Friday, September 30, 2005 Whew. Last night was the first time I took my antimalarial medication in the evening, and wow is all I have to say. I thought I had mefloquin dreams before, last night was just crazy. I only half remember most of them, but I remember very specifically talking to my Grandmother after a play at a gas-station and being asked if I hadn't earlier said "I detest theatre!" in Hungarian. Is Hungarian even a language? What do they speak in Hungary? All in all it was a very interesting night. I had at the very least 7 seperate dreams, including one where I dreamed a male volunteer came to the workstation and took a bunk in the room I've been lodging in. Turns out, when I got up this morning... no such thing had happened. Although a male volunteer did arrive later this morning... ooh, creepy.

Gallery updates are continuing, especially in the PSL-18 section. I ought to be finished with all of my photos today. That means starting Monday I can upload choice selections of OTHER peoples photos (with my clever and witty comments, of course). Actually, before that I'll be posting a gallery for the pistol pants. Haha, I can hardly wait.

So, remember how I keep saying "I should be moving in soon". I've given up on that. Evidently the conflict is resolved between the property owner and the mairie (mayor's office)... but the two people required to sign the contract; the premiere adjoint and the financier are both sick. Where's that leave me? Still living at the workstation. It's actually been a little bit fun, I've had visitors the past couple of nights. Last night there were 3 and we made curry and rice, which turned out pretty good considering I've never actually made curry before. I'm expecting a few more tonight as there are meetings at the workstation all weekend.

All in all the first week has been incredibly easy, but at the same time incredibly challenging. I feel absolutely worthless. The laptop that I told them had a bum keyboard? They had the contracted computer repair guy come and look at it. He took it apart (the wrong way) and did exactly what I did, and surprise... same results! I suppose it's true, I look and am young, so obviously I can't know anything. It's just hard to go from an environment back home where you were viewed as technically comptent, to here where you're viewed as a white guy who doesn't understand how things work here. I mean, it's true I don't understand how things work here, but I understand how computers work! Oh well, little by little the bird builds his nest. (That's a French proverb for all y'all)

For a rapid and sudden change of subject, let's talk about music. When I got here, I pretty much thought it was crappy and hated it all. I'm sad to say that now I sort of like it. Some of the lyrics are actually pretty funny. Now I'll have to rely on the translation of my 14 year old host brother to relay some of them, so I can't vouch for the accuracy. One song he said was about a guy who picked up a beautiful girl at a bar, but she distracted him and stole his cell-phone. Cleverly, she hid it in her underwear so her treachery would go undetected. Unfotunately for her, as dinner was finishing and they were getting up to go the man realized his phone was missing. He accused her, and at that moment he recieved a call. Naturally the phone was on vibrate. Well, I guess I don't really have to finish the story. Another one of my favorites is funny in a sad way. It's about a guy who finds a job and is singing because he's happy he can eat now. It's so horrible, but at the same time...
In general music here is catchy and upbeat. A large part of it is also from the Ivory Coast. One particularly popular song is a tribute to the life of Jonathan by his brother. Jonathan was a very popular and famous Ivoirian performer. I believe he died in a car crash recently, but I forgot what my brother told me. In any case, this songs main phrase has found its way into many, many, many songs as a sort of tribute to the tribute. Mainly the lyric "Jump around like a baby goat" (which is pretty much the most hillarious lyric in the entire world) you'll hear a lot. The hand motion in the original music video is also classic. He mimes two goat feet with his elbows bent and arms pressed against his chest. Whew, everytime I see it I crack up.

Well, that's life in Africa on Friday!