One advantage ...

Of living here is demonstrated in the picture above.

As you can see a bunch of sandals on display ... it is

most certainly in need of an explanation.

When I left the USA last year in October I packed

a set of sandals (top pair). They are really nice and

comfortable but only lasted about six months. That

was with constant wearing and used to walk and

ride bicycle only. It has a double big toe strap

and one strap ripped making the sandals not so

pretty and on borrowed time. 

What to do to replace and resolve the sandal issue?

Basically do what the people do and that is buy 

the flip flop sandals you see below the top pair.

There is a striking difference in cost from the pair

I brought and the ones I've purchased here. The 

pair I brought cost 31,000 cfa (general rule is 500 cfa

to the US dollar). The ones bought here 400 cfa 

or 80 cents US. A difference of 30,600 cfa.

For that price I am finding myself becoming the 

Imelda Marcos of 80 cent flip-flops. It seems 

like it would be stylish to have the color of the

flops match the wardrobe. 

So, there are black, gray, green and blue color

straps in this collection. But there are a few 

more colors that are available.

I use them non-stop. Walking, riding bicycle, working

and at the end of the day's bucket bath. The bucket

bath actually washes them off at the same time.

Two pairs are going on 5 months use and are still

in good shape. I didn't anticipate a pair lasting 

longer than a month or two.

What is the point I'm trying to make here? One of 

the unknown mysteries is that one can live with

80 cent sandals and function just fine. 

It is one of the lessons I've learned and never get

to forget when living in this type of environment.

Maybe bragging about 80 cent flops isn't the 

'chic' thing to do but some of the nicest people

I've met ... wear the 80 centers.

It's funny that development may bring down the 

cost of electronics but not the cost of sandals.

So does development also lead to more expensive?

A mysterious question ... n'est pas? 

It's the running water ...

That's the amenity. Not the running for water

as I am trying to depict in the picture above.

There are no taps or fawcetts here. It's lugging

gallons of water daily that's the rule. This

is where a bicycle is a handy 'mule'. (Poetry)

Usually once a day I take my bike to the pump

which is about a quarter mile away. The pump

has a big spoked wheel that takes between 55

to 60 turns to fill up the plastic jerry can. After,

it is strapping it to the back of the bike and off

to the house.

Some people strap two jerry cans across the back

and others have an old fuel drum on a two wheel

carrier. I am not sure of the volume but it's heavy

when full.

This is the way to stay in shape without the need

to go to a gym. People here are solid and in great

physical condition.

It is about 50/50 Muslim and Christian here and

last Monday was the last day of Ramadan. I did

a half fast during the month. I didn't eat but I

did drink some water. I did the full fast twice

when back in Senegal.

I did lose a few pounds but actually feel better

than before. Maybe a little cleansing doesn't 

hurt.

It is again the slow time so I am using it to fix

a few things around the maternity building. One

'little' project was to fix the three baby cribs. All

were missing bolts and as a result some of the 

metal got bent and distorted.

I just don't feel that a newborn's first impression

should  be that of a shaky world. It took a bit 

of hammering and bending ... plus cleaning but

now the kids are getting a solid bed to start out.

It's also malaria time and the people are coming 

to the clinic because of the increased mosquitos.

It's the rainy season and the mosquito that transmits

the malaria uses water to lay it's eggs. Something

between 50 to 200 at a time.

The strategy is sleeping under the mosquito nets.

But they basically come out between dusk and 

dawn and it's the time between when the people

are out and about that's giving the mosquito the 

opportunity.

It's a challenge to prevent malaria as a result.

So going to make another trip for water there's no

one at the well and I'll be ahead for tomorrow.