After a three-day trip I'm finally here in Pemba. I was met by all of our old friends here and promptly set up with a nice room close to the house we rented on our previous trips. I was so sleep deprived that I passed out seconds after putting down my bags on a bed with no sheets or pillowcases. Luckily, there were no mosquitos in the room because I didn't really wake up (except for calling Sarah) for about 18 hours. Now I'm "fit" as they say here in Pemba!
Yesterday I ate a fish with the head still on. His sharp little teeth made me laugh. I also went shopping for all the household supplies I need. It rained all day. And when I say "rained," I mean it came down in buckets, rained cats and dogs--I'm not sure how to express how it rains here. One step out the door and you're completely, soaking wet; another step and you're leaning your head forward so the water runs off and you don't drown.
This rain makes Pemba one of the most fertile places on the planet, but it also makes life interesting, to say the least.
My house has no electricity right now and there's no word on how long the outage will last. It could be hours, days or months. Fortunately the internet cafe does have electricity (for now), so I can actually get online. But my nights without a fan here just south of the equator will be a tossing-and-turning, sweaty mess. Why did I choose this place for my research again? Oh yeah, the people are fantastic, the food is divine, and it's as far from life in America as you can possibly get. (Not that I have anything against life in America--but sometimes we can forget what life's really about.)
I'm off for some coffee and chapati.
2 comments:
Great pictures, Justin. Good finds.
Post as often as you possibly can! It's wonderful to hear how you are doing.
Hey Justin! Glad you made it safe! Keep us informed of your progress...and anything exciting of course!
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