WAIST

The West African Invitational Softball Tournament was AWESOME! Gabbie and I had a blast. The teams were made up local embassy workers and ISD teacher & students, West African Peace Corps (PC) members, and a team of Senegalese. I had no idea that it was going to be as much fun a it was. Drinking, dancing, laughing and playing some softball. The event was kicked off on Friday at the Club Atlantique. It's the picture with the pool. Our school is connected to it. The PC folks had great energy and outfits. I guess when you are out in the field and get a few days poolside in the city, things go wild. Then, the games started. We won our first two and lost the last two. We were out by the end of Sunday. The real excitement came at the finals. The Senegalese champions from last year against the Mauritanian PC team(MPC). Rumor has it that the MPC has it the roughest out of all PC volunteers. I really wanted the MPC team to win because we play the Senegalese team all the time and they cheat. Before the game started a PC had a trumpet and played the national anthem, which was super cool. The game was a hoot to watch, the energy from the Americans was high, and the MPC team won. I loved every minute of it!

I was too busy playing, socializing, and drinking beer to take photos. The ones featured are from Tod Spedding. Thanks Tod!

Falling Actions

I guess I must have hit some weird peek because suddenly being here isn't so bad. The weather is nice, I have accepted that it will never be like home, and we are finding some places that are peaceful. Like a beach that isn't filthy with garbage and almost completely free of vendors. Last week I strung up the hammock in our top balcony area. When I come home from work I lay there for about thirty minutes and listen to the ocean and birds. Gabbie and I joke about the men that pee and wash themselves on the side of the road or the peds that dart in front of our car. We found the Vietnamese restaurant we went to earlier in the year and couldn't find. Last week a parent emailed me to just to say what an excellent job I was doing. So, in all, I am doing better!

This weekend is known as WAIST, a three day softball tournament and longest running sport conference in West Africa. Today was a blast and we didn't lose any games. I will update the blog soon. For now, check out the Vietnamese joint we enjoy.

Sine Saloum Scenic

Just some randoms pics we took.

The Mangroves

Our first day in Sine Saloum we took a pirogue guided mangrove/bird watching tour. The students observed bird behavior, ate some oysters, and walked on an island where they found sild dog foot prints and crabs.

A Village School

About a twenty five minute walk behind the resort were a few villages and local school. We had arranged for our students to meet students their age and interview them in french. It was great to see our kids working with other, less fortunate peers. I had an opportunity to observe a middle school class in session. There about sixty students to room, a chalk board, and teacher sitting at his desk. Our students seemed to have enjoyed the opportunity. Look at the a the attached video. Jad, student of mine, decided he did not want to walk anymore and negotiated a ride with a horse cart.

The Resort

These pictures are from the resort we stayed at during the field trip. It was nice because it is right on the water, there are hammocks everywhere, they provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner for about 45.00 per person, there are showers, a commons area, and good swimming and fishing. When someone visits us, I am going to take you there.

The Resort

R&R at Work?

For the last few days I have been on a field trip with my seventh graders in Sine Saloum. I had such a wonderful time. It was awesome spending time with our kids out in nature. We toured the mangroves, they ate oysters, observed birds, I taught some kids how to fish during free time, the list goes on and on. What was really cool was that I got to spend time with students that are a little distant in the classroom. One in particular said that I made her laugh so much that her stomach hurt. It reminded me that I love working with tweens. They are so funny and down to earth. I want to do a trip like this every year that I am at ISD, but next time focus more on team building. I am thinking next December would be perfect. Our kids need time out of the city, being kids, and getting to know their teachers.

I have a bunch of photos to share. The first segment is of us getting there which took a four hour car ride and forty minutes in a pirogue. On the road we hit a chicken and when I got to the scene, it was still alive. A man pulled the chicken from the grill and it flapped it's wing. I couldn't stand it so I picked it up and twirled it by the neck until it unlocked. The children were shrieking.

Sine Saloum

This week Gabbie and I are heading back to Sine Saloum for a three day field trip with the seventh grade. I am packing the rods and bug spray. It will be nice to get out of Dakar for a few days and spend some time with our students outside of the classroom. What's on the agenda: mangrove tour, fishing, folk tales, shell beach, and four hour car ride.

I will update the blog when I get back. The pictures are from our previous trip.