9:45 pm
Under the net. Was sitting at the dinner table, but after finishing I felt awkward being there—Amy and Libon were talking. And not that I understood, I just felt very out of place.
With no tv and no electricity, I feel lost. I didn’t yet want to sleep, but it’s dark and what is there to do to avoid the awkwardness I don’t know that answer.
So I’ve been listening to some Guster on my ipod. It took a chunk—maybe half—of the battery to show the pictures, but I’ve not used it much. I suppose not last week at all but this week more. At any rate, I leave tomorrow, so it will work out. I can’t find the plug adaptor that I bought and brought. I took out the things in my backpack more than once to no avail. Oh well.
After wrting this morning I read and then had lunch. No fish with the rice—the sauce was slightly different. “Keep swimming” but I didn’t (as usual) finish my part. They say everybody eats their side and then it’s finished—but my side remains. Yesterday they were telling me to finish and Suryell was helping so I cleverly shifted the plate around claiming my side was then done and it was Suryell who had not yet finished.
Not finishing does not mean that it’s bad; because it is very good—some spice, but a lot of rice. Way more than I would ever eat at one meal.
Keep swimming-cross the ocean.
After our discussion of American’s at the beach: lying on the sand for the sun. I used that as my response to the swimming prompt yesterday as well. Amusing metaphors.
I finished the book this afternoon. It was to the point that she had died, and I need to finish the whole book. I couldn’t stop. It was very good.
Amy got into a car accident—the left side of the car is smashed up, but luckily she is fine. Libon showed me later in the afternoon where the accident had taken place.
No answer from the airline; must call tomorrow morning.
This evening I called mom—a short call was the plan, but it was shorter as I was cut off. I wanted her to know that I was fine and her response was that she knew that I was fine on the prior Sunday (I foresaw that answer).
We went to Seny and Isha’s after the accident. I could tell Libon was stressed out by it. “Someday I know I can get peace,” he says.
We had china tea. Some German woman and a boy (her son?) stopped by with two Africans. Apparently she was married to one of the African guys. Rambo the dog took to the German guy. He was sporting a fanny pack which made me laugh. He didn’t want the first round of tea; the woman stated it was too strong for him. I like the first round.
Sat, talked, laughed. It’s how I want to spend my last remaining time here.
Seny and this other man (the dance teacher/guy who’s been around at Seny’s) sang and played me a song. Libon joined in singing as well.
All of a sudden he appeared with a kora and a thumb piano and started playing. And within the first verse, I didn’t know what he was saying but heard my name.
The beginning had my name called repeatedly. Isha leaned over and translated.
Amanda, be patient, Amanda, be patient…
You came from far away…
You will meet your love in Africa…
But you’ll need to go away to know it…
Amanda, be patient, be patient, Amanda…
It was incredible. They kept singing. I wished I could understand the language.
I wanted to have that on video. It was my immediate reaction to pull out my camera but I didn’t want to offend anyone. Isha, half way through the song, though, asked me if I had my camera. So I have the second half of the song on video. Sadly my name is not sung in that half, but I have that memory.
It was cool. Kora, thumb piano, and 3 male voices. It was beautiful. And just for me.
ak
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