It's a chore in Zambia that all the women do, normally each morning. The "yards" are typically just bare soil/sand so, to integrate into the community & participate in a piece of Zambian culture, I too sweep my yard. There can be no wind but the minute I begin, huge gusts will pop up & continue throughout my sweeping endeavor. Add to that the hard, cold fact that no matter which direction the wind is blowing, when I adjust my position so I am sweeping the dust clouds away from me, the wind changed & all the dust comes right back in my face. Without fail this happens. Sometimes I swear the wind is even going all directions at once, engulfing me in a dust cyclone & coating me from head to foot in dirt. Add this to the fact that I'm also sweating & it's a guarantee that I'm now filthy, and this is how I start the day (about twice a week as I'm really very lazy.) The most annoying thing though, more than wind or being covered in small soil particles, is when I've finished the task, feeling very accomplished (yah me! I've just swept an area the size of a hotel pool with a broom made of twigs)... and a chicken walks through my yard. I'm going to be eating chicken tonight!
