The first few nights I slept in Africa I couldn’t sleep because of the noisy animal symphony outside my window. But now that I have been here a month, this lively lullaby is as comforting as the tick tocks on a Grandfather clock.
I can wake up in the middle of the night and know based on the noises outside exactly what time it is.
10pm-12am Our neighbor boy wails, Frogs croak, and storks squalk.
12am-2am Either stray dogs compete in a barking match or there is a thunderous rain storm.
2am-4am The sound of silence, finally everything is asleep.
4am-6am The nearby Mosque’s call to prayer. Dozens of roosters “cockadoodledoing” you from the depths of your dreams.
6am-7pm A boarding school’s obnoxious bell rings their students up from their slumber. Oh, sounds like the neighbor boy is awake again.
7am and On The animals are back at it again, and if you’re not up and at’em, Africa is starting another day without you.
I read this passage in a book that perfectly captures a night’s sleep in Africa.
“The night creatures saw and hum with such persistence that the human brain is forced to translate the song into pulse. Night apes, owls, nightjars, jackals, hyenas; these animals have the woo-ooping, sweeping, land-traveling calls that add an eerie mystery to the night. Frogs throb, impossibly loud for such small bodies. There is only one time of absolute silence. Halfway between the dark of night and the light of morning, all animals and crickets and birds fall into a profound silence as if pressed quiet by the deep quality of the blackest time of night. This silence is how I know it is not yet dawn, not is it the middle of the night, but it is the place of no-time, when all things sleep most deeply, where their guard is dosing, and when robbers (who know this fact) are most likely to attack.”
-“Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight” By Alexander Fuller
10pm-12am Our neighbor boy wails, Frogs croak, and storks squalk.
12am-2am Either stray dogs compete in a barking match or there is a thunderous rain storm.
2am-4am The sound of silence, finally everything is asleep.
4am-6am The nearby Mosque’s call to prayer. Dozens of roosters “cockadoodledoing” you from the depths of your dreams.
6am-7pm A boarding school’s obnoxious bell rings their students up from their slumber. Oh, sounds like the neighbor boy is awake again.
7am and On The animals are back at it again, and if you’re not up and at’em, Africa is starting another day without you.
I read this passage in a book that perfectly captures a night’s sleep in Africa.
“The night creatures saw and hum with such persistence that the human brain is forced to translate the song into pulse. Night apes, owls, nightjars, jackals, hyenas; these animals have the woo-ooping, sweeping, land-traveling calls that add an eerie mystery to the night. Frogs throb, impossibly loud for such small bodies. There is only one time of absolute silence. Halfway between the dark of night and the light of morning, all animals and crickets and birds fall into a profound silence as if pressed quiet by the deep quality of the blackest time of night. This silence is how I know it is not yet dawn, not is it the middle of the night, but it is the place of no-time, when all things sleep most deeply, where their guard is dosing, and when robbers (who know this fact) are most likely to attack.”
-“Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight” By Alexander Fuller
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Kate, we are enjoying your observations. The writing is easy to read and informative. It sounds like quite an adventure there. We look forward to seeing more of your videos.
ReplyDeleteThe labor story is one of God and his compassion for Rachel and Christine. Our prayers are with you and the people you are serving.
Love Aunt Shannon and Uncle Ken
Kate:
ReplyDeleteMissing your great reporting on homeless issues and other stuff in Grand Junction. I gave you and LGH a shout-out on my site. Looking forward to more updates and a successful experience for you and your colleagues.
John Linko