Running up that hill

Guess what today is ? If you guessed ‘The day after St. Patrick’s Day’ then you’re one smart cookie! However, today is also the first day of spring break. I finished filling in over 200 report cards yesterday and then I celebrated with a coke and a sprite!

And now I’m rockin it in Diebougou with some internet and mayhaps some chicken. I might even have the honor of selecting a chicken that suits my fancy, while said chicken is still enjoying the flow of oxygen. As for my spring break plans, I intend on relaxing and reading oodles of books. Lately I’ve been engrossed in everything Jane Austen. Surprised? I recently finished a series entitled ‘Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman’ which chronicles the events of Pride and Prejudice through Darcy’s point of view. And then I proceeded to read a book (Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife) which begins where Jane Austen left off with P and P. All I can say about that book is, if Jane Austen weren’t already dead, she’d have an aneurysm upon reading this. Her seemingly chaste characters are anything but, in very explicit detail. It was very amusing and somewhat ridiculous. But I did enjoy parts of it and I look forward to reading the sequel. Oh that wretched Wickham!

Last week was 8 Mars, International Women’s Day. I wore my pagne and met up with Jillian and Ibe in town. I knew it was going to be a good day because I had warm gateau and cold coke—an unmistakeable good omen. First thing was the Lobi dancers. When they do their traditional dance it kind of looks like they’re having an epileptic fit (is that too un-PC for the PC?), but I believe it’s supposed to look like they’re shaking/ruffling their feathers—some kind of rooster-chicken dance of love. I’ve tried dancing like the Lobi, but all I’ve managed to accomplish is an amazingly strong headache.

We then watched a bike race of girls from my CEG. They biked 4 km and upon returning nearly collapsed and/or lost their gateau. It was a little disconcerting that these girls who are so accustomed to hard labor (carrying water, wood, etc. atop their heads and walking for miles under the lovely African sun) would almost keel over after a 7 minute bike ride. But I suppose it’s a different form of exercise for them, working different muscles and such. I know that I can’t carry large objects on my head—I tried once with a bucket of water and it was oh so painful.

Then, we watched women’s associations from Bouroum-Bouroum and surrounding villages march on the road, singing and wearing coordinated pagnes. By far the most enjoyable part of 8 Mars was the soccer game. The week before I coached 6eme and CM2 girls in preparation for the match on Women’s Day. These girls play AYSO-style, but that’s to be expected seeing as how they have had no instruction, and sports in general are a privilege only boys enjoy. Come International Women’s Day; my team was 6eme versus Jillian’s team CM2. My team claimed victory 1-0, but that wasn’t important. The audience and recognition that these girls received was tremendous—tons of people, including the mayor of BrBr and other officials, came to watch them play! I loved that these girls had such a grand audience because all that attention is usually never given to them. They were so excited and they behaved well (unlike during my coaching sessions), which is always a plus.

And then the clouds came, bringing a breeze and a few raindrops.

Everything started over an hour late, unsurprisingly, but it made for a late evening. After Jillian’s 6eme’s theatre piece (with a depressing but realistic ending where impregnated teenage girl later discovers that she, her husband and two children have HIV), there was the ball. You’re picturing the kind of ball from Cinderella, aren’t you? Not quite. But I stayed out way past my bedtime (10 PM!) and biked (uncomfortable when wearing a skirt) home happy with my day.

Last thing for now: Albuquerque, here I come! In 5 months, August 14th, I’m there.