Baby bananas and bottoms

I have compiled some random pics of everyday life that I though y'all might enjoy at home. Perhaps some things that you don't see everyday.

Baby bananas. How cute are these? About the size of a chubby thumb, these are all over the place here. The locals say they are sweeter than your average banana. I don't know if I agree with that, but I prefer to eat them anyway because they're just so stinkin cute. What a great way to start a morning.


Bare baby bottoms. I don't know if this picture does this dimply little bottom justice, but take my word for it, it's pretty cute. And as for the mystery of why the mamas never get peed on......I am still mystified.

Interestingly enough, this little guy is baby Gary. Gary Hardison, named after the american doctor I am here working with. Cute. You've got to be a pretty big deal around here to get babies named after you, as evidenced by all the baby Obamas and baby Michelles that I have encountered recently :)
Here I am perched perilously on a rickety old wooden chair in the pediatric ward. I am still on my first wall of the mural, but it's coming along nicely. I have painted the bottom half of the wall green(like grass), and the top will be all kinds of flowers. The fact that I have to clean my little brush with turpentine between each color is not helping my time much, but apparently acrylic paint is another "American luxury". When I first arrive on the ward to start painting, it become absolutely silent, as the children watch with curiosity and trepidation what the mzungu will do next. After a bit of time passes however, they start to slowly stalk closer, using the beds and their mama's skirts for cover, and soon become brave enough to speak again. I try to appear very involved in my work until they have gotten to the audible speech stage, then I come down from my chair to clean my brush and shake some little hands that are suddenly thrush from under beds and behind skirts. They always seem surprised that I know their names. Apparently when I take my stethoscope off they can't recognize me as the nurse who was rounding with Dr. Hardison a few hours earlier :)
This picture is of Steven, Anna, and Diane is our nightly games of scrabble. Sometimes we even shake things up a little with speed scrabble :) Mom-you'd be proud to know that I have finally attempted to make popcorn the "real" way on the stove. I made if for our most recent movie night, when we watched Sister Act on one of their laptops. I think there may be some room for improvement, especially with my proportions, but if you don't mind standing oil in the bottom of the popcorn bowl, then I'm doing great.
Well, I can hear thunder starting to rumble outside the internet cafe, so I better skedaddle. It hasn't rained for almost a week now, and I'm really starting to miss it. I love the excitement in the air that lingers before a wonderful storm. I do prefer to experience that excitement from under my porch though, so goodbye for now!
jessie