"The contents of this web site are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. Government or the Peace Corps".

Monday, August 31, 2009

You can fry and egg ...

As the northern hemisphere is getting close to
falling in to fall. Here in the southern hemisphere
we are close to springing into spring.
It was another slow blue Monday as the school is
out and it seems everybody else is to. It is the
basic vacation time and most people seem to prefer
this time of year.
So, this morning I just decided to take a walk out
towards the bush and headed towards the tarmac
of the village airport/runway.
In the picture above in the foreground is the tarmac
and we're looking in to the dried out bush area.
I have my little key chain thermometer attached to
my little day pack. After taking it out and waiting for
about 5 minutes or so the results were 105 F or about
44 C. Either way you look at the numbers the reality
was that ... it's hot and it's getting to you can fry and
egg on this runway degree of hot.
This is my first year in Namibia and so this is all new
and the question is ... if this is going into spring and
it's 105/44 is it a possible guess that it's going to go to
about 130? Actually doubt it as also during the winter
it doesn't rain. The rain comes with the summer and
should cool it down and turn all that yellowish color
to green.
With the heat comes the slowing down of an already
slow situation. This isn't new as in El Salvador and
Senegal it could get up there in temperature also.
What happened was that the people just did the big
siesta in the afternoon and life just went on. Things
got done when it got done.
A funny thing that happened yesterday morning was
a pig being stuck to a chain link fence for and hour
and a half.
At 5 in the morning we could hear this awful squealing
in back of the house. Upon arriving at the scene we
could see this approximately 125 kilo/250 lbs pig
with it's snout sticking through the chain link fence.
From the side of the fence in which the pig was on it
actually looked like the snout was hooked with the wire
entering in to trap the thing to the fence.
Looked like it was a real problem and what in the heck
was there to do, cut the snout off?
I thought that it would be better to go around to the
other side of the fence to get a better look at what
was keeping this pig attached.
After arriving and being able to get a better look the
pig wasn't hooked by his snout by by it's tooth.
Looking straight into the pig's face it was it's lower
right hand side tooth that was hooked onto the fence.
We tried to push and even tried to place a stick to
pry the jaw down. Needless to say, it didn't work
and the thing freaked out and at 5:30 in the morning
I had to shake my head with the reality that this was
the first time I'd seen anything like this.
So, after trying for about 15 minutes the conclusion was
to look for some wire cutters to cut the wire.
When we returned the pig had actually pulled on the
wire and it was about 6 inches or 15 centimeters away
from the fence but still hooked to it.
In the end all it took was for either the pig to move
forward a step or push it's snout down.
Of course it didn't move forward and so we pushed
it's snout and off it went.
An hour and a half to free a pig trying to eat through
a chain link fence and getting a tooth hooked.
That's the excitement so far this week, with the heat
it doesn't look like it can get any more exciting than the
pig and the fence situation anytime soon.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Arguably pound-kilo per pound-kilo ...

The more of a destructive force in the garden ...
this is through my experiences and in relation as
to which animals/critters have been around ... well
... in again speaking through my experiences ... is
the darn chicken.
What you are looking at in the photo above is most
possibly nothing new to a lot of people but it is the
results of 4 chickens and about less than 5
minutes in the garden in back of my lodging.
I am sure that there are other animals that can wreak
more damage and havoc but in the places I've been
in over the last years, these guys are garden enemy
numero uno.
When I was in Senegal I also had a garden and it was
a fairly nice sized one that was about 10 meters from
my hut. There the biggest problem was the cows
during the night time. It was almost every 2 a.m. that
I would have to wake up and throw rocks from my
location at the hut towards those dastardly thieves.
It was also incredible to see a huge cow hurtle over a
130 cm / 4 ft. fence like it was nothing. I guess the
children's story of the cow jumping over the moon
must of came after that author saw some cows jump
into his garden too. It was irritating but makes for
good stories. Also learned that cows eat cotton.
Yeah, cotton balls and I've even seen them eating a
t-shirt that I am safe to deduce, was made of cotton.
Despite the evening performance of flying cows, yes,
they did do damage but I informally feel that they
didn't do as much for their size as those dag nabbed
chickens do.
What makes the chicken a little more of a problem is
their size. It is more difficult to see them because of
the fence and the plants. A cow isn't that stealthy.
So, back to the picture, someone (not me) left the gate
to the garden open and within 5 minutes you are
seeing what happened.
So, it is back to throwing rocks and within 30 seconds
they were squawking to high heaven and flying over
the fence. I am fortunate to have a little experience
here and have learned that the best way to keep them
away is to put fear into their little hearts. This is
accomplished by throwing rocks at them daily,
basically it is sending a message that we are watching
them.
As the word struggle is a tremendously popular word
here, it is again used to describe the status of the
cabbages in the garden. They are struggling for their
respective right to survive the scorched earth policy
of a group of chickens in a newly planted vegetable
garden.
Well, with my experience as my guide, I have fallen
to the conclusion that pound for pound, them chickens
are the most dangerous thing coming a garden's way.
Better end here and look and see if there is a need
to throw a few rocks.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Bragging rights ...

Yesterday was a holiday here in Namibia. It was
'Heroes Day', a day to commemorate the people
who've made sacrifices for the country.
In the village it was a normal holiday and there was
a netball tournament scheduled to be held with
four villages participating.
In this area, transportation is a challenge due to fact
that there just isn't that many cars in any of the villages.
If there is transportation, then the challenge is the
money to pay either the amount required or at times,
(if the person is decent) for fuel only.
So, for that, only one village arrived as the other two,
who knows. Another problem in this is that the other
villages are lacking cell phone coverage.
Communication to those villages (one about 50 to 60
kilometers away and the other again, about 80) is,
by just plain going there. It is a problem in organizing
any type of joint activity.
The village that did show up has become to be the
arch rival to the women's netball team here.
A couple of months ago our school's and youth
netball teams went to that village (arch rival's) and
the school won handily and our youth team lost, a
close game.
Yesterday was time for payback and ... payback it
was. Our village youth girls netball won in a total
rout.
What you see in the not so good quality picture above
is ... well ... it kind of throws out the window the
appreciative/humble winner idea right in the loo.
What they are doing is ... in a group ... dancing and
singing and behind them was the other team.
One of the great parts of living in these different
countries is the opportunity to be present at these
practices.
In Senegal, there was more of a cheer leading going
on during the games and it was really colorful and
fun. There, one team's group (mostly girls) would
sing a taunting chant, to be answered by another
from the opposing team's. When the game was over
it kind of calmed down and the celebrating wasn't so
... personal, would be the best way to explain it.
But this is a different part of Africa and though I don't
know the habits of all Namibia, let me tell you, the
celebrating here is ... personal.
I am learning the true meaning of bragging rights. Here
it goes like this, you win, you rub it in. The other team
just has to sit there and watch and hope for the next
chance to change it to their turn.
Don't feel so bad about the other village's team, when
our team lost, we sat and watched as what seemed
to be the whole village, danced and moved as one and
every so often, turned and slapped their rumps.
I don't understand the rump slapping but it probably
isn't too cryptic a gesture and I guess, it was exactly
what it was.
Sure is different from what I was taught about being the
compassionate winner.
Have to say, again, that is the great part of this gig, getting
to see the different cultures in action.
As a person who is trying to help out the village, this was
a great day. It is the beginning of sports activities where
women are the top attraction.
The field was full of people and the villagers went wild
at every goal scored by the home team. There were
60 year old women jumping on the field and dancing
during the breaks between the action.
I have asked people this morning what they thought of
it and they were happy and said that it was fun.
I am hoping for the ... move the mind then the body will
follow idea ... will take hold. In this I am meaning the
moving being fueled and centered around good positive
activities.
In the life of a development/improvement/change effort,
there are the ups and downs. Yesterday was an up and
something to build on.
This morning it was sitting with the manager of the netball
team and critiquing yesterday's event. It was about, what
can we do to make it better next time.
Of course winning makes everything pretty upbeat.
As for me, I think it is kind of fun to watch the people
do the victory dance/celebrating.
It doesn't matter if we win or lose.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Sundown on a blue Monday

So that's what you're seeing in the above picture.
It was taken with cell phone so the quality isn't there
but it is more symbolic of the day.
After returning from the two week workshop it was
just plain ... man, dem brakes are locked and we don't
know how to get the bus moving again. As on every
new Monday there is the dread of another week and the
hope of another week, depends on where you're standing,
I guess. Here because of the general stoppage of the old
MO-mentum, it was a sense of dread.
Of course in this development game the winds can shift
without warning and at a minute's notice. There ain't no
danger of getting blown away but, there was some
advances.
Things like, the women playing netball again after a couple
of weeks disappearance. Reason is that the lady who is
the leader was out of the village. Now she's back and so
is the sport. Should be able to play at anytime and not
dependent on one person to get it moving. Just like the
person who needs someone else to basically carry them
to the gym.
There was a meeting for some two week training courses
which consist of about eight different disciplines and it is
a great thing for the out of school youth. Especially out
here so far from anywhere.
The trees were finally removed from the new soccer field
and it is a good thing. It is just in this case the participation
is kind of slow in coming. I think that the best way to
describe when that soccer field will be ready is by using
the quote from Michelangelo when the Pope asked when
the Sistine Chapel ceiling was going to be ready ...
It'll be finished when it's finished.
The school has started a debating club and there are 15
students who signed up. Pretty good as far as I'm concerned,
it's just that the teacher is totally new at it so it will take
some work to get it going. It is also a two week vacation
for the school so it will be a while before that club is
up and going.
But the biggest problem as far as work is concerned is that
the generator pooped out a few days before I returned
from the workshop. I had been able to receive a lot of
electronic media to use to get the technology/computer
side of the education in motion. There is hope as the
word is that by the end of this week they will be bringing
another generator. Not wanting to sound like a killjoy
but ... I think that it was they said about the other
one they took away in something ... '2005'.
So, for me it is good to see something that resembles
progress happening. I guess the road to change is
marred by a lot of ups and downs.
So, this Blue Monday is almost history and that is the
update from somewhere out there in the Bwabwata
Game Reserve.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Sometimes as things change they stay the same ...

As we do, routines occur in our daily activities. Sometimes
in the case of Peace Corps Volunteers it can provide some
degree of comfort. Especially in those times of quiet that
may come. The quiet being a time of zero to no activity.
Throughout my life routines have come and gone and have
evolved from one routine to another and on and on.
In every other country the routines varied. In El Salvador
it was hanging in the local tienda (store) with Mr Jose Zelaya.
Usually every morning at 8 it was to the tienda, cup of coffee,
discussion on any matter of the day. That went on for the
two years I was there.
In Senegal, it was the morning ritual of working the
demonstration garden from anytime around 8 to 11 or so.
For two and a half years it was in that garden and it was
a source of attraction and a meeting, motivating and teaching
place.
In Romania, it was the morning jaunts to the local coffee shops.
It was 9:00 a..m. to one of several joints. There was the daily
practice in the Romanian language thrown in with discussion
on issues and ideas.
So, here I am in Namibia and as of this point into the tour
(4 months) haven't really hammered down a routine as
of yet. There have been a couple fleeting ones but the one
aspect that has been constant is going to the garden at
7 in the morning. This is really out of necessity as that is the
time that the water is running (we have water for about 1 hr
per day, half hour in the morning and evening) so it is a
non-negotiable point.
But here is where the title of this blog article comes in. With
the addition of the two guys from Romania in the village
there is this eerie resemblance to the prior tour coming
about. It has begun that every morning I head over to their
place and we sit around, drink tea and guess what ... speak
in Romanian. Kind of like exactly what I had done for
two and a half years in their country.
I am debating whether this is the beginning of a new
routine or an extension of the old one.
It is just dripping with coincidence, irony, karma and
just plain meant to be and so ... as things change they
could just somehow fall into some semblance of
... they stay the same.
Well, a routine has begun and to state that it is exactly
a new one as it regards to the Romanian angle, to me,
can't be claimed as totally unique.
It makes it easy to adjust to this new one forming in
Namibia, I already know the culture and the language.
It is just that it is from another continent than the one
I'm on.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Long term something to do

Sometimes there just aren't things going on.
This can be due to many reasons, school exams,
harvesting, holidays, lack of interest and in places
like here, heat.
It is not totally true to say that there is nothing
happening as the Support Group's Garden is going
along smoothly. Besides the incident in which a lady
locked the key to the garden inside and no one
where is it was for about 4 days, it could be said
that that it is going flawlessly.
That project is basically running on auto-pilot and it
takes about 15 minutes a day ... mainly to water my
plots in the garden.
As we all know, education is the base for longterm
change and especially here with the San. As mentioned
in prior blog entries, they are in the midst of a huge
transition of lifestyle and the majority are headed in
the direction of a life with alcohol.
To help prepare the future generation ... as in all other
countries and communities throughout the world ...
a decent educational system and infrastructure is
needed. In the photo above you are looking at a corner
(the best corner) of our school's library. The books you
can just barely see on the right side is 50% of the total
books the school has. The school has 10 grades and
it looks like there is about 5 books per grade.
After seeing the status of this library I've decided to
make it my personal project. Hopefully over the
rest of my time here, we can make it a little more
appealing and more than just a depressing looking room.
The plan is to transform that space into one that has all
the Feng-Shui that a library room can have. Also to build
into a resource that hopefully will motivate the students
to want to go further.
Looking at this room, well, there is a long road to hoe.
If it goes well, I an get the satisfaction of participating
and the results will outlive me.
I also get to have a project that I can keep myself busy
with, on those slow days.
But, in the end it is all about this young San generation that
is going ahead without the leaders and role models that
a generation relies on. As the San are in such a transition,
so hopefully this library will transform into something
that could get the young people the new tools they need.
So, If anyone follows this blog, get ready to hear the
progress during the upcoming 20 months. In fact I hope
that you have the chance to read about it to the point that
you are all sick of reading about it. If that happens then
things are progressing well.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

And the winner is ...

Last Friday I had the opportunity to go with a
fellow volunteer to a nearby village to participate
in an HIV/AIDS testing awareness campaign. In
fact it was an event that had a few dignitaries and
even the national television network on hand.
As stated above the campaign was to have people
come out to have an HIV test to allow them to know
their status. Many people don't want to know.
So my fellow volunteer organized a raffle to help
motivate the people to get tested. The grand prize
was the bicycle that you see in the above photo.
People who tested participated in the raffle.
The person in the picture isn't the actual winner. It
was his sister and she wasn't on hand to receive her
prize. There were a total of 80 prizes and it took some
time to get to the point that the bicycle was waiting
with the crowd full of anticipation and with hope.
The campaign lasted for 2 weeks and had a total of
405 people tested. The last year's testing statistics were
that of about 19 per month or 228 for the whole year.
So my colleague's campaign almost doubled that in
a 2 week span.
It was a truly festive day and it was great to be there
to witness. There were three cultural dance groups and
they were very good.
Of course the goal of the campaign was to have people
get to know their status and the reality of situation is
that there were 9 women and 5 men found to be positive.
Despite the festivities the sobering fact that these people
were found to be positive just again delivered the message
that HIV/AIDS is a serious part of life.
With knowing their status the people receive counseling
and ARVs if their CD4 count is in the range necessary
to begin taking them.
Over the years I have participated and witnessed many
projects from fellow volunteers and this one is just
another of the successful ones that Peace Corps
volunteers have done or are doing ... unnoticed
and in anonymity out in remote regions of the world,
only known to family and friends.
Many are doing tremendous work as my colleague has
done with her campaign.
For me it was just fun to be there.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Shuffle back to Buffalo

This is a sequel to an earlier blog entry (Shuffle off to
Buffalo).
It has been about a couple months since I have last
been to Buffalo and yesterday as chance had it,
there was an opportunity to return. The last time
I was here it wasn't quite as far into the dry season
and though there were many animal sightings at
that time, I was told that the best was yet to come.
So seeing as I was able to return to Buffalo and
upon arrival, almost immediately we saw what you
are looking at in the picture above. Behind the
elephant, if you look closely you may be able
to see the legs of a baby behind her. In back
of the mother elephant is a African buffalo. I was
pretty lucky to have gotten that shot.
We must have seen a total of about 20 elephants in
3 groups. In the last group we passed there were
three bulls and one was trumpeting and posturing
at a distance of about 20 meters from the vehicle.
There were some Namibian ladies in the back of the
pickup and when the elephant got feisty, they said that
the reason was, that it was because one of the
women was pregnant. The women were scared as
the belief is that the elephants can smell a pregnant
woman and will attack her. This goes under one
of those cultural beliefs.
As the night rolled in so did the elephants. When we
entered they were about 300 meters from the
camping/housing area. After dark they moved in
closer and though the sounds in the night can play
tricks, they seemed to be at least 20 meters or
so away. It was something to hear them ripping out
branches and chomping away. At one point we
were virtually surrounded by them.
Too bad there wasn't a moonlit sky to so that we
may have caught a glimpse of them. But there
were plenty of shooting stars so needless to say,
it was a great adventure and a totally surreal
experience. It would have been even greater if
there was a chance to see them, but hearing them
was exciting in it's own way as there was a lot
left to the imagination.
The elephants actually drink once every couple
of weeks so I am lucky that this is their time.
Hopefully today there are a few of them coming
to the river and the chance for photo opportunities
will be off the charts.
If there is I'll definitely post again this evening.
For now it is off to the river with a cup of coffee
and anticipation.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Is it like the cup half full?

In the picture is an update on the face lift to the old
school building. As stated in the prior blog entry I've
been away for the last few weeks. When I left just the
front of the building was completed up to a height that
we could reach. But again, they surprised me as they took
the paint and ran with it until there is no more paint left to
finish the project.
So, here we come to the struggling part again. How are
we going to get the money to finish painting this building?
At this moment, I don't know and I guess it is like it always
seems to be in the development game ... we'll have to
struggle, scratch and somehow figure something out.
A big problem with being out of the village for a somewhat
prolonged period of time is ... getting back in motion.
It seems like every time there is that break, things slow down
and lose momentum. I am not sure which of Newton's laws
it is but the one that states it takes more energy to get things
in motion from a dead stop holds true here. When I left things
were off the charts and wacky busy. It isn't a total dead stop
as there are some things that are progressing but not at the
break neck pace as three weeks ago. I guess I shouldn't
complain.
There is an upbeat vibe in the air and it seems like it just
needs to get some action attached to it. Tomorrow may be
the day that gets the 'mo' kicking. Should be at the school
helping to fix some of the wooden buildings. Also the fencing
material came in for the support vegetable garden and we
have to plan the strategy on how to expand it. Then a meeting
with the Youth Officer to organize the continuing cleanup
of the soon to be (hopefully) soccer field near the center of
town.
The two Romanian guys are returning here on Friday and I
had the idea that after they settle in that maybe I can see if
they are interested in making a solar oven for the lady that
cooks bread in a hole in the ground. It has to be very
inefficient to warm up a hole in the ground, so she has to be
using tons of wood needlessly.
But that is the problem with developing scenarios, usually
there just aren't the resources or capital to get the ball rolling.
This helps reinforce the statement that the rich get richer.
The lady baking in the hole in the ground doesn't half the cash
to just go out an buy one of these solar ovens. The Romanian
guys have wood working tools and good intentions. I think
that the Romanians will collaborate and if we can build one
for the price of materials, then I think that it could start a
trend and help get away from burning all kinds of wood.
In Namibia there are an average of 300 days a year with sun.
So solar looks like the ticket and whatever the investment is,
it should pay itself off pretty fast.
A few weeks back we had the idea to try and organize a
workshop for San kids so that they can learn how to make
traditional houses and other Bushmen practices. Like finding
the plants on where to get water from the roots and start a
fire with sticks. I heard that maybe in a few upcoming weeks
that project might begin. The best part about this is that
they did the actual connections to get the ball rolling
themselves. Again, nothing has happened yet but it looks
like it could.
Other than that, on a personal note it is getting the machine
moving again syndrome and it seems like I am starting from
the beginning all over again.
Nothing a few cups of coffee in the morning wouldn't cure.
So, this leaves me with the feeling at the moment, just as the
school is half finished, so is the cup of optimism half full. We
will get back the 'mo' and there is no room for the cup half
empty mumbo jumbo.
We got to keep plugging, so tomorrow morning it will be two
cups of coffee and out the door, two cups equal four half
filled cups ... got to think positive ... got to think positive.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Divine Intervention

How else could I explain what I found upon
returning to the village.
After being away for two and a half weeks I
was somewhat skeptical and had a sense of ...
oh man, probably have to start all over again
to get things rolling. I was totally surprised to
see that that was exactly the last thing that I
had to deal with. In fact, the biggest problem I
had was to keep up to the changes.
Where do I start ... first ... the vegetable garden
is looking tremendous and the people are beginning
to eat and even sell some of their produce. They've
even found ways to maximize the space and have
probably been able to increase the useful area
by another 10% or so.
Then, the Youth Office organized soccer and netball
games last Saturday. Everyone just raved about
how great a day it was. They told me that the place
was packed with spectators and in some places, they
were two deep.
At the school they used all the paint and even though
it wasn't enough to finish the building, it looks great
nonetheless. I never thought that they would follow
through on their threat to continue painting after I left.
The lady that cooks bread in a hole in the ground has
decided to take her cooking area above ground and
has decided to expand her little business. For me,
it is all about the people getting the ambition and initiative
to make positive changes in their lives.
Also, here is where the title 'Divine Intervention' comes
in. In the picture you see three people from Romania.
From left to right is Lukas, Iliana and Bogdan.
They are part of a church and they are going to renovate
a beautiful big building and make it a church and living
quarters. I was told that they will be moving into the
village and that they are not only here for religious reasons
but to also work with the community. Many of the areas
of interest between us coincide so we should be able to
collaborate on many projects. But also, I just finished
a tour in Romania last December. I speak Romanian and
the only two other white people whom are going to live in
this village are from the country me, an American, lived in
for the past 3 years. There has to be some forces bigger than
us all organizing this, who knows?
Another thing that kind of falls into the realm of divine
intervention is that the generator that produces 8 hours
of electricity a day is broke. So where does the divine
intervention fit in? Shouldn't it be exactly opposite? If the
generator is broke then why would it be a good thing.
Well, a huge benefit from this is that there are less people
going to the shebeens (bars). Usually the shebeens have
the music blaring and at night it gives the youth a place
to go. But with the generator out of action, they are staying
home a little more. So, in a place like this that has a problem
with the bubbly stuff, it is truly a godsend.
From the personal side of this, when I see these little positive
things going on, I get even more energized and resolved to
not give up or get discouraged when situations are not
going as well as wanted. I am thinking that I fell into a bucket
of luck this time.
So, the truth is that there just may be hope for this ... the most
marginalized community in the country, to rise up like the
Phoenix. With all the good energy maybe we can rise up
from the ashes and soar.
Just like the plane in the 'Flight of the Phoenix', it doesn't have
to be pretty, it justs all has to work.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Bush is on the horizon

Today is the last day of the two week workshop that
we've had. It has been actually fairly good and I
have picked up some ideas and the most important, information.
In the village there isn't any TV reception and the people
are virtually out of the loop. As mentioned before in prior
blog articles there is radio reception for a limited time
during the day. It just isn't enough and the people need
to have access to information if they ever hope to be able
to not get left behind in their own country.
So, I was very fortunate to be able to get a few books and
a computer program or two that is just filled with good
info. It is my job to make sure that it gets out there and
the people have an interest to open their minds.
After the workshop finished at 4:00 p.m. I decided to
do a wind down walk to get moving again. I had my
little music player with headphones and I had it on
shuffle or random. As I was walking down a little hill
( in picture ) ... Louis Armstrong's song came on ... What
a Wonderful World ... I have to say that between the beauty
of Namibia and the song it just hit me like a ton of brick ...
it can be a wonderful world at times. And that I am so lucky and
grateful to be where I am and doing what I am doing. It isn't
easy all the time but it is that part also that makes it the
wonderful experience that it is.
I am ready to get back to the village and tomorrow we will
all head out and some back to their respective challenges.
I am ready to bring new information and do whatever I can
to help.
It is difficult to stay on the periphery emotionally so as not to
get discouraged or disappointed and eventually so negative
as to become virtually useless.
I remember once reading or listening to some expert in something
say that ... hope is for losers. After living where I have and seeing
what I've seen, I am totally sure that this person has never faced
what the majority of the people living out in rural villages on the
illusive dollar a day has. I have seen that hope was and is the
only factor that gets these people out of bed everyday to go out
and struggle to survive.
The village I am in isn't quite as bad as the ones in El Salvador
or Senegal. It has a different challenge and that is of alcoholism
which was so much brought on from the change of their historical
lifestyle ( hunter/gatherer) to agriculturalist. That is what it is and
that is the work, challenge the sadness and the joy. They are all
encompassed in the package that is the village.
Again, I am ready to dive in and leave it all on the field by the time
my time is over.
With this rejuvenation and hope, I am looking forward to the next
20 months.
And for feeling that way, I am thinking that it is a wonderful world.