The other extreme

The scene at the hospital was grim. Dozens of people waiting to be called by the overworked staff of Medicin Sans Frontier. Tarps form thw waiting room, all ages sit and wait. I played for them for 20+ minutes in the midday heat. Slowly they opened up and soon smiles replaced their downturned faces. Young, old, man, woman, child all escaped their grim reality for a few precious mu
minutes I was priveledged to share with them. One young boy in particular was very playful.
We took a tour of the facilities, the major part of the hosptal is flattened. Tent after tent is filled with beds crowded together. Families of thepatients sit anywhere they can find. One young boy sits in a wheelchair. His face brightens when I approach him, juggling balls in hand. He Beams as the balls take flight and onelands in his lap. He tosses it back and the game is on. Soon his older sister joins the action. The whole family as well as others nearby are swept away for a brief spell. Difficult surroundings but a place that certainly needed some light.
The hospital sits on a cliff overlooking a wide riverbed teeming with bodies. Washing clothes, bodies and
motorbikes the surrounding banks are covered in patchworks of drying clothes or smouldering rubbish. Beautiful and distressing simultaneously. Seems to be the theme of the day. We bike back for lunch.
Gigi was to meet me between 3:30 + 4. I was ready and waiting for my afternoon foray
he hadn't appeared by 4:15 and I was itching to go so I decided to really go solo today. I wandered up in the directionof the tents to the East. At the topof the hill I ran into a funeral just coming out of the funeraire. The hearse wouldn't start at first then slowly came to life. There was a band of uniformed musicians who marched away down the hill I had just climbed followed bt the hearse and a large contingent of mourners dressed In black.
The tent village that I was headed for was in view of allthis, but I figured a funeral was nothing new here. A young boy on a bike sang along with the band as they faded away.
Blanc. I was being called. A young girl started the conversation asking what I was doing. I stated my intention to do a spectac. The place Wa
was decided upon , near the tents on a litter strewn rocky path. Well we had fun, all ages complete with a sharp tongued young male who
challenged everything I did. The crowd was on my side and chastised him heartily for his brashness. I was vey surprised when a young man came out of the crowd, asked for my balls, and not only could he juggle
but he knew several tricks. Very cool. At the end I took a couple of pictures, one of the little boy that I gave the pinwheel I handmade for him
out of strapping tape. As I was about to leave a fellow did a wonderful mock performance with a bowl and a stick. He didn't really do anything but he was very funny. We all laughed together. I was full of smiles as I walked down the hill toward home.
y side and they playfully reprimanded him for his attacks. I lve to hear them whooping in joy and amazement at my antics. They love when I dance in c