It has been very interesting this week watching the clouds. Much of the time since we’ve been in Dodoma the sky has been very, very clear, with rarely a cloud in it. Now that is changing and the clouds are many and beautiful. Today while walking home from the bus stop, I kept watching the different formations and different shapes of the clouds. They are really beautiful, and somehow so much more visible than in New York. Maybe it’s because of the “open/big” sky, with no tall buildings and not many trees in the way, or maybe the sky here really is different. Anyway, the clouds are definitely becoming more like rain clouds, and proof of that is that we had a very small shower on Friday afternoon. It certainly couldn’t be called “rain” but still it holds promise.
I have also been amazed this week at noticing the splashes of color in an otherwise brown and drab landscape. There are certain bushes and plants that are flowering now, at the absolute height of the dry season. One bush has red flowers, somewhat like the Bottle Brush bush, and it shows up so vividly while walking along the dusty path. Another plant is much closer to the ground and has lovely yellow blossoms, and there’s a white flowered bush as well. Isn’t it amazing that this color should appear when everything else is SO dry. At school and at some places in town there are Jacaranda trees and Flame Trees, and they are just now beginning to bloom. All of these things are signs of rain to come.
People are continuing to prepare their plots for planting. Some of the paths that I take to school in the morning look like they might turn into small fields when the rain comes, so we shall see when that happens. One thing I know is that I’ll have to find another route at that time because I walk through two gullies (or is it the same gully only snaking around so that I cross it twice?) and they will no doubt be filled with water when it rains.
When people clean their fields they also disturb the wildlife hiding in the bushes, so on the path this past week I’ve seen a snake (alive), a scorpion (dead) and lots and lots of Safari ants, all very much alive. These latter creatures travel in a line, all together, and are huge ants that, should they get into your clothing, can bite really sharply. The ones I see across the path are about ½ or ¾ inch long, and very black. I’ve never seen such big ones before. And the scorpion is big and black also. They say that this type of scorpion has a sting not as painful as the small brown ones (and their sting hurts, take it from one who has experienced it) but somehow this big black type really scare me more. Anyway, just like snakes, I keep my eye out for them and have to believe that they have no ill will toward me, and just try to keep out of their way.
The kids at school are doing well. I’m noticing improvement and we’re all more comfortable with each other. They try so hard to say what they want to say in English, but still much of the time give up, take the easy path and use Swahili. Some day ……..
No comments:
Post a Comment