Today

I drank 5 liters of water today...I counted

I also lived my day on African time, not on purpose. I was supposed to meet a friend of mine at 1:30 and I left my house at 1, plenty of time for the 10 minute rickshaw ride over. However, I got stopped by, not one but TWO neighbors to talk. So at 1:30 I was still standing in the middle of the road talking to this old man who claims to be my neighbor (what am I gonna argue?). My phone started ringing but I couldn't find it while I was talking without being rude and digging through my purse so I just ignored it. Finally this neighbor let me go and as I was walking I found my phone and attempted to call them back...but my phone line was cut off. I got to thinking about it and it had been about 6 weeks since the last time I paid the bill, but still, what a hassle. So instead of going to meet my friend, I went to the phone place to pay before they close (early for Ramadan). Once I got it paid, I called my friends back and, turns out, they saw me standing in the road talking to this old neighbor man and were calling to make sure I was ok. As I was on my way out of the phone place I ran into another of my friends who offered to give me a ride to where I was going and it was hot so I agreed. His wife was sitting in the car waiting for him, so I went and talked with her for a while until he was finished. Finally about 2:45 I got to the office and met the friend that I was originally planning to meet at 1:30...and so goes life in Africa...it's a small and social world, a special place where time means nothing.