Pensees

The following is a collection of thoughts and experiences I had in my first few days at my new site:

- I can't do this.

- A boy in my compound just peed on my work partner's leg.

- Once upon a time, presenting kola nuts to the village chief was only the stuff of Achebe's books.

- I think I can do this.

- My host father just talked to me for thirty minutes and all I understood is "Your hut is fat."

- I had a dance off with a blind woman. She won.

- Oh my god, can I do this?

- My mefloquine dream last night involved Godzilla and a cheetah smoking cigarettes.

- The old woman's back for another dance off. This time without a shirt. There's no way I can compete.

- I can do this. I can totally do this.