Day 80: School

After such a long day of work the day before, I really wanted to relax today. We met at around 9 to work on the tanks (for the drip system), installing valves, hinges, filters, etc. It didn’t take very long and certainly wasn’t physically demanding…

At 11, we had a meeting with all of the students and the staff, discussing our experiences here in Nder, as well as the status of our projects and plans for the remainder of our stay here. Although the meeting was a little more than 2 hours, it was pretty difficult to sit in one place for so long…

After lunch, a daughter in my family asked me to come to school with her in the afternoon. Her name is Ndeye Salle and she is the daughter of Pap Thioye’s second wife, Asta. It has taken me quite a while to learn names (there are SO many to remember), but I’m getting there. Anyway, Ndeye Salle is my favorite of all the children; she’s about 9 or 10 years old (it’s bad luck to ask), and she has a beautiful smile. If anyone knows me, they would know that I usually don’t spend any time with little children, but Ndeye Salle (and the other children in my family) are just so nice, and I love them. Every time they see me, they shout my name and come to shake my hand. We can’t really communicate that well, but we try.

So, I decided to take a break from agriculture, and went off to school at 4 with Ndeye Salle and the other Thioye children. I really had no idea what I was getting into. We arrived at the school room where there were probably about 50 children. The room was about the size of a normal class room, with some tables and benches for the kids to sit at. Sophie and Rokhaya, the two people in the education group were preparing to do a lesson on malaria, and to sing some songs. I really wish I had brought a camera, and hopefully I’ll get a chance to go back and take some pictures on another day…

Sophie and I taught the kids to sing “Row, row, row your boat”, although it was difficult because they don’t speak any English…But it kind of worked, and sounded pretty cool (even I sang, quite loudly I might add.)

It was nice to get away from agriculture for an afternoon and work with children. I don’t usually like kids, and I certainly never sing in front of everyone…but I guess I’m already far enough out of my comfort zone that it doesn’t make a difference anymore…