"Not every manager can manage his monkey..."

The one constantly on his back, that is.
In the wise words of my "bossman," Jackson!  So true, wouldn't you agree?!

Here are a few more words of wisdom from him:

"The road is not a simple one today."

"We need many hands in this world."

"Your laughter is medicine for the soul."

"After two months... you'll be a very good person."

This is all from the last two hours... we share an office (and the guesthouse)... good thing we get along! :)  By the way, when I contested that last comment by saying that I already was a pretty good person... he quickly agreed and explained that what he meant was "I know you will gain a lot of useful experience here that you will carry with you to whatever part of the world you end up in... you will be a good NGO person!"

I have met much more of the local staff today and have started forming  relationships with some of them... joking around about music, etc.  I hope that continues, it makes me happy!  They are good people working here... many of them survivors (some severely injured) from the war.
The dog, Shaka, and I have also managed to make friends... hope to stay on his good side, as he's a little on the rough and tumble side.  I've been told he mananged to kill a bushrat for dinner last year! haha!

Not to jinx it, but today was actually quite pleasant weather wise... the rain clouds were hanging out and it was almost cool this morning!  Nice!
It seems as though tomorrow will bring with it my first field visit (not overnight yet), but out to oversee and give suggestions (like I will have any!) for the construction of some schools.  Yikes... they've put me in at management level ... just because of my white skin (ok, ok... and maybe that minor detail that I will soon be a "Master" of international studies/development/ethics/peacebuilding....) Ahhhhh!   Wish me luck!

Jackson's only words of preparation for me were... I hope you have trousers and shoes...
Should be an ADVENTURE!
But then again so was lunch today... some kind of mixture of hot peppers, cassava leaves, tuna, and spaghetti noodles... hmmmm...
Mangos anyone?  Supposedly my favorite driver, Tomas, was going to find some for me today!  Cross your fingers that he had success!

Hope you all are well and enjoying your various summer activities!
Kate