First, we slept outside. Most of the group slept within the main compound, but the four of us who shared the outer building for our suitcases slept closer to that. In the morning, we realized that we were right on the path the sheeps/goats used to move to get to the well to get the water.......
However, I certainly slept well! Even with the dancing lasting past 2am.....Even had enough energy to carry a bucket of water on my head in the traditional manner -- although unlike the women in the village, I needed help to get it on and off my head. I did manage to walk from the well back to the compound (including "climbing" up about a 12 foot differential on stones) without spilling too much. Despite my thrill at this feat, the women in the village do this ALL day long, MULTIPLE times to get water for cooking, washing, cleaning, laundry, etc.
We also met Anna's sheep. She was given him by the chief of a neighboring village and planned to give him to the chief of Konsango. Appropriately (given what would become of him) we named him "Supper".......
Our "final" morning task (before actually doing the work that we'd come to do -- namely planting fruit trees and building a wall around them to keep the sheep and goats out) was laundry. Here is the process:
1. Hang lines from whatever is available (ours went from the rock fence to the "house"
2. Get 3 buckets full of water - set them down, preferably in the shade
3. Put soap packet into one of them, swish it around
4. Wash in soapy water, wring out STRONGLY
5. Rinse in second bucket, wring out STRONGLY
6. Final rinse in third bucket, wring out STRONGLY
7. Hang on line (as dry as the climate is, things dried VERY quickly, even blue jeans)
My dad's on the right -- I think he's hiding his face so mom doesn't learn how good he is at doing laundry!
More on our "real" work to come......
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