J173 – 6/8/2006

On our route today there was lots of green, with fields, mostly of barley, as far as the eye could see.  Since Xanghye, country life is at it’s peak.  The smallest plot is cultivated and the system of canals for irrigation, as well as the number of trees that has been planted, are testimony to the effort made to have as much arable land as possible.  It’s primarily the women who spend their days bent in half weeding in the fields.  This sight of dozens of people working in the fields no longer exists in France.  The time when whole families left to spend a day in the fields is over.  Here the small parcels of cultivated land are full of life and color because the women who work in the fields all cover their head, and sometimes even their face, with a scarf.  We are very impressed by the amount of hard work the women do along with the men.  They work on the highways, on which sledgehammers, shovels and pickaxes are used, they build brick walls from scaffolding on houses and in garages they repair flat tires.  Chinese women are incredible and I wonder if like in France or in Turkmenistan, the government shouldn’t create a Woman’s Day holiday.

Serge is far from such thoughts.  Since fatigue began corrupting his body, he has become more and more introspective: in his own world, in his  thoughts, in his pain, which he shares with parsimony.  It’s all difficult to explain when you see him finish a day like today.

Serge is OK?  Yes,

Serge is in great shape? No,

Serge’s morale is good? Yes,

Serge cogitates? Yes.  About what? Nobody knows

Serge is exhausted?  Yes,

Serge’s legs hurt? A little bit these last few days but for the past 3 weeks he has refused to be massaged.

Why did Serge go 4 kilometers beyond the camp this evening to do 79 kilometers?  I ask you……