Day off!

Wednesday and a day off...what luxury! There was supposed to be a planned demonstration in the city today, it got postponed, but we thought it best to stay home just incase anything kicked off anyway.

I went to the refugee camp again on Monday and had a very worthwhile day. We delivered more chicken feed and then i spent the morning with Innocent chatting with the women about the chicks and the project, and how some of the chicks need to be moved into the other coop as they are getting much bigger. They are very lively chicks and seemed to enjoy pecking at my feet!
I also showed them my ideas about how to keep a record of their finances when they start selling the chicks.
Innocent and I then spent time with one woman from the group, Christine, and listened to her story. Although she was not speaking in my language I could still grasp that this was a painful story to tell. Inno was strongly affected by it and shared some of it with me later on. I feel odd about sharing someone else's personal story on the blog here, so I won't. Christine's strength, courage and perseverance amazes me and I feel humbled by her hope and her huge smile. Photo above is of Christine and her daughter Janet.

I then spent a while walking through the camp with Inno, stopping to talk with people he knows and visiting a few people in their houses. There are endless alleys and hut and houses...I was glad I wasn't alone or I think i would have got totally lost!
He then took me to a place to eat. I had bbq'd goat on skewers and cassava bread. I don't think I will rushing to eat either again! Each mouthful of goat took an age to chew, i'm not sure how much actual meat i digested and there was something which looked like ventricles poking out of each chunk. The cassava bread, a starchy root high in carbs was tasteless and a bit like a uncooked rubbery dumpling the size of a melon. Mmmm, yummy!

Grateful for a having a full stomach, but in pain for a couple of hours while it tried to digest these new foods, Inno and I went to the hall where the video class were having their graduation to commemorate the end of the course. Matt, Rob and the previous intern Katie had taught a video making course to a group of 10 refugees.
It was a lively afternoon, there were a few speeches, one from Inno and another from Matt, we watched some clips from the videos the class had made and listened to some great songs sung by a choir. The men who attended the course were really proud to receive their certificates and have their family and friends congratulate them. After everyone had taken photos of everyone with everyone and then some, we left for home! Photo above is of the class, with Innocent, Rob, Jenn, Matt and I.

Some odd things that take time to get used to here are...not having to open the curtains in the morning and check what the weather is like...its always sunny! Not brushing your teeth with water from the tap...bartering for food in the market, when things cost next to nothing anyway...and this is my favourite so far....men at the side of the road selling mice on sticks - not sure if they are cooked or raw...anyone dare me to try one???!! People sure do know how to make use of everything here...maybe this could be a new business venture back in London...that'd get rid of a few of the mice and rats around!

on that note...I'm off to eat lunch!
loadsa love xxxx