Village Life

5 am, the call to prayer rings through the streets of town. Thus begins a new day in Hetsa, Comoros. For the late sleepers the roosters crow at 6am to make sure you do not let the day pass you by. Upon completing prayer and preparing for the day everyone begins the work at hand. For some that means going to the hondze, or farm, to pick fruits and vegetables, that later will be used for food or sold in the market. For others they grab the first taxi possible into the capital, where they will go to work for the day. While others stay more local and go to work in their village or surrounding villages doing varies jobs, such as teachers or store owners. Some will stay at home and begin the cooking for the day or cleaning the house. The youth fill the streets as they head off to school, normally traveling two villages over. As the day goes on people will come and go. Normally around the time for lunch everyone will stop and return home to eat with their family. At 12 many are summoned to prayer for the midday prayer time. And after which many will spend time relaxing. When the late afternoon arrives those who work in the capital end their workday and begin their 40-minute drive back. While students will fill the streets playing different games, or members of the village will head to the soccer field to watch a match. When evening time arrives many will venture out to visit with friends or will receive friends and family into their house. The ones who remained home for the day roll out their meals they have been preparing. This normally entails some sort of rice and chicken combination. Once the meal has been finished and the table cleared the families will lounge around and discuss each other’s day. When all the discussing and family time is finished to bed everyone goes, ready to start a new day.