Outstanding Matches

The crowds gathered to see the wrestling matches in my village. Young wrestlers came from the nearby villages.

The Market

Market day in the Village is every Thursday. The Market is huge with a wide variety of food and material items. People come from neighboring villages to sell and buy.

The Garden

Will and his friend built a garden on his concession(property). The project started in September. He and his neighbors are enjoying the fruits of their labors currently.

Favorite Parts

I am on my way to spend a couple of nights in a friends village, decided to stop through and just write for a minute or two while I had the chance.

I love my life here, but If I had to say my favorite part of everyday, its the first two hours of every morning, I get out of bed, its winter now and im getting great use of my sleeping bag (thanks Aunt Judy), I get dressed, walk out of my concession, and head to a local tiny store, I have a cup of coffee with sweet milk and a fried bean breakfast treat that you eat with a locally made spice. I shoot the shit with some of the natives, joke around, buy everyone a little breakfast sometimes as is customary in Nigerien lifestyle, I am returned the favor many times over. After about an hour i walk down next to the Maigari's(local tribal leader) house to greet and sit with him and his brother who is a Malam(which is a leader in the mosque) and sit with some of the higher level(older) villagers and discuss local happenings, wedding, naming ceremonies of the day, then I carry water to my house with my best friend and we water my vegetable garden and tree farm. It is a simple life here, a great life.

Untill Next Time

- Ousmane


Books of the Week - African Friends and Money Matters, Gives great perspective on how we view money differently, and made me understand more about the Nigerien Lifestyle, should be a requirement before you serve in Africa, or come here to travel for that matter, and Water For Elephants, just a great fun easy read..loved it!