Which continent, exactly?

This blog's title isn't in reference to actual continents (I've now been to four), but is rather drawn from "The Third and Final Continent," a stunning short story by Jhumpa Lahiri, from her collection, The Interpreter of Maladies. In particular, I'm inspired by the following quote that summarizes the attitude I try to carry with me through life and on my travels

I am not the only person to seek his fortune far from home, and certainly I am not the first. Still there are times I am bewildered by each mile I have traveled, each meal I have eaten, each person I have known, each room in which I have slept. As ordinary as it all appears, there are times when it is beyond my imagination.

I love this. It calls on us to consider the tiny details of our experiences, both one-by-one, and in the aggregate, and to maintain a sense of wonder even about the seemingly mundane things that are the building blocks of our lives, and often, the glue that binds us to our traveling companions.

This blog began as a chronicle of my study abroad experience in Cairo in Spring 2008, and continued last year while volunteering in Geneva, and South Sudan with a wonderful organization, VIDES.

Now in graduate school, I'm returning to the Continent this summer while interning in New Delhi, India.

Please enjoy, inquire, and learn.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Fauna-tastic 2: Edible Mammals Edition

A praying mantis (I imagine) worshiping the gorgeous Juba sunset from the window of our kitchen. 




A series of performances celebrating a priestly ordination and visit from a bishop, after a while resembled what my Dad might call a “Dog and Pony Show," complete with an actual sheep given to the new priest by residents of a nearby village. 



A very large bee taking time to smell/pollinate the flowers next to the school.



I am not sure if I will ever be used to seeing cows wandering around our school grounds . . . luckily it only happens occasionally. 



The (someone said) pregnant rabbit caught by some of our students at the school. The teachers had not-brilliantly planned on keeping it in the staff room over the weekend and eating it on Monday.  Thankfully, the students returned and took it home for dinner at the end of the day.  I'm OK with eating rabbits, but not unnecessary suffering/risk of death and decay over the weekend.


Nifty gigantic beetle thingy spotted outside our kitchen. 




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