Ukarumpa/Village Life

Monday, March 31, 08
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, there is a market. The choices of vegetables and fruits, I have not seen till now - cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, all fruits, and more. This area, the Aiyura Valley, used to be a big swamp. When the missionary arrived, he drained the swamp and the fertile soil has grown anything planted. Hostilities can possibly be understood when realizing that the question asked, when someone came to a village or a garden was, "What reason do I have not to kill you?"
One of the important needs, since leaving home, has been to see a doctor somewhere along the way. Dr. Jeff Stout sat with me and we discussed my feeling lightheaded. We will have three BP checks, and cut my meds in half and see if that helps. I'm grateful to have a trustworthy physician to work with and purchase reliable meds.
At 4:30. Sam Baimako and I drive to his village using one of the SIL vehicles. The village, Anamonapa, is 15 minutes drive from the compound. Welcomes and helloes all around, I meet the family: Mama (Simo), Lynette (20), Silion (13), Pauline (10), Samia (3). There are others who are either away in school or not present. Martha Simpson has packed me a bag with mosquito net, sleeping bag, foam pad, and other important items. Traditional houses are round and made of bamboo. Sam's is square made of bamboo. A fire burns in the center with sleeping quarters along the sides and back. Some children are playing jingo jango outside. This consists of two strings held while others jump in and out of the strings keeping to the rules. There is water piped close to the house and two fluorescent bulbs burn inside, one outside. The bamboo walls are woven and have two layers, one on the outside and the other on the inside of the pole framing. Above the fire are seeds drying for next year's crop. These are kept in bamboo. A pit toilet serves the household. Eleven of us are present for dinner. Sam's mother is here working on a bilum (carrying net) and Aru (cousin). Rain sounds outside, not heard under the grass roof, and we settle down to talking of any and all subjects. I am pleased to see a cat prowling the premises.
All the women are in skirts. Women must cover from the midriff to the knees. To allow a thing of belly to be shown is a sign of promiscuity - not tolerated in the village.
By 9:00, the family is tired and we retire. We are 5 sleeping here. The others disappear to sleep elsewhere. Samia and Pauline have deep coughs and are instructed to spit outside. I sleep on the right, Sam next to me, Mama next, then the girls.