09/21/12-Things Happen For A Reason

I was supposed to leave today for Makeni for a PCV buddy's birthday but due to time and weather constraints I decided to stay behind and head out the next day.

Weather and time is so sensitive here in Salone when it comes to travel. It technically takes 1hr to get to Makeni from Lunsar but you take into consideration of the poda or motorkar's condition. Or when it rains there will be accidents, flooding, or gigantic puddles of mud traps. So ya, the fact that it was the afternoon and it had been raining like crazy all day, I decided to be smart about it and just wait.

My PlanB, hang out around home and help out Hawa with her catering gig for one of the mining companies. Luckily for her, the rain stopped by late afternoon and many of the community women came over to help out. Why should the rain affect the cooking? Well, it's because the kitchen is outside, duh, lol.

So Hawa was running a tight ship as we all did things from skinning chickens to cutting yabas (onion) to stirring giant cauldrons of food. I had a great time, it was like a big community party. Women prepping, cooking, and laughing, as all their children were playing around the compound.

After I was done with my contribution, I took out my radio and put in my USB stick of music (thanks Juan and Gina & Co.) and chilled out on my steps with all the kids. The kids loved the music. It really felt surreal chillin' on my porch, rockin' out to some Jurassic5, children dancing, and African aunties in their lapas cooking on coal pots while tapping their feet to the music.

That was a really happy moment for me. When I initially thought about how my service would be like in Peace Corps, I always thought of these grandeur events when in reality the it's been all these tiny spurts if simple moments that seem so special.

I truly believe that things happen for a reason. Staying behind one night was so worth it. I'm really happy here in Salone. I'm not just a tourist or some fly-by volunteer. I live here, in Africa, in Salone, in Lunsar. This is my community...........