Walk (7/24)

After a very hot night, a cold bucket bath was welcome this morning. Partly cuz I was sweating, and partly cuz the water wasnt coming straight from the well. I hung around the school, talked to some teachers, and went for a ride with Saidu, (Sah-EED) my headmaster, to meet some of the elders and opinion leaders of my town. When we got back Saidu and I talked through my schedule for next term.

I'll be teaching Science to forms 1,2 and 3. And I'll also be teaching Math form 2. I'm really excited! (To any PC staff reading this, do not worry, we are staggering the agricultural science portion of the semester so that at any given time I will not be teaching more than 21 hours/week)

School let out at 12:30 because it's a Friday and I went home to take a nap. I did some reading and then went for a walk. My back yard is an expanse of grass, littered with trees and plants of all kinds. I passed many bright yellow butterflies about 1" long as well as a baby blue one about 2". Another landed in front of me. He was a gray/black color with light blue spots along the edges of his wings. I passed a shady, strong looking tree and decided to stop. Being the way I am, sitting under it wasnt enough. I had to climb it. I tried a few times but couldnt get my footing. I tightened the straps on my Chaco sandals and tried with a new determination. There was no way I wasnt climbing this tree.

Breathe. ...1....2....Aaaaarhhhrrrgggaaaggrrrhhhrh!

I landed back on the ground, saw people coming down the dirt path and did a Chris Farley style attempt to pretend I was doing something less embarrassing... oh wow this grass looks cool... oh sweet, bark on a tree!.. (No joke, in my head this "interested looking" that I was portraying actually seemed convincing in my head.)

Ok we're clear.

1-2-TTTHRREeeeeeeaaaaaaakkkrggrrraaaaahhddmdslkdfaslkdjf

Several attempts, 2 bleeding knuckles, and one bark-burned palm later, and I proudly write this journal entry sitting in....

...a completely different and much more conquerable tree...

I'll get you next time you stupid overgrown seed on steroids. This tree is way cooler anyways.

But aside from comparing who's tree is bigger (it's not the size that matters) I have to point out that I've had nothing short of perfectly beautiful days since I got to my site. I unbuttoned my blue tye-and-dye shirt, and took it off. With my undershirt covered in sweat the cool African breeze on my back feels amazing. If I listen closely I can hear the leaves moving in teh wind, the distant sound of cars passing on the Tamale-Bolga highway, a call to prayer from 2 mosks behind me, and of course, crying goats.

Hmm. Call to prayer, that means it must be... (checks phone)

Yep. 3PM.