Forever

Now February is really almost over. We are in Barra making some last min internet searches before we go to Dakar again this weekend. Kristy just bought some garden tools so that the school across the street can start a garden instead of letting it stay the neighborhood dumb.

WAIST, what can I say? It was a bitter-sweet event. Sweet the way that it is always sweet to see PCV's compete in a softball tournament, eat hot dogs, nachos and pulled pork with jalapenos, and the liter sized Gazelles and early morning practice at the club. Bitter in the way that PC RIM was not there, it was quiet and tame (with the same number of people), it was the ghost of WAIST future. We gave it our all made complete fools of ourselves not wearing pants per tradition, played kickball instead of softball one game (it was later won by the Refugees: rock v scissors), and we even kidnapped opposing team members and their mascot. I am proud to say that I was captain of that rowdy bunch of Refugees who's chant was "We're here, we're homeless, get used to us!" It was great to see the old RIM crew and to meet the Guinean PC refugees. We bonded in our mutual experiences and mutual reactions to said experiences. It was good to know that other people feel the same as us.

Shannon, Jeremiah, and Kelly are going to be in Dakar this weekend! My-oh-my! It is almost surreal that they will get to share a bit of our life and see what I write about. There is so much to do and see and so little time to do it in.

We are now in the last quarter of our service, we have to make preparations for our projects to continue without us. Manuals need to be written, to do lists need to be checked off, and that last bit of confidence needs to be given to the counterparts so that they know they can do what we came together for and more after our absence is felt.

Refugee

Days seem to tick by at uneven rates, time truly is relative. Sometimes seconds take lifetimes and sometimes the weeks swiftly pass us by. February has only started and there is no time left. This month will be the one where I work the least during the school year, that is a bitter sweet happening. I want my projects to progress and I have vacation to do too.

I am still organizing the library and working to get the computer teachers to teach a class for the school staff. There is a reluctance to follow through with projects that baffles my work ethic. My librarian really only wants to work when I am present, which saddens me, I have caught her in the storage closet getting her hair braided when she thinks I am not around. My computer teachers complain about not having money but will not host classes which they could earn a supplementary income with. I do have things that go well though, my PTA meetings seems to see self sustaining and held on a monthly basis, we set goals and follow through with what we say.

WAIST is next week, Mauritania and Guinea will combine our displaced forces to create a team dubbed Refugees. Truly to reconnect with our long lost country mates is the major motivation for going to WAIST this year. Gambia PCV's are kinda take it or leave it about the tournament. I know we would be much more pumped had the unfortunate evacuation never happened. I think that it will still be a great time and the hot-dogs with be hot and the beers will be cold.

Also in the works, Shannon, Jeremiah, and Kelly will be coming to visit! Kristy and I are stoked to be able to see a small fraction of our loved ones and to share a bit of our experience here.

I have been lazy and there are some pictures that I need to post, it will happen as soon as it does.