Limol #20

Walking a mile with someone else in your shoes. 



Saved my exercise today for the evening - I helped my dear friend Manaleato carry heavy sago bundles to the canoe place. They were halfway down, so we carried lightly halfway, then heavy to the canoe spot, back empty and heavy again to the canoe. Women carry the loads on their heads, but I feel most of the weight in my elbows as I try to lift the pressure off my head and neck by lifting the straps near my ears. I then had to say goodbye to Manaleato. Wagiba told me a verb for when you talk but you have emotion in your voice and your words come out all cracked. This happened when Manealeato said goodbye. 

I then helped Wagiba by carrying the leaves she picked and fish Manaleato gave me back to the village but gave her my shoes halfway because her feet were really hurting her. She asked me to get her some sandals in Daru and it's hard to know what to say, because everyone asks me for sandals in Daru and I can't just bring 300 pairs... it's really heart breaking and especially hard to think about with my feet hurting so bad from the barefoot walk home.

It was sad to say goodbye to Manaleato, Donae, Pentai, and Maryanne, our good friends in the village. I recorded special messages from them to give to Grace on her birthday next week. It's turning into quite the project! I've got video recordings of all our good friends saying nice words to Grace. My plan is to transcribe and translate them all, then write a poem using a compilation of some of their words and play it for her on her birthday. Then I'll give her all the videos and transcriptions for her to have and keep. Hope I can finish on time :)

Exhausted and falling asleep. Too much sun, too little water. Hope to run on Tuesday...
Kate

P.S. the puppies that were born on the day the crocodile was caught are so so big now and still so cute. Grace and I have named the runts Misi and Maia after the crocodile song, Käza Misi Mai Sai Mai-i-i. 

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