Walking down the roads we still hear children yell out "Muzungo!" (white person!) or even a slight variation: "muzutu!" (butt!--vulgar) (say it: moo-zoo-too); the poor farmers are noted by their wax print African clothes, while the educated upper class is noticeable in their western clothing, and I'm just noticed because I'm white :) Going through the market is like being in a movie set: music is coming at you from all sides, people gibbering, bargaining, shouting, calling, or out trying to rip you off. Kids still run away or hide behind parents or siblings to get away from the white people...

Food is good: usually beef, goat, chicken, fish or rabbit. Spaghetti noodles, macaroni, rice, or fried potatoes. Sometimes there's a spinach mush. Tomato sauce to cover it all. Always bananas. Always! Either large, baked plantains to eat with the sauce, or cooked with a peanut, meat, and veggie sauce, or small sweet ones for dessert, but there are always bananas! We all get our own plate to eat from, using forks and knives (my table manners are lacking, I've realized!) and tables with chairs! Every once in a while those of us that transferred here will sit on the ground to eat from a communal bowl... the first time everyone was aghast, even the locals, but now they're getting used to us.

The toilets are both western sitting toilets and squatty potties (a hole in the ground). I won't tell you which one I prefer and use daily ;)

The most common travel option is either by bike or motorcycle: both include passengers sitting behind the driver, just holding on to the seat, not always with a helmet. (Don't worry, as PCVs we're not allowed to take either one since they're like a death wish)

Life is alright! I'm used to Africa now, and not much shocks or startles me. Except for the tight American clothes many wear around here, I'm still not used to seeing so much leg!