Mud puddles

I've decided to make a list of random things and memories that happen here is Togo- and even before Togo...  of course I will do this in my normal list format to make it seem organized


1. A bat flew into my house.  I forgot the word for bat in French, so I ran outside, made a noise that was half scream- half something else and said (in French), there  is a mouse in my house that does this.  I then waved my arms like a bird to indicate that the "mouse" flies.  The neighbor kid arrived to kill it with my broomstick.  Then he posed for a photo, holding it up with his right hand and the broom (weapon) in his left hand.  He reminded me of those fishmen who catches a 80 pound fish and poses for the camera, holding the fish, and his fishing rod.


2. Its so dusty during harmitan here, I can't see across the schoolyard in front of my house.  Sometimes I pretend its the "wild west"


3.  During harmattan, there is so much dust - on the ground and in the air.  Sometimes, the wind creates little tiny tornadoes.  Leaves get picked up and twirled around- all the way up to the sky.  


4. My neighbor's baby has the cutest smile I've ever seen- and can dance the chicken dance.  My neighbor Maxime can dance like Michael Jackson and his favorite song is Poker Face by Lady Gaga.  


5.  Sunset in Harmattan is unreal- the dust is like an orange ball shining through the dust.  


6. I made mac and cheese for my friend Pauline.  She added tons of hot sauce, rice, and beans with tomato sauce.  But she was soooo happy I made a meal for her.  


7.  I love pate (aka corn mush) and gumbo sauce (aka okra sauce aka snot sauce).  


8.  I try to carry big buckets of water on my head when no one is looking.


9. Once in awhile I have dance and food days with my neighbors kids: we put on some loud american music, bake cookies and make juice, and dance with broomsticks, my moto and bike helmet, and my way-too-big--for-their-feet shoes.


10. Many kids cry and/or run away when they see me.  It doesn't help to smile - I imagine they think that when I smile, I am actually barring my teeth, indicating that I will eat them.  Sometimes I want to say boo, to see what will happen, but I never do.  They have either never seen a white person before and think I am a scary monster, or the only white person they've seen is the nurse who gives injections- and they assume I'm her. 


11. Sometimes I have vegetables that go bad.  i try to hide it from my neighbors because I'm embarrassed about wasting food.  So when I throw them onto the pile outside, I make sure (1) there is no one around watching me and (2) there is a goat somewhere nearby who will eat is asap.  I might be a bit paranoid, but thats ok-I pretend I am a secret investigator who can't let anyone know I have these rotten vegetable.  


12.  For halloween, I did not have a costume and at the last minute, while pondering the tree outside, I decided to be a mango tree.  I attached mango tree branches to my head and stuck some mango leaves in my dress.  But, I forgot I had a mango allergy, and a day later had a rash all over.  I will not be a mango tree again. 


13. I have pooped my pants here more times than I remember.  It has made me love my digestive system even more.  And become really interested in environmental enteropathy.


14.  In an interview in college for an internship in the microbio lab at a hospital, I said "I am in love with the digestive system." 


15.  Whenever I leave my house, whether on foot, on moto, on bike, or by car, my dog runs after me.  My whole town knows who my dog is.


16.