Oompa Loompa's

I come from a state that it rains 6-7 months out of the year. I am also not a dainty butterfly that if it gets wet is ruined. But I have never seen it rain so hard and fierce in my whole life. When it rains the air gets heavy and you can feel what is coming, as well as see the dark luminous clouds forming. When it’s really upon you a strong wind announces the rains presence and that is when you start running for cover. I think it is assumed and expected to wait it out, even if you are suppose to be in class. You don’t see to many people walking out it the rain unless they have a sturdy umbrella boots or they are a muzungu (white person). There is something else that we were not taught something nobody mentioned. The beautiful orange red dirt we walk on everyday is not actually dirt it is paint waiting to be moistened by the downpour of rain. When you walk on you are forced to think of an overly soggy water color painting with only oranges yellows and reds. If you happen to be wearing sandals and who is not, well at least all the American students are, the paint changes your skin. It is not a nice painting that you can pick up to look at and then put down. When it makes contact with your skin it clings on like a stain. I think while we are here and until we have the convenience of a good hard scrub brush our feel and the hems of our full skirts and even our hands if we are not careful will be stained a permanent orange tint. In a way it is funny to see all of these white muzungu's running around with oompa loompa colored feet.