The Daily Grind

Wow! It's hard to believe that we've been here for almost three weeks now. It's been a change, but we are slowly getting used to the African routine.

This is Krystin by the way.

And like Megan said…it's going to be hard to write everything that has happened in these past weeks, but I'll try to fill you in on a few things.

 The first few days we were here,  Megan and I were eager to form the land at the front of our house into a beautiful garden. While the guys worked on our house, we set out in our dresses, tennis shoes, and plow to work the field.  Before we knew it, the guys that live near us were all standing around watching, and laughing. Of course they all wanted a try. After they all had their turn, they decided that their method was a lot better, faster, and easier for clearing a field. Their hoe.

They were right. 

It's kind of funny how we go to other countries and try to tell the people that our method of getting things done is better, or more efficient without even considering their methods. 

So we hoed. 

And it worked.  

Everyday tasks here are similar to those at home, but they take a million times longer. (For example, cooking a meal and doing the dishes could take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours.)

After our job of making the garden was taken over by some of the guys, Megan and I decided to learn how to do things around the house the African way. 

Because that's what women do, right?

One of the things we just love doing (definitely sarcasm) is our laundry. Or as they say here, one word with two syllables, our cloth-es. Washing machines are hard to come by here since the power only comes on in the evening, and is off again in the morning. So, we wash by hand. 

Not so hard right? Wrong. 

It's actually pretty hard work to scrubbing the dirt out of your clothes with your bare hands. After washing for the first time, under the supervision of Wilbroad's sister Violet, Megan and I vowed that we will never wear jeans again. And that all cloth-es are to be worn until visibly dirty or unbearably smelly. 

Even then, they could probably be worn at least one more day. 

Since then, we've washed a few more times, and it's not so bad. I'm kind of growing to enjoy my time squatting in the dirt next to my basin of murky water with my cloth-es. 

Here are a few lessons i've learned from life in Africa: 

-A shower every other day is normal. And it's glorious. Even if it is in smelly lake water. 

-If the bread has mold, pick it off. If it's covered in ants, just give it a little shake. 

-I'm expected to respond to two names: Krystin and Muzunguhowareyou. 

-My arms and feet are pretty fascinating. The kids always touch them.

-As women, Megan and I cook, wash dishes, clean the house, and do the laundry. (I now understand why people here have so many kids.)

-As a man, Travis works. He was laughed at when we had him wash dishes.  

*stay tuned! =) We are trying to update this a few times a week. We'll see what happens.*