August 1 already

Ansoumane surrounded by kids

new sheets!

 August first! hard to believe.  The rai returned today so we go to enjoy two days of sun,  I did a "wash" by hand and had to hang it inside it akes 3 days to dry!

Day started with dance class- we participate 3x a week. Its the only exercise I have gotten since I arrived. Sekou is so good and really is adored by the kids.  He is in or English class for teachers and today we worked on pronunciation. He has a strong French accent and its hard to get him to stop at the end of a word or sentence without adding "ah" on end like a french person. But the teachers work hard and try and we laugh as well. 

Today we had the one group of kids and we did a reading passage and also showed them a Disney cartoon about the Pied Piper because Ansounmane ( AnSou) is always surronded by the kids like a Pied Piper. AnSou is my "Eric" this year. But all the staff fee the same about this bright, personable young man. He does rap and dances and teaches English, His story is complicated as are most.  He does not know his own age but figures it to  e 18 or 19.  Originally from Sierra Leone. He does not know who is mother is, and his father  is not in the picture,  Lived in one room with an aunt and his sister( not same parents) until she married and the husband wanted Ansou out. So then he was on the streets and got caught in the bad life until Martin and Mindleaps brought him back. He had attended ML until he had to leave his aunt. He is a joy to teach and the kids truly flock to him like a pied piper.

Today A girl got sick in class! Her name is Fatima Ramadan I had no idea what was wrong with her, maybe an asthma attack. Staff came immediatly and Salif took her on his moto to hosptial. Ansou followed as well. Different here bc ML is an NGO and they can act for the parents in a case like this, it turned out to be asthma and she will be getting meds tomorrow.

Then one of the staff in our class I mentioned had a malaria flare up and did not return today,  Tomorrow we are going to a restaurant with Martin and Olivier! and we found a burger place reccommened by ex pats that we will try on Sunday which looks like a busy day.  We will meet again with the teachers from Harunaya and then do a home visit ( always humbling)) then come back  to change in order to visit the famous mosque, then burgers.  Martin is so much the gentlemen. I see here, similar to Rwanda experience there is no distinction from the boss to the cook, all treated equally. Today Olivier, and one of or staff students Djeinabou ( pronounced DJohn a Boo) were changing my sheets and the security guard Suma was washing my floor. Suma has also joined our English class.

Time for bed and new photos I wish I could add video but have no idea how