Sunday, February 26, 2012

Sounds

I think one of the things that I will miss most about this place is the sounds.  It starts with the clanging of the tire rim at 5:00 am for church and then slowly and gently increases from there.  There are the birds of course, and the roosters and the cows, then the children singing, and some extremely loud bees and finally the whole day comes together as church is over and the cooking begins—generally there is a child or two crying somewhere, but on the other hand there is the laughter of the babies as they receive their baths and get dressed for the day.  Sometimes Victor plays his guitar and sings in the morning.  By 7:00 when the first children leave for school and the rest head for the fields, the orphanage is in full swing.

Then the opposite occurs as the sun goes down.  First there is church so the kids settle down from their play, and they sing again (they often sing to themselves during the day as well).  Study time follows which can be quiet or sometimes a little rowdy.  By 7:00 it is dark and we have our dinner.  Then it is only the sounds of conversation at the guest house which can also range from quiet to a bit rowdy, but always interesting. 

Except for the occasional motorbike or car in the distance there is no ‘traffic’ noise and I have only heard the ambulance siren once.  And siren is a stretch, more like a horn that says “I’m here”—you certainly can’t drive fast enough on these roads to hurt anyone and there is not enough traffic to get in the way. No TVs or video games and few radios (think tinny transistor sounds).  There are a number of old cell phones that hold some music for the kids but you don’t even hear those that often.   And I have only heard Lady bark twice while I have been here (I need to have a chat with Willie when I get home to let him know that is an option).  

I know I’m not describing it well, I think it is one of those things that you have to experience before it makes sense. And I’m happy that I have. 

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