Top 10 interesting/useful things I have learned from hut life

1. Termites. They were everywhere in my kitchen and after countless of store bought products that only work temporarily (if they even work at all) I went with what the others around me do--rub gasoline all along the sticks. Eight months later and I have never once heard their humming while they eat my home.

2. What is the fastest way to de-feather a "running chicken", stick him in boiling, hot water for 15 minutes, but of course. Running chicken is what they call them here because you have to run to catch and eat 'em.

This was my annoying chicken-Pele

3. After months of practice I can successfully and thouroughly bathe myself using only 4.5 liters of water. The average person in an average 5-6 minute shower uses roughly 75 liters.

(http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_water_is_used_in_a_shower)

4. There is a very large and scary looking black centipede found in Namibia, if you are ever stuck in a situation with an unclean, parasite infested water source you can carry one of those lil buggers with you. When poked, they coil up and excrete a liquid that is almost 100% iodine and can be used to purify water.

5. There are termite mounds found all over Namibia. German scientists have studied them to find that they have a natural air conditioning system that is able to keep the insides of the mound the same temperature 365 days a year, this is amazing considering the extreme desert climates in Namibia. The people here realized the remarkable characteristics of this natural phenomenon and combine the mounds with sand and water to build the hut that I am writing this from. Keeps me significantly cooler in the worst Namibian heat.

in front of the termite mounds (where black mambas like to hang out by the way, chris watch out!!)

6. Lime juice helps mask the extreme, nose pinching smell of ammonia that is an unavoidable when one has to use a pee bucket for 2 years...

7. Never pass up the cheek of a goat. Not only is it delicious but it is an honor to be offered part of the head.

8. When you are carrying water or laundry on your head, whether it be 10 L (me) or 25 L (them), it is less about keeping balance and much more about keeping your hips centered and in control.

         

9. After layers of filth and limited water usage, feet can only be completely cleaned by using a nice rough but flat edged rock...ignore the unattractive heal cracks that come as a result.

10. Lastly, if it is one of those nights where you are watching precious TV on your computer (downloaded from volunteers and passed around), sweating more than you ever thought possible and you watch a woman drink water with ICE CUBES and your mouth is watering for anything besides beans that take 4 hours to cook....the diarrhea pills Peace Corps provide taste like candy.