24 things Chadian

My time in Chad has passed it’s half way mark. Now there are only 6
weeks left before I return to the big U S of A, or as the Chadians
call it: usa (oussa). In this past month I have learned about
disappointment and how to accept the boredom and routine of life. I’ve
had a few breath taking moments, and I’ve done some counting. Where
time is measured on a twenty four hour clock, here is a day in Chadian
numbers:
1 – dip in the greenish pool that we visited on Mohamed’s birthday
2 – Chadian meals eaten within a 3 hour period that filled my stomach
past its typical limit (the food was delicious though)
3 – Thursday afternoon sessions of saving Chadian orphan lives by
passing out mosquito nets
4 – exams I have slaved over correcting (50 copies for each one)
5 – days of laying on the floor coughing, feverish, and without energy
6 – feet of cloth that I will wrap around my head before heading out
of the gate on the way to class this morning
7 – hours on a hot and crowded bus on the ride to and from the city of
Moundou in southern Chad
8 – house episodes that have competed in volume competitions with the
Chadian movie theater next door (and lost)
9 – days until my home stay experience in a real Chadian home.
10 – minutes that most of my colleagues use as break time when in
reality they are late for class
11 – date of my half-way point here in Chad
12 – students who come regularly to my English club to laugh at my
French and play ridiculous games
13 – time I will finish class today
14 – people (both Chadians and expat) who have gathered twice at our
home for a bi-lingual young adult bible study on Sunday afternoons
15 – white children who got to drive me crazy last Saturday during the
expat woman’s retreat where I volunteered to babysit
16 – nap time! (If I get the chance that is)
17 – evening prayer time for all the Muslims
18 – the number of marguieas (rat sized lizards) in the front yard right now
19 – times out of 30 that I have made the dinner of fried vegetables
or bread and cheese
20 – number of Chadians who listened to me try to sing in their choir
(I gave up on the attempt after one try)
21 – bed time.
22 – the number of ticks I pick from the dogs body and feed to the
ducks every couple of days
23 – number of heart decorations cut out from recycled Take Back the
Night paper and hanging from our windows
24 – dollars I spent on my first Chadian outfit!
And that my friends, is twenty four things Chadian. Take care, enjoy
your prospective lives, and together let us be witnesses to the world.