1. bucket bathing
2. using a hole in the ground rather than a toilet
3. greetings that last for approx 5-10 minutes
4. putting on a sweatshirt when it's 65 degrees
5. class scheduled for 8 and students starting to trickle in around 8:20
6. grown, educated men debating about foreign conflicts by drawing maps in the dirt with sticks
7. drinking (as opposed to eating) oranges
8. having students drop out of 9th grade (or lower) to get married (maybe as wife number 3)
9. biking in a skirt
10. the majority of my diet consisting of things that come directly from nature
11. biking 45 k because it's more convenient than taxis
12. nosepicking
13. finishing "grocery" shopping with the cost totalling up to $1.50
Friday, February 27, 2009
So it rained?
Dry season- sort of. We've had two pretty big rains- which I don't think is normal this time of year, but I wouldn't know.
Teaching has been going really well and I've been feeling really good about my friends at site and living in my town. I am starting to kind of feel like I don't do anything, so I'm definitely going to try to start a bunch of new things soon. Hopefully I'll feel alittle more productive then.
I went to visit Lisa the other weekend (she greets you all)... and we ended up hanging out at her health center because her Principal's wife had her baby. So we went to meet the approximately 6 hour old baby girl. Awesome. So we were hanging out with the doctor and he was like, oh wait! I want you guys to attend this. I'm going to cut off the newborn's sixth finger. ... So we were liike- well yes! Then as we sat in the "lobby" while he prepared, we started thinking- wait, do we really want to see this? we're in the bush of Africa and this baby isn't even a day old. But then it was time. ANd it wasn't actually like a full-fledged 6th finger. It was like a string of skin with a bulb of finger? on the end of it. So he tied a string and killed it before he snipped it . So Lisa held down the baby's arm and I let the baby grip my finger. It was pretty awesome and we were a little refreshed with how well the doc handled it. Pretty neat!
I baked lemon squares with my Guinean mom at site, Neene Kadiatou (previously I called her Tanty, now she's my mom). But it was probably one of the most fun times. Not to mention delicious? We did the dutch oven thing and used lemons from her garden and it was a big success.
I've also been hanging out at this cafe with my other Guinean family members and they just opened a video club too. SO they've been watching all the football (soccer) games and it's kind of hilarious to see how similar people can be when it comes to watching sports. Most of my older male students were there and they just get so into it. Not to mention it's one of 4 tvs in my entire area- so it's a rarer passtime which automatically makes it more fun. But they yell at the screen and cheer as if they were there. Pretty entertaining stuff.
I think that about wraps up what I've been doing. At least the things of note. I'm coming home for Easter! So I'm pretty unbelievably excited for that and to see all of your beautiful faces!
love and miss you all (comme d'habitude)
~rb
Teaching has been going really well and I've been feeling really good about my friends at site and living in my town. I am starting to kind of feel like I don't do anything, so I'm definitely going to try to start a bunch of new things soon. Hopefully I'll feel alittle more productive then.
I went to visit Lisa the other weekend (she greets you all)... and we ended up hanging out at her health center because her Principal's wife had her baby. So we went to meet the approximately 6 hour old baby girl. Awesome. So we were hanging out with the doctor and he was like, oh wait! I want you guys to attend this. I'm going to cut off the newborn's sixth finger. ... So we were liike- well yes! Then as we sat in the "lobby" while he prepared, we started thinking- wait, do we really want to see this? we're in the bush of Africa and this baby isn't even a day old. But then it was time. ANd it wasn't actually like a full-fledged 6th finger. It was like a string of skin with a bulb of finger? on the end of it. So he tied a string and killed it before he snipped it . So Lisa held down the baby's arm and I let the baby grip my finger. It was pretty awesome and we were a little refreshed with how well the doc handled it. Pretty neat!
I baked lemon squares with my Guinean mom at site, Neene Kadiatou (previously I called her Tanty, now she's my mom). But it was probably one of the most fun times. Not to mention delicious? We did the dutch oven thing and used lemons from her garden and it was a big success.
I've also been hanging out at this cafe with my other Guinean family members and they just opened a video club too. SO they've been watching all the football (soccer) games and it's kind of hilarious to see how similar people can be when it comes to watching sports. Most of my older male students were there and they just get so into it. Not to mention it's one of 4 tvs in my entire area- so it's a rarer passtime which automatically makes it more fun. But they yell at the screen and cheer as if they were there. Pretty entertaining stuff.
I think that about wraps up what I've been doing. At least the things of note. I'm coming home for Easter! So I'm pretty unbelievably excited for that and to see all of your beautiful faces!
love and miss you all (comme d'habitude)
~rb
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Naange no wuli
That is to say, the sun is hot. Damn hot. The cold did not last... at all.
So finished the first semester of school, gave compositions, and tallied grades.
9th grade: 58% fail, 40% pass. nice..
10th grade: 40% fail, 59% pass. a little better.
11th SE: 42% fail, 58% pass
11th SS: 27% fail, 73% pass- my best class.
11th SM: 17% fail, 83% pass.
Some highlights from the tests:
--when asked to translate "comment vas-tu?" searching for the response "how are you?", some students chose to answer the question. One 9th grader wrote, "Ayame fay ind you." (I'm fine, and you)
--When asked "what time is it?" for 14:15, one 10th grader wrote "it is tentyfour tenty-five."
Some real stars in those classes! Haha good times nonetheless.
Got a new cat, his or her meows sound like Donald duck...so that's been fun haha.
Went to Dougaya again, this time with Lisa- same unending hospitality and a lovely time.
And sadly on 8 Feb, I found out one of my best girl students- who's completely motivated and smart- which is a hard combination to find in the girls here, just got married. She'll be moving out of Guinea with her new husband, and more likely than not- not finishing school. Completely heartbreaking for me. Total bummer. Some things in this culture I love, and then there's things like that that totally bum me out.
Anywho- that's about it for now. Love and miss you all- as per usual. Keep me posted on your lives
<3
So finished the first semester of school, gave compositions, and tallied grades.
9th grade: 58% fail, 40% pass. nice..
10th grade: 40% fail, 59% pass. a little better.
11th SE: 42% fail, 58% pass
11th SS: 27% fail, 73% pass- my best class.
11th SM: 17% fail, 83% pass.
Some highlights from the tests:
--when asked to translate "comment vas-tu?" searching for the response "how are you?", some students chose to answer the question. One 9th grader wrote, "Ayame fay ind you." (I'm fine, and you)
--When asked "what time is it?" for 14:15, one 10th grader wrote "it is tentyfour tenty-five."
Some real stars in those classes! Haha good times nonetheless.
Got a new cat, his or her meows sound like Donald duck...so that's been fun haha.
Went to Dougaya again, this time with Lisa- same unending hospitality and a lovely time.
And sadly on 8 Feb, I found out one of my best girl students- who's completely motivated and smart- which is a hard combination to find in the girls here, just got married. She'll be moving out of Guinea with her new husband, and more likely than not- not finishing school. Completely heartbreaking for me. Total bummer. Some things in this culture I love, and then there's things like that that totally bum me out.
Anywho- that's about it for now. Love and miss you all- as per usual. Keep me posted on your lives
<3
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Highlights from January 2009
Well, like last time, I've been writing down random things I do that might be interesting to hear about since last time I had internet, so here's some updates on what I've been doing for my first month of 2009.
Welp, unfortunately got back to site and found out that Leppi, my adorable kitten, had died on Christmas morning. They don't know what happened to her, but she passed quickly. The Peppers made a nice grave for her, and so it goes, I've lost my first pet ever. But, luckily, a friend of mine's cat just had kittens, so we're going to try again. This one, whose gender I still don't know, will be named Njemma (pronounced "jemma") which is Pular for "night."
I was pretty sick for New Years, but New Years day, Conor and I got to spend amongst the missionary families in my town, so it was very warm and familial, which was lovely and refreshing since I can't as easily spend it amongst my vrai famille. So 2009 started well.
Since the New Year, there have been a lot of parties for people who have recently returned from the Hadj in Mecca. So I went to one party for that where I got to try a Baobab fruit- exciting! It was tasty and made me feel that much more closer to the book, Le Petit Prince. Also, baobabs are awesome. I went to another village for another party for a Guinean who actually lives in the U.S. now who also just got back from Mecca. Mainly, you greet a lot of people and eat a lot of food and do a lot of sitting. They also did a reading of the Koran. Which, as my friend explained to me, was all the men (about 40-50) separate parts of the Koran and everyone reads a different section in Arabic all at the same time so after about an hour or so, the entire Koran is read. Seems a little odd to me, and I don't really understand whether or not anyone gets any fulfillment from that process. But, again, perhaps I just don't understand.
It's been cold at site. Yes. I wear my sweatshirt every morning and night, and after biking to school, I haven't been able to feel my toes. Maybe that means I'm a wuss and it's probably still 50 degrees- but let me tell you- it feels stinkin cold! And I like it! Also it's been super dusty and windy- the harmattan- they call it. which is dust being brought by the winds, carrying sand from the Sahara. So that's kind of neat to think about.
My neighbor's sister passed away. Which I found out about because of the intense wailing coming from their house. Guinean mourning is probably the worst, most heart-wrenching sound I've ever heard. Sometimes people hire wailers, to mourn the dead. But either way, it's rough to listen to.
Another thing I find interesting is how if something does not exist in their lives here, they don't have a word for it in local language or don't know the French word. For example, some students had never heard of a bear before. Never. Not the word, couldn't picture it, and it doesn't exist in Pular. It's interesting because even if something doesn't exist directly in our lives in America, we have internet and access to information in so many different aspects. In villages here, if they don't see it, they don't know it exists. Kind of weird to think about.
A highlight for me, since I've been in Guinea, let alone since I've been at site, I went to visit a family in a village about 7 k away. They met me in the market and invited me to visit, which would never happen in America. Or if someone invited you, you would definitely not go. But, I went. And it was one of my best days in country. Or ever. I biked there with the dad of the family and the town is beautiful. On a mountain, beautiful trails, and a peak you can stand on and see for miles. Really beautiful. But, not even that, the family was extravagantly generous. It still blows my mind to think about it. They instantly peeled 5 oranges, cracked tons of peanuts, , chicken to cook for me, only for me, and before I left gifted me with tons more oranges, sweet potatoes and peanuts. Invited me back anytime and I think really just want to be like a host family for me. It was truly awesome and this isn't really doing it justice, but maybe I'll eventually type up my journal entry about it another day. Over the past weeks when I visited them in the market, they've offered to do my laundry, and have also gifted me with a new Guinean outfit. Guinean generosity and hospitality has never ceased to amaze me.
As a final image for you guys to picture in your minds and laugh about, imagine Lisa getting into a SUV taxi, jam packed with Guineans, with the roof piled high with all of their bags, and then Lisa's bike and new cat in a cage strapped to the top of the pile. Hilarious moment, wish I took a picture, but oh well- it was pretty hilarious.
Anywho, I love and miss you all! I'm currently at our In-Service Training, so I have reception till Friday morning. It's been the first time all of G16 has been reunited since we've been at site, so it's been great so far and we're all having a great time swapping stories and just enjoying each other's company!
love and miss you all terribly and keep me posted on your lives!
p.s. I can't help but feel proud to be an American in Africa as our first African-American President has been elected and inaugurated. :) Cool stuff.
<3
rach
Welp, unfortunately got back to site and found out that Leppi, my adorable kitten, had died on Christmas morning. They don't know what happened to her, but she passed quickly. The Peppers made a nice grave for her, and so it goes, I've lost my first pet ever. But, luckily, a friend of mine's cat just had kittens, so we're going to try again. This one, whose gender I still don't know, will be named Njemma (pronounced "jemma") which is Pular for "night."
I was pretty sick for New Years, but New Years day, Conor and I got to spend amongst the missionary families in my town, so it was very warm and familial, which was lovely and refreshing since I can't as easily spend it amongst my vrai famille. So 2009 started well.
Since the New Year, there have been a lot of parties for people who have recently returned from the Hadj in Mecca. So I went to one party for that where I got to try a Baobab fruit- exciting! It was tasty and made me feel that much more closer to the book, Le Petit Prince. Also, baobabs are awesome. I went to another village for another party for a Guinean who actually lives in the U.S. now who also just got back from Mecca. Mainly, you greet a lot of people and eat a lot of food and do a lot of sitting. They also did a reading of the Koran. Which, as my friend explained to me, was all the men (about 40-50) separate parts of the Koran and everyone reads a different section in Arabic all at the same time so after about an hour or so, the entire Koran is read. Seems a little odd to me, and I don't really understand whether or not anyone gets any fulfillment from that process. But, again, perhaps I just don't understand.
It's been cold at site. Yes. I wear my sweatshirt every morning and night, and after biking to school, I haven't been able to feel my toes. Maybe that means I'm a wuss and it's probably still 50 degrees- but let me tell you- it feels stinkin cold! And I like it! Also it's been super dusty and windy- the harmattan- they call it. which is dust being brought by the winds, carrying sand from the Sahara. So that's kind of neat to think about.
My neighbor's sister passed away. Which I found out about because of the intense wailing coming from their house. Guinean mourning is probably the worst, most heart-wrenching sound I've ever heard. Sometimes people hire wailers, to mourn the dead. But either way, it's rough to listen to.
Another thing I find interesting is how if something does not exist in their lives here, they don't have a word for it in local language or don't know the French word. For example, some students had never heard of a bear before. Never. Not the word, couldn't picture it, and it doesn't exist in Pular. It's interesting because even if something doesn't exist directly in our lives in America, we have internet and access to information in so many different aspects. In villages here, if they don't see it, they don't know it exists. Kind of weird to think about.
A highlight for me, since I've been in Guinea, let alone since I've been at site, I went to visit a family in a village about 7 k away. They met me in the market and invited me to visit, which would never happen in America. Or if someone invited you, you would definitely not go. But, I went. And it was one of my best days in country. Or ever. I biked there with the dad of the family and the town is beautiful. On a mountain, beautiful trails, and a peak you can stand on and see for miles. Really beautiful. But, not even that, the family was extravagantly generous. It still blows my mind to think about it. They instantly peeled 5 oranges, cracked tons of peanuts, , chicken to cook for me, only for me, and before I left gifted me with tons more oranges, sweet potatoes and peanuts. Invited me back anytime and I think really just want to be like a host family for me. It was truly awesome and this isn't really doing it justice, but maybe I'll eventually type up my journal entry about it another day. Over the past weeks when I visited them in the market, they've offered to do my laundry, and have also gifted me with a new Guinean outfit. Guinean generosity and hospitality has never ceased to amaze me.
As a final image for you guys to picture in your minds and laugh about, imagine Lisa getting into a SUV taxi, jam packed with Guineans, with the roof piled high with all of their bags, and then Lisa's bike and new cat in a cage strapped to the top of the pile. Hilarious moment, wish I took a picture, but oh well- it was pretty hilarious.
Anywho, I love and miss you all! I'm currently at our In-Service Training, so I have reception till Friday morning. It's been the first time all of G16 has been reunited since we've been at site, so it's been great so far and we're all having a great time swapping stories and just enjoying each other's company!
love and miss you all terribly and keep me posted on your lives!
p.s. I can't help but feel proud to be an American in Africa as our first African-American President has been elected and inaugurated. :) Cool stuff.
<3
rach
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Ringing in the New Year
So we rang in the new year last night because we are all getting the boot back to sites tomorrow. So- instead of missing out on celebrating together, we just pushed New Years up a few days. No big deal!
Things are seemingly back to normal around Conakry, the curfew has been lifted and all things seem to be going smoothly. Perhaps the smoothest coup d'etat in history? I don't really have the background for making that kind of statement, nor do I want to jinx us, so we'll just say things have gone smoothly.
There have been rumors of something like 40 days of mourning after the President's death... which would mean 40 days sans school... which would mean utter boredom. So, we're hoping that's pas vrai and that when we get back to site, we'll get to work as usual. But, we'll see I guess. I wouldn't be surprised if they took 40 days off school, but I'm just hoping it was a multiple person rumor. We'll see.
Bummer we didn't get to see all of the people from G16 due to the coup. But at least we have our IST (in-service training) coming up which will be the first time all of G16 is reunited since moving to sites. So everyone's really excited for that.
I guess that's about all the news for now. Don't know if I'll get to post again any time in the next month or so, but still send me updates and try calling!
Love and miss you all
Happy New Year!
love
rach
Things are seemingly back to normal around Conakry, the curfew has been lifted and all things seem to be going smoothly. Perhaps the smoothest coup d'etat in history? I don't really have the background for making that kind of statement, nor do I want to jinx us, so we'll just say things have gone smoothly.
There have been rumors of something like 40 days of mourning after the President's death... which would mean 40 days sans school... which would mean utter boredom. So, we're hoping that's pas vrai and that when we get back to site, we'll get to work as usual. But, we'll see I guess. I wouldn't be surprised if they took 40 days off school, but I'm just hoping it was a multiple person rumor. We'll see.
Bummer we didn't get to see all of the people from G16 due to the coup. But at least we have our IST (in-service training) coming up which will be the first time all of G16 is reunited since moving to sites. So everyone's really excited for that.
I guess that's about all the news for now. Don't know if I'll get to post again any time in the next month or so, but still send me updates and try calling!
Love and miss you all
Happy New Year!
love
rach
Friday, December 26, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas!
Merry Merry Merrrry Christmas everyone!
Having a pretty good Christmas here, can't really complain, though I truly wish I could tell you all Merry Christmas in person. Hope it's the merriest and that you all eat tons of cookies and play in snow and eat till you can't move.
Things are pretty calm here- politically speaking. They named a new President and so far the reactions from people seem optimistic andhappy. So that's good news for everyone.
A couple other PCVs and I got up to make breakfast for everyone today. We started at 6:30 and we all ate around 11:00. Ha! We made a lot and things take more time here- you know- with one small stove and approximately 20 people. But we made enough to feed the army, so everyone was well stuffed- as it should be. We're heading to our Country Director's house tonight for a potluck so it should be good times.
Wish you all the verry verry best Christmas and holidays. Wish I was there.
Love and miss you all terribly.
"I'll be hoooome for Christmas, if only in my dreams"
also applicable (hopefully): "in a year we all will be together, if the fates allow"
love love love you all. Merry Christmas!
Having a pretty good Christmas here, can't really complain, though I truly wish I could tell you all Merry Christmas in person. Hope it's the merriest and that you all eat tons of cookies and play in snow and eat till you can't move.
Things are pretty calm here- politically speaking. They named a new President and so far the reactions from people seem optimistic andhappy. So that's good news for everyone.
A couple other PCVs and I got up to make breakfast for everyone today. We started at 6:30 and we all ate around 11:00. Ha! We made a lot and things take more time here- you know- with one small stove and approximately 20 people. But we made enough to feed the army, so everyone was well stuffed- as it should be. We're heading to our Country Director's house tonight for a potluck so it should be good times.
Wish you all the verry verry best Christmas and holidays. Wish I was there.
Love and miss you all terribly.
"I'll be hoooome for Christmas, if only in my dreams"
also applicable (hopefully): "in a year we all will be together, if the fates allow"
love love love you all. Merry Christmas!
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