Cultural discontinuities du jour

WTF is up with people visiting at 8 am on weekends? Yesterday I was still asleep then and visitors returned later, but today I had barely risen and there they were and I was hardly dressed. And it wasn't like close friends - I'm very fond of them, but the relationship is much more professional than me sitting around chatting while only in a towel.

But it's nice, to be sitting court in a way. They show up and we visit long time, though this morning I did excuse them early so that I could pay an overdue visit to the latrine. When I left the "facilities" the man in the booth charging asked, "How much dash you gonna give me?" At this point, I did not say, "I just crouched in urine and shat over a hole in a concrete floor. Exactly what percentage tip would you like on the charge for that, because this service isn't listed on my gratuity help guide card?" Instead, I pretended I didn't understand him, until the woman nearby giggled to save us all face and I had a handy exit.

We had a nice rousing huge loud political argument last night, so I felt right at home. Morris had brought a new volunteer over to meet me, and I think she was a little overwhelmed with our interactions. Once again, Morris and I are eye-to-eye, and we took on Fred and Dayton's anti-Lebanese prejudices, eventually persuading Bismark to our side. Then today Washington and Lawrence came over - I knew I really liked Washington, though this was our first real chance to talk in-depth. They're all expecting just a little too much of my research there, so we need to set some things straight when the posse comes back over tonight (apparently I have a research posse - or groupies).

It's a lazy Sunday around camp - hot and humid and good nap weather. I invested in an electric fan, just so I don't completely overheat (Dayton just got electricity, which is a conflict issue, but I'll make the best of it). When I sit outside to read, I get involved in interesting neighborly (often political) discussions - all of which is very nice, but sometimes I like to just sit and read. And everybody is really respectful of that - because there is so little actual privacy, it's constructed through various other mechanisms (such as not pushing conversation, and pretnding they can't see me when I'm showering).

I do love being back here - while my American accent is strong now and hasn't been Liberian-softened yet, in most ways it takes just a day to feel really comfortable again.

Monday and Tuesday are very busy days of visiting all camp authorities and various schools and other individuals - Morris is a fantastic facilitator and I have no idea waht I would do without him. So, Ill just follow him around camp until I cannot walk another step.

This keyboard sucks so much I must go.