"Black People are Weller"

It's hard to believe how fast the time is flying by here! Our friends here often ask us to stay for another month! We began this week as last week, spending time with people in the neighborhood. Pastor Gomez usually asks if anyone knows English and has them come practice with us. We met a young man leaving school one day who said he had his English oral exam the following day. We were talking with him for a while when he said, "White people are well.... But black people are weller!" The communication never ceases to be a form of entertainment both for us and the people we're trying to speak with! Through our time here, I've also grown accustomed to the importance of greeting people. In a conversation similar to many we have, we shook hands as we approached, when we were introduced, when we were introduced by our new Baule names, as we left, and when we finally said goodbye! I now understand why Professor Swanepoel, my professor from South Africa, was so offended when she entered saying, "Good afternoon!" and only one or two replied!

On Wednesday this week, we traveled to the village of Zimbakro. In the "backa" (the 15-passenger van with 20 plus people) I sat shoulder to shoulder with a man carrying a briefcase on his lap and an alive, bound chicken hanging between his legs! That put a new spin on the chicken I've been ordering every night! I loved all the sweet children who followed us around, eventually two or three taking each of our hands! It is not unusual to see village children wearing threadbare clothes and having a protruding stomach from malnutrition.

Yesterday we enjoyed a day of rest. Some of us ventured to the market here, and we've discovered a city block's worth of hidden stalls of merchandise behind the storefronts. The paths between stores create a maze between the clothing stores, salons, and a fresh food market (with LOTS of fish), all hidden from the streets and covered with various tarps, umbrellas, and tin roofing. A family from the church had us over for lunch and made all of the things we order in the restaurants - french fries, salad, and charbroiled chicken! Their hospitality was so meaningful to us.

Today we spent time with over 100 children from the neighborhood again! Leigh and Joe joined us, and made the perfect Goliath for our story once Leigh was on Joe's shoulders! Another highlight of the morning was playing leap frog. Once the guys realized it was too difficult for the smallest children, Jordan and Joe began taking the arms of the last child and carrying him or her above the rest of the kids to the front of the line! You can imagine how much fun they had.

The next update will be from Abidjan... We will be very sad when the time comes to leave our friends here in Yamoussoukro on Monday!