we soon discovered it was much too big to fill up using wheelbarrows of dirt and were instructed to fill it with logs and dead tree branches instead (which aren't scarce around these parts). i thought it was enjoyable work, though hard, as the plants are terribly thorny and the branches therefore a nuisance to carry. [to give you an idea - some of the thorns i stepped on went right through the sole of my sneakers and into my foot!] we teamed up throughout the day to transport entire trees that had fallen (once again, it's amazing what the power of numbers can do) and slowly but surely, the hole filled up. work like this is so encouraging/rewarding because you see the progress you're making as you go..
once the hole was filled, we gathered big bunches of dried grass to fill in the gaps (it was so itchy to carry!!). the group shot you can see below only shows about 2/3 of the hole and i think that's pretty impressive!
the afternoon was very relaxed - we just planted a few trees with a visiting kenyan school (i've never planted so many trees in my life as on this trip) and then the boys played a game of soccer (as it's become routine to do).
this blog entry seems really short and boring, i apologise (: but that's pretty much it. i'm just looking forward to a fire and another group chillout and am so looking forward to the pool we're apparently going to tomorrow. and i love the pace of work here - we're doing different things every day or second day which means we don't really have enough time to get bored and i feel like we've constantly got things to look forward to (: sending you all warm wishes and bright african sun <3
so good, this week!!! so excited for you... was so much looking forward to the photos though!!! ;o(((((
ReplyDeletei am sure you hide them on purpose so we have to wait.... and are dying!
gros bizous mon poussin... suis tellement contente de cette semaine pour toi!
Like mum, I am dying to discover your new pictures.....
ReplyDeleteKufurahia kuogelea yako kesho!
J'ai cherché à 3 reprises si par hasard je n'avais pas su "ouvrir" q.q.c. pour voir tes photos qui illustrent toujours si bien tes si vivants et riches commentaires! Cela me rassure donc de savoir que personne ne les as encore reçues..et que je vais pouvoir me régaler bientôt! je suis si heureuse pour toi de tout ce que tu découvres comme beautés variées...Et toi qui aimes tant les animaux depuis si si petite et qui caressais avec délices un ver de terre à 2 ans,!!¨ le trouvant si mignon,;o)) j'imagine avec tant de bonheur comme tu dois être heureuse!
ReplyDeleteCela doit être incroyable d'être si près des éléphants. As-tu pensé à Marraine ? Gros Bizous Moi
ReplyDelete....wow... what a job! its pretty amazing... i didn't realize the hole was so big!!
ReplyDeletei must say i love the earth... it's colour is soo rich, intense and beautiful! great shots leila...
love the dust in the light in the last one..
Leïla,
ReplyDeleteI am totally blown away by your pictures. The intensity of those colours, the redness of the soil with those amazing dead branches; what a stunning contrast... Especially the first one. It looks like a prehistorical creature (maybe a whale ancestor?) coming out from nowhere.
The last picture showing all this guys playing football is also quite remarkable. The way you did catch their movement has so much energy in it and then at the same time seems so gracious and light; I feel like watching a ballet…
Thank you Leïla for sharing with us those incredible moments.
Love, dad
Magnifique Leïla! Tu es un vrai as ( en français s.v.p.!) de la photo. Tu nous gâtes vraiment en nous offrant ces moments de rêve et d'évasion, que nous vivons à travers toi. J'adoore la couleur rouge de cette terre, et je trouve magnifique les jeux de lumière, , de poussière dans l'air et les nuages. Quant aux trous! C'est énorme! On dirait un trou creusé pour une tombe d'éléphant! Et Quel boulot pour la sympathique équipe. La 1ère photo, on dirait une carcasse de dinosaure! et moi qui m'en f du foot ball. j'ai été séduite par cette photo si si gracieuse: tu es une vraie artiste. Je t'aime
ReplyDeletema chere leila, ton pere m'a donne l'adresse de ton blog que je decouvre. Je suis ravie de lire et voir les photos de cette nouvelle aventure. Profite bien, amuse toi bien et tu nous racontereras tout cela de vives voix lors de ton passage a Paris. A ce propos tu viens chez nous quand tu veux meme si je sais que tu as plein de contacts sur Paris.Je t'embrasse tres tres fort. Sandrine
ReplyDeleteSuperbe Leila! on aime et on en redemande, continue de partager comme tu le fais. On aime les écrivains-voyageurs...et davantage encore quand il est une elle, courageuse, proche, talentueuse, spontanée,... et aussi parce que c'est sur un terrain que l'on a foulé et connu d'une certaine façon, parfois identique, parfois différente. On a hâte de la suite. Merci!
ReplyDeleteMarc et Sabine
Superb, Leila - and Happy Birthday. Keep showing us all how it needs to be done! Love, Barbara Stone
ReplyDeleteHola guapa, how are you birthday girl? Your mum just send me the link to your blog which I really appreciate.... I couldn't agree more with you dad in terms of the colors of the pictures, I'm super impressed! YOur experience there must be just amazing and powerful at the same time... I can wait to stop writting this message to continue looking at your previous entries, LOves and really strong hugs. Karin
ReplyDelete