good thing this isn't the oregon trail...‏

Oh, and for all you entrepreneurs in the list, a great idea for a night club/bar is to make half the dance floor into a swimming pool. No liabilities there. None at all. And an interesting experience regarding a taxi ride. As soon as we got to our destination and I got out of the cab, a man jumped in through the driver's window and started hitting the driver. Thinking it was a potential car jacking, I got in the middle and pushed the attackee out of the way. The cabbie threw the car in reverse and sped off down the road. The other guy ran after for a bit and then I learned that he was actually a cop and the cabbie was an armed robber. Oops.... oh well, free ride!

After IST, some friends and I headed to Kasanka National Park to view the massive bat migration. I've heard it's the largest mammal migration (either in the world or Africa, not sure which…not sure that's even true, anyway). It was a headache-poor transport, high park fees, expensive armed guide hiring (you aren't allowed to go away from your tent site or chalet without a guide). But in the end it was an awesome experience. We hiked out to see the bats roosting during the day and watched them fly overhead at night. I saw a similar site in Australia but this time was appreciated much more. One evening after a heavy rain, 2 friends and I walked, unguided, to the river where we heard we might be able to see crocs and hippos. I saw a path leading through some tall grasses and thought to myself "Hey, now this could be fun." The path ended at the water's edge and maybe 5 meters in front of me was a hippo. It was awesome (and dangerously close). There might have been more because there were splashes and bubbles coming from even closer and a V going through the water, which may or may not have been a croc. The next day, we hired a guide to take us on a hike. Should have been a 4 hour hike. Ended up being about 8. He took ill and had to rest. He was dehydrated and had really high blood pressure (I heard 188 over 80 or something like that after he was checked out by the parks doctor)…and we were lost. I got to carry his rifle, and Drew carried his walkie talkie. We radioed for help and a long time later it came and we got a ride back to our chalet site. If I'd remembered to bring my camera, I would have attached pictures of me carrying the rifle and looking all tough, but you'll have to take my word for it.

Then there was Thanksgiving at the house which was GREAT. Everyone finally got along and we had turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberries, AND the world's BEST sautéed mushrooms ever (provided by yours truly). Aside from no football, it was a great day.

So finally after what seemed like a year away from site, I returned to a puppy who is getting larger and larger and my beloved tree which is now 80cm high. My floor had been eaten away by a rat in the corner, but otherwise it was fine. I set up a basketball hoop and now my focus has moved from fish farming to drills and creating the best basketball team Kapeshi has ever seen. Other projects include a fuel efficient stove which is in the works and my field-also in the works. I was out hoeing every morning this week and my back and hands hate me. But soon I should have garlic, onions, sunflower and I want to pick up some other seeds for cucumber, tomatoes, watermelon…all stuff I should have got yesterday because today is Saturday. Oh, and I'm also teaching some of the children English. Just a little bit at a time. Their first lesson was the lyrics to the Kenny Rogers song "The Gambler." They don't know what the words mean, but that doesn't really matter. Just as long as they can quote it by memory for every white person they see, I'll be pleased.

Rainy season is upon us. It came several weeks late (usually by mid November it's in full swing). I've been trapped inside a few times and caught in a couple storms but there's something relaxing about it. And a lot of frustrations, clothes that don't dry, for one. But the mushrooms are great and nothing better than sleeping during a thunderstorm.

I've planned for the next round of chicken vaccines to be administered on Tuesday (once again conveniently when someone will be staying in Mkushi and, what a stroke of luck! will be able to hopefully catch the Vikings-Bears game. Hopefully they'll both lose putting the Packers farther ahead. There are 4 Lions fans at the PC house, 1 Vikings fan, and me, the Packers fan. Also, we have too many Patriots fans. I'm sick of New England teams and their winningness. Celtics are having a great season, Sox won, Pats are undefeated… I hear Bonds is getting indicted for perjury and I think that's AWESOME! I hope they take his "record" from him and keep him away from the Hall of Fame. Any other important news from the home front?

I leave for Zanzibar in 2 weeks. I'm stoked for Christmas and New Years on the beach. Though a 48 hr train ride to and from won't be quite as fun, though I'll be sharing a car with some friends. I'm pretty stoked. So much history on the island-spice and slave trading. I'm hoping to pick some up. Spices, that is…though this hoeing is taking its toll on my back…. Juuuuust kidding.

Well I hope you're doing well. But only because you made it to the end. Congratulations!