So if you want to read a little about what I actually DO, read the link below. It's not EXACTLY what I do, but it gives a little glimpse into a piece of the picture.
If you want to know what daily life is actually LIKE... keep reading!
As I was sitting in my office this afternoon, one of my African colleagues came by to have a little chat. He's quite concerned that I'm getting too fat. He's concerned about Jackie, as she's too skinny. He's concerned about me because I'm too fat. And he's not ashamed to tell us these things... usually every month or so we get the "Akol weight update". I must admit that most days, I have a good laugh over it, since it's just such a completely counter-cultural thing (in our culture!) for someone's colleagues to discuss your weight - especially if they think you're too fat. But here, it's quite socially acceptable to talk about being a little, well, on the "strong" side. However, I must admit, that there are also certain days where I just can't get out of my own cultural mind set, and I start to feel a little, well, offended, when someone is constantly giving me an update on my weight! Besides, how in the world can he tell if I've gained or lost 5 pounds with the huge baggy, mumus that I wear most of the time?!
However, after work, I DID end up getting some exercise. My friend invited me to go and play... wait for it... get this... SQUASH! Yup, one of the old ruined hotels has a squash court that someone discovered. And now, one of the UN Agencies has left squash raquets, balls, and a broom at their guard house, so you can go and sign it all out and have a game of squash! Of course, it's an outdoor court, and the reason for the broom is that you have to sweep all of the leaves and sand dunes out before you can actually play, but it's really quite brilliant!
Even though I haven't played in half of forever and it took me a while to get back into the swing of it, it felt SO good to be out getting some exercize. And somehow, swacking a little rubber ball in a crumbling old concrete dust filled squash court is an extraordinarily satisfying feeling. I have a special fondness for hot concrete squash courts, as I first learned to play in one when I lived in a different part of this country many moons ago... ah, those were the days. And now THESE are the days :)
I have a feeling I'm really going to feel it tomorrow, though. I mean, I could feel my shoulder muscles after a few rounds of Wii boxing - I'm not sure if I'll be able to move after an hour of real sport! We've decided to go every Tuesday evening now. I just hope that word doesn't get out to TOO many people, because there's only one court and the time that you can play is really quite limited - before 5:30 it's too hot and people are working, but by 7pm, it's just too dark to see the ball!
We also had some really good, real, honest conversation while we were swacking at the ball, and sometimes that's just as refreshing (if not more!) than a little exercize!
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