Wednesday night

I'm very excited for my first dinner party tomorrow night! I'm having Paul Haman (my angel and navigator on the train trip north) and his wife, Solange, Jaqueline, (my insider guide to all things Ngaoundere), and Martha and Hans Aas, who have been so sweet and encouraging when I come to them with that "deer in the headlights" look, saying for the hundreth time, "I have never seen (fill in the blank)." They have also been so generous with sharing their rides into town to get wine and other essential items and letting me use their washing machine. I am working with pretty limited resources but tonight I made a homemade marinara sauce and just as I was getting it simmering, Hans brought over fresh basil and garlic to add to the mix. I found fresh, really good parmesan in town, so it will be great!

The dry season is in full swing. I had heard about the hazy skies from the dust, and today was the first day really that I experienced it. It's sort of like smog, leaving the mountains in the distance looking foggy and gray.  The mornings start out on the cool and comfortable side, but by 1pm it is HOT, like intense, dry heat that makes you just go into slow motion. It won't rain until April now.

Right away this morning at 8 am, William and Remi and I were picked up at the hospital by the father of a young man who had been paralyzed when the truck he was fixing fell on him. He took us to their home to see this 27 year old guy, knowing only that he was paralyzed and needed pain control and dressing changes to wounds on his back. If I posted the pictures of this man, I would have to preface it with a warning, so I've decided against sharing. Suffice it to say, after 2 hours of changing dressings on this man's wounds, and addressing many other issues, we strongly encouraged the father to bring him to the hospital. Remi is amazing, as is William, as they approach these situations with a calm and accepting demeanor, seemingly unfazed. I told them that I was in awe, total and complete awe.

OK, this is pretty mild, so I'll include it. 

So, to end with the daily lizard report: The lizard was waiting for me in the hallway to my bedroom when I got home today, so he promptly ran directly to my room and under my bed, and then I would find him on the wall, on the bed, on the other bed throughout the day. I think he's under the bookcase right now, but the only light in my room burned out, so I'm literally in the dark except for the light from the computer. We are still both in panic mode when we get close to each other and as much as we try to avoid each other, he seems to always go straight for my feet, then I squeal like a little girl and jump on the bed. I am such a wus about this. It's embarrassing. It's not like he's a cobra or anything. I am accepting suggestions for names for the lizard, but please no Lenny's. Way too predictable and pedestrian.