Interesting Things That Happen Here

1. Most of you know that I've desperately wanted a cat for years now. The going rate for a kitten these days is one chicken and 10 pesewas (10 cents) so we went into Bolga on our bikes, bought a live chicken, strapped it to our bike and then rode back and exchanged it for our kitten. Tanga is an awesome kitty. When we first got her she was super-snuggly and sweet. Her favorite toy was a nail and her own tail, both of which she would chase around the house endlessly. We are struggling a little bit now because we go to a different house to sleep outside and so Tanga now lives there so we don't see her much during the day. She's growing up. She's got a cat friend who's been showing her the ropes. Once we get a wall built we'll bring her back home but for now she's happier over there. But I miss her a lot.
2. I was doing laundry outside the other day when I looked over and saw two men on camels approaching us. We didn't share a common language but they gestured for me to get on the camel so what was I to do but climb up on the camel? So I sat on the camel. Camels are really tall! I gestured that I wanted the camel to walk around but instead they had me get down. Then JJ got on the camel and they let him ride it around.
   
3. We live in a compound where about half the people are Christians and the other half are traditionalists (they practice the indigenous traditions). There is a tree in our front yard that is believed to house their ancestors and so there are often sacrifices performed there. Usually it's a chicken or a guinea fowl, but sometimes it's a goat or a sheep.
   
4. Most people here have facial scars. Generally, the older they are the more elaborate the scarring. One person explained it to me as a tactic against being taken during the slave trade, and others say it is for tribal identification. It is actually against the law to do it today but many still do. Just about everyone (Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists) has a small scar on their cheek to ward off the ninga, which is a nocturnal bird. If a baby cries at the same time as the ninga the baby will fall ill, and so the scar offers the baby protection.
5. The moon and the stars are awesome. We sleep under the stars (and our mosquito net) most nights because it's unbearably hot inside. It's been nice being so aware of the moon all of the time. When the moon is full you don't even need a flashlight top see your way around.
6. I'm out of time here at the internet cafe. Once we get electricity the posts will become plenty.