around Thanksgiving

Hi Guys,

How is shopping today? Got a lot good deals? and how was "Turkey" day? Bien mange??? (that's means did you eat well?)


I will be having our Thanksgiving dinner today in about 3 hours with other volunteers who came to Labe. Just rode in this morning around 11am. It is my 4th trip coming to Labe on a bike. It is never easy, but much less tiring and with very little after affect. Most of volunteers came in yesterday, so cooking was well underway when I got to the volunteer house. PC Washington send us a turkey, we bought some fish and chicken on our own, so I am sure it will be a good feast. I just hope it won't burn a hole in my pocket. To my dismay, the check for living allowance coming from PC Washington has not arrive to Conakry, so we haven't gotten paid for the next cycle. To be honest, I came to Labe more to take out all my money, so I can pay for the repair work for the room where we will install the library and the necessary furnitures. The repairs have started, and I like to get everything done in December. Feel a bit guilty, but I also want to pick up some "luxury" food item like cookies, cocao powder, oat meal, and also some more pretty fabric, but money isn't in the bank yet. Darn! I will have to come back to Labe with the mailrun truck in a week and half to get my money. That way, I ride in a PC vehicle to Labe, and just have to bike back to my site (which is an easier ride, :).


I just got an email from my country director that donation to my library project (for repairs and furniture) that we posted through Peace Corps Partnership has been fully funded. Wow! I haven't yet figured out who funded it, but thank you whoever you are. I really wasn't counting on that getting funded after I drained many pockets of yours (my good friends), just thought there might be some other good doers out there. I was just going to fund the repairs and furnitures out of my living and transportation allowance. Since I can't get much at my village and I bike as much as can to avoid taxis, I don't use as much of my allowance as other volunteers. Anyway, that just mean we can make the library even prettier, and we can buy more supplies for the activities that we can do at the library. Horray!


Teaching the second year might be easier, but I am finding being overwhelmed at times with keeping track the progress of all my 7 classes, and the progress of particular students, and displine problems. I am also drilling on my 10th graders on math exercises, to bring their ability level to the level required to study 10th grade physics. Afternoon are mostly spent on items on the todo list for the library. Another french teacher is very motivated to help me with the library, and he is taking care of the coordination of repairs and furniture making, while I shell out money. He has came up with many economic ideas, but I still have to wonder sometimes if he is pocketing a little bit of the money I am paying to the carpenter or the mason. But then I thought about it, he is doing a lot of legwork and talking for me, and why should he do it for free when he doesn't get paid enough for being a teacher, and life is so difficult for them.


I better get back to the house for our Thanksgiving feast, but not before I thank you all for keeping in touch, donating to my library project and keeping me in your thoughts.

I hope you are all having a great Thanksgiving weekend with your loved ones!


From another of your loved ones who could not make it to your table this time,

Bonnie