Pension Day and Taverns

I'm surprised its taken me this long to mention Pension Day and Taverns.

On the third Thursday of every month; women, children, and magogos (way older women) head to a local soccer field in a nearbye village to receive their government "welfare" and/or "social security" checks. Men are present as well, but not in as large of numbers as the women and children. They'll pick up their checks, then buy goods (in bulk and on discount) sold out the back of trucks, or off colorful looking blankets on the ground. Stuff like chickens, fruit, vegetables, clothes

If the lack of students in the classroom or the bum-rush of women, children, and magogos doesn't alert you to Pension Day; then the activities at the Tavern will definitely give it away. By the time I'm walking home from school in the afternoon, I can hear the Tavern music. "Tavern Music" consist of several Akon and Lucky Duby songs (on repeat), or 2-3 house songs (on repeat).

I live on "the main dirt road" that runs through my village, and my house sits about 1/4 miles from the Tavern. A large woman named Alphavia (I'm not kidding) owns the joint. During the day, she sells chips (french fries) with a homemade chili sauce. Me and my host sister will make our way down there often. My sister, swears, Alphavia likes me more b/c she always gives me more chips. Ha!

So, on Pension Thursday, and every single Friday and Saturday night, the Tavern will begin its night of repetitive music and drunken debauchery!

Looking Forward

Once again, I've been MIA for a while. I have a bad habit of keeping up w/ postings, then falling off the face of the Earth for a while. Guess thats my way of keeping people always wanting more.

I was away from my village for about month while I traveled home to see my family and friends in America. Great vacation! By the time I returned home and got over jet lag, I was back on the road headed to work with a group of new trainees for a week.

Now I'm finally settled back in my village and looking forward to my major goals for my final year here. For starters, it feels REALLY good to say I have only a year of service left. I've made a nice life for myself, and its come to the point where my day's do not drag by. I've found myself very content and comfortable here. Its a good feeling, and I was never really expecting to feel this way after having a rough start (i.e. all of year one).

My Literacy classes at school are going very well. Several teachers have spoken to me about improvements they're seeing in the children. Several have even asked me to do workshops on the teaching styles I use! This truly surprises me, because for a long long long (long long) time, I couldn't get the teachers to approach me about anything. This was one of the main reasons I decided to work closer with the kids.

But now! Ha!

Now I'm planning on putting together a series of 1 hour workshops from a list of ten items or so that I came up with after speaking with the teachers. If they go well, I can present them to other teachers at surrounding schools. For a while now, I've been asked to come help other schools. This will be a good opportunity.

till next time, and hopefully sooner....