Galmi Outreach Trip

Last Friday I set out with a team of 4 other teachers and 9 students to a small town about 6 1/2 hours East of Niamey. I have not done hardly any traveling outside of Niamey and was looking forward to the trip. The purpose of the trip was to lead a retreat for home-schooled kids in Niger. I was in charge of children between the ages of 4 and 8. Thankfully I had four great student helpers who did most of the work of planning, preparing, and organizing the Bible lessons, crafts, games, etc. 

Ready for some pictures? There are a bunch.

First stop: bathroom; the original outhouse. 

Guys on the left, girls on the right.

Friendly Travel Tip: always always pack toilet paper and hand sanitizer!

Funny Story: coming home my friend and I had to go to the bathroom quite urgently. The driver pulled the van over, only, the landscape looked more like the last picture on this post (scroll all the way down!) rather than the one above. You see the problem? We had no choice. (Well, I suppose technically we did, but we opted for a dry ride home.) Strategically choosing our bushes so that we would not encroach on each other's privacy or scare those waiting in the van behind us, we did our job. Unfortunately, we did not take into account oncoming traffic--the road being so empty and all. Three mobylettes passed us and let's just say, I think what they saw will never be forgotten.

Second stop: gas station. 

No QuickTrip icees or peanutbutter crackers here.

Third stop: Galmi

A few snapshots of the kids working on their craft.

Saturday evening all of the retreat staff, home-schoolers, and their families went picnic-ing. Since we were outside, we had to wear head coverings, and of course skirts and tennis shoes. The ideal hiking outfit, right?

This is Cathy-Jo, another teacher sponsor on the trip. We were roommates! She's great and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her more throughout the weekend.

It's either rocks or sand or thorn bushes. You pick.

The view. 

One word comes to mind: desolate.

 Sunday morning we drove about 15 minutes outside of Galmi to attend a small village church.

It's a new building.

It's a very small church. 

Our team doubled the congregation.

As is custom, we were asked to sing a song. We sang "Amazing Grace" first in English and then all six verses in Hausa--the language in that area. There were Hausa songbooks available to use and since the language was written phonetically, it was not too difficult to follow along. You just sing quietly, mimicking the sounds your neighbor is making all-the-while hoping your neighbor knows a little more than you do! (A couple of the people on our team spoke Hausa.) The congregation liked it so much that we sang it again at least 2 more times. Yes, all six verses every time. By the sixth verse the third time, I felt like a Hausa master! At least concerning "Amazing Grace!"

 These are some of the musical instruments. 

Some of the local villagers.

Some more sights through the van window.

 Onions, desert, lizards...........

I kept thinking of Holes the whole weekend!

We returned Monday evening. It was a wonderful weekend.

Finally Home !

Six and a half years later, I had the opportunity to return to the place that feels more like home than any other ... Burkina Faso, specifically Ouagadougou.

Sahel Academy, the school where I teach, was headed to Ouaga for the annual softball tournament. I accompanied the team as assistant cook! You wouldn't believe how excited I was to go back to Burkina. I was so excited that I felt obligated to take a picture the moment we entered Burkina Faso.

You are looking at Burkina Faso! Beautiful isn't it? :)  I took this picture when our caravan was stopped at one of the 5 or 6 border stops. The fine building on the right is the restroom, in case you were curious. Make sure you bring your own toilet paper.

Looking at this beautiful flag, I knew I was in the right country! 

I couldn't wait to arrive at ISO (International School of Ouagadougou) where I went to school for some of the happiest school days of my life.

ISO has changed a lot since I was there. It has nearly doubled in size, has added an entire new secondary building, a "covering", for lack of a better word, over the basketball court, and has made several other advancements.

One of my bestest/closest friends from high school is working as a teacher's assistant at ISO this year. Her name is Beka. It was a tremendous blessing being able to stay at her house this weekend. We walked around campus, reminiscing, sharing memories, and pretending we were 16 again!

Isn't she beautiful? I love this girl!

My locker used to be right here! To my left is where Mr. Collins' classroom was. Geography, Comparative Government and Politics, and African Studies. Certainly not easy classes, but he was the best high school teacher I ever had. He was also the teacher I locked out of the classroom and made climb in through a window! But that's another story...

 This is where I was inspired to be an English teacher. Well, okay, I'm not sure if that's exactly true, but this was my English classroom. First Mr. Loewen (his father gave a lecture at my university) and then Ms. Keeney.

Here's the soccer field/softball field where I spent a lot an exorbitant amount of time playing soccer, softball, ultimate frisbee, flag football, etc.

 

 Despite the noonday heat, Beka accompanied me on a walk to my old house, two blocks from the school.

 Rachelle, do you recognize this place? Your street hasn't changed much at all.

I miss the conversations we'd have on our bikes, headed home after soccer practice.

 Almost there!

 When the rains would come in the summer, this road used to flood completely and I would go romping around in the thick red filthy water.

 Where the red container is, used to be a little boutique where we would buy bread in the morning and cokes on Sunday afternoons. It was also at this boutique where the guys started calling Erika "Blanco!" (Blanco meants whiteout in English!)

 Finally, home! 

The walls have changed. 

The gate has changed. 

It looks way better now!

 

 I met some old friends on the way back to ISO!

 Tony, do you think you could fix this up for me and make it run again?

Without a doubt, the best part of being back in Ouaga, was being able to see some old dear friends. 

 I didn't know Hyejin when I went to ISO, but we were friends at ESU.

She is working in Burkina for a year. What fun to see her!

 Mr. Ouedouda was my PE teacher. I always had so much fun in his class. When I first saw him Friday afternoon, I ran up to him with tears in my eyes and gave him a huge hug. He pulled out my senior picture that I had sent him and said he was just thinking about me the other day. Isn't that sweet?

 Do you old FES-ers recognize this guy? Last time I saw Robbie Shafto he was in elementary school. (He was a wiseman for a Christmas play I wrote for FES one year!) Now he's a senior...and a great softball player, I might add!

I had a great time visiting with old friends--literally and figuratively! heehee! I wasn't able to see everyone, but I guess that just means I have to go back!

 

Joyeux Fête de la Chandeleur !

Today was the French "holiday" called la Fête de la Chandeleur. I'll spare you a lot of details, but suffice it to say, that on this day, it is tradition to make and eat crêpes. I thought it would be a good opportunity to enjoy some food in the classroom while learning about culture! According to tradition, you are supposed to hold a gold coin in your left hand, while flipping the crêpe in your right hand. If the crêpe lands nicely back in your pan, you will have success and prosperity in the upcoming year. With no kitchen in the classroom, I made the crêpes at the house before school, so the students did not have a chance to "try their luck" at flipping crêpes (pun intended). They seemed to enjoy them all the same. How much do I love my students? So much that I wake up at 5:05 and make them French food. I took pictures to keep me awake!

 A little nutella? I think yes!

 Mhmmm.....doesn't it look good?

Bon appétit!

The crêpes turned out exceptionally well, if I do say so myself!

My First Classroom !

I am proud to say that I have survived my first week as a full-time teacher. I slept for over 10 hours last night and I still don't feel like I've fully recovered!

One of the unexpected surprises that awaited me when I arrived in Niger last week was to discover that I had my own classroom. (Technically I share it with a math teacher and another French teacher, but I use it the most so I consider it mine!) It was exciting news until I found out I had a huge bulletin  board to decorate. Decorating is not my forte. But, a blank bulletin board simply would not do, so I decided to I'd better get to work. Here's what I came up with.

I realize I am the stereotypical French teacher with a "J'aime la France!" bulletin board, but all of my creative juices were invested in drawing the Eiffel Tower, leaving none leftover for the title. I haven't decided what I'm going to put in the middle yet. Any suggestions?