The afternoon I napped under a tree

I wandered over to my host family’s house at about 10:45. As part of my first three months at post, I have to write a report about my community, and I had some questions to ask my papa.

The electricity had been out since about 9 that morning, but I wasn’t concerned. After the last time, I started making an effort to always have my computer battery charged just in case it went out when I needed to do work, or wanted to watch episode of the West Wing while I ate lunch. 

He answered my questions as we sat out under the tree in his front yard, a place that consistently seems to be the coolest place in the village. (I mean in terms of temperature, although it could be argued under the tree was also where anyone who was anyone in the village spent time.)

When we were finished, I packed up my stuff. I told him I was going to go take a nap at my house.

“It will be hot in the house,” he said. “Not cool, like it is here, under the tree.”

That’s ok I told him. I’ll use my fan.

“Do you have electricity?” was his response. I shrugged my shoulders.

We checked. The village was still powerless.

“Guess I better stay under this tree then,” I said.

And so me, the kids, the goats and my papa passed the afternoon napping in white plastic chairs, our legs stretched out on the wooden bench in front of us, under the shade of the tree in his front yard.