Land of the Baobob

After a dusty, action packed past few weeks in Kongwa, I've scribbled a few more thoughts and added some photos.

So the research is moving right along. Each morning I start with a run. My favorite destination is this church on the hill. It is simply built, with a dirt floor, but the views over the plains are amazing. The sunrise is divine as well.

Next, there are many tasks, training the assistants (I now have three) to conduct the household survey, identify and trap flies, conduct participatory meetings with the villagers, and the methods for taking GPS measurements. The photo is of the fly trap built by the local fundi (a person that is good at building most anything). We are working with different baits (fly glue, rotten bananas, decaying fish, acetone) trying to see which is the best attractant. I'm not sure the assistants knew this would be such messy business when we first began. There also is the driver, who reliably takes us across the pot-hole ridden paths to the villages that are sometimes up to 50 miles away. There is certainly no shortage of land in Kongwa District and the Wagogo and Wakuguru (the two main tribes in the area) are quite spread out. We even have a medical assistant with us now helping with all the introductory meetings with the village governments and giving a bit more training on trachoma, in particular. He is quite knowledgable and wonderful to have on board at the start.

The Baobob tree is ubiquitous here in Kongwa. They are so stately and strong..

The next photo is the Pork Shop (duka la nguruwe) right across the dusty road from where I stay. Pork is also called Hot Chair (kiti moto) which means you better be prepared for some action in your gut once you consume! The man next to me is incredibly sweet. I call him my personal GPS as he seems to know the instant I leave the Kongwa Trachoma Project Center. I usually see him three or four times a day.

Next is the heaping pile of dagaa sold in the market. They are a cheap source of protein, but personally I prefer just plain old beans. If you add fresh coconut they taste better.

Finally, kids. They love to shout "mzungu, mzungu" when they see me and laugh when I trip while running on the dusty paths. I tend to laugh with them which makes them laugh more. Notice the flies on their faces...those darn musca sorbens cause trachoma not to mention a nasty diarrhea if you are not careful.

Most nights are spent at the computer working on the database, survey, and GIS. Yikes! But there have been other nights "out". Rehema just turned 40 and it was quite a celebration with soda, beer, bites (samosas), cake, and even dancing. She hoped that everyone there could be as fortunate and blessed to reach 40 as she had been.

Every Saturday the Italian volunteers in town (there are four) go to Joseph's Chips, the one restaurant (i.e. shack) in town that makes a great dish of rice and chicken. They have included me in their weekly outing as well which has been great fun.

And because I just can't help myself when it comes to writing poetry...

Just When

Just when I think I have learned all I possibly can

I stumble on a thorny bush or a rock

even a jagged piece of sidewalk;

this business of tripping can happen anywhere in the world,

and I realize I know nothing.

What a relief!
I never have to carry a load that is too heavy.

Spirit, god, the holy one, whatever name you prefer,

like any creative teacher,
keeps thinking of new ways to help us grow.

The assignments are never easy, yet always rewarding.

With so many different pupils
I am amazed how each new task is

tailored especially for our own needs, our own time.

At first you may refuse,
but why waste time denying the truth?

Once you begin, there is no turning back.

After some struggle, eventually you will be skipping, simply floating.

Soon you will see the end

like the orange ball of fire that rises each morning, in beauty.

Remember, though, there are rocks, thorns,

even cracked sidewalks ahead just waiting
when the time is right, to cause you to stumble.

When the inevitable happens
well, all we can really do is laugh

and give thanks
that there is still so much to learn.

So, so much to learn.