Weekend in Africa....

Brought out the frisbee last night, was originally supposed to play "wale" a kinda of board game (thought they dig the board in the dirt) with the kids, but the ground was too wet so opted for some disc instead. After they got the hang of it, they went nuts! Even the adults thought it was pretty sweet, turned into a community event (didn't get any pictures, but it was raining, and after music death I'm paranoid..sorry). In the end got them playing this game where they stood in a big circle and threw it around, if you missed you were out until one was left. They seemed to dig that, and the adults judged whether the throw counted as a fair one or not. Once this got going I decided to go on an integration rampage, pounded fufu and did some laundry, feel save to say I got a passing grade from my house mom or at least a laugh!
This JF experience is a complete rollercoaster of emotions, friday afternoon riding home I hated this place, with everyone of the hundred plus "salaminga!" (white man!) shouts grating my nerves, but then I had a great night in the village. Food was good, it was a cool night so I got great(and not super sweatty sleep), and I feel I had a decent conversation about child discipling with Mustapha. He was explaining to me, after I'd watched him sternly talking to a young boy, that the boy had been three times absent from school, been warned and henceforth would be whipped the next time he was asbent. I feel I managed to convey to him, that while I agreed that the boy should be in school and that there should be consequences to his actions, physical violence wasn't the answer. We even dicussed some alternatives, such as removal of priviledges as alternatives. While I don't hold out any hope that this will spare the child in the end, I'd say it was definately a mutually respectful exchange of ideas, which to me at the least counts for something if some seeds were planted. The next morning I found myself loath to leave the community, and ended up being late to meet Glyniss(another JF) in Tamale cause I was shelling corn with the family. Going in to town though was the best choice I've made on this journey yet. Started with me running into Glyniss while I was texting her walking down the main drag, and then Dean immedeately after! Didn't even know he was coming in! Laughed, I mean really laughed, for the first time in a week, had a conversation without difficulty, talked about the experience, and generally had my spirits immeasureably lifted. Ended up crashing out at the ewb house for the night before heading back to Pagazza on Sunday.
Speaking of that trip, I decided to brave the taxi rank to snag a ride home. For those who don't know, this is essentially a large parking lot cramped with cars which you walk around asking people where the taxis to where you want to go are parked. Once you find it though, this doesn't mean you get to leave. Generally the drivers don't want to go unless they have six passengers, two in the front, four in the back, and kids don't count! Thought you can go with less but you have to pay multiple fairs. Ended up getting smooshed into the front with this 14ish year old boy, after about an hour and a half of waiting, felt kinda bad for him, think I freaked him out a bit.
Anyway the saga continues, stick on the ice but elbows up boys and girls!