an outing

I promised pictures, so here are some from a day we visited Juma's favorite spot--the old colonial-era dock in the mangrove swamp. We visited twice that day, once at nearly high tide and once at low tide. We don't take pictures much here, because people are generally suspicious of our intentions of taking pictures of them or the surroundings. But here at the dock there was no one around, so I took the opportunity to snap some pictures of us.



These pictures are good to show you how very green it is, as well as the kind of clothes we wear here. In the backgrounds, you can see mangrove, banana, mango, and other trees, as well as some colonial-era ruins (a customs house for the port). Juma is in long sleeves and long pants, shoes and socks, despite the heat, to protect against mosquito bites.



We chose button-up shirts because they are lighter than T-shirts and easier to wash by hand and dry by sun, too. Justin wears button-ups and long pants because that is what men wear here (only boys wear shorts).



The black gown I am in is called a buibui, named after the word for spider (because it's black), and I wear my regular clothes underneath it. I only wear the buibui and head cover when I'm outside the house (and I usually throw on a head cover if any males come to the house to visit, too). I don't have to do this, but, hey, "when in Rome." Many people stare at me, yes, but they would stare at me anyway, and most people appreciate that I try to dress in the local style, and respectfully modest. And to answer your other question I'm assuming you are asking, yes, it is hot. Which is why I generally am drenched in sweat when I get home from anywhere, and take a quick, cool shower. But even without the extra clothes, I'd be drenched in sweat. It's hot and it's humid and that's life here.



It is rather strange being back and remembering all the things that were weird or uncomfortable for us the first couple times we came, but are totally normal now. Like the other day when I got back from a long day's work, and it was hot and icky and the electricty was out, so there was no fan to cool me off. And the one thing that sounded best to me was a cup of hot, steaming ginger tea. So I got one, and, man, did that hit the spot. It wasn't until the next day that I realized how terribly odd it would be for me to want a cup of hot, spicy tea on a hot day in the US.

There are lots of other things, too, that I have been trying to remember, things that used to be weird. Like saving zip lock bags for reuse. And washing clothes by hand. And sleeping under a mosquito net. Finding spiders have built webs on our drying clothes during the night. Showering from a bucket of cold water (we have running water, but sometimes I use the bucket, just 'cause it's there). Eating with our hands instead of a fork. Eating fish with the head and fins still on. Listening to people speak Swahili and actually comphrending it.

Well, I best be off to mommy-duty so Justin can go play basketball.