The February 26 elections passed without incident. In our house the evening was spent monitoring various websites as the results in different areas became available. We were concerned that the situation not become volatile but we all secretly, or not-so-secretly, wished for a day off school...just to err on the side of caution. Monday morning we, teachers and students alike, were dragging ourselves around campus.
As it turned out a majority vote was not reached, so the run-off election will occur this coming Sunday, March 25.
In the month that has passed I, a relatively sheltered foreigner, have heard next to nothing about the political situation. Things have been quiet, business as usual. We were excited to venture out of our own cozy neighbourhood for ice cream and a beach day...the simple pleasures we have been missing.
I would ask that you continue to pray for Sénégal's government as the second vote occurs this weekend between the two front runners. I am not aware of concerns about safety or unrest, but we do continue to hope that democratic decisions will be reached for the benefit of the country.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Miss Black Presents....Politics for Dummies
You may have heard me say, at one time or another, that Senegal is one of the safest African countries, and it still is. Apparently Senegal is credited with the first ever peaceful transfer of power, and it remains relatively stable. That being said, we are headed into a federal election, February 27. In light of this fact, here at D.A. we have spent the last week testing emergency phone trees, participating in training for anxiety management, and consulting 'just in case' lists of necessary supplies/provisions.
The potential trouble could start as early as today. The committee will be announcing the official candidates for the election. The current president is serving his second term and has announced his intention to run for a third term, though the consitution has changed since he took office. The constitutional change is controversial as it would prevent him from running again, though he feels that his plan is legitimate. We anticipate that there will be protests and demonstrations today and/or tomorrow once the announcement has been made whether or not the decision is in the president's favour. To make matters more sensitive, the government announced a ban on public gatherings (including protests/demontrations) from Thursday to Monday which may only serve to aggravate the problem. We have been advised to stay in this weekend just to err on the side of caution. Families who live far from the school picked their kids up early, and after school activities have been cancelled so everyone can get home before any trouble develops. I did an extra big grocery shop this week so I'm set for a few days at home. It just gives me a good excuse to take it easy...watch some movies, read some books, play some games, cook some food. I'm content.
We would definitely appreciate your prayers for our safetyand for a peaceful election process, but also for the leadership of our country. One of our senegalese teachers on staff was expressing the need for a leader who is willing to invest in the strengthening of the infrastructure and institutions of the country.
I'll be sure to keep you posted on any further developments, but in the meantime, here are some links if you're interested in reading more...
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/senegal-must-not-curtail-freedom-expression-and-assembly-election-run-2012-01-26
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iws5MAqyikUwVjIS3IcPd2SqvJXQ?docId=CNG.ee1bddd4457ce3b723591a220164ea21.71
http://www.france24.com/en/20120126-fears-violence-senegals-ban-protests-takes-effect-election-abdoulaye-wade
http://www.africareview.com/News/EU+election+monitors+arrive+in+Senegal+/-/979180/1312650/-/ang5kwz/-/index.html#commentsAnchor
The potential trouble could start as early as today. The committee will be announcing the official candidates for the election. The current president is serving his second term and has announced his intention to run for a third term, though the consitution has changed since he took office. The constitutional change is controversial as it would prevent him from running again, though he feels that his plan is legitimate. We anticipate that there will be protests and demonstrations today and/or tomorrow once the announcement has been made whether or not the decision is in the president's favour. To make matters more sensitive, the government announced a ban on public gatherings (including protests/demontrations) from Thursday to Monday which may only serve to aggravate the problem. We have been advised to stay in this weekend just to err on the side of caution. Families who live far from the school picked their kids up early, and after school activities have been cancelled so everyone can get home before any trouble develops. I did an extra big grocery shop this week so I'm set for a few days at home. It just gives me a good excuse to take it easy...watch some movies, read some books, play some games, cook some food. I'm content.
We would definitely appreciate your prayers for our safetyand for a peaceful election process, but also for the leadership of our country. One of our senegalese teachers on staff was expressing the need for a leader who is willing to invest in the strengthening of the infrastructure and institutions of the country.
I'll be sure to keep you posted on any further developments, but in the meantime, here are some links if you're interested in reading more...
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/senegal-must-not-curtail-freedom-expression-and-assembly-election-run-2012-01-26
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iws5MAqyikUwVjIS3IcPd2SqvJXQ?docId=CNG.ee1bddd4457ce3b723591a220164ea21.71
http://www.france24.com/en/20120126-fears-violence-senegals-ban-protests-takes-effect-election-abdoulaye-wade
http://www.africareview.com/News/EU+election+monitors+arrive+in+Senegal+/-/979180/1312650/-/ang5kwz/-/index.html#commentsAnchor
Thursday, November 10, 2011
It's a buggy life...
The Facts:
Since moving into our new (ground floor) apartment, my roommates and I have had to face some of our worst fears....creatures lurking in the corners, or scuttling across the floors. To be honest, creatures (the non-poisonous variety) are not among my worst fears, or my fears at all, as a result I am usually sought out for my bravery and talent in the face of critter-adversity. I will however, go so far as to admit that I do occasionally get caught up in the excitement of the chase and scream a little, just for the fun of it.
Our ecosystem...I mean home...includes, but is not limited to, a variety of insects; cockroaches, worms, and spiders in addition to the expected mosquitoes. Additionally we have had one lizard hunting expedition so far this year. We have also seen traces of a mouse presence, though it seems to have emigrated, thankfully!
A typical day in the household...
Kari (or one of the other roommates, but mostly Kari) finds a bug. She screams. I run to her aide. She has caught the offending creepy crawly in some sort of receptacle. I find a paper towel or tissue. I remove the insect's prison. It attempts to escape into a crevice, but I am too quick. The bug meets an untimely end. He should have stayed in his hole rather than face the wrath of the ALICIANATOR.
This green bug catching receptacle (aka flower vase) was used a little too forcefully. I don't know my own strength. More recently I have used mugs and yogurt containers.
Sometimes the bugs get into our food. My coping mechanism: avoid thinking about it too much, because I am sure I eat more insects than I care for on a regular basis. Ants are common counter-dwellers and will swarm anything left on the counter. However, I draw the line at worms in the flour. Usually you can avoid insects/worms in the flour if you're willing to pay a little more, but occasionally critters happen. The last time we had worms Kari and Cori undertook the tedious task of sifting. It would be hard to get them all, but we like to think they have a 100% success rate.
The Science Experiment:
There have been situations when we have been in a hurry not had the time for our full exterminating ceremony. In these situations the receptacle is left on the creature until we have ample opportunity to deal with it. On one such occasion we left a cockroach under the bug-catcher in the dining room...mostly because we assumed that our house help would take care of it before we got home. When we returned later that evening, the bug population of the vase had grown to 3. We stood starring, puzzled. When we asked Aurelie (our house help) she thought we may have been saving the roach for a science experiment and was proud to have added further contributions. We considered her idea and made the appropriate inquiries, but our donations were rejected.
Realizing that we just don't prefer to do the bug-killing if we don't have to, Aurelie graciously dealt with the trespassers.
The camera doesn't do them justice. Don't be fooled!
Lions, and Tigers, and Lizards! Oh My!: A Creature Story
Once upon a time in a land far, far away there lived four teachers. These teachers lived in a spacious and comfortable apartment, and were very happy. They heard rumours that their apartment had once been haunted by a giant, translucent, bulbous lizard. The teachers did not bow to rumour or gossip so they lived peacefully oblivious to the horrors they would face imminently. Dun dun dun...
One evening the teachers (minus Cori who was out and therefore spared the trauma), being healthy and conscientious, exercised with Jillian Michaels. Afterwards, being hygenic, they went their separate ways to shower. It is important to note, the teachers (and their entire neigborhood) were experiencing a power cut on this particular evening. No sooner had they gotten to their respective bathrooms than a scream pierced the night air. Struggling to get into appropriate attire, Keren and Alicia emerged from their rooms looked at eachother apprehensively and rushed to find Kari. She came tearing out of her room nearly flattening her soon-to-be saviors, "There was a LIZARD IN MY SHOWER!" It had been eerily illuminated by the flicker of her candle.
Keren and Alicia sprang into action gathering a wash basin, a broom, a garbage bag, and a chair. The strategy: Stun the lizard with a head lamp. Swat the lizard down from the ceiling with a broom. Catch the the lizard in the garbage bag for easy disposal. Have the wash basin ready as back-up. The chair was to help the teachers reach the lizard on high, but as the first attempt to reach failed, the lizard scampered out of reach and when Keren and Alicia turned around, Kari was standing sheepishly on top.
After several attempts in vain, the teachers were able to flick the creature onto the floor and cover it with the wash basin. The victory was quickly followed by the realization that they did not know how to dispose of the intruder.
A unanimous decision to call the Corbin twins from across the street was made. The Corbins had proven themselves capable in several similar incidences the previous year. Their references spoke highly of their lizard-disposing skills. The twins arrived promptly, pliers, garbage can lid, and stale baguette in hand.
The teachers stepped out of the bathroom closing the door behind them. They did not want to be a part of the violence that was about to unfold. They stood in the darkness listening to the scuffling, banging, and exclamations beyond the door.
Within minutes, the boys emerged from the bathroom with their lizard trophy grasped in the pliers. The heroes left to dispose of their prey.
The fate of the lizard remains unknown. The teachers don't like to ask questions, but they live peacefully in their spacious and comfortable apartment once more.
Since moving into our new (ground floor) apartment, my roommates and I have had to face some of our worst fears....creatures lurking in the corners, or scuttling across the floors. To be honest, creatures (the non-poisonous variety) are not among my worst fears, or my fears at all, as a result I am usually sought out for my bravery and talent in the face of critter-adversity. I will however, go so far as to admit that I do occasionally get caught up in the excitement of the chase and scream a little, just for the fun of it.
Our ecosystem...I mean home...includes, but is not limited to, a variety of insects; cockroaches, worms, and spiders in addition to the expected mosquitoes. Additionally we have had one lizard hunting expedition so far this year. We have also seen traces of a mouse presence, though it seems to have emigrated, thankfully!
A typical day in the household...
Kari (or one of the other roommates, but mostly Kari) finds a bug. She screams. I run to her aide. She has caught the offending creepy crawly in some sort of receptacle. I find a paper towel or tissue. I remove the insect's prison. It attempts to escape into a crevice, but I am too quick. The bug meets an untimely end. He should have stayed in his hole rather than face the wrath of the ALICIANATOR.
This green bug catching receptacle (aka flower vase) was used a little too forcefully. I don't know my own strength. More recently I have used mugs and yogurt containers.
Sometimes the bugs get into our food. My coping mechanism: avoid thinking about it too much, because I am sure I eat more insects than I care for on a regular basis. Ants are common counter-dwellers and will swarm anything left on the counter. However, I draw the line at worms in the flour. Usually you can avoid insects/worms in the flour if you're willing to pay a little more, but occasionally critters happen. The last time we had worms Kari and Cori undertook the tedious task of sifting. It would be hard to get them all, but we like to think they have a 100% success rate.
The Science Experiment:
There have been situations when we have been in a hurry not had the time for our full exterminating ceremony. In these situations the receptacle is left on the creature until we have ample opportunity to deal with it. On one such occasion we left a cockroach under the bug-catcher in the dining room...mostly because we assumed that our house help would take care of it before we got home. When we returned later that evening, the bug population of the vase had grown to 3. We stood starring, puzzled. When we asked Aurelie (our house help) she thought we may have been saving the roach for a science experiment and was proud to have added further contributions. We considered her idea and made the appropriate inquiries, but our donations were rejected.
Realizing that we just don't prefer to do the bug-killing if we don't have to, Aurelie graciously dealt with the trespassers.
The camera doesn't do them justice. Don't be fooled!
Lions, and Tigers, and Lizards! Oh My!: A Creature Story
Once upon a time in a land far, far away there lived four teachers. These teachers lived in a spacious and comfortable apartment, and were very happy. They heard rumours that their apartment had once been haunted by a giant, translucent, bulbous lizard. The teachers did not bow to rumour or gossip so they lived peacefully oblivious to the horrors they would face imminently. Dun dun dun...
One evening the teachers (minus Cori who was out and therefore spared the trauma), being healthy and conscientious, exercised with Jillian Michaels. Afterwards, being hygenic, they went their separate ways to shower. It is important to note, the teachers (and their entire neigborhood) were experiencing a power cut on this particular evening. No sooner had they gotten to their respective bathrooms than a scream pierced the night air. Struggling to get into appropriate attire, Keren and Alicia emerged from their rooms looked at eachother apprehensively and rushed to find Kari. She came tearing out of her room nearly flattening her soon-to-be saviors, "There was a LIZARD IN MY SHOWER!" It had been eerily illuminated by the flicker of her candle.
Keren and Alicia sprang into action gathering a wash basin, a broom, a garbage bag, and a chair. The strategy: Stun the lizard with a head lamp. Swat the lizard down from the ceiling with a broom. Catch the the lizard in the garbage bag for easy disposal. Have the wash basin ready as back-up. The chair was to help the teachers reach the lizard on high, but as the first attempt to reach failed, the lizard scampered out of reach and when Keren and Alicia turned around, Kari was standing sheepishly on top.
After several attempts in vain, the teachers were able to flick the creature onto the floor and cover it with the wash basin. The victory was quickly followed by the realization that they did not know how to dispose of the intruder.
A unanimous decision to call the Corbin twins from across the street was made. The Corbins had proven themselves capable in several similar incidences the previous year. Their references spoke highly of their lizard-disposing skills. The twins arrived promptly, pliers, garbage can lid, and stale baguette in hand.
The teachers stepped out of the bathroom closing the door behind them. They did not want to be a part of the violence that was about to unfold. They stood in the darkness listening to the scuffling, banging, and exclamations beyond the door.
Within minutes, the boys emerged from the bathroom with their lizard trophy grasped in the pliers. The heroes left to dispose of their prey.
The fate of the lizard remains unknown. The teachers don't like to ask questions, but they live peacefully in their spacious and comfortable apartment once more.
Friday, October 14, 2011
End of Quarter CRAZINESS!!!
Have you ever felt like you were stuck on a roller coaster and just couldn't get off? I actually love roller coasters, so under normal circumstances I would be loving life. However, I don't find it so enjoyable when I'm stuck on said roller coaster and start to feel claustrophobic and the end of the ride is not in sight.
I should preface this seemingly negative introduction with a confession: I have in fact, watched several of the Texas Rangers playoff games. As you may realize, they are (at least) four hours later here than local time. This means that even if it's a 4pm game in Detroit, it starts at 8pm here. This sounds reasonable enough, but if a person were watch the whole thing, they wouldn't get to bed until after midnight. For some people this would not be a problem, but for an individual like myself this DOES become a problem. Especially when it develops into a pattern. Miss Black become a monster, comparable to the Incredible Hulk without all the green muscles and potential for saving the world.
That being said, back to the roller coaster. This past Wednesday was the end of the first quarter. Grades are due Monday. My grading pile is many inches too thick. Tonight my handball team plays an elimination match in the tournament playoffs. Immediately following handball I am responsible for close to 40 middle schoolers...not just for a few hours. No, that wouldn't be worth it. I am the staff sponsor for their lock-in AKA all-nighter AKA sleepless night for Miss Black. Tomorrow afternoon I am taking care of my friend Micah. He's six and his parents are out of town so we're hanging out for a few hours. If the Royal Pains make the finals I will be playing the next round of handball Saturday night. Sunday's schedule includes church and small group. There's a lot on the go. I feel overwhelmed...and apparently I'm using my blog to blow off some steam.
I was feeling slightly panicked and lamenting my very full schedule in the staff room this morning when I realized that I was sounding very negative. On a roller coaster our vision is often blurred by the speed or the wind, but I don't want to be blinded or become known as an 'Eyore' so I promptly decided that I should brainstorm some of the brighter things in my life at the moment.
1. My classroom A/C has been working reasonably well after months of not working at all. If I leave it on overnight it's a freezer in the morning and the cold stays in for most of the school day.
2. My first class today was very engaged in the reader's theater they were doing this morning about King Hammurabi's Code of Law.
3. Last year I found it hard to go back to teaching after lunch, but this year I usually look forward to my afternoon classes. They are smaller and we have a lot of fun. Today we are creating scavenger hunts.
4. While I was brainstorming my list of positives, one of the teachers in the staff room told me that I looked pretty today :)
5. The coffee this morning was French Vanilla...yummmm
6. A frustrating conversation I had this morning was resolved quickly and the person who had hurt my feelings apologized
7. The Middle School Senate is really excited about the lock-in and have done the majority of the planning
8. I found enough sponsors who are crazy enough to stay up all night with me
9. I love the kids I teach...and think most of them love me back
10. Supper will be waiting for me when I get home this afternoon: shrimp and bacon fettucine.
Needless to say I won't be blogging this weekend, but I'll see you on the flip side!
PS. For those of you who submitted an answer to last week's trivia question, I played field hockey in middle school and again in my OAC (grade 13 in Ontario) year.
I should preface this seemingly negative introduction with a confession: I have in fact, watched several of the Texas Rangers playoff games. As you may realize, they are (at least) four hours later here than local time. This means that even if it's a 4pm game in Detroit, it starts at 8pm here. This sounds reasonable enough, but if a person were watch the whole thing, they wouldn't get to bed until after midnight. For some people this would not be a problem, but for an individual like myself this DOES become a problem. Especially when it develops into a pattern. Miss Black become a monster, comparable to the Incredible Hulk without all the green muscles and potential for saving the world.
That being said, back to the roller coaster. This past Wednesday was the end of the first quarter. Grades are due Monday. My grading pile is many inches too thick. Tonight my handball team plays an elimination match in the tournament playoffs. Immediately following handball I am responsible for close to 40 middle schoolers...not just for a few hours. No, that wouldn't be worth it. I am the staff sponsor for their lock-in AKA all-nighter AKA sleepless night for Miss Black. Tomorrow afternoon I am taking care of my friend Micah. He's six and his parents are out of town so we're hanging out for a few hours. If the Royal Pains make the finals I will be playing the next round of handball Saturday night. Sunday's schedule includes church and small group. There's a lot on the go. I feel overwhelmed...and apparently I'm using my blog to blow off some steam.
I was feeling slightly panicked and lamenting my very full schedule in the staff room this morning when I realized that I was sounding very negative. On a roller coaster our vision is often blurred by the speed or the wind, but I don't want to be blinded or become known as an 'Eyore' so I promptly decided that I should brainstorm some of the brighter things in my life at the moment.
1. My classroom A/C has been working reasonably well after months of not working at all. If I leave it on overnight it's a freezer in the morning and the cold stays in for most of the school day.
2. My first class today was very engaged in the reader's theater they were doing this morning about King Hammurabi's Code of Law.
3. Last year I found it hard to go back to teaching after lunch, but this year I usually look forward to my afternoon classes. They are smaller and we have a lot of fun. Today we are creating scavenger hunts.
4. While I was brainstorming my list of positives, one of the teachers in the staff room told me that I looked pretty today :)
5. The coffee this morning was French Vanilla...yummmm
6. A frustrating conversation I had this morning was resolved quickly and the person who had hurt my feelings apologized
7. The Middle School Senate is really excited about the lock-in and have done the majority of the planning
8. I found enough sponsors who are crazy enough to stay up all night with me
9. I love the kids I teach...and think most of them love me back
10. Supper will be waiting for me when I get home this afternoon: shrimp and bacon fettucine.
Needless to say I won't be blogging this weekend, but I'll see you on the flip side!
PS. For those of you who submitted an answer to last week's trivia question, I played field hockey in middle school and again in my OAC (grade 13 in Ontario) year.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Miss Black's Handball Debut
To say that sports are big here at DA would be an understatement. Our girls and boys varsity volleyball teams, girls and boys intermediate soccer, varsity and junior varsity softball teams are all on the go. In addition, intramural handball started this past weekend. "What is handball?" you may ask. I myself was unfamiliar with this somewhat obscure sport. It could be described as a hybrid of basketball and soccer. You can dribble the ball three times and take three steps before passing or shooting. Players may not cross the goal crease, and ultimately the objective is to score on the opposing team's net. The game is played on the 'petit poteaux' court which looks like a cement hockey rink.
Those of you who knew me "way back when" may remember that I was, at one time, very athletic. For others of you who have come to know me in more recent years, this may sound somewhat far-fetched, but alas, it is the truth. Here's a trivia question for you, my reading public: Do you know which middle school AND high school sport I played back in the day? (Answer to come in an upcoming post)
So handball...last year I was a spectator, but found myself unexpectedly saddened to be sitting on the sidelines. There's something about the lights at night, the music, the excitement, that made me want to be a part of it all. I wanted to jump in, so this year I did. I'm not going to lie, I was nervous, terrified really. I had visions of myself falling over children, falling into the net...falling in general. I couldn't think of other embarrassing feats, but I was sure I would accomplish something epically ridiculous in front of staff, students, and parents. I went so far as to arrange a tutorial and practice before the 'season' began. All my best intentions were for naught. I showed up to school for the season opener feeling like the inexperienced, insecure, rookie that I was. As I approached my team, the Royal Pains, waving my hellos, my foot caught on a stone and I found myself splayed across the pathway...backpack, water bottle, and shoes strewn about. I think my teams morale faltered as they helped me up and brushed me off. My worst fear had come true before I even stepped on the court.
Though I wasn't the MVP I did have a great time and I played hard. We are 2 for 2 after the first weekend. Next weekend will be a challenge as we are up against two tough teams.
Mr. Austin is the unofficial photographer at DA. He takes hundreds of photos at any given event and posts them almost immediately. He caught some amazing images of jump shots and great plays as seen below, but as I was browsing through the album I lamented to my friends Danielle and Cori that my athletic prowess had not been recorded for friends and family at home.
Rudyo takes a jump shot to score as Blue crushes Orange.
Aaron approaches defender, Phil, as he launches the ball
Amber, Royal Pains team captain, scores on her jump shot. We win 6-3 over the Midnight Furries.
In response to my laments, today I received the cartoon below, capturing my handball debut, compliments of my friend Danielle. She’s been having a lot of fun with ‘microsoft paint’ lately. Check out her artwork…and entertaining anecdotes at: http://missbowers.blogspot.com/ In other news, she also had to confiscate a machete recently…she has all the fun.
And so, without further ado...Miss Black (aka Alicia)'s Handball Debut:
Those of you who knew me "way back when" may remember that I was, at one time, very athletic. For others of you who have come to know me in more recent years, this may sound somewhat far-fetched, but alas, it is the truth. Here's a trivia question for you, my reading public: Do you know which middle school AND high school sport I played back in the day? (Answer to come in an upcoming post)
So handball...last year I was a spectator, but found myself unexpectedly saddened to be sitting on the sidelines. There's something about the lights at night, the music, the excitement, that made me want to be a part of it all. I wanted to jump in, so this year I did. I'm not going to lie, I was nervous, terrified really. I had visions of myself falling over children, falling into the net...falling in general. I couldn't think of other embarrassing feats, but I was sure I would accomplish something epically ridiculous in front of staff, students, and parents. I went so far as to arrange a tutorial and practice before the 'season' began. All my best intentions were for naught. I showed up to school for the season opener feeling like the inexperienced, insecure, rookie that I was. As I approached my team, the Royal Pains, waving my hellos, my foot caught on a stone and I found myself splayed across the pathway...backpack, water bottle, and shoes strewn about. I think my teams morale faltered as they helped me up and brushed me off. My worst fear had come true before I even stepped on the court.
Though I wasn't the MVP I did have a great time and I played hard. We are 2 for 2 after the first weekend. Next weekend will be a challenge as we are up against two tough teams.
Mr. Austin is the unofficial photographer at DA. He takes hundreds of photos at any given event and posts them almost immediately. He caught some amazing images of jump shots and great plays as seen below, but as I was browsing through the album I lamented to my friends Danielle and Cori that my athletic prowess had not been recorded for friends and family at home.
Rudyo takes a jump shot to score as Blue crushes Orange.
Aaron approaches defender, Phil, as he launches the ball
Amber, Royal Pains team captain, scores on her jump shot. We win 6-3 over the Midnight Furries.
In response to my laments, today I received the cartoon below, capturing my handball debut, compliments of my friend Danielle. She’s been having a lot of fun with ‘microsoft paint’ lately. Check out her artwork…and entertaining anecdotes at: http://missbowers.blogspot.com/ In other news, she also had to confiscate a machete recently…she has all the fun.
And so, without further ado...Miss Black (aka Alicia)'s Handball Debut:
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The Fort
Dakar Academy's staff has increased significantly for the 2011-2012 school year. This is a good thing. It means that I get to teach what I like and other teachers get to teach what I don't like. Fortunately, those other teacher don't necessarily feel the same way about the classes I avoid...like MATH.
In addition to changing my teaching schedule (ever so slightly), the larger staff has led to some housing changes. Last spring Kari and I were asked to consider leaving our smaller two bedroom apartment to room with two other young female teachers in a 4 bedroom apartment. We moved from the Sandcastle, a DA apartment building, directly across the street. Our building has 3 or 4 other DA families and has been affectionately dubbed "The Fort". This name was inspired by the old fort behind the building, and by the association with the sand"castle".
I live with Kari, my roommate from last year, Cori, a fellow Canadian and close friend from last year, and Keren, a Korean-American. She is new to DA. Though there are four of us living together, the apartment is huge and allows us to spread out. We each have our own bathroom with a shower and bathtub. Nabrissa, the DA housing director, did an amazing job at making the place comfortable AND esthetically pleasing. We have added a few personal touches and are loving our "new digs". I can't believe I just wrote that...forgive me.
Welcome to our humble abode.
Watch that our triple-wide front door doesn't hit you as you come in...it has a tendency to close on people. This is the entrance/foyer area. It's a lovely sitting area to chat, read, or nap. My favourite feature, the funky cushions.
Continuing straight ahead, this is the dining area. We don't have a ton of cupboard space considering there are four of us, but we have some extra storage out here. We love the large table, it comfortably seats six as is, but also has an extension that doubles the size. The window creates a great cross-breeze, and looks out onto our back courtyard which is basically for hanging laundry. The walls are high for safety reasons so there's not much of a view. However, we are glad to have easily accessible clotheslines. My favourite feature of the dining room, the "coffee station" in the back left corner.
Continuing to the very back of the house is the kitchen. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and have been impressed with my cooking adventures this year. No, nothing spectacular, but a little further 'out of the box' than I tried last year. I am very excited about my recent purchase of a blender for mango smoothies...mmmm. My favourite feature in the kitchen, the washing machine (soooo convenient).
Come back to the foyer and hang a left as you leave the dining room. This is our living room and where we spend most of our time. You may recognize our GIANT furniture from last year. It fits much better in our GIANT apartment this year. We were pleased to host our first soiree this past weekend and enjoyed taking advantage of the space. My favourite feature, the TV.
Standing at the living room door, you will cross the foyer and take a quick left into my room. Kari's room is off the living room and Cori's is at the back of the house on the same side. Their rooms are the most spacious, but I am very happy with my small, cozy room. It's an improvement to feeling swallowed by the vastness of last year's. My favourite feature, my picture wall.
My bathroom really isn't much to see, but I have included it for two important reasons. Number one, I have one...all to myself! Number two, I am really proud of the simple decor. My favourite feature, the shower curtain.
That concludes the tour. Feel free to stop by anytime, we'd love to have you! For real. I mean it. Come!
In addition to changing my teaching schedule (ever so slightly), the larger staff has led to some housing changes. Last spring Kari and I were asked to consider leaving our smaller two bedroom apartment to room with two other young female teachers in a 4 bedroom apartment. We moved from the Sandcastle, a DA apartment building, directly across the street. Our building has 3 or 4 other DA families and has been affectionately dubbed "The Fort". This name was inspired by the old fort behind the building, and by the association with the sand"castle".
I live with Kari, my roommate from last year, Cori, a fellow Canadian and close friend from last year, and Keren, a Korean-American. She is new to DA. Though there are four of us living together, the apartment is huge and allows us to spread out. We each have our own bathroom with a shower and bathtub. Nabrissa, the DA housing director, did an amazing job at making the place comfortable AND esthetically pleasing. We have added a few personal touches and are loving our "new digs". I can't believe I just wrote that...forgive me.
Welcome to our humble abode.
Watch that our triple-wide front door doesn't hit you as you come in...it has a tendency to close on people. This is the entrance/foyer area. It's a lovely sitting area to chat, read, or nap. My favourite feature, the funky cushions.
Continuing straight ahead, this is the dining area. We don't have a ton of cupboard space considering there are four of us, but we have some extra storage out here. We love the large table, it comfortably seats six as is, but also has an extension that doubles the size. The window creates a great cross-breeze, and looks out onto our back courtyard which is basically for hanging laundry. The walls are high for safety reasons so there's not much of a view. However, we are glad to have easily accessible clotheslines. My favourite feature of the dining room, the "coffee station" in the back left corner.
Continuing to the very back of the house is the kitchen. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and have been impressed with my cooking adventures this year. No, nothing spectacular, but a little further 'out of the box' than I tried last year. I am very excited about my recent purchase of a blender for mango smoothies...mmmm. My favourite feature in the kitchen, the washing machine (soooo convenient).
Come back to the foyer and hang a left as you leave the dining room. This is our living room and where we spend most of our time. You may recognize our GIANT furniture from last year. It fits much better in our GIANT apartment this year. We were pleased to host our first soiree this past weekend and enjoyed taking advantage of the space. My favourite feature, the TV.
Standing at the living room door, you will cross the foyer and take a quick left into my room. Kari's room is off the living room and Cori's is at the back of the house on the same side. Their rooms are the most spacious, but I am very happy with my small, cozy room. It's an improvement to feeling swallowed by the vastness of last year's. My favourite feature, my picture wall.
My bathroom really isn't much to see, but I have included it for two important reasons. Number one, I have one...all to myself! Number two, I am really proud of the simple decor. My favourite feature, the shower curtain.
That concludes the tour. Feel free to stop by anytime, we'd love to have you! For real. I mean it. Come!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Silence...
...that which is left when events unfold that leave you reeling and unsure of what to do or say next. Silence takes over, punctuating the shock. Though the news of Suzi's death has left me speechless, Suzi does not leave me speechless. In fact, there aren't enough words to contain Suzi.
I sat down to write something to honour my friend, something creative, witty, heartfelt and expressive, just like her, but anything and everything I write seems flat and unsubstantial. You can’t fit a person, a personality, like Suzi into words, which is quite fitting actually since Suzi never liked to be put in a box.
Once you met her it was impossible to forget her. It was inevitable that she would impact your life. In all honesty I don’t remember exactly when or how Suzi entered my life because she has been a fixture since my middle school days. She was my small group leader in high school and she has been challenging me ever since. Even now, 15 years later, the group has changed and evolved multiple times but we still brag about being the Best Small Group Ever. When you consider our professionally designed hand-outs, endless “detours”, inside jokes, meaningful conversations, and of course the coffee, I don’t think it’s even up for debate. We are the best small group EVER. There was no skirting around the controversial issues. I found myself driving home on a weekly basis wrestling with the personal application of our discussions. It was reading Mark Batterson’s “Wild Goose Chase” as a small group that prompted me to investigate teaching overseas and it was largely due to Suzi’s encouragement that I now find myself pursuing God’s plan for my life here in Senegal.
The depth of Suzi’s insight never ceased to amaze me. She read more than anyone else I know, and was often reading 4 or 5 books at the same time. I sometimes wonder if ebook readers were invented solely for her use. I am left wondering what I will read without my personal consultant to advise me.
One of the things I admired most was this endless thirst for knowledge, and experience. It was not at all unusual for me to show up at her place for a Saturday movie night or a Monday small-group night to be greeted by, “coffee?” followed immediately by, “have you heard of this book?”, “have you listened to this amazing song?”, “have you seen this new videoclip?” Suzi loved to expose others to her newest finds and we were always the better for it, if not simply entertained.
She was an adventurer as is evident by her many travels to New York, Ukraine, Sachigo Lake, and of course, Paris. I have never met anyone as passionate about Paris as Suzi was. She could plan your itinerary down to the meal you should order at a particular bistro on the left bank. As much as I enjoyed talking about Paris and sharing stories of our visits, it is her passion that resonates with me. Suzi was a passionate person. Even her deep, full, laugh exuded the whole-heartedness with which she embraced life.
Scarves, toile, japanese cherry blossom scent, St. Jacob’s market, Star Trek, Lug products, Jane Austen, JJ Abrams, Starbucks, the fall, even a national monument as famous as the Eiffel Tower will always carry my thoughts to my dear friend and bring a smile to my face.
She was my loyal friend and mentor. She possessed so many of the qualities I aspire to attain. She was insightful, well read, and a creative genius. Her life was an example of servant-hood and selflessness. Suzi pursued God and a closer relationship with Him relentlessly and influenced others toward the same goal. She was funny, genuine, and passionate. She dedicated herself wholeheartedly to any and all of her pursuits. She has left such an indelible mark on my life that it’s hard to know what would be left of me had she not been a part of who I have become.
I think that under different circumstances, if Suzi were grieving with us, she might find encouragement and strength in the words of her favourite poet, Rainer Maria Rilke:
I miss you more than...miss you more.
I sat down to write something to honour my friend, something creative, witty, heartfelt and expressive, just like her, but anything and everything I write seems flat and unsubstantial. You can’t fit a person, a personality, like Suzi into words, which is quite fitting actually since Suzi never liked to be put in a box.
Once you met her it was impossible to forget her. It was inevitable that she would impact your life. In all honesty I don’t remember exactly when or how Suzi entered my life because she has been a fixture since my middle school days. She was my small group leader in high school and she has been challenging me ever since. Even now, 15 years later, the group has changed and evolved multiple times but we still brag about being the Best Small Group Ever. When you consider our professionally designed hand-outs, endless “detours”, inside jokes, meaningful conversations, and of course the coffee, I don’t think it’s even up for debate. We are the best small group EVER. There was no skirting around the controversial issues. I found myself driving home on a weekly basis wrestling with the personal application of our discussions. It was reading Mark Batterson’s “Wild Goose Chase” as a small group that prompted me to investigate teaching overseas and it was largely due to Suzi’s encouragement that I now find myself pursuing God’s plan for my life here in Senegal.
The depth of Suzi’s insight never ceased to amaze me. She read more than anyone else I know, and was often reading 4 or 5 books at the same time. I sometimes wonder if ebook readers were invented solely for her use. I am left wondering what I will read without my personal consultant to advise me.
One of the things I admired most was this endless thirst for knowledge, and experience. It was not at all unusual for me to show up at her place for a Saturday movie night or a Monday small-group night to be greeted by, “coffee?” followed immediately by, “have you heard of this book?”, “have you listened to this amazing song?”, “have you seen this new videoclip?” Suzi loved to expose others to her newest finds and we were always the better for it, if not simply entertained.
She was an adventurer as is evident by her many travels to New York, Ukraine, Sachigo Lake, and of course, Paris. I have never met anyone as passionate about Paris as Suzi was. She could plan your itinerary down to the meal you should order at a particular bistro on the left bank. As much as I enjoyed talking about Paris and sharing stories of our visits, it is her passion that resonates with me. Suzi was a passionate person. Even her deep, full, laugh exuded the whole-heartedness with which she embraced life.
Scarves, toile, japanese cherry blossom scent, St. Jacob’s market, Star Trek, Lug products, Jane Austen, JJ Abrams, Starbucks, the fall, even a national monument as famous as the Eiffel Tower will always carry my thoughts to my dear friend and bring a smile to my face.
She was my loyal friend and mentor. She possessed so many of the qualities I aspire to attain. She was insightful, well read, and a creative genius. Her life was an example of servant-hood and selflessness. Suzi pursued God and a closer relationship with Him relentlessly and influenced others toward the same goal. She was funny, genuine, and passionate. She dedicated herself wholeheartedly to any and all of her pursuits. She has left such an indelible mark on my life that it’s hard to know what would be left of me had she not been a part of who I have become.
I think that under different circumstances, if Suzi were grieving with us, she might find encouragement and strength in the words of her favourite poet, Rainer Maria Rilke:
Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the question themselves, as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, some day far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.
I miss you more than...miss you more.
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