We had a great reception by about 50 kids dancing and today we experienced the greatest music to date. In talking with one of our guides, the region we were in, and will revisit on Wednesday for our last distribution, is known for this specific style. It even had me shuffling around in the heat and clapping my hands. The female volunteers had a great laugh! The guys? Ahhh they were just jealous :-)) Whenever they played and sang, everybody joined in - hundreds of people. Both enjoyable and just plain outright cool music, singing, and beats. The fly into song at the drop of a hat - just marvellous. It is almost always the women involved but the occasional womanizer will jump in as well!
2 hour drives either way but the roads were very good for Togo. We are on the same area for the last 2 distributions so at least my ass will be spared :-)
After showers we have eaten then off to visit where the bed kits are assembled then the ladies want to do a bit of shopping (surprise) at the market as we did not get there as planned yday. I chose to pass on the visit to the factory and took some time to really cool down and re-c harge the batteries with a nap. It was amazingly hot today and the skin temperature monitor on my watch read 102.6 degrees. SOB it was hot.
Closing thoughts of the day, , ,
Internet access. We are terribly spoiled in 1st world countries vis a vis net access. Putting aside any personal frustrations with internet needs here - which were totally unmet and why I am doing my blog upon return - I can say that the country is ravenous for access to the net, especially the youth. We have 3 university kids helping us out and they devour the net when we are not using it. They use internet cafes when they can afford the 50 cents / hour charge. Affordable and fast net access would immediately broaden their horizons and accelerate the county's desire to advance. What a catalyst it would be to trigger change. The hunger is there - the intelligence is there - big time -, and the will is there. It is so obvious what is needed, , , , government should take a leadership role and open things up (break current monopoly, etc)
Welcoming committee - at this site, even the boys were involved! Bravo!
Closer shot of the welcoming group, this time the beautiful girls.
Very few dogs seen and all were very skinny. This girl was not in the best of shape but it showed that this particular family had a few more means than the others.
Future king - guaranteed!
My partner Eleanor handing out the mattresses, the final step in the distribution to each child.
2nd to last step in the process just before the handing out of the mattress. I attempted dialogue with every child, most were shy but those that responded to my initial question of "comment ca va?" replied with, without exception either "sa va bien" or in most cases, "ca va tres bien". Now how is that for positive thinking in a third world country?
A real princess. . . . .
A REAL tree - African style. (boa boa)
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