This week, a friend helped me put things in perspective. If nothing else during my remaining 20 months, I will get to have a weekly yoga class for people who really want it, really enjoy it, and really get something good out of it. The rest of my time may be what I would consider a failure or waste (durned type-A personality); but I have success and a little peace and happiness with that class, with the amazing ladies at the support group at HBC, and in evenings watching the light fade with my neighbors as we watch my kitten play with baby birds. (Yes, she caught a bird. And brought it into my house. What a nice present.) And I get to live in Africa. How many other people from my theatre life can say the same?

THANK YOU to my friend Quincy for her totally unexpected care package! It was the highlight of a very frustrating 10-day stretch. My friends really are the best!

2 Fridays ago, I finally visited the HBC garden project. It’s on land a few km outside of Bobonong. When traveling from one village to another, one can see fences all along the land. I think most people’s lands are fenced, though of course some animals can jump over them and elephants can plow right through them. HBC’s land is surrounded by a tall 6’ fence. The goats roam freely to graze during the day and are corralled at night. There is a separate teeny pen for the baby goats. I counted 8 when I was there; their pen is waaaaay too small for so many; but I was impressed to see someone had tried to provide shade for them using cardboard. I had no idea baby goats could be so tiny; one wasn’t any larger than a cat. The chickens are kept in a large concrete open-air building which is mostly empty. I was surprised and sad to see that they are kept penned up as in our factory farms. 5 are stuffed into an area the size of a filing cabinet drawer; there is a row of 5 of these on top, and a row of 5 on the bottom. There are 2 rows of cages back-to-back, meaning 100 chickens are kept in an area smaller than the size of a car. The ones on top can poo on those on the bottom. The reason they are kept penned is so their eggs are easier to collect. HBC had 199 chickens the day I visited; 6 died in one day of extreme heat after my visit. The garden itself is quite large, several acres, though not all of the available area is being used. There is a borehole, which is a common way of accessing water deep in the ground here. It’s housed in a small concrete structure with its own generator. Perforated hoses are attached and run along the rows of vegetables. When the generator is turned on, water is pulled up from the ground and through the hoses, which water the growing vegetables. Seeds are planted in areas shaded by green mesh; when the plants are large enough, they are transplanted to the main rows until they are large enough to be harvested. I did not see any machinery, so I am guessing that all of the gardening is done by hand.

We set a temperature record in Bobirwa about 10 days ago. It was 42 degrees C, or 107.6 F. Have I mentioned it’s only spring?! I’m told Dec-Jan is the hottest time of the year here.

I FINALLY got my meeting with the primary med officer! Since my counterpart has always been (and continues to be) too busy to make time for me, I have been hounding the PMO for a meeting, to develop a work plan for my next 8 months. This was supposed to be done before IST in Gabs 6 weeks ago, and we’ve been getting emails asking for it now. I was very happy that the PMO took the time to brainstorm ideas for projects based on my strengths and interests. This is the same Dr who gave me the wellness project a few weeks ago. I wish he were my counterpart; he is one of the motivated and thoughtful few I’ve interacted with. He is always full of relevant stories and experiences, and is proactive with a strong work ethic, like me. Maybe less anal-retentive. ( :

On Tuesday, I finally met many of the staff at Bobonong Primary Hospital. I spoke at length with one of the nurses in charge of the ARV clinic that day. The hospital is dreadfully understaffed, so people fill in wherever they are needed; no one is limited to just surgery or just the ARV clinic. She took me on a thorough tour. I'll be going in at least once a week to lend a hand wherever it's needed, though of course not in a medical capacity. I'm very excited about having something helpful and useful to do.

This week’s, and last week’s yoga classes were great fun, by the way. While a different number of students attend each time, I have a few regulars. And they always laugh, always have fun, and always remember and build on a little more. I'm sad to miss next week's class, but I am required to attend a workshop next week in Zanzibar (not Tanzania; it's in the Tuli block on the border with South Africa). And I always have a relaxing evening with my friends in Phikwe following class. I'm very lucky to have met them, and very lucky that they are such kind, welcoming, and interesting people.

1/4 of the way through. I think the next 20 months will feel like it’s speeding past. Time flies when you’re having fun!