Saturday, February 21, 2009

Rhymin' And Stealin'

WAIST was a really good time. PC RIM Pirates won the tournament, the Buccaneers (Kristy's team) had a great time, and the Scallywags (my team) won one game and played half the time sans pantaloons. I have not had that much fun in a long time. There were all the things that Mauritania doesn't have cheese, beer (bought and consumed in a responsible manner by legal adults), and hot dogs (consumed in an irresponsible manner 2 at a time).

The presence of PC RIM was a sight to behold we got all dressed up hot fun haircuts and played ball, or at least tried to. I gave a kid a black eye tagging him out with the ball, ouch, I was mortified. Somewhere my phone was lost or stolen, but I will have the same Mauritanian number, my Senegalese one is gone forever with the phone.

We had a home we stayed in with an American family: Akua, Adoma, and Joyce. They were the nicest people who opened their home tp Kristy and I and treated us to foods and luxury that were extremely appreciated. Hot water, TV, Wii, and home cooked food are things to be thankful for.

We stayed behind in Dakar for an extra night and visited the Isle of Goree. We were called African residents and got a discount on the ferry, very exciting! There was some beautiful art, a few museums, and some dark history to behold on the isle. I decided that I love the baobob tree while we were there it a beautiful thing to behold and its fruit is amazing.

Kristy and I traveled solo with the directions of Lindsay through to St. Louis for a night and with a bit more advice made it home through Senegal and home. Quite an adventure.

I keep saying that pictures are coming soon and my camera is stocked I just have to put them in the computer and then on the web.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Ocean Size

The day after my last blog the world went all meh.

My roommate told us he was no longer going to pay rent because the house was dirty. This lead to a rather complicated breakdown in communication where I am sure that all parties involved said impolite things and felt they were by far the most justified person in the situation. Things are civil and he is looking for a new place to live, but I highly doubt that. Today he asked about the increase in rent that will be coming soon.

My direct supervisor the DREN along with all of the other Regional Directors of National Education of Mauritania was shuffled. He now works in Kiffa and our new one is from somewhere very north of here, supposedly he speaks English, I spoken to him once. Everything I did with the old DREN is gone, in the middle of the school year. I spent weeks making me a familiar face and now that's gone and I have to start over. From a first impression the new guy wants to be more active.

I learned today that the school year is now a month shorter because of elections, this after we started about a month late and there will still be the same number of breaks and national holidays off.

I felt bad about the lack of education my students would be receiving but I will do what I am able as I am and not a thing more. I only play a superhero on TV.

Ending this with a good notes.

Mohawk in 2 days. I will visit a barber and have my hair cut by a Mauritanian friend. There will be pictures taken. This is a precursor to WAIST, getting away again will be good. My WAIST name shall be... 'Meramop. It came to me in a dream and I am now committed to the name.

I had several students in my English club tell me they loved me today, in English. I asked them if they understood what they said. They insisted that they did. Their definition was, "like a very much". It was sweet, the work I do here is worth more than money.