Berberati

I have been in Berberati for three days now. I find the property quite beautiful and tranquil. I get the small house that used to be a small school house but was converted to a studio apartment. Which means one large room and a bathroom. The kitchen is actually a small room on the porch. I will have to remember to take a picture. It is actually quite comfortable. The property has a ton of flowers and feels very retreat like. At least the guest house side.

The garage and will drilling operation is on the other side of the road in another fenced in compound. The fence for both sides is basically sheets of metal (aluminum I think). The garage side is hustling with workers, dirty like all garages, and hot. I honestly feel like there is a ten degree difference just by crossing the road.

Even though Berberati is a very beautiful place, I am having a bit more of a hard time here. I am not exactly sure why except I feel like I am running in place with what I am trying to accomplish with the Africans. We are getting there but nothing has reconciled perfectly yet and I even started us in balance yesterday. We then went to reconcile today and it was out again. If everything is done as the process describes, this should not happen. We were out about 10 dollars today...doesn't seem like much but as an accountant it should be zero. Then the communciation feels like it is getting worse. Probably b/c of all the activity. I think what ultimately exhausts me is that I am not taking regular time to just detox. In Bangui, I went to the pool every day at 3 than came back ate and worked some more. Here I work until 5 ... go home and eat then work a little more...then I have started the Heros TV series. I am not sure TV actually refreshes me but I am addicted.

I feel like I get frustrated too easily and snap...I am sure the guys notice and I hate it.

I have not embarked out into the local village. At the end of the day, I feel exhausted. I just don't have energy. Yet, I deeply wish that I could just hang out with some of the local people and not be overwhelmed by the experience. To just enjoy their presence and getting to know different people...but every time I go for a walk a bunch of kids are following me. I wish I could handle that better.

Tomorrow is the African labor day...so the African's have the day off which means I get to detox a little. I am looking forward to this day. It means I work on Saturday and then leave for Bangui on Sunday but I don't care...I need the day.

Overall, this trip has not been as bad as I thought it would be. I don't feel overwhelmingly lonely all the time. I have my moments but for the most part it has been a time to go at a different pace...to stretch myself. I know this is good.