Cornuts, african markets, and domesticated animals

starting from the top picture: Carla sent me a package with corn nuts!!!! i of course did not savour them but inhaled them as a topping for the usual rice and beans. thanks carla, i love you!. next pic: catherine dancing in the market in makambako. this is what we do to entertain ourselves. next: there was a kitty sleeping on one of the charcol stoves they sell in the market. it was so cute. i tried to pet it but then it hissed at me and ran away... i sure have a way with cats. next: this is calista, she runs the internet cafe in makambako. its a thankless job.... mostly because the internet is usually down and so then noone says thank you... next: me and walter and a gift from my neighbors. i am super lucky that i have neighbors that take care of me. this was from their farm. i got onions, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, and bannanas. pretty sweet little care package. next: walter assuming his usual position. next: some of my best friends, iniki and aniti. iniki won't smile because she says her mouth is too big. which really means she has a big beautiful smile. last: a gift for my tutoring some kids in english

soooo life is pretty good. i've come to the end of my "settling in period." i finally have furniture. but there are no cushions yet. that comes after the next peace corps stipend.... still waiting. i do not yet have glass on my windows. i hope that will come soon because the rains are. i've been working a lot at the health center and really love it there. yesterday broke my heart though because a 10 year old AIDS patient came in to get his month worth of drugs. alone. he walked 25K just to get there. he's a sweet kid named Green with good T-cell counts so far. i'll be starting a garden in the next two weeks at the primary school. i'm very excited about that. so if anyone feels compelled to send me seeds.... don't fight it, send them!! i'll take whatever you've got. the food in the garden will go home with the kids as i teach them about nutrition and better health practices. also those of you who have said that you'd be interested in sponsoring a girl for secondary school: we will know who is eligible in december and so you'll all be getting letters in the mail soon.

walter is good. he has successfully destroyed two pairs of shoes and one set of portable speakers. thanks. but he's getting his big doggy teeth now so thats his excuse. next month he will be neutered...sorry walter but i feel it neccessary. it costs a whole 3 dollars...

we volunteers are getting ready for the holiday season. we're entertaining ourselves by meeting on thursday for a big shindig with a bunch of volunteers coming from all over then friday will be a small deal with a few who were short on bucks and couldn't travel. it seems no matter where you go you always have the holiday marathon. its ok though. i like it. christmas should be abou the same and new years will be spent camping in a national forest. i'm pretty excited about that. so thats it for me. i'll update soon. thats for the letters and packages (dad, thanks for the books, newspaper, and york pepermint patty :) carla: the bingo will be a hit i know it and the US weekly was read immediatly!) much love!