Hello again, readers. How goes it?
After posting my rant-ful blog earlier this week, I decided to keep this one short, sweet, and to the point. The day I wrote that, I met Vume (my old housekeeper at Fr. Simon's) in town and she assisted me with buying some things and we grabbed a pop. She told me it'd be quite silly to walk back with my backpack full of so many items (it's a 38 minute walk from my house to the heart of town) during the middle of the afternoon, so, she asked me to defy Fr. Simon's wishes and ride a motorcycle (they're cheap taxis) home. I was actually quite scared; if you saw these roads, you'd know why. None are paved, barely any are flat.. I'm not just talking about ditches, I'm talking crevices and boulders. But, I did.. and boy was it a rush! Girls are supposed to ride side-saddle but Vume wanted to make sure all was well, so she rode, too--forcing the 3 rider-man-style. I put my arms around some African dude, who smiled a bit too much for my liking, and we were off! It was very exciting and something I'll never forget.
Later that evening, I met up with Fr. Simon and friends at a restaurant/bar. [If you do not want to hear very personal-Erin-type-humor/bodily functions, I'd skip this paragraph..] I had been recovering from some severe dehydration from frequency at the bathroom if you're catching my drift.. I took some Immodium so that I wouldn't have to use the public facilities.. but.. we were there just a little too long.. Let me try and describe these toilets for you. There's a door and you go in.. and then there's.. a hole! A nice ceramic tile lays the area around the hole.. but it is indeed, just a hole. I've peed in manyyy since I've been here, but never anything else due to uncomfortableness.. but I reached my breaking point that night! But, to say the least, I felt very African afterward and proud of myself! (I thankfully always carry tp on me.. or that could have been disastrous because they don't supply any)
I posted the title of this blog from the beloved Disney movie, The Lion King because, although it is in Swahili in the movie.. he phrase Hakuna Matata should really be tattooed on everyone's foreheads here. That's what they live by first and foremost. I desire this African simplicity as I've said before, but some of my American tendencies just won't back down. Today, on my last day at St. Severin's, which everyone knew about.. they cancelled classes. I had something really great (and expensive.. I bought all the items here and it cost me for being white and buying them) planned for all my classes and they just cancel them.. no worries, my hiney! I'm bummed! But, what can you do? I returned home to try and shake off my feelings, talked to a friend for a little before she went to sleep in America, and took a nap myself. I woke feeling rejuvenated and thought maybe I'll at least go and see if any students would wanna participate (since they live there, they can't really escape me.. ) They were mostly unavailable at this time since it's close to lunch but I spoke with Sr. Amelia, who just came back from a week-long retreat and then after proceeded to go home.. As I was walking home, a little girl came running after me, crying that I was already leaving. She then apologized profusely for her class' actions the day before (one of my class 3's stole a box of crayons and 2 things of Play-Doh, they were returned, but, it was disappointing) and I just melted. I promised her I'd come back after lunch for the special activity for any kids that wanted to and that I'd come back in my few days in Biharamulo before returning to the States. That really eased my tensions about the day, although I did feel bad that she felt so bad!
Only two weeks til I'm back in the US! I can't believe it. (and my birthday is in 12 days, but who's counting?)
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