Still going strong (dje wene koko)

Thanks to Mom and Emily for getting the pictures up. It is actually my first time seeing them. Strange to think of life in Gourcey as it feels so long ago.

I am settling into village life and finally feel as though I am actually doing something and not just wondering around aimlessly. This last week was especially good.

I have been interviewing various community leaders and getting to know my surroundings. This week the board of directors came over and built me a courtyard so now I have some privacy. It is nice but a little loney. I plan on planting bouganvillas in there and the board said that they are going to build me a porch out of wood and a thatched roof. That will make it really nice but will cut into my tree sitting time with my "dad." The kids of my family have been coming over to play cards about twice a week. They help me a lot with my leile and french. I am proud of myself for actually knowing all their names.

My best day this week was when I went en brushe (in the fields) with my family. They were so excited when I showed up that they all let out and Indian/Arab like yell. I helped the old men arrange the mil and helped the women cut the mil. Then they decided that I needed to just take the mil from the field to the donkey cart to be loaded for the trip home. They insisted that I carry the mil in a bowl on my head. I was actually pretty good at it and could even balance it without using my hands!

We also had Ramadan. The family of my daughter (who came back by the way and now is on her best behavior; she stays two night a week only now which works really well.) is Muslim so I got invited to their house two nights in a row for a celebration. Each night there was a dance party that lasted until 6 a.m. They were all pumped when the whitey got up to dance. I also ate lunch with all the teachers in the village. I was so full that I was sich. Just like our holidays back home. Never thought that I would be so full in Africa that I managed to make myself sick. I guess gluttony follows you around wherever you go.

I started my french lessons. It has helped my french as well as going around and just talking to people. I also started Leile lessons. My theater group met this week and there are big plans for a bike a thon on AIDS as well as a sensibilization on International AIDS day, December 1.

I guess that is all for now. Will write more when I am in Ouaga for Thanksgiving.