Bujumbura, August 2, 2007
Hi cousin, I just
news. You write so little ... Not to mention the rest of the family. The only one who writes regularly, is my father ... But do not worry, I do not write me lamenting.
Despite some solitude, "some" because there is hardly alone here in Burundi, I'm doing really well. Ah, "solitude" ... this term masks a certain ambiguous reality. Whether you walk to the market, in the street or at the lake, you are rarely alone, at least physically alone. Especially when you're a muzungu (white), and more when you're a muzungu who likes to go out and meet people. Here, people stare at you, they'll questioning, chime into you ... It's part of culture: Like all bees communicate with each other so it is clear to all where to find flowers to forage to produce honey, and contribute to the welfare of the swarm, the Burundians would save no words to address this flower pollen that is carrying the muzungu.
In reality, your cultural codes and values that you received are not the same, and it makes you a fish immersed in a sea that is not yours. However, when you append to know the waters in which you evolve, you adapt and finally you feel less alone. When the foraging bee comes to you, when the horse has to drink to your source, you understand and you smile .... You can and should prevent the sparrows to come peck crumbs and sugar crystals at your table ... My crystal sugar to me is humor ... When you come to me for money, I offer some mirror of the situation. I imitated them. It makes them laugh, and laugh when I laugh too ... and we all laugh together ... The mirror is theater and that is something that works ...
As I laugh and I like as loneliness, well I'm feeling quite well here in Burundi
... I still swim every day at noon and play football 1-2 times a week. So know that when I return you will have to invite me to play a game with your team.
As I've already said, I do not intend to renew my contract. This will end in December, when I plan to return. I decided to return by land across part of Africa to Egypt. It is a journey to a faith in his life ...
Cousin, I know you have lots of work and your kids TEQ t'autorisent just freedom but still give your news. As the saying goes, "what you write is what you like best, then write cousin ... how else to know what you look like?
Um Abraco,
