sun(less)day

I got to work today and I honestly have no idea what I've been doing for the past 7 days, but they are gone.  We have had so many people join the project and come through the office, I feel like all I have been doing all week is meeting new faces and chit chatting...basically the only 2 things I'm good at.

I've also been doing a LOT of complaining because it is still soooo dreary.  The sun came out for about 2 minutes on Friday afternoon, but that's pretty much it.  I work with a lot of people from the UK, and when I start complaining they pretty much tell me to "bugger off," which is much more eloquent than the American alternative...typical for the British.  I just can't function without at least little sunshine.

Since first arriving in Malongo, I have heard countless stories about things that have happened in camp over the years.  Everything you can imagine from raging all-night parties to monkey warfare to lizards the size of 18-wheelers....all of which were hearsay, until now.  (dunn dunnn dunnnnn)  

My office is in a set of 4 buildings that are at far corner of the camp and there is a lot of open space/jungle around us, which is why it's not uncommon to see unwanted reptiles around/in the building.  Anyway, there has been a crew of 4 or 6 workers moving dirt around across the street from my office building.  Yesterday before lunch there was some commotion near the crews (also, not uncommon), so I just drove around them on my way to lunch.  Come to find out that the commotion was NOT unwarranted.  Apparently, one of the workers went behind a large container to (allegedly) use the restroom, and while back there a BOA CONSTRICTOR took the man as his prey and began to coil around his leg.  The man (obviously) panicked and tried to run, but the boa had a good grip and took the man down to the ground.  Turns out the snake was only about 5-feet long (just a baby boa, NBD), but pulled the man 15-feet back into the brush.  Luckily, one of his coworkers noticed that he had been gone for a while and went back to find him.  He was able to beat the snake until it release the guy.  He was then taken to the clinic because of leg pain and may have a sprain/break, but he's going to be just fine - probably won't be back in the brush anytime soon!  The best part is that the "snake guys" captured the snake and released it back into the jungle...I'm sorry, WHAT?     

I'm almost to the halfway point of this hitch.  I'll be sure and stay out of the grass for the next two weeks...

12 days down, 16 to go!  xoxo...