New!

W.H.O. gave us some textbooks, two new computers and actually best of all, two back-up batteries. The back-up batteries will allow us to leave two of the computers on until exactly when the power goes off, instead of turning them off at five minutes to two, just in case. Sometimes power will stay on until 2:20, maybe longer. Twenty-five extra minutes doesn’t seem like a big difference but actually is.

Yet, if W.H.O. had asked me, instead of asking probably no one at all, “What expensive equipment can we buy for the school?” I would’ve answered, “No need to send two brand new computers—we’ve already got more computers than the power supply to the school will allow us to turn on at the same time. But you know what would be great? Maybe more than just two back-up batteries, maybe four, and that way all of the computers that we can simultaneously turn on could have a back-up battery.”

Of course, W.H.O. had no way of knowing that we already had computers and that we would therefore have had a use for more back-up batteries. Also, the part of me that loves shiny new gadgets (a part I had not realized I had until moving to a place where shiny new gadgets are few and far between) really loved installing that new computer. The squeak of the Styrofoam, the static cling as the protective plastic sheet pulled back from the monitor’s screen, the silky smooth cables not covered with irremovable dust, the electric blue of the lit-up power buttons.

It's so...new!

The computer lab. Only four computers are operational at one time.

I made that poster on the wall.

No water flows through those faucets, so no worries.

More School Photos!

I am wearing that ridiculous(ly amazing!) outfit because it was the day the of the school's goodbye program for Julia.

Grade 12

Grade 12

Grade 12

Grade 11

Grade 11

Grade 11

Staff photo

Again, with some of the teachers who were elsewhere when the first photo was being taken.

"Miss Jallow, take a picture of me."

"No, no, don't snap the photo yet!"

This is the first time I'd ever seen anyone dressed up like the Fula girls I sometimes encounter on postcards. They were wearing costumes for skits they were performing in honor of World AIDS Day.

Strolling!

Here are some photos from my stroll:

I love walking over bridges. Even ones without purpose. Especially the ones without purpose.

Some random shirts hung out to dry. No house in sight.

I changed this photo to black and white so it would look cooler. The actual termite mound was light brown in color.

The reason for the stroll.

There is a goat in a bucket on the back of that motorcycle.

The Maybe Hotel

Bicyclists!

Last Sunday I decided to go for a stroll. The temperature was cool, I had nothing to do, and I wanted to photograph an amusing sign that I knew was somewhere down the road, the one that passes through the woods beside the river. My only hesitation was that Sunday is the day of the big weekly market; I worried too many passing people would disturb and destroy what I envisioned would be a relaxing commune with nature.

Happily, this was not the case. Maybe because it was approaching evening and everyone wanted to get home, few men slowed down their bicycle for more than a “good afternoon,” and those that asked “Where are you going?” all accepted my answer of “I’m just strolling” without further comment.
There were a couple of mini-conversations, however. Here is how they went:

Bicyclist 1: Good afternoon.

Me: Peace only. How’s the afternoon?

Bicyclist 1: Peace only. What is your name?

Me: Binta.

Bicyclist 1: Surname?

Me: Jallow.

Bicyclist 1: Binta Jallow. Which country are you from?

Me: America.
Bicyclist 1: America! Allahu-akbar! I have a child who is in America.

Me: Where in America?

Bicyclist 1: Hamburg.

............................................................

Bicyclist 2: Can I take you?

Me, not hearing what was said but assuming it was a greeting: Jam tan.

Bicyclist 2: Huh?

Me: Wii da?

Bicyclist 2: Can I take you?

Me: No.

...........................................................

Bicyclist 3: Aloha.

Español!

For once I studied the correct foreign language. Before this afternoon, the only time I haven’t wished I’d studied French were during those handfuls of times when a bean sandwich would come wrapped in a piece of Spanish newspaper: “Mi abuelo y mi padre eran del Barça y es mi equipo tras la Real.” “Los expertos rusos, además, constatan que las reserves de las grandes companies, como TNK-BP, Lukoil, Yukos o Sibneft, son mayors de lo que se esperaban.” “CLASIFICADOS JUEVES, 29 SEPTIEMBRE 2005 GATOS GATOS BRITISH. 679-42-919”

Mr. K asks if I’ve seen Haggie. I assume this is because Mr. K would like to speak to Haggie. Actually, it is because Haggie would like to speak to me. The situation is this: the school has a new copier. It is actually a used copier, and it came from Spain. Mr. K. and Haggie seem to remember that I can speak Spanish. This is something I was once able to sort-of-do, but have not even sort-of done since junior year of high school.

We turn the machine on. “Espera, por favor” flashes across the display. I’m excited because I know this means, “Please wait” and maybe I’ll be able to help after all. Haggie would like the language changed to English. This doesn’t seem to be the modern, globally aware copier capable of that, but who knows, maybe. I find a menu that seems a likely candidate. Options include “Fecha/Hora” and similar changing-settings type things, but no “Lengua.” I fiddle around with the buttons some more, mostly because I’m amused that a Spanish copier has appeared in my life, until Mr. Kongira suggests we try copying something.

Success, nearly. One corner is a little cut off.

Try again.

Near success again.

Try again—and this time I realize that the real problem, the real reason they needed a Spanish speaker, is not that the copier no habla anglais, but that it has a habit of switching itself into fax mode (even though it’s not even connected to a phone line, because the school has none of those) and refusing to do anything unless a password is provided.

I fiddle some more, but now I don’t even know what words I should be looking for, in any language…eventually I tell them I will take note of the copier’s manufacturer and model and the next time I’m somewhere with internet I’ll see if I can find an instruction manual. This pleases them, and we leave the office.