Thursday, June 17, 2010
Hobbes
We've had an addition to the household. Hobbes, the cat.
Our colleagues, the Duttweilers, headed back to the US last Sunday. The day they were clearing out of their house, we got a late evening call asking for help "above and beyond." They were at the end and no one was expressing interest in taking their cat. What could I say? Jessica's cat needed a home!
So we have a youthful, energetic and very friendly tom with us. He's completely mesmorized by the birds that he hears and sees through the back window. So far he hasn't ripped the screen or broken his neck crashing into the window. But not for lack of trying! And he's generally well behaved, though we're going to have to learn to keep all dishes of food covered! And what was so attractive about that bag of protein powder that the Wheaton guys left? Or the potato chips? Perhaps we need some instructions from the Duttwielers!
So we have a youthful, energetic and very friendly tom with us. He's completely mesmorized by the birds that he hears and sees through the back window. So far he hasn't ripped the screen or broken his neck crashing into the window. But not for lack of trying! And he's generally well behaved, though we're going to have to learn to keep all dishes of food covered! And what was so attractive about that bag of protein powder that the Wheaton guys left? Or the potato chips? Perhaps we need some instructions from the Duttwielers!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
A Note on the Board
So, you'll have to ask Jane about this for more details. She found this note on the new black board that the talibé boys have been enjoying these last weeks. Apparently one of the boys did some school in Gambia at some point. In case the photo isn't clear, it reads:
Wedsday Jun 2st, 2010
Touday is traitement of wagua in hospital of mother's
Diénaba and Antoiné, our good mothers from Dakar.
Tank you of our Dear and you two mother's
Antoiné and Diénaba.
Good luck for you!!!
I don't think I need to translate! Wagua is the Wolof word for scabies. Jane and Antoinette have been spending much time and energy and money trying to de-infest each of the Koranic schools over the last few weeks. So far, things look very successful.
Diénaba and Antoiné, our good mothers from Dakar.
Tank you of our Dear and you two mother's
Antoiné and Diénaba.
Good luck for you!!!
I don't think I need to translate! Wagua is the Wolof word for scabies. Jane and Antoinette have been spending much time and energy and money trying to de-infest each of the Koranic schools over the last few weeks. So far, things look very successful.
Sunday, June 06, 2010
A Civil Ceremony
Saturday morning Jane and I were witnesses at a wedding. Well, a sort of wedding. In the French system that Senegal adopted, a wedding has two components: the legal and the religious. The legal one occurs at the town hall and requires two witnesses for each party.Oddly enough, the happy couple are older than we are and have 7 kids, the youngest of whom is older than Jony! In fact, the motivation for getting married is that the man has retired and doesn't want to apply for his pension until he can claim the woman as his wife.
Recognize that woman? Yep, that's Antoinette, Jane's partner in working with the talibe boys, with her husband, Laurent!
Of course, they were married in the village 30+ years ago and have been through a lot of lifes ups and downs together. So it was a bit strange to be there in front of the judge as they registered and listened to his reading of the civil code and congratulated them and all!
Afterwards we went back to their house for a quiet moment together over lunch! Well, OK. Things are rarely quiet in a house with 7 kids!
