Where Your Old Haloween Costumes Are

Going anywhere from my house means walking for a good 15 minutes from my house to the main road up a very uneven dirt road that winds through a small village. It is impossible to walk through the village without collected a gaggle of kids, all wanting to hold your hand and people call to you, “Bonjour” or “Good Morning” (regardless of what time of day it is). Over the past three weeks I have made an attempt to befriend my neighbours and I have become good friends with one very sweet 11 year old who insists on walking me all the way to my door regardless of what he was doing before I showed up.

But my favourite are the babies. Yesterday, as I approached the main thoroughfare, a small child of about 2 spotted me and started to run, or should I say waddle, towards me as fast as his little legs could carry him. He was excitedly yelling “Mzungu, mzungu!” at the top of his lungs. He was made all the more adorable by the fact that he was wearing a pumpkin costume! Before he could crash into my legs, I scooped him up into my arms and gave him a kiss. A cute little pumpkin running to greet me - there could not be a better welcome home.