Day 8. An amazing day of Fiesta

So today's excursion was a trip out to Our lady of Banneux communities which I'll be honest I didn't have any idea what it was going to be. All I know is that we were told we could dress down and that we would be attending a fiesta. Having only any experience of a Fiesta being a car back home it was with anticipation that we drove out into the countryside. After several hours of travel in our air condition team bus we started to realise that we were driving through fairly rural and deprived areas. There was a definite change in the building type with everything low rise and made from pretty much what was at hand. As we made it down a dirt track it was a massive surprise to come out onto the bright sunshine and what appeared to be a half finished village housing project. The whole village was out with full marching band blasting out pop hits that I recognised. They must have been roasting as it was in the high 30's and there was no escape from the intense sun so I was really pleased when two gazebos were pulled over them to give some shelter. I still can't get comfortable with people putting themselves in hardship for us to spectate on and I don't think I ever want to. Don't get me wrong it was amazing to watch but the bits of the trip I struggle with is when I feel like a tourist.

Thankfully we were allowed to wander the site and with Natalie and Amu in tow we walked down the steep bare red earth bank to a cluster of semi completed buildings. After a brief explanation from the hosting clubs it transpired that this project was one of resettling people from the informal settlements (basically shacks made out of rubbish) in the poorest deprived areas of the city into a dedicated village. The biggest problem with resettlement identified from previous attempts is that unless the resettled family have a purpose and reason to stay, they often return back to the city. It was impressive to hear that this project was that the homes were built by the resettled people themselves investing a minimum of 500 hours into the project and learning construction techniques as well. The buildings are a simple one room affaid an built out of polystyrene covered in a wire mesh and then covered in a cement based render. The finished home is insulated, simple but homely. I was impressed that there are fruit trees and vegetables planted around as well so the village is self sufficient and a solar panels and water collection means that they are as self sufficient as possible. The whole point of the project is to develop and foster a community spirit. There is also a church Andy statue erected on the site by one of the sponsors of the project which not only gives the community spirit as faith but are also training the members in how to make small statues to sell to visiting tourists. The whole project is inspirational and I had already started discussing with Amy and the others that if there was an option to return and help build then that would be something I would love to do! (Subject to support from the better half of course!)

My first game of where's Richard began and he never ceases to amaze me how easily he meets and communicates with people from all walks of life. He didn't disappoint as he appeared from a house and asked us if we wanted to meet his new friend. He promptly disappeared inside and reappeared with a lovely chap in tow who then proudly showed us around his house and the rice cakes he had made that morning for our trip. Thankfully Natalie rescued me as I almost knocked one over as I walked past!

We were then asked to sit and were treats to a show of local dance. One of the dancers was particularly interested in me and I was later informed by the girls that she had been trying to catch my attention, perhaps cos I'm good looking or maybe a am escape!? Sadly as anyone who knows me well will know, I'm hopeless when it comes to reading the signs and I just thought she was an enthusiastic dancer!!!

Second game of where's Richard and probably one of my favourite photos of him from the entire trip as it truly captured him at his best. He said he was aware later but I don't think he was and it was a truly natural shot of him with the people.

Lunch followed which was a roast pig and then after having a with the dancing girls ( which Claire of the Ozzie team and Natalie led on) it was time to head off.

A quiet meal in with my host family was the order of the evening as tomo promise to be special as its off mountain climbing!