Thursday

mark and i established 2 goals for today - 1) not to fall over and 2) well, 2 was a little personal for mark, but let's say that immodium was involved. let's remember there are no toilets at the worksite - pit latrines. and it's exactly what it sounds like. if you work hard enough you won't have to pee - so that's always my goal. :)

"the kids shout MUZUNGO when we drive by - what does that mean?" turns out it's a bus full of white people. :) Ebody is one of the construction guys here and when i fill the buckets too full he says 'enough enough already' - enough = emchuzie. i'm learning. we are also teaching some of the guys a little spanish - they are very quick and pick up everything on the first try...como esta? muy bien...

today i was lucky enough to get to lay bricks on the 1st house - less shoveling = a less exhausted me. :) it was much cooler today and the first time i didn't feel like i was going to throw up all day - awesome! i was also asked to help cook lunch - which was great. i helped make plantains, little green beans that tasted a lot like peas, and a corn meal paste that tastes a lot like nothing.... but it was fun, and Cam said it was the best meal he'd had so far..so i think it was a success. the kitchen consisted of some rocks to hold the metals bowls over a small fire - very smoky and super hot. great fun working with the ladies!

after work we visited a local school - the kids were very excited to see us, sang us a few songs and loved all the gifts we brought. soccer balls from troy, school supplies from pekis and toothbrushes from cari were all donated here...