Hakuna matata.....or how to relax African-style???
on Wonderous Wanderland (Burkina Faso), 03/Mar/2011 13:27, 34 days ago
1st March, 10am - I've been up for more than 3 hours, had two cups of coffee, breakfast and a shower. The sun's getting stronger and you can feel the temperature rising already. It's gonna be a hot day again. I am sitting in the house, blinds down, overhead fans on half speed (full speed is for when it gets really hot this afternoon) and I'm thinking of home. The people I miss, the things I was used to have around me, habits& rituals, little things I used to do, even work. I have only been gone for two weeks now but with all the changes and constant stream of new impression, emotions, encounters, etc. it seems a lot lot LOT longer and I'm feelting restless. Everything goes at a slower pace in Africa but instead of slowing down, my internal clock seems to have sped up a pace or two since my arrival. I cannot settle, there's a million things I want to do and I want to do them all at once and preferably right now :-)!!Patience has never been my strongest point and at the moment it is my biggest challenge to overcome. It is not 'tempus Africanus' that'll change soon (:-) 'soon'), that's for sure. My introduction at the Ministery yesterday seemed to be a good example. It went well and people were all really friendly but the words which were repeated most often during a few short conversations with several people werelentement- slowly - andça coûte du temps- it takes time. Forms need to be filled in, procedures have to be followed, people have to be informed and consulted, etc. "Give ys a call on thursday morning.Maybenext monday you can start." I REALLY need to chill and get into the spirit of Hakuna Matata, but unfortunately that seems about the only thing which has switched to African time....very slowly it will come :=)!