Day in the Life of Timorese people (is there such a thing?)

While I was travelling during Dec and early Jan, several people asked me what the 'average day' is like for a Timorese person; to be honest I could not answer that question, since the longer I am in Timor-Leste and observe/learn new things, the more I realize how complex the Timorese past has been and how much it has influenced their present situation - and just how little I understand....but here are a few photos to give you an initial impression of the sorts of situations Timorese people face on a regular basis....

As rainy season continues, farmers are returning to their fields to nurture their crops; the main source of 'employment' in Timor-Leste is agriculture (this photo shows a rice field)



Timorese women generally stay at home to care for their large families; I have heard that the birth rate is 7-8 children per family, although in some areas where Plan works, we have observed that there may be as many as 11 or 12 children per family. In this photo, a lady is cooking fresh fish on the side of the road to raise money for her family (side note: the fish was excellent!)



I caught this next photo when we were stuck in a small 'warung' (restaurant) in Aileu Villa waiting for a downpour to subside; although it delayed our travel, this little girl was thrilled by the rain!



On a more somber note; this lady looked to be suspicious of us as we drove past her and her family. She was likely walking to the next village along the main road to get supplies or perhaps to take her child to a local health clinic...