July 29, 2009 - Really bumpy roads today!

Today was very tiring but it was really interesting. We went to visit a few more rainwater harvesting projects. There are donors back in Canada who’ve contributed to these projects and Dwight wants to make sure they can see the great results of their support, so he is taking lots of pictures and videos.

The first school we visited, Haraa, was very remote and involved driving on some of the roughest road I’ve ever been on…and I have been on rough road. Haraa was very high up on a mountain and although the drive was quite gruelling, the visit was well worthwhile and the view was spectacular. The kids sang for us, but unfortunately we were short on time so we couldn’t sing for them. Haraa’s tanks were completed after the last rains so they are anxiously awaiting the next rainy season (beginning in October) to fill them.

(Above) Students welcoming us on the road to Haraa

The next school we visited was Laja Endebash. When we arrived, the children were assembled to greet us. They sang for us, did this incredible marching formation, and then the younger ones did a traditional African dance for us. FABULOUS!!!! I chatted with a few of the teachers and they were really interesting. As a result of improved conditions since the installation of the water tanks and new latrines, this school has moved from last place academic standing, in their Ward, to first place.

While Dwight was interviewing kids from the water committee I was hanging out with some little kids who were hilarious. They weren’t students there…too young I think. so I guess they were from nearby houses. They were giggling and goofing around…I managed to get them to say their names and of course when I said mine, that brought the house down. When I asked them if I could take their picture, they lined up to pose but all looked so serious. I tried to encourage them to smile and wasn’t getting anywhere, but then a teacher who was watching nearby called out something that got them giggling. They loved seeing their picture in the preview screen.

(Above) The little kids at Endebash

The last stop was a farm that benefitted from some CPAR agriculture/animal projects and seems to be prospering. The family is building a new brick house to replace a small hut they are all living in now (2 adults, 8 kids). By then I was quite pooped and stayed under a tree in the shade trying to chat with the farmer’s children. I saw the ugliest chicken in the world there…poor little guy had only a few feathers on his wings, and nowhere else.

(Above) The ugly chicken

I mentioned the rough roads earlier. Well, I’ve developed a few theories with of course no scientific proof to back them up. And keep in mind when reading them that my head was shaken about quite a bit today so…

1) After a ride on a really bumpy road I think some kind of hormone is released that makes you forget just how bumpy it was so you will actually get back in the car again. Because the next time, even if it is like half an hour later, you get back in the car and you’re like “I can’t believe it’s this bumpy.” Sort of like the hormone released after childbirth.

2) The bumpy road TO a destination is exponentially longer than the bumpy road FROM it…even when it’s exactly the same route.

Well, as I said I am very tired tonight. It’s just after 10pm but feels way later. We have an early start tomorrow. Actually everyone here does, when a nearby church bell rings at 6am for 5 mins straight. Apparently it happens every morning but somehow (and I can’t imagine because it’s so loud) we missed it on Tues. We certainly heard it this morning.