Literally. No, I haven't hit a mid-trip low or am sinking into unbearable homesickness. It has just been a "crappy" week, as I have been pooped on three times this week by wretched winged misfortunes known as birds. Three times - in ONE week!! How does this happen?! Once was while I attempted to post a blog earlier last week (a blog that was unsuccessful in being posted, to add insult to injury), then again a few days later while hanging my shorts on our balcony to dry.
The last targeted missile - and by far the worst - fell while I was running Saturday morning with Stacey and Wendy, two other ladies participating with LCCT. Wearing my usual running garb of a cutoff T-shirt and shorts, I was setting the pace for us three on a narrow trail running by a stream in a grove of trees just outside of Survey. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain on my shoulder and immediately reached up with my left hand to brush off what I thought was a large nut. Turns out, I instead smeared the large, steamy bird bomb all over my hand and shoulder. I froze in my tracks, trying not to gag, and kept exclaiming, "Ew! Ew!" (which of course makes everything sooo much better...). Wendy and Stacey were thoroughly amused and couldn't stop laughing but were a wonderful help in scraping the mess off of me using dead leaves.
In consolation for my week of unfortunate events, the girls assured me that it's good luck to get pooped on by a bird, but I'm convinced that's just what people have to say when something bad happens to another person. Like rain on your wedding day, or... well, I can't think of other examples, but I'm sure they exist. ;) When the little bad luck things happen, they're immediately amended with assurance of signifying good luck. So while I'm tempted to invest in an umbrella (though it might make me an easier target that I apparently already have proven to be) for traveling places on campus, the circumstances have made for some good laughs and - if the stars align properly - a whole lot of good luck coming my way in the near future!
*Picture is of Stacey (from Fergus Falls, MN for mid-western MN locals) and I wearing our new shirt and skirt we each had made by a tailor in Survey out of fabric purchased in Arusha at the Tengeru Market. We accidentally coordinated our outfits in exact opposite for church one Sunday and just had to snap a quick photo. :)
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