Weekend Goals

All accomplished... :)

So yes... Marianne and I both had Saturday and Sunday off.  Saturday a group of us went to the craft market in the city.  I just "window shopped", but going into town at all is always an adventure.  The real fun was on Sunday.  With much fear and trepidation we ventured out of our gates where local guards work monitoring the entrance to our shipyard.  They are very kind and eager to help and when told we were looking to take motorcycle taxis to get to Lumley Beach, they quickly said "okatas?", yes... okatas.  They called over a young man who went sprinting off barefoot, returning in minutes on the back of a motorbike with another bike following.  Placing pretty sketchy looking helmets on our heads and grasping on with white knuckles to the back of the respective bikes, Marianne and her driver leading the way, me and my driver following closely behind... we were off!  So riding motorcycles brings to mind a certain image ,I would imagine, for most of you, but I must explain the rules of the road or lack of rules of the road in Africa.  Most of the roads are dirt, if there is pavement there is not routine maintenance.  Half of the people out and about in a day will walk, many carrying quite heavy and large loads on their heads or pulling large karts with food, car parts, whatever it may be they need to transport.  They tend to stick to the edges of the road, which is not overly wide, but really take liberty to cross wherever and whenever they would like or just walk down the middle of the road or between traffic if it is more convenient.  Then there are the poda podas I referred to in our last beach trip blog (which I called boda bodas incorrectly... sorry, I got carried away).  And then further taxis and cars.  The roads are very congested and traffic often moves very slowly and is quite noisy as the horn is the primary way of notifying pedestrians of ones existence.  The beautiful thing about the okata is that it has the ability to weave in and out of very tight spaces and negotiate the traffic jams on top.  So a key to riding the okata is to keep your arms in tight to your sides and head behind the driver though ones natural tendency would be to see where you may be headed.  (Please note that my personal ride was also accompanied with my driver repeatedly yelling at me telling me that he "loves me"... :)  Anyway, we made it to the beach and I personally thought it was a lot of fun!  Marianne, my dear girl, on the other hand, found herself quite frightened.  We took a taxi home.

And the baby... A sweet 7 month girl is on the ward with a cleft lip/palate.  I asked her mother and the local translators that work in our ward to show me how to tie the baby on my back.  They were elated!  So on went the baby and they were all laughing and pointing.  This also happens a lot... I love it when the Africans find us funny as they do not hide their feelings at all and point and giggle and point and giggle... it's contagious and in a short time we are all laughing together.  This is called "popo" and they have me repeatedly say it till my intonation is just right. 

Drum lessons are tomorrow night... Wablo will be teaching Marianne, Katrine, and I on the ship deck at sunset. 

I think that was my list.  I worked days today and will again tomorrow, then back on nights over the weekend... Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights 7pm - 7am.  Saturday there is another screening.  I will not be working at it as I will be working on the ward, but am glad it is happening and look forward to seeing how it goes and will pass along what I hear.  Work is going well.  Getting into the swing of things; paperwork, routine, equipment...

I am not sure what else to elaborate on tonight, but feel free to write questions... :)

It's still hot and sunny... Ahhhhh

Melissa