My brother, Michael, and his wife recently made a new addition to their household - a golden retriever puppy named Midas! On Monday after returning from Pittsburgh, I walked to their place to meet Dad, Sheri & Lindsay for dinner (and forgot my camera!). On Tuesday, Michael brought Midas over to Mom and John's for some quality time with our dogs Tyson and Karma (who, we have determined, are cousins). It was fun watching John and Michael wrangle all the pups together for a photo :)
Mom thinks Tillamook is the best kind of cheese!
Cassie continues to make waves in the Lomax/Davis household. Although we miss eating dinner with her while watching Wheel of Fortune, she sent us a package containing Tillamook cheese (and other Oregon treasures) that is keeping her spirit alive.
This morning I had the chance to give mock interviews to VBCPS students at Tallwood High School's Global Studies and World Languages Academy (the same ones I presented to last month). In between interviews, I talked with another of the interviewers who works for CMA CGM - one of the largest shipping container groups in the world based here in Norfolk, VA. It's a French shipping company with offices around the world (and they're hiring!). Neat!
And Mali makes the headlines. Three men were charged with the assault of interim president, Dioncounda Traore. I also really hope locusts don't swarm Mali. As though they (nor anyone!) need that right now. It's wild how this potential disaster, like the current chaos happening in the north of Mali, is being linked to Gaddafi and how his name continues to dot headlines involving Mali.
On a lighter - and kickier - note, the first African taekwondo-er to win a world-championship - Daba Modibo Keita- will compete in the Olympics this summer in London. Here's hoping he makes a splash and keeps Mali's name in the news - for good!
It's been a little over a month since I returned to the States and I have quickly settled into the Virginia Beach groove. Exercise at the Rec center with Memaw, trips to TJ Maxx and Target, and visits with family and friends. I recently stopped by my friend, Heather,'s office (a former teacher) who thought another former teacher of mine at Ocean Lakes, Mrs. Windish, currently teaching at the Global Studies & World Languages Academy, might like to hear from me, too. She sent an email to see if Mrs. Windish would be interested in me dropping by to talk about my Peace Corps experience in Mali with her internationally-minded students. While Mrs. Windish's reply was 'Yes!', I do not know who was more excited about the talk - me or her!
With Lady Luck and the Black Swan - OLHS grads and now VBCPS teachers! So proud!
But before I went to visit Mrs. Windish a cherished American holiday happened- Halloween! On October 31st, I donned a favorite complet and sat expectantly with a bowl of candy on my front porch. After a handful of cute kids in costumes treated, a group of teenagers waltzed down the street and I darted into the front yard to unload some of our mini-size Snickers, Almond Joys and Hershey bars on them. But I decided, since these tricksters were a bit older, to ask a few geography questions before I doled out half my bowl of treats to them.
"Where is Mali?" I ventured to this group of too-cool-for-school teens. "West Africa!" one of the girls quickly answered. 'Impressive,' I thought. "What is Mali's capital?" I continued, knowing I would stump the group with this one. "Bamako!" the girl answered, almost as quickly. 'Jeesh,' I thought. "What is a major river that runs through Mali?" I finally asked - knowing that, this time, I had them. "The Niger?" one of the boys in the group offered. "Goodness!" I said to them, "where do you guys go to school??" "Plaza Middle," the girl replied. "Tallwood," said the boy. 'Wow,' I thought - VBCPS is doing their job!
This morning I had the great pleasure of going to Tallwood High School to talk with two of Mrs. Windish's Global Studies classes about my work as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali and to see for myself what the Global Studies Academy was like. If trick-or-treaters can answer questions about Mali at the drop of a candy bar, VBCPS must be doing something right and my visit this morning just confirmed what I already knew - they are!
I was nervous when I started my presentation, but as I talked about Mali, Annie and Esayi and my work in Bamako, not to mention my tall, dark and handsome fiancé, I felt right at home. I talked about Mali's ethnicities, Malick Sidibé, GIS in Mali (Mrs. Windish is starting a unit on it and asked if I could incorporate it in my presentation) and everything in between! I loved sharing my experiences with students who were interested (for the most part!). They posed in-depth questions about Mali on topics as diverse as ethnic divisions and religious freedom to what the stars look like and where Abdoulaye and I want to live when we get married :)
At the end of the class the students thanked me for sharing my experiences in Mali with them. "You're going to be a great teacher," one of the students said (she was also the most active-listener I have ever encountered - nodding her head and smiling at me during the whole presentation! - thank you!). "You remind me of Mrs. Frizzle with your dress and they way you present," another student said. 'Mrs. Frizzle?' I thought. I think I'll take that as a compliment! :)
In case you were missing village, a video from where I lived my first two years
And in case you're nostalgic for the Magic School bus!
Do you want to know anything more about Mali that I haven't already shared? What do you think is the best school at the beach? :)
