***

I have officially been through two earth tremors – one on Saturday and one on Wednesday.  This last felt much stronger as I was lying down on the couch and eating my weight in cookies.  Added to the earthquakes in South Korea, I found myself envisioning a zombie/ice age crisis.  

As all scenarios end in me lying on my couch and eating, I’m not as worried as I should be. 

***


Tuesday 13 September 2016

Discovery

This is a Discovery Channel unlike you’ve ever seen.

Some episodes are just reruns - reminders that Butters used to be in a semi-famous band (even if he did play the saxophone), with the lifestyle  that entails.

I usually (unwillingly) tune into an ongoing series about lizards – ones that are getting larger, braver, and louder.

Did you know they click?  I remember getting slightly hysterical over this with my favourite namesake in Mali, but still have not discovered the cause.  Are they evolving to enjoy slam poetry?

Thanks for nothing, David Attenborough.

Thursday 8 September 2016

(Another) Strategic Retreat - Part II

The Fam Jam
Rwanda, September 2016

Throughout the weekend, Pastor preached and we went through a Bible Study of 2Timothy, which reminded us of our goal as Christians (to share the good news of Christ’s salvation) despite our chains, and how to keep the faith in the face of opposition and false doctrine.  The answers still seemed somewhat rehearsed (rather like this summary, in fact) and I’m not always sure about application, but the fact remains that we are trying – it has always been Jehovah Jireh who has made a perfect sacrifice from simple willingness.


Wednesday 7 September 2016

(Another) Strategic Retreat - Part I

As I write this, we have received little to no water since Sunday afternoon (actually since Friday morning, but we haven’t felt the pain quite so hard as we were away for most of the weekend).  I have been hallucinating dripping pipes (actually someone banging on something outside), I twitch every time the pipes gurgle (Tetris forgotten, tensed on the couch, ready to spring for the buckets with all the velocity of a guinea pig turning a corner on tile), and I’ve been setting my alarm for midnight as this is REGIDESO’s favourite time to gift us with water from the giant lake that lives five feet outside our back door.  

On the plus side, the power’s been great, and I have many new experiences, successes, and failures that I’m excited to share!


Thursday 1 September 2016

Home Again - Jiggety-Jig

All in all, I’m happy to be home, and have just been reflecting on a whole host of recent experiences.  My Egg Lady had seen me at the Rwandan border and was glad to have me back.  My young friend who’d wistfully asked if I’d date him if he were older recognised me as I was waiting at my gate one night, said he hadn’t seen me for a week, and wanted to know where I’d been. 

These welcomes, though slightly creepy, remind me that I’m really home.

Where else can you have a moto driver tell you seriously that he loves you and respond with a helpless, "Okay.  Have a nice day."