Shortcut

... we learned that the word shortcut does not mean the same in Africa as it does in America.  When I think of a shortcut I think of a shorter way to get somewhere.  However, we learned that in Africa it means a route that passes by something one person wants to show another or a route that passes by the most people - and it is generally longer than the original route.  The shortcut we took as we left Isaac Village took us on a very narrow, over grown path, down a steep ravine, across a river and up hill the whole rest of the way.  It was a very long and hot walk back to the road.  But seeing Mtinga's face as he showed us the village gardens and explained how they grow their cabbage and rotate the plants to produce as much as possible made it all worth while.  He was also excited to show us the village 'lumber mill' - the place where wood is cut by hand.  It was remarkable to see the trees and the smoothness of the wood and to know it was all done by hand.  On the shortcut we also passed through another village and spent time greeting many people.  Another interesting thing about our walk back to the road was that many of the village children walked with us.  Because Rob had spent time playing soccer with them they wanted to honor him.  They walked with us (most barefoot) all the way to the river - then the pull of going swimming won out.