DAY 3: Oh no!

We learned that this tree's actual name is 'a Flamboyant Tree.'

  When we all woke up Tuesday morning it was slightly cool and we were all hungry. Oatmeal and bread was in order! However, when Mom got out the whole-grain bread (what Daddy calls "Two-by-four's") it had mold all over it. I was immediately repulsed and refused to eat the bread. Unfazed, Mom sliced off all the crusts and served it that way (Daddy liked it better without than with the crust; he said you could actually choke it down that way).

Aidan playing 'taps' for Daddy

Daddy woke up with a splitting headache, due to the fact that he had slept in his tent without a pillow. Ouch!

THE BREAD!

Our breakfast party

Breakfast was fun; Christianna didn't want her orange juice so I got to drink two cups of it! (wonder of wonders). Daddy was still recovering and didn't join us.

 During breakfast Mme. Louise and I both expressed the sentiment that it would rain: it was very hot (right at 100 degrees) and the temperature was steadily rising. Little did we know, we would get our wish. :)
 Since I was feeling better I decided to join Mom and be 'the artist' for the day. As soon as I stepped outside, I was bombarded by chiggers, flies, and gnats. They whizzed incessantly around my head, buzzed in my ears, and one even flew in my eye! ... I don't like bugs, can you tell?

 Once we stepped under the gazebo the bugs left us alone and the student's wives started to trickle in. One lady took a large pebble from the ground and banged it on the metal poles of the gazebo like a bell or gong. African resourcefulness at work.

 

We had a bit of a problem... Mom and Dad spoke French but not Ewe (pronounced e-v v-ay). M. Samuel spoke French and Ewe but not Ife (pronounced ee-fay). There were two women who spoke neither French nor Ewe but did speak Ife. However, (thank God) there was one woman who could speak French, Ewe, and Ife. So we made a sort of pattern: Mom or Dad, depending on who was speaking, would speak in French. M. Samuel would translate for the Ewe speakers into Ewe. Then the lady who spoke Ife would translate for the Ife speakers. If you think about it, the meeting is three times as long, but completely worth it.

Daddy teaching

  Tristan was a sort of . . . celebrity among the kids. We all were, but Tristan very much so. On Tuesday the vast majority of the kids were at school, but even the small kids left were absolutely mesmerized by him! It was very amusing to watch. And yes, Tristan rather basked in the fame & glory. He told them Bible stories, played games with them, and gave them rides high up on his shoulders, which was the highlight of his stardom. He would walk in all of his grandeur and splendor around the courtyards with a train of dazzled, giggling children marching behind him. They would even imitate what he did (which was downright gut-busting).

  After a lunch break, we came out to see threatening storm clouds gathering on the horizon. Then Mme. Chalare, the director's wife, insisted we move to the smaller pyot. Apparently the roof had less holes. We did so and 10 minutes later it rained! This pyot's ceiling was not perfect, and the ladies moved around until we found all the places that had no holes above them.

Once the rain had stopped the meeting was over and we headed back to the mobile home.  Christianna and I had a quick Ramen noodle snack. Now THAT, I can handle!

A lot of people came to meet with us, and after all the formalities were taken care of we had a small disaster. It was an unwelcome surprise; a very unwelcome surprise. The sinks, bathtubs, and toilets would not drain or flush. Worse still, the creepy beetles would fly into the water and drown, leaving us with a sink or bathtub full of floating dead bugs and dirty water that after a while began to smell. All I was able to say was "Bum bum bum!"