A Warm Fuzzy Day

Walking between assessments, Rajib and I saw two boys at a distance, playing at the edge of the river, under the incomplete bridge next to our house. Buses arrive in Rayenda on the opposite side of the river, and small paddle boats shuttle people bath and forth to our village. One of the boys was Saddam, who introduces himself as "Saddam, like Saddam Hussein," and proceeds to draw his finger across his throat. He has really big eyes that kind of bug out, like a real, live Simpsons character. The other was a smaller, quieter boy who I didn't recognize. Pointing at him, Rajib said "this boy's father works in Kuwait. Today, he comes back." Aw! He was waiting for his dad to arrive.

Two new volunteers also arrived today; Rachel K (from the Philippines and Peru projects), and Bob (who was in Biloxi, MS at the same time as me).

Rachel packed some saris and salwar kameez from India with her. I am impatiently awaiting mine, which I ordered in the market a week ago. Flowy pants! Fun shirts!

The house is a bustle of activity now; there are people in every room, we scoot sideways past each other in the kitchen, and the banana branch is down to less than a dozen.

P.S. Maple syrup update. Sorry David, I didn't realize that there was any maple syrup in Biloxi. I must have missed it in Pisco as well; I was only around for the cactus syrup and Jorge's homebrew baby juice. Today, Rachel brought a jug of 100% real syrup from Quebec. I can't wait until the next Pancake Breakfast!