Photos!

It's been a ridiculously long time since I've updated here... but long waits lead to good things (right?) because the classroom is fiiiiinally being built! To all of you who contributed to this project, expect some more appropriate thanks as soon as I set foot on American soil, but for now, just know that you're making this happen, and my community thanks you a million times. As do I. It's not finished, but here are a few photos of the process so far - as well as some random ones. Enjoy! Oh, and I'll be in America in less than a month (inchallah). Crazy. Surreal. What a trip it's been.

The mason measuring out the foundation for the classroom

This guy was there. 

Praying over the foundation. Stay away, evil spirits! The school director assured me that the reason a classroom in a neighboring school collapsed was because it was built on "the devil's highway" and the foolish mason didn't think to sacrifice anything before starting construction. Duh! 

Work is starting. Alhamdoulilahi!

I was heartened to see actual levels being used here.

Bricks bricks bricks. Hard work. The brick makers are paid about 9 cents per brick, or about 180 dollars in total. That goes a long way in village!

Host sisters Aissatou and Khadiya adorably demonstrate the height of the walls so far. Yes!

They're excited.

 Now onto the randoms:

Ever wondered what I eat in village? This, about 80% of the time. Corn (or millet) with peanut sauce (or "tiga jio," which means "peanut water," which is exactly how it sounds). This sauce in the photo is actually thicker than usual. The other 20% of the time it's pounded peanut cooked with millet or corn, no sauce. If we're rolling in dough, we eat rice. My appreciation of village food has followed a pretty accurate bell curve over the length of my service.

Late afternoon by the well

Dragonflies hang out in my backyard at night. I've been trying to get a really sharp shot but can't quite get there.

The newest Savane family member, Fatoumata Binta, and her proud mother Fanta (one of my three host moms). Baptisms are held a week after birth. The village males get together to pray and decide on the baby's name, the women cook a fancy meal for dozens of people, and the mother gets dolled up and fussed over. Everybody comes. It's quite the party.

Cooking part of the baptism feast

Aissatou and Gundo. I wish I could take them home with me.

Bathtime for Ousmane

Siblings. 

Aileen in her fancy American dress

Yes, they did draw on her eyebrows for this glamour shot

Breakfast porridge

This is the American soccer ball I brought back in June, well worn and well loved and amazingly still intact.

Veggies from the garden!

My unsuspecting school director.  

Donkeys and a goat hoping for a drink at the school well.

That's all for now! More to come. Thanks again to all you donors! See you soon, America!