When we awaken and go to sleep, we hear deep-throated bird calls, birds that repeat the same resonant note over and over like an alarm clock, birds that sing scales. We also hear the rattle of pans as people prepare to cook their meals and singing as women scrub clothes under the faucets and sweep the dirt in front of their homes. In the evening, we can hear TVs playing an American TV sitcom or someone playing their guitar with friends singing on the back porch. Lately, as Zambia has progressed through the Africa Cup to the finals, voices erupt out of the dark to cheer a recent goal.
Our dining room/living room:
Our kitchen cupboard:
Our bathroom, suffice it to say, is functional.
And Benjamin wants me to tell you: "I'm tired of the electricity going out."
Wow, nice house! We're tired of electricity going out, too I realized using a slow cooker is NOT going to be a wise idea here- and our running water also goes out frequently. Once it was off for 4 1/2 days. I LOVE your descriptions of the sounds...we hear similar things here - the gorgeous birdsongs, but also the pounding of fufu (a local dish), and each trader that walks by has a certain sound they use to alert people of what they are selling - there's a certain double-click that is the shoe repairman, for example.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting the stories and photos! How many students are in the seminary? How many families? Professors? Love to hear more about life there.
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