Atakpame walks

While C, W, D & J were spending some time making final plans for their trip to Egypt yesterday, I went out for a walk. I went to an area we hadn’t been to see something new—another part of town. Atakpame is definitely hilly and I was up and down hills, in little “shopping areas” and types of suburbia I think. Not a whole lot different, but not as crowded, and to see a Yovo walking along, LOTS of greetings. Kirsten, Sherith and Erik, it sort of reminded me of our trip to China, when all the Chinese would yell out “hewo.” Here it is “bonjour msr.” or cava (pronounced sava). If it is said as a question, it is “how are you, or how’s it going,” and then the response is also “cava” but without the question mark, and then that means “it’s going well,” etc. C & W try to take walks where they can avoid some of the people once in a while, but we are still new, so it’s a really fun part of the walks. Kids come running out from behind walls, doors to say hi.

This morning, Cate and I took a walk together, just to get out. We ended up being gone longer than we thought. Wayne said we left at 6:30 and we returned at 9:30.

It didn’t seem that long, as we had a lot of fun. We walked out to another little village that was 1 ½ to 2 miles from here. The “In-n-out” restaurant is where many of them were having breakfast. Actually most were done, as things start early here, so they can be inside in the heat of the day. We have been wonderfully blessed with the temperature though, as it has been very mild. As soon as we started taking pictures, kids came out from EVERYWHERE to be in the picture and to see them on the digital camera. What joy they show in their eyes, and scream out, when they see their own pictures!!! Most fun part of the trip. On the return walk, we went by a Baptist church and school. There was a sign down on the road about the school, but was hard to figure out, but Cate did, and we walked up to see it. The head master of the school came out and greeted us, and wanted us to see what was happening. As soon as we hit the doorway of a classroom, with maybe 25 kids, they all stood up, and said together “Bonsoir msr” (can you tell I don’t know how to spell missuer?). Wayne says that all the people here love greetings of all kinds. Like he just got a call from a tailor that is doing some dresses for J, and we asked what he called about. He had just called to say Hello. No other reason for the call. Anyway, back to the school, he took us into 4 or 5 classrooms, ages probably 4-9? In each classroom, they automatically stood up and made the same statement, of good day msr. They were as excited as the other children that we had seen on the street, but it was very clear that these were disciplined, but not rigid, kids. They were polite, and sat in their chairs as I brought the camera around to show the pictures. Out on the street, everyone clamors to get to the camera, and put their fingers on where they are in the picture. Cate thought that if I was very careful about giving them some balloons I had in my pocket (probably about 15), so that the kids could not see me giving them to him, that it would be a good place. So, we gathered around the four teachers and the headmaster, and gave him the balloons carefully. The teachers were very appreciative. Not sure how they’re going to handle giving them to the few kids, but that it now their problem. We can’t do that on the street, or we’d have soooo many kids around so fast, and lots of them disappointed. We’ve already had the experience of giving C & W’s domestique two of the Thrivent bouncy balls that light up when bounced. The next day, on our return up our “road” (just HAVE to put that word in quotes!), kids came running. We weren’t sure what they wanted, but I had some balloons in my pocket, so I gave some out. Some didn’t want, or accept, them. We got the idea that wasn’t what was wanted. Cate asked Akpene about it. She said that she had shown the ball to the kids, and she knew she should not have, but was so excited about the ball, she couldn’t keep it a secret.

We are off to a lunch with the other PCV’s today, particularly with the newest volunteers. It is a meeting with them, but D, J and I get to go.

The meeting with the Ambassador didn’t work out yesterday. He had been very vague about his schedule, and an aide called yesterday morning and said that he MAY stop by. Never did, so we’ll miss meeting him.

More later. It’s time to go. We all love all of you. (Kirsten, since I am the one writing, I’ll take this opportunity to make this a private,confidential portion just to you. I love you and miss you lots.