Sitting and Waiting
A crab in the pool and a cockroach in the kitchen. Mosquitos and flies everywhere. Chalk-making tools lying idle as the sun sets over the ocean, full of nets to be emptied at tomorrow’s market across the channel. Rebels firing shots in the night across borders, and genocides bubbling beneath the water. Sweat clinging to our bodies as we watch Hotel Rwanda to pass the night. We’re safe and sound, but I have to keep reminding myself—This Is Africa. Disease and dispute permeate the country, and all most do is watch the news, say “that is horrible,” and go on eating dinner. We cannot (and should not) take the whole world on our backs, but it’s hard place we’re in.
This ends day 10—barely a week and a half and still struggling to begin research (due to NIMR’s pending approval) and unable to speed things at this juncture. It’s a stressful spot to be in, and while I wafted the day by with music and pool and Walden (Thoreau’s my kind of guy), I want to start doing something about all this and affecting some positive change. And I want some fireworks for the fourth tomorrow! Can’t find those anywhere. Everyone—shoot some off for me, and enjoy the day! I think that tomorrow, I can be grateful for American freedom in a richer way than before.
Day 9:
Morning run, dip in the ocean, trip to the fish market with our condo’s manager Zaid, fresh sole and prawns from Zaid’s cousin for cheap (and a lot of seafood to come on this trip), lychee juice pickup to battle heat drain (very real here, it saps the strength and clouds the mind, and it’s winter), fifth daily visit to NIMR, 3-person lunch of rice and vegetables and drinks for $4 total (found our new daily spot), chilling on the beach (video footage to come), fresh seafood dinner, a bit of pool time, and a night of great sleep.
I couldn’t help thinking today—if I were fluent in Swahili and didn’t have as much research obligation, I could lead a life of fishing for a few months with local fishermen, lead a life of farming for a few months with local farmers, learn traditional Swahili cooking from restaurant cooks—I could learn some great skills and life lessons. The things I would do if I had a bit more freedom. For now, it’s just a dream, but I’m happy to be here and happy to have been afforded a college education and a paved path in academia, so no complaints.
That’s it for now. Again, everyone have a great fourth of July weekend, and please write me if you can find the time.
Living it up and missing you all,
John
