It’s time for tea. The swarm of ladies has diminished as they take leave to return to their daily rigors - gathering water, doing laundry, preparing food, and going to work in the stone quarry. It’s still a bit early, but Esther ushers me back to her home for our morning ritual of tea.

As we sit waiting for her daughters to bring the tea, Cecilia enters, offering me her usual Fanta - nice and cold. Esther instructs me not to drink it, to take tea first so I can warm up since she feels I must be cold. It’s at least 85 degrees and 48 hours earlier I was shoveling a foot of snow and sleet from my driveway. I was certainly not cold.

Esther took out a box with a porcelain tea set, smiling just as dignified as the cups she placed in front of me. Her pride in this new acquisition was evident as she carefully unwrapped each piece. Her daughter brought the tea. I first poured Esther her cup full and then added 2 heaping spoons of sugar (I know well how much Esther loves sugar). I looked up, questioning if she’d like more. She giggled as she motioned for one more heaping spoonful. I poured a cup for myself and we shared the tea and feasted on cassava (my favorite) and g-nuts. This same ritual will be performed nearly every day until I leave.

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