Mama never told me…..
Its me again and what a week it has been. We are working hard on the house now and are almost finishe the roof framing. Tomorrow is a slow day (visit the hospital, go to the bush school….) and I am sure that it is going to be one day I will never forget. Not that every day hasn’t been a n experience either. The kids today nearly beat the tar out of me (again!). Man they got alot of energy. Its funny the power a hug can have. And believe me there are lots of hugs going around over here. My little pal Arnold had his batman pj’s on tonight and Elias had his spiderman pj’s on. They decided to use uncle Arnold’s karate techniques on me. Problem was 6 other kids decided to join in too (Thanks uncle Shaun!). I survived and barely escaped unscathed.
One of the house mothers told me today that the kids asked why I don’t speak bimba. She said I was not from Africa and they still could not believe that I could not be from Africa. Tonight I got the map out and showed them where m family was from. I think it stuck in for some but they were more amazed at the fact that Jamaica was such a small country.
Now heres the kicker…. As we were working at the job site yesterday a couple of us had a chance to speak to Lexon the job site manager. He had a vast amout of knowledge to share with us. Some of which was not what I wanted to hear. Like…. In Zambia the country is filled with snakes.
Lexon: “Oh YES, lots of poisonous and very, very dangerous snakes!”
Action: “Really”
Lexon: “Yes, yes, there are SPITTING COBRAS and BLACK MOMBA’S”
Action: “What the…..?
Now for those of you unfamiliar with the black momba, it likes to stalk its prey! thats right taunt you and then kill you. Even better you will die within 20 minutes without the anti-venum. BUT Lexon did say that the hospital is only 5 minutes away!
Action: “Thanks, thats reassuring. And by the way why didn’t someone tell me this when I decided to take a looksy outside the compound???? And lets not forget the 2 times I had to do a number one out back?????? (Mr Giggles was exposed for Petes Sake!!! Whats that all about? Besides between that and the outhouse there is no way I am going to expose Mr. Giggles to any of this outdoors nonsense again.)
I have since decided that going to the washroom at the jobsite is now a last priority. Tonight I am going to take a couple pair of childrens diapers and tape them together to make some man pampers. It sure beats going out back!
Nights are still painful over here. I woke up last night a 4 AM again to the sound of the mating of 10 wildabeast. Actually it was Andy our genious roomate snoring. I put my earplugs on it did abolutely NOTHING. Man this guy has the snoring strength of a pack of elephants, but you gotta love him. He keeps us up but makes us laugh too. The guy deserves his own theme song. God bless him.
Thanks for all your emails and comments (keep’em coming). I love them. Sorry I have not posted any pictures yet but it has been hard. I promise i will post some soon.
By the way for everyone who is interested (Nerds), if you want to really follow my adventures below are the GPS coordinates of where we are or where we have been. Check them out on ggogle earth or some other similar site. I know Dale will fo sho!
Peace
Action Out!
Ndola
S 12 degrees 57.956′
E 028 degrees 37.482′
Wayne’s House
S 13 degrees 04.478′
E 028 degrees 42.306′
If you want edit me? just go to your profile than add description text as many you like. ^_*
Thanks Duane - it is so nice to hear the experience from someone who hasn’t been there before - and remember there is no one more frightened of snakes than Ted - please ask him to tell you about the flying snakes in Costa Rica…..
1love ya boy…….
Hi there Duane,
2I’m Andy’s sister from New Brunswick- I got quite a laugh out of your description of his snoring! Believe me, I know what you mean - I had to live with it for almost 20 years! He comes by it honestly from his dad! It’s wonderful what you guys are doing over there - I bet it’s really an eye opener as we’re so used to life in the Western part of the world. God bless and all the best - this is an experience none of you will ever forget.
Stay away from the snakes!
Charlotte McIntosh
Hey Duane,
3I am loving the updates, what an adventure you guys are having. Can’t say that I envy you with regards to the snakes, I laughed out loud. Be carful out back, my prayers are with you. God Bless, Angie
Hi Duane,
4I’m Donna (Eric’s daughter). We’ve been really enjoying your site. Thanks so much for the updates. We have been getting some updates from Ted (through Alice); but these are great too. Take care of the old man. He’s quite a character. We’ve been blessed with knowing this old character for quite a while. I’m sure you’ve realized like we have, that he’s quite the comic relief. Take care of him for us; we’ve been concerned about him. We hope that he’s keeping hydrated.
Dang snakes!!! Dude … Chappelle in concert in TO Aug 21 I think. Do I get you tickets? No warning of the spiders that can climb on Mr Giggles in the outhouse??? Did someone tell Shaun of the 2 tornadoes he missed working on in Newmarket a week ago? We still have a few visitors from Keswick that got lost and can’t get home. I leave Jimmy some beer and cheetos on the step.
5Don’t forget to bring out the thong soon
Now that is funny. Not as funny as naming the member Mr. Giggles. I want to know but, I don’t! The furnny part is all the comments, coming from me leaking out your website. Now you’re responsible to feed everybody the info, the funny and the funk. I remember dad talking to Wayne and I about the “ruddy snakes” when he received his first prep class before his first trip to Zambia. Funny how he forgot to mention it to his team now. HA HA! Ask dad about the time he abandoned his family (wife and 2 small children) in a canoe to walk on and scale a dam during his flight from a water snake. The fear of flying his managed to conquer over the years but snakes, nope. You haven’t mention Mr. Erik MacGuyer. Is that because his slave-driver type techniques are getting to ya? Mr. Giggles? Really? Oh, and please, please, don’t do the thong thing, whatever it is, that “Bammer” told you to bring out. Please.
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