Daily LIfe

The days here are long and ever so hot. Krisi, the woman of the house wakes at 5 before the roosters crow, the rest of us awake at 5:30. It’s barely light out but the chores begin. Her job is the hardest I’ve seen. It’s non- stop, 7 days a week. (If she were to rest, I think the world would stop. She is the motor and power behind everything. People just wait for her to guide them and provide for them. Although the other 'people' instruct her on what she should be doing they don't have a clue how to do it themselves. If she didn't do the work these 'people' would be totally stuck.) ....

She begins by fetching water from the well about 300 meters away by carrying bucket after bucket on her head. I accompanied her on the first day but have not had the right timing to catch her since. I managed a full bucket- ok, ¾ full - and didn’t spill a drop. It‘s easier than I thought. She then begins preparing breakfast by washing the previous night’s dishes, which were very carefully rinsed, stacked and placed in a special place til the sun would provide the light for proper washing. At this point I join the scene and we begin the careful scrubbing of every crevice and crack in the tin plates and aluminum pans. We use our fingers and palms of our hands to scrub and rub them clean. If this isn’t sufficient we then grab a pinch of dirt and scrub it in. If all else fails there’s always some reeds tied in neat bundles to serve as a scrubber brush. The rinse cycle I find the most difficult as every drop of water and every clump of dirt has to find its appropriate place without mixing or waste.

About Krisi - she’s my age, strong, petit, super smart and determined. In her every move she is so careful, slow, graceful, and strong and full of purpose that never ends. I can’t say enough about how I respect her and her ways. She runs an amazing house. It is clean and organized and does it with pride and is never unkind, complains or shows how tired she much be although I see it in her smoke filled eyes. And her dishes are way cleaner than mine after a pots and pan cycle in the dish washer and gallons of water- She uses fingers and a pinch of soap and sand and gets the job done better.

An African woman who lives in a mud hut, with no running water, no electricity, about 5 kids of her own plus the children of her deceased sister who has died of suffering, as they call it, has to be among one of the hardest workers on the planet. I don’t know what to say. It’s beyond my understanding. I interviewed 2 such women today. They had babies suckling the whole time and looked tired but were still happy to help me with my little project. I just can’t imagine. The entire community is not much better off and they all support one another in whatever way they can. Everyone here seems to work together. The stories I hear most often are of helping each other and sharing what’s around. These people have integrity and pride. They stand up straight, smile from their hearts, have the most polite manners and customs, are gentle to all, look after all children, have well behaved kids, are incredibly hard working and want to improve their situation. It’s just the dam flood-drought cycle they’re caught up in. If the crop were good this year it would look like a little heaven on earth.

Hope you're all well and happy!