October 19, 2008

NIAMEY, NIGER
When we dragged ourselves up, we met three English guys and a German, who were all crashing here. Two of the British left this morning—fed up with African transportation and flying home. The German, "Kipper," has his own truck and started out with thirty people, but had mechanical troubles and everyone left him. Because everything will be closed for three days, we went to the American Embassy's recreation center. It's an amazing little oasis of American culture: in the middle of a poor country where you can only buy bread, coffee and canned fish, is this colony with a swimming pool, ping-pong table, tennis court and bar, serving hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled cheese and salads and playing country/western music.

For five dollars, I became a one-month member and Jens, jean-Michel, Didi and Fatar are my guests; this enables us to use all the facilities—showers even!

At this latitude, it's uncomfortably hot from 8 to 5 or later and I have no compunctions about spending the day in the pool. There I met a Peace Corps worker who turned out to be Elizabeth Stein, whose yard we slept in. She was assigned here as a physical education teacher and given a crash course in French (which the kids don't speak much of anyway). but they stuck her with coaching the national women's basketball team. Another Peach Corps worker in phys. ed. used to teach at Mahopac, NY! He's also disappointed in his placement and waiting for a transfer.

At night, we watched a B-movie with popcorn and went back to Elizabeth's yard.

PHOTO CREDIT