Today I spent the day in my office, actually preparing for teaching tomorrow. I wonder how much of all l prepared I will really get accomplished. Seven weeks I imagine feels like a crammed schedule to the students. They really have to be flexible to "go to university" according to the availability of visiting professors. On the way to the office I met a student and actually remembered his name. That felt good! Another first was trying to talk with Varry on Skype. Hummmm! Not real satisfying. I think when it's night here it might be better connections. I have talked to Kenya before, and sometimes it works better than others.
My housemate told me today that after tomorrow, she would let me plan the days with Jamaima (the cute young lady with the bread). So this afternoon I chatted with her for the first time. She has a boy 6 and a girl almost 4. They both go to school, but the little boy is just now learning to write his name. Jamaima works LONG hours even when we tell her to go home. Today she went to the market in Guinea, yes, that's right, the country is only 1 mile away they tell me. She told me she can get tomatoes there. okra too. Finding vegetables here isn't easy. Jamaima's mother died in 1986. She was raised by her uncle until he escaped into a neighboring country. She did get to finish high school, and then she was selling bread to make a living. She came here to the college in October, 2009, she remembers the exact date. When she came someone in the dining hall offered her a job and then she was transferred to this house that I am staying in. Wish I'd brought re pies. She is eager to learn. And I am learning to be flexible with instructions about how to fix things, making it work with ingredients that are available.
Today I was assigned as a faculty sponsor for inter mural soccer team. That's another "fresh" experience. Tonight is faculty Bible study. So far, there's plenty to keep me busy.
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