What does one have to do to get a cup of Coffee around here!!!

I am passionate about coffee. It's not JUST about the caffeine that gives you that extra energy in the morning or even the intoxicating smell that creates a smile appearing into your very soul, no, rather it is the very essence of coffee that I love. Coffee symbolizes love and character, it is a sweet memory and confident reminder that life is good.

 To experience this delight in Nagishot takes patience and dedication yet, as Jacob was willing to wait for his sweet Rachel for seven years so I willing to wait for my sweet coffee...Well, maybe not for seven years.

Anyway, to relish this coffee in Didinga, first one must find a tree, preferably a coffee tree.

Coffee tree.

After you have made friends with the coffee tree owner, you must wait patiently as the berries begin to ripen.

 

When the beans are ready, they must be laid out to dry, now you are getting closer. Once they are dried, these little beans of potential are getting closer to meeting their destiny...Me.

The dried beans

You must gather what you can for fuel and get a hot fire going.

A fire fueled by corn husks

Now, it's time for roasting! If you are strong like the Didinga, you can use your hands to stir the beans as they begin to roast.

Now you must ask your self "Do I want a dark roast, or light roast or something in between?"

Light roast.

A little darker

and darker...

 Now you can pour the beans into another basin to cool.

Now, you ought to take a few moments to appreciate the beautiful color and essence of the beans.

Now it is time for the grinding.

Rising up!

Pounding down!

Gotta get that coffee ground!

After pounding in the hot sun the beans will be roughly grounded

Now, it is time for the second grinding.

At the grinding stone...

You can imagine how long it takes to grind wheat for bread...

Finished!!!!

Now is the part we've all been waiting for...

TA DA! Mmm!!! As usual, worth the wait!

Trash, or Treasure???

Today was the last day of the 2012 school year.  Whoop!  Whoop!

After results were distributed and discussed, the classrooms swept and scrubbed and the grass outside the school slashed we celebrated in true Sudanese style…

How?

Well, for months Kim and I have been saving our tin cans, empty shampoo and lotion bottles, egg cartons, cardboard boxes and well, (don’t judge!) most of our garbage. 

There was jumping up and down, spontaneous clapping, shouts of joy, uncontrollable laughter, dancing and the biggest smiles of the term today while our students chose a partner and took turns picking their “treasures” from our trash bin.

Once the materials were distributed each group set to work making their very own terah (planes) and toromile (trucks).

Their joy was contagious. 

We all had a good time!  For, as the saying sorta goes, one teacher’s trash is another student’s treasure!

Arkangelo's Plane

Happy as a clam

In the making...

Abuba with her creation!

Lubalo with his airplane

Adomi's car and Langa's plane

Logidishi's plane.

Michaels plane.