Good Morning

In the morning I am met outside the gates of Maji by Safari, my tennis partner. He passes me my tennis racket and we start a slow 2km jog down the lakeside road to the Karibu Hotel. Motos zip by us with a ritual honk as I try to dodge the potholes. Just five houses down from Maji there is public lake access.

The public lake access is not like the public beach access we are used to back in Vancouver. When I jog by at 6am the road and lake are teeming with activity. Families are filling up the jerry cans for the day, while others are doing a week’s worth of laundry. Moto drivers slip into the spaces at the water’s edge to wash their bikes as the fisherman sing their songs as they head out to drop their nets.

A diverse community gathers everyday at this one spot out of necessity. I receive the blank stares and the odd smile as I brush through the crowds with Safari. Boys run beside us asking for cookies and money unable to keep up under the weight of their water cans.

When we reach the red clay courts of the Karibu Hotel we are met by two armed Congolese soldiers; their general is playing on the court beside us. Just when I think I can’t chase the ball anymore Dr. Jo arrives ready for his swimming lesson. After doing our stretches and getting up to date one the local news, we slip into the pool for half an hour.

I arrive back at Maji to be met by a table full of people down by the water’s edge, fresh, clean fruit and homemade bread at my fingertips. I quickly eat and rush to get changed as the car horn honks to remind me that I still need to go to work today. Another day has begun.