Random observations from life....

I’m amazed at how quickly ideas of being clean and smelling good leave my mind as I begin washing my clothes by hand each week.  “Clean” becomes a relative term and I soon hear myself saying a phrase my mom says all the time: “Good enough for who it’s for!”  I love that phrase!!

 

And, of course, I can’t be too concerned about being clean and smelling good when I am walking around my town in 120ish degree weather!  At those temperatures, the main thing you worry about is finding shade.

 

Fortunately, rainy season has begun and so every few days, we have a good rain that cools things down for a day.  Praise the Lord for His blessings from above!!!

 

For someone watching me, it’s probably quite an interesting sight when it rains.  First, if I see the clouds before the rain begins, I run inside and get my camera.  I love taking sky pictures!!  After I have captured the look of the sky to my satisfaction, I return my camera to its place and wait for the rain to begin.  Once it does, I am almost always out standing in it!! I’m sure my guard and his family think I’m the strangest person they know when everyone else is running for cover and I stand around dancing in it!! J  But we have to learn to enjoy the small things in life...things like rain after days of scorching temperatures!

 

I’m beginning to get used to my town.  I go out walking everyday…each time trying to find someplace new to see.  I love the various reactions of people as I walk down the street!!  Children, especially, are precious to watch!!  For some, they run up to me and greet me with their versions of “Bonjour!”  They laugh and smile and even come to shake my hand.  Others are a little more wary and smile shyly at me from a safe distance.  Those are the ones that usually get their courage after I’ve already passed by.  And it’s those moments that I often here a chorus of “Bonjour”s follow me down the street.  And then there are those who are scared to death of me!!  J  A simple glance in their general direction is enough to send them running and crying! 

 

Ahhh….Africa….

 

Tid-bits from life....

Blog Entry

I had a mini photo shoot with my guard’s wife and 3 boys the other day.  It always amazes me how dressed up they get for pictures.  What really makes me smile is that as she was getting ready, she sprayed herself, the boys, and me with perfume.  As if the perfume was going to make the picture even better…ahhh the things about life in Africa that I missed. 

 

One of my guard’s sons is among the many children who seem to be terrified of white people.  I even brought him cookies to try to  “break the ice.”  He took the cookie and then moved closer to his mother.  And when she stepped outside for a moment, the screaming began.  By the end of our photo shoot, I think my guard’s wife and I were the only ones not crying!!  J 

 

Life in Tessaoua has many similarities to life in Guidan Roumdji and yet it is also very different.  For one, I am on my own here.  I’ve actually been doing better than I expected to, being on my own.  I try to keep busy as much as possible.  Although, without knowing much of the language, it gets kind of difficult.

 

That’s another huge difference – language.  Not only is it a different language than before, but I also came out here not knowing hardly anything in Hausa.  My first term, we had a basis in Fulfulde before moving east.  Making friends can be a challenge when all you can do is greet them.  But I try to go walking a couple of times each day just to get people used to seeing me around – even if all I can do is continually say “Ina kwana” (good morning) to everyone I pass by.  The good thing about all of this is that I am the type of person who hates not being able to understand what’s going on around me.  So, this becomes great motivation for learning Hausa faster!

 

Another thing about the language is people’s reactions when I tell them that I don’t speak Hausa.  There are about 3 basic reactions to that statement.  One – the person may smile at me with a look of pity and repeat “you don’t speak Hausa” before moving on their way.  Two – the person may tell me I do speak Hausa and go through greeting again before moving on their way.  And last (and possibly my favorite) is the person that says “you don’t speak Hausa?” and then proceeds to rattle off more Hausa – as though I will magically be able to understand all that they are saying. 

 

Tessaoua is much bigger than Guidan Roumdji which also has it’s good points and challenges.  First, it has much more to offer.  I can actually buy things like dish soap, canned veggies, and toilet paper in town!!  Before, we had to wait until going into Maradi to buy those things.  But a challenge is transportation.  I don’t have a vehicle as of yet and so I am bound to walking everywhere.  Now, I don’t mind walking…I enjoy a good walk now and then.  But when it’s walking in sand, in 130 degree temperatures, covered from head to foot in fabric….well, let’s just say that walking loses some of it’s appeal. 

 

But I am beginning to get used to some of the everyday norms of living in Africa again.  The heat rash, the constant sweating, the feeling as though you’re in an oven.  Even the constant stares as I walk down the street.  All of it makes up life in Niger.  And you know what…I wouldn’t have it any other way! J