I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream!

 It is actually a lovely evening!! no rain, not too humid and Martin and Olivier took us on a walk to a ice cream store. The woman there was so lovely and her little baby adorable. Her brother was strickenly handsome- in my opinion. So we had a little treat but it was with no electricity as it was out for a while, but same back while we were still eating, I finally felt well enough to enjoy it.

Today classes went well, The staff members are at all levels and I can see and hear improvement in English already because we are totallydoing an immersion style class.

Yesterday during the teacher visit I learned they are mostly refugees from Sierra Leone where genocide did occur and is still a hot bed. One teacher shared that his mom was beheaded and anoher that he lost his aunt in a similar fashion. So part of our discussion was about moving on and at what price.  A subject worthy of more debate.

I wanted to mention that I really do not need moisturizer since the air is so laden with water, and I commented to Colleen ( and she agreed) that the people here have fabulous complexions!  So enjoy the photos

On another note just received an alert on my phone from State department of demonstrations in Conakry anddd to avoid certain areass. A bit disconcerting but we stay close and are never alone.

Tchotchke shopping and more

 Today I slept a bit better with a little help from Lunesta.  Colleen went with Olivier to church at 7:30. I stayed in bed.  At ten we had a wonderful meeting with teachers and administrators from the Harunaya English school- it is for Guneayn kids but English is the focus,  English is NOT taught in thhe public schools and they see a big need for it.  The school is not free but they offer several scholarships for Mindleaps kids. The school began in 2017 so it is fairly new. Colleen and I have one class of those students.  What impressed me most was the support they Admin( how unusual) give their staff and how much they appreciate what they do,  We discussed many topic including issues with discipline. 

We talked for three hours and could have continued.  We exchanged emails and a pletora of ideas.  Then it was time for tchotchkes

Martin and Olivier got us ( they came with us of course) cab similar to the one from airport, no frills indeed- or seat belts properlyworking. I was taking a video of the traffic when Martin warned me not to bc moto drivers and others can snatch it from/my hand.

We went shopping and I apologize to you all whom I always try to brng back a trinket because there is not much to be found.  I got a few things. We then crossed the street into a new world!  A posh hotel on the beach. We stopped to see the view and had a drink ( soda for me- stomach still not normal) It was first time we saw other White people. Many with small children and African nannys. On the way back we saw the huge, beautiful mosque that Conakry is famous for. We are going to try to make a visit but I need to wear skirt and head covering to do so. So is was a lovely day and NO RAIN!!! Amazing. Tomorrow it is back to work lol.

enjoy the photos.

director and founder of the school

teachers who gave up their one day off to meet with us

BEACH

 Principal of the school David Korama

Principal and admin

AT hotel lobby

Sof Shavoua

 End of our first full week. I really enjoy teaching the little ones and playing games   with them, they have quickly grasped the Simon Says concept and can now even get me          out!  We also love working with the staff. They are so tenacious and want so much to help these kids.  BUT the rain OMG no words can

 the courtyard flooded

describe the amout of rain that fell ALL day! it finally stopped about an hour ago. Colleen and I feel like we are in jail (LOL) and we are cell mates next door t one another, down to having our dailydelivery of brad and water!  The night guards make sure we are ok but I said to one of them " or are you making sure we are in our rooms!"  all in fun. We are glad we are here and have no control over the weather.  Tomorrow Colleen and Olivier are going to church - I hope to get    some sleep. The shil shul has not departed the premises as yet. Then we have teachers the the English school visiting us. Then if it is not torrentially raining Olivier is taking us shopping for local crafts.

Ashura

 Feeling about 90% today. Today all the staff and kids were dressed in their finest because, unbeknownst to me it is a Muslim commerative day when its the end os the lunar year and they fast. They all go to the Mosque on this day. But we had classes wth staff today,

Its raining in torrents as I type this. Its unbelievable.  I finally was able to take a hot a hot shower as they finally fixed tthe problem- it felt like heaven. Today Ansu and Salif gave Colleen and I a lesson in Su-Su check google  shared photos for the video.

Here are todays photos, one in particular was an unexpected shot that I really like

Tomorrow is a work day and Sunday we are meeting with Teachers from the nearby English school  That should be very interesting.

this is my favorite

The Shil/Shul got me!!

 Today was spent in bed, I started feeling sick yesterdy and last night was rough. Fever, chills etc,  I spent day sipping ginger tea and finally I feel better, I missed my classes but Colleen worked for us both, Some of the kids came  by to see if I was ok.

a side note-  have this sticky mat for bugs and three times people have inadverntly stepped on it and it sruck to their shoes!  it was pretty funny

my little visitors

July 25- Whats the weather DUH RAIN in forecast

 The rain was so intense last night it felt like it was building up to an explosion. But in the morning very little trace of the 6 inches that fell.  Our breakfast was great , spicy sauces and fresh avocados with eggs. Delcios french bread as as well. We are being fed quite nicely.   Today we had a dance class with Siku who went a little easier on us today lol, But the room is sweltering and so humid, No AC in dance room.  We had class with staff and started a debate so they could speak aloud and practice.  We had our one group of kids. We showed them a video and did a reading on hummingbirds. During break we met this lovely girl Kadisha who goes to the American school. She is part Guneain and part Moroccan, she is very smart and has appliedto several IVY schools in the states. Cornell is her top pick,  She was here at Mindleaps for community service.

Guinea is the top producer of bauxite used for aluminum and other products. There are many cement ( they use bauxite) factories . China is their biggest customer, as well as most of the countries in the world that use bauxite hence some bridges are named after countries that financed the building - maybe for preferential bauxite treatment

More about Our last class are the kids- they are great!  mixed levels of English proficiency. We have them for 2 hrs and broke up the time with games like zip zap zoop- which they did not kow how to play, Today I taught them simon says. They loved it! we playd like 4 times. I watched then during an earlier break playing sames that are universal and timeless, They were playing a version of dodge ball with a small homemade ball. They call it Balance Ball. Then I saw some kids playing hop scotch- they call it  Sou-Sou name of Zato and then I saw girls using small pieces of rolled up paper or using small rocks to play what we would call Jax! they called it Concony  another Sou-Sou word.  I was struck by how kids are kids everywhere, These kids , like in Rwanda find ways and materials to be creative and play .  

Ansoumane comes everyday for extra help in English- he is the assistant English teacher and wants s much to learn, I taught him the word tenaciouos today.

Electricity goes in and out, showers are cold but the hearts are warm.  Enjoy todays photos

Sekou in our English class and our dance instructor

This is Djeinabou who I caught smiling she always looks serious. She is oe of the staff teachers

"Zato" hop scotch

Ansoumane helping one of the kids in class

Photos

 Boffa

Miriam family and home

Boffa fishing 

free cage free chickens lol

Steps of no return

slaves were shackeled here

and here

 the water hole