It's dry here now.

So, it's really dry here now. Like absolutely dry. Like Arizona dry. Not that I actually know anything about Arizona. Anyway, all the plants are dying except the trees that must have deep root systems because they stay green. The thorn trees (pronounced 'torn') actually put out their leaves during the dry season. All the water drys up, the stream becomes a sandy shallow ravine. Everyone finishes their farming and starts on dry season activities if they have any, if not, it's time to sit around and drink pito.

The aridity causes some problems for me personally although i like it overall. My heels do their best to split into little pieces, but i have plenty of moisturizer. My nose gets dry and irritated so i pick it in public, but that's not a problem here, it's the norm. It also gets really dusty and the soil is rocky and clay-y so the dust is Africa Red. After a long car ride on a dusty back road, everyone looks a little reddish. Smart people wear jackets and scarves to keep off the dust, I just wash my neck when I arrive. Also, when you finish a long ride it is quite satisfying to blow your nose and see all the dust that did not get into your lungs.

It's also been getting considerably cooler. I wrote the word "colder" but replaced it while thinking of you all buried in multiple feets of snow, I'm jealous. The temperature during the day still gets hot, but it takes longer to warm up, and the mornings are cool enough to want a longsleeve or even a light coat. My students take every opportunity to wear something over their uniforms to keep out the cold, but these days it's legit. But not at 2 pm. It is a stylish windbreaker, though.

The cat gave birth again! She is so fertile. This time, Evander popped out two little ones, an orange stripey and a gray stripey one. Good thing too, because she was way fat and annoying. This is number 3 and 4 since i've been here. Seems she gets pregnant every 6 months, it means i've been here for a year and a half. Mama cat is my buddy, but her other kids are wild and scardy and don't let us touch them except fleetingly. It's because she hid them as babies and i didn't get to play with them. That might happen to these new ones, too. Evander gave birth in the little enclosure where the hens keep their new chicks, so the chickens, (also very fertile) are out. I'm sure mama cat will move her brood to a more secure location, like the garage.

I have some photos i wanted to post, but i forgot my pen drive at home, so next time. It's still all virusy, so i'll do my best. I'll take it to my friend at the internet cafe, but that sometimes results in a clean and empty pen drive so i'll upload the pics first.

My Mom, Dad, and Brother are coming to visit me here in Ghana. It is going to be so awesome. I haven't seen them in that long time. oh man wow.

Lots a Love,
-Toby