Harney Peak

Today I climbed Harney Peak in SD. I love this place! I leave to go back to Niger in 2 weeks. What am I thinking?

Oh yeah! I remember!

I Confess to the Stolen Pictures

I should have known. I finally get my apartment REALLY clean (I love Ladi) and the next day....Ransackary!

DUST STORM!!!

This happened about 3pm...but it got so dark in my house that I tripped over a chair. The dust storm usually precedes a thunderstorm. We got a few drops of rain, but by the time it made it to the ground it was just mud. Drops of mud.

Yahoo for Angela taking pics with her friends

And for Chantelle and friends who take amazing photos! Check out her blog!

And now I'm back in SD...just in time for this. This is my brother & sister-in-law's house and farm.

Thanks Tiffany for the pictures of your own ransackary!

Coming Home

I'll be home in just a few weeks. It's hard to believe the year is over, and at the same time it feels like I've been here forever. I'm on a good computer so maybe a few pictures will download after many long weeks of none.

My awesome drama cast in all their glory.


Hanging out at Mango Camp


Josh sporting the Pastor Dave look for Look-Alike-Day at Spirit Week.


Nothing like a little Harmattan wind blowing in some sand from the Sahara. This is the sun at about 5:30pm


CAMPING!!!


Firewood for sale. That is not fog, it's dust.


"Hey, honey! Guess what I bought today!" Guinea Fowl!

I'm coming on June 14. I can't wait to see everyone and hear all of your stories!

More Mail

Dear Sonitel,
You, unlike Nigelec will receive no sympathy from me. For the past several weeks we are living here with no internet...in all of the city! How embarrassing for you. And yet, when we inquire as to the purpose of this outage what do we hear? "Je ne se pas." You what? How can you not know! I'm certain we are not the only disgruntled people coming in here to light a fire under your tush! No one likes you right now! You're lucky the other company is twice as expensive as you are otherwise no one would return.

That being said. I'm glad you're back.
<><
Cindy

An Open Letter

Dear Nigelec,
I don't envy your job. Being the only power company in Niger has to be a tough spot to be in, but we need to talk. I know you are a native Nigerien, but even your fellow patriots are complaining about the heat. While I understand that you have it rough, I mean, it's not like Niger can provide with your power source. We appreciate all the work you do in making nice with Nigeria to get us the power. But really, it's time to stop stopping! You see, it is 120 degrees out here...every day. Do you understand what that means?

-That means my house is about 100 degrees all the time.
-That means the dorm kitchen is completely unbearable! I don't have the heart to check the temperature in there!
-That means the magnets melted to the refrigerator door. Have you ever tried getting melted magnet off a door?
-That means I have to teach in a room full of nineteen super sweaty 9th and 10th graders. I love them. Really, I do! But Wow! That room is...well...stinky!

Also, you keep shutting down during the worst times in the evening! What is your problem? I have 8 kids trying to shower and get ready for bed when you decide to die. Do you know how frustrating it is to find some sort of lighting for 8 kids who are stuck in the showers on 3 different halls? I get the feeling you're enjoying this. And if that isn't bad enough, about the time I get lighting for them all, you come back on! Just long enough for them to get to bed and have their A/C's cool down their rooms. I, having all kids in bed and quiet, jump in my own shower...and what do you do? Seriously! What's your problem? What did I ever do to you? OH!!! and I forgot! Since the rest of town is out of electricity, we can't pump water into the water tower! I've just been running around and am looking forward to my (I wish I could say cold) almost hot shower and when I turn the water on what do I find? Yeah...that's right...a trickle! If I run around enough I know I'll eventually get wet enough to sleep.

OK...so I may have exaggerated a bit. After all, we do have a generator here that helps out quite a bit. I confess it isn't all that bad. But please, Nigelec, let's work together. Let's at least be friends...or enemies who respect one another and share resources.
Come on, Nigelec, what do you say?

Cordially,
Cindy