Take On Me

Schools out for the summer! That means I have to average out my grades, turn them in, and not teach my own class of adolescents until 'Merica. I will say that teaching here has been a humbling and enlightening experience. Speaking the same language as your students is something that most teachers I know take for granted, wow is that rough. I had some great kids though that I was actually able to reach and the things I learned about the Mauritanian school system will hopefully be able to help me to help the teachers here. I posted some pictures of my classes they aren't labeled yet so it will have no context other than they are a Mauritanian school.

Over the next few months we hope to do some traveling, we want to visit some of the other sites, start planning a trip to Mali, and I too hope that I shall be able to participate in stage.

For those of you who were planning on visiting, there is a small issue of governments not being so friendly and denying visa's to each other. You may want to check to see if you can get one before you buy a plane ticket. It may just mean we have to meet you in another country, which can be arranged. I am not so sure I would want to vacation in the RIM anyways.

I heard what is destroying the youth of Mauritania today, it's Jack Bower. Keiffer Southerland should be ashamed! What the man was implying, because I asked, is the age old violence on TV excuse. I prodded further, if he would not place such blame on the parents of the kids who emulate such actions, like saving the president from terrorists. He said yes, and agreed too that violence existed in our youth prior to television but it was lip service. It is easy to blame something new that changes our society on the differences of each generations cultures. We did it with Rock and Roll, Rap, TV, and Video Games. What we find the hardest to do is adapt, work with what we have, love our kids just as they are, and make sure that they know what is acceptable and what is not.