Kola wanted to show me something, and took me down a slight slope into the part of town that had been most affected by the rising water. On the way, we attempted to speak. Neither of us could understand each other, so speech became oft repeated words accompanied by hand gestures, punctuated by excitement when one of us understood the other’s word. As we passed other villagers passing by, he would introduce me as the Americanski, smiling and asking if they would help with English. No luck. As we neared the water, Kola pointed, made a swooshing sound accompanied by a sidelong movement of his hands. He followed with one word “Dom.” We understood each other, but there was no excitement. The houses here had mostly been swept away, collapsing, as Kola described, with horrendous thuds.