Fishing

Well, I've been back from the bush for a fair handful of days now. But motivation to go through pictures and write blogs was just lacking.

It's just, sooooooo much happened in the bush. To process through that and approximately 300 pictures is hardly a task I want to tackle during break at the office!

But today is Saturday.

Jacob is at a Literacy meeting (on a Saturday! At 10am!) and I'm home alone with 300 pictures, coffee, Tim Tams, and time.

Here we go:

Fishing

It's our second Saturday in the Bush. And I'm in a bad place. You see, I've gone for two weeks being the epitome of awesome. However, this has resulted in little to no Elizabeth time. And that will take a toll on a girl!

The first half of the day involved us lounging about, enjoying the Saturday, having just completed a week long medical course. Martha, the missionary we were staying with, was running to and fro about the village to ensure that at some point someone would take us to go fishing.

The entire time, I was thinking, "If they forgot, it wouldn't be the end of my world." But Martha said it was the task that no intern had ever hated doing! And that we wouldn't get a chance again during our time there in the village so we should go.

Well, noon rolls around and someone comes to fetch us. And I must admit, I did get a bit enthused as we began our hike to the river.

I shouldn't have.

After almost breaking my neck on the small but steep cliff they wanted me to hop down, they seated us on the rocky bank. And shortly after, the women left to go cook just a ways away. Now I wasn't sure if I should join them. I was concerned that they were cooking not enough for us and so moved away for a reason.

So I sat on the rocks.

Unproportionately frustrated as a result of lack of alone time, the time that breeds sanity.

It was very cold. I had goosebumps.

There was a multitude of misbehaving children (as children aren't really disciplined until it's time for them to start being useful).

I was sitting on rocks.

I did not get fed.

No one talked to me (except the misbehaving children) (and Jacob, I guess)

And it would occasionally rain.

For four hours.

Waiting on the fish.

They have this vine they call Masak, which they cut and put into the river and it poisons all the fish. (Yeah, I know, bad long term decision. But in the short term, you can add protein to your diet!) Well, whoever was supposed to be poisoning the river didn't get up early enough so the fish didn't start coming until 5.

For four hours we waited.

"I hate everything," I told Jacob.

It was one of those days.

 

Finally, the fish came, and I got into the river with a loaned net. And let me tell you. Those fish were not dead yet. Floating belly up is not a sure sign! Because when I tried to pull that net up underneath him, that fish came to and swam off on the double!

But they had strung nets across the river behind us to catch the fish that evaded us.

But I did manage to catch one!

And Jacob even managed to spear one! (Although it was on someone else's spear at the time)

(The nationals told us to take a picture of him pretending to spear it from the water!)

The act of fishing was a load of fun.

But, on this day, I was not in a position to sit on the shore for four hours with all the awesomeness I can normally maintain.

Upon arriving to Martha's house, a Bible Study was underway. And I locked myself in a back room for two hours. And it was a good idea.

So what about you? Have you ever had a day that wasn't that bad but external factors made you hate everything? Do tell!