13:00
This morning I was impressed by the television ads about being patient and
honest to people out in the street in public which makes a nice change from
businesses trying to sap money from you. Around 10:00 I left to the L's place
to contact the organisation who arranged my flights originally as well as the
university I hope to attend to check my return flights are fine and to check if
there is anything I need to do before I return to the UK from here regarding my
university application. I came back with
little success, DL had wondered if I could move my flights a little but this
does not appear possible and so it looks like I will be returning as originally
planned August 2nd.
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| Early Morning Hummingbird (D.Philpot) |
One
of the L's cows had gave birth to a new calf so that was exciting, and DL made
an asparagus soup which was lovely and another first for me. I have just packed
my backpack ready to go to the tilapia restaurant for the rest of the evening.
I look forward to the traditional football game and meal. Not the dancing…
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| Waiting For A Lift (D.Philpot) |
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| Meanwhile On A Treetop (D.Philpot) |
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| Resting His Wings (D.Philpot) |
21:45
The L's picked me up and when we arrived at the tilapia restaurant it was great
to hear all the stories from the students who I last saw 16:30 yesterday. Some
of them milked cows and a lot of them had helped out with my previous host
father on his coffee farm which is nice of them.
Soon
we reviewed their homestay experience, where I sat in with DL's group and we
shared our thoughts on all of our experience so far until… some vicious Army
Ants interrupted us. Us TA's then set-up the guava throw target board, then
soon after the students lined up taking turns to attempt in hitting the
bullseye from about 10 metres away - and some of the locals joined in too which
made the learning experience more worthwhile.
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| Lovely Bunch Of Bees (D.Philpot) |
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| Keeping Track Of The Pink Flowers? (D.Philpot) |
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| Red Face Butterfly (D.Philpot) |
Following this we split into two,
and then three, football teams and I decided to put 120% into the game so now
as I write this I am aching all over, cut and now clean from mud. Nothing too special to note… everyone was
getting sandwiched during the games, especially by this "wall" of a
Costa Rican guy who flattened many people.
Playing football in this "Mejenga" (small street game) style
was extremely fun, everyone put a lot of effort in - and it was extremely hard
for us as noone was used to playing football at altitude, and so everyone
really enjoyed lengthy showers in turns afterwards. Here are a couple of clips from the game; Video 1 and Video 2.
Just before and during the showers, people moved
over to one of the Tilapia fish ponds and walked a large net across in order to
catch our dinner. I was still on camera
duty but got some good photos of the students laughing as they attempted to
catch fish, some students getting slapped round the face by fish as they jumped
up. A couple of videos can be found here and here.
Now fresh out of the shower everyone
attending the large dinner dressed up very smartly and we then danced a little
afterwards… or… the girls did whilst most of the guys ducked out. A couple of the girls did try teach me some
swing dancing (Da) and Merengi (Ar), which I have now forgot, and I also danced
with my "sister" (Am) before we called it a night and returned home.
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| Tilapia Feast For Tonight (D.Philpot) |
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| Also Enjoying A Feast (D.Philpot) |
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| Yellow Bird Seeks Yellow Bananas (D.Philpot) |
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| A Sparrow Joins Too (D.Philpot) |
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| Threes A Crowd (D.Philpot) |