Tuesday Catch Up

Today is Tuesday. Which means I think I owe a reca of Monday. We had full classes as several students who had had trouble getting here for the first week of school because of tribal fighting they had to pass through, arrived over the weekend. Phalice and her team had to do some negotiating as some students had not made proper arrangements to continue on from last year. This was all done diplomatically. She also had to do some tough negotiating with cooks and the student cooks have left so now they are trying to find new ones. It seems that there are always administrative issues to work on on top of all the lesson planning and teaching. Phalice can hardly sit down without someone hunting her down to take care of some negotiation or another.

The team helped with teaching classes and taking care of maintenance around the compound. There are always things to do. To the extent possible though we try to lay low between 1:00 and 3:00 as that is the hottest time of day. And by that I mean over 110 - in the shade.

Dinner was Ugali and fish. Unfortunately the fish here are coming with parasites in them so mostly we ate beef jerkey and peanut butter. I think the fish parasites are an aquired taste! But not to worry. Tonight we are having fresh goat. I just heard it being captured and led down the path.

Last night, the team ladies did a "girls-night-out" for the women of the compound. While the men took care of the children, we treated the women to a foot washing, leg massage and pedicures. We listened to good music, shared a few special treats (Tootsie Rolls, Cinnamon Balls and cold juice). It was just a nice bonding time and we thank the men for allowing the women this time off.

So now to today: Market day. Several of us took the truck into town for a quick trip to the market before the truck had to go out to the airstrip. We had a cup of tea in the tea shop and then went to negotiate a few things. We came back with a few presents for family (don't get your hopes up too high...it's pretty slim pickings!). We also got mangos (still need to ripen) and oranges. We tried to buy cold sodas but what cost us only 7 bir last week, when we had a local negotiating for us, were 10 bir each today. We walked away at that but one team member, who will remain nameless, really wanted the pop and so agreed to the higher price. It's not the price..it's the principle! Well, we will enjoy a cold soda anyway.

Eli went to pick up three officials from SIM who are visiting. On the plane that dropped them off, Rick went to be with the balance of the team in Doro.

Power's going out. Signing off for now.