One quick entry this morning and then I’ll get my climate change paper done, and then I’ll pack…that’s the plan anyway…

The scene outside my house this morning. The end of the line for these guys, I’m afraid.

This tour of duty is really kind of like a 32 month long deployment. And I don’t care what all of you say who are currently floating around in tin cans- I’m sticking to my observation. In this case though, when I say that my time is like a deployment, I mean that the days can drag but the weeks fly by. I’m not exactly sure how this happens, but it always does.

So, some stuff that was crammed into this short, holiday week (so far):

 

1. I heard an inspirational presentation delivered by the executive director of Tostan

Molly Melching, at left with three volunteers from the Dakar Women’s Group who are acting out a short “play”. Molly was demonstrating the efficacy of explaining how human rights concepts can go hand in hand with traditions to village audiences.

The intrepid Cairo scholar passed on a great book, Half the Sky while I was visiting her a few months back. I finally got to this selection in my stack of reading, and once I picked it up I didn’t want to put it down. It is candid and realistic, yet it also chronicles a great deal of progress and optimism for the future of women in the developing world. There’s a chapter on Molly’s work with Tostan (Tostan means “breakthrough” in Wolof), and how her NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) has done so much to improve the lives of women (and consequently their communities) in Senegal.

I’d love to go on about what makes Tostan so successful in its endeavors, but really it’s a huge, multi-faceted subject that could take up a few more read-worthy books. I will say that among all of Tostan’s projects, it is widely know for its success in getting villages in West Africa (and now some in East Africa) to abandon female genital cutting through basic education of its repercussions. If you are new to this subject, please note that not all West Africans do this (and no, it is not a religious practice), but it still persists…even in the United States.

2. As the mouton started to pile up on Tabaski eve, there was a gathering that I attended of a different sort. This one fêted the birthday of Laurie, one of our favorite toubabs.

I can’t take credit for this chef-d’œuvre, but is this not the best Tabaski birthday cake you have ever seen? And don’t tell me that this is the only one you have ever seen, either.

I don’ t know about you, but the squeamish American in me likes the cute cottony sheep floating in Duncan Hines way more than I like the anatomically-correct ones that are currently undergoing less-than-chocolaty experiences outside my front door.

Laurie at my birthday back in August. I am displaying her excellent pico de gallo- and yesterday I returned the favor by baking her a bundt cake that refused to liberate itself from the pan. Guess who got a bundt pan with a free cake inside for her birthday?

3. What else did I do this week? Oh yeah, I got sick. But you all knew about that already (sorry bout that by the way).  Ça va mieux in case you were wondering – I was able to enjoy Tabaski cake!

4. After just about everyone in my various social circles has mentioned it to me, I finally picked up and read Born to Run. I tore through this book faster than Half the Sky– and it didn’t help that it was largely consumed during my 24 hour SIQ seclusion. I never wanted to go for a run so bad in my life- but there was no way in Hell I was stepping outdoors to attempt such a feat. Instead, I waiting till this morning to complete my long slow run.

Now I really didn’t intend to do 10 miles (heck, I haven’t run that far since Dublin), but I think the spirit of the Tarahumara had gotten into me a little bit.

5. And now you will be asking me if I’ll be taking part in any sheep slaughtering or consumption rituals on this Tabaski day? I’m not sure yet- since I do still have that paper hanging over my head and I need to pack before I travel tonight.  Lame excuses? Yes. That said, I have been toying with the idea of going vegetarian (again), and this might be just the experience to put me over the edge.

For now though, I’m quite satiated with my excellent post-run meal:

Breakfast of Champions- earlier in the week I made multi-grain baguettes, which turned to be an excellent digestive recovery staple. I think I have had mango french toast as a meal at least four times this week, sans complaint. The bananas were thrown on for good measure because ten miles is a really looong way. And what’s a meal chez Megan without some Purple Kool-Aid….

Alright, I need to go and be productive- seriously! 

But first, I really think I have earned a nap.