Its been hot-dry season since the end of September, so understandably projects in the village have been slowing down. Not just the projects, but a general malaze has taken over the village. Its too hot for people to do anything, they'll just nap for hours under a mango tree and wait for the reprise of late afternoon to do all their house hold chores. So as far as projects go, I've just been doing my own individual projects (which includes helping a PhD student with taking some lake survey data -- awesome!).
November has brought with it humidity and thunderstorms at night. The thunderstorms are are amazing to watch over the lake, but the humidity at night can be almost unbearable. But hot-dry season is also mango season! There are 4 or 5 large mango trees at my house which means there are always mangoes around, but that doesn't guarantee you'll get a ripe one (people are always coming over and taking mangoes, even if they're unripe!).
The idea of property rights are a bit different that what I'm used to in the States. It seems to be that all people are entitled to any fruits from any fruit tree. It reminds me of the saying that explains how property rights matter as much as people want to respect them, and only apply when you can enforce them.
But other exciting things have happened in November, like the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps and USAID. It was a formal evening event at the Embassador's house. There was catered food, live music, and many important dignitaries to shmooze with. It was a good time.
The weekend after that a large group of us helped the Liwonde Park staff with a big-game count. Stacey Neilson and I spent the first day on a 12km transect walk, and the second day in a hide near a water hole. We saw more diversity of animals during the walk (including a run in with water buffalo, during which our guide shot his M-16 to scare them away as we ran the other way), but saw large groups of fewer animals while I was sitting in the hide (where we found an elephant!). I brought my camera, but wasn't able to get any good pics. It turns out all of those animals are really fast -- probably evolution or whatever.
And I just came back from a Thanksgiving getaway where a group of us met up to indulge in the good ol' American tradition of over eating. Yes, even in Africa we managed to stuff oursevles to the brim with some well cooked Thanksgiving favorites.
So now Stacey and I are preparing to seek out a couple permagardening experts, and learn what we can from them for the next few days, and take those skills back to site just in time for rainy season (starting in mid-December). I can't wait, it should be a good time. I'm sure they won't be afraid to put us to work.
'Till next time, take care all!
