We exited the bus at the Village and were met by many children, adults and a few goats and sheep. As introductions were made in the Native Language of Pular I couldn’t help but notice nothing but grass huts and dirt paths. This was much more primitive than I had imagined.
Cheryl had written a cheat sheet on the palm of her hand for greetings, but she lost complete control when the Village people started talking. After greetings were exchanged we were escorted to Raleigh’s hut with our bags.
However before we could slow down and and take any of this in, he immediately had to take us to greet the Village elders and Chief. At one of the Huts we were offered food and Raleigh said we must accept it or they would be offended.
The large stainless bowl was Lallo; white rice with a pile of Green Leaf Sauce in the middle. Raleigh whipped out 3 large spoons and we sat down around the small fire to share this large bowl. OMG! I was able to eat a few spoonfuls of the rice until Cheryl shined her phone light on the food. THE END. I could eat no more, but she did just fine and represented her and I well.
After all the visiting we returned to his hut to prepare for our first night of sleep. He set up his small tent under his arbour in his fenced in back yard; then the process started. He and Cheryl went to the well which is about 50 yards away from his hut. They filled up (3) ten gallon buckets with well water. One would be used to slowly put through his filter for drinking; one would be used for washing up after using the bathroom and the other was for bathing. You leave it sitting out so it will warm up enough for a pleasant bucket shower.
He has a semi private area fenced off for going to the bathroom and bathing. The hole for using the bathroom is approximately 8 inches in diameter. You must squat and find the hole; that’s all I’m going to say about that and there will be no photos.
He then unrolls his bed for us and immediately puts up the mosquito net. This is wrapped very tightly under the mattress to not only keep out mosquitoes but also other varments. This is an entire process just to get setup to get ready to get ready for bed.
He does have a solar light that provides just enough light to find the hole for the bathroom, the cup for the filtered water, and the suitcase we are sharing with our clothes. The other suitcase is full of goodies for the children in the village. This entire process has worn me out.
We are finally settled in for the first night; I hear the goats, the sheep, the cows, the donkeys, the children and the drums.
Now I wonder if I can make it through one night. The Party is tomorrow so I must stay, but how will I make it 3 nights!