Once upon a time...
On the eve of three weeks of self-directed research, I woke up at 8am, knowing only that by 9am I would be at a Shell station, suitcase in hand, and that by that evening, inchalla, I would be in St. Louis with a roof over my head. Little did I know, the trip would go seamlessly (sauf a minor car accident...just a scrape and some exchanged, very pointed alxamdulillas between our chaufeur and the other) and that by that evening I would find myself with a beautiful roof over my head, tile under my feet (white tile!!!) and the regional manager of the Hunger Project, (who works exclusively with rural women's groupements in developing self-sustaining micro-credit systems) as my landlord and project advisor.
(...sometimes things just work in Senegal.)
On the eve of three weeks of self-directed research, I woke up at 8am, knowing only that by 9am I would be at a Shell station, suitcase in hand, and that by that evening, inchalla, I would be in St. Louis with a roof over my head. Little did I know, the trip would go seamlessly (sauf a minor car accident...just a scrape and some exchanged, very pointed alxamdulillas between our chaufeur and the other) and that by that evening I would find myself with a beautiful roof over my head, tile under my feet (white tile!!!) and the regional manager of the Hunger Project, (who works exclusively with rural women's groupements in developing self-sustaining micro-credit systems) as my landlord and project advisor.
(...sometimes things just work in Senegal.)
posted by Meg at 3:16 PM
15 Comments:
pas mal, ma cherie! Look at you workin the connections...or simply conveniently finding them. I want to read about your research. Can I make a confession? I kinda, er, sat down too hard on the futon and busted a bar. I blame faulty construction (look at those bars! they're held in by plastic!) and the hornet that was terriorizing me that made me get up in the first place. But Caitlin fixed it!! YAAAAY! I don't want to alarm you with this story, but I guess you'd find out sooner or later. Please don't be angry avec ton petit chou...Oh yeah and I also singed Cloud 9. I am wreaking havoc on the furniture! In other news, Orange Crush will be at Middlebury on Friday....eightieslicious, I think is the right word. Have fun in St. Louis (did you ever watch that musical...meet me in St. Louis, Louis...) I bet you did. And if not, that will be a project to undertake together someday. It's high quality.
toodles, my love, good luck with the research!
love, Kate "Tiny Bubbles Never Wets the Bed and you shouldn't either" Leyland
teehee my puzzle is oggnrosn.
For the record, my super-secret-passcode this time was "fofump." Hehehe.....fofump....that can't be random.
Actually....that's pretty much all I had...Hey, Kate, I think Cole's band is playing on Friday in Pearsons, just for the record. Word. They rock your socks off.
Good on ya, Meg. Keep it up. I look forward to your glorious return!
-James
Oh God! Reading James and Liso's comments and then thinking that you're almost done in Senegal...!! How strange it must be to only have a few weeks left. I'm sure that you're going to miss some things about Senegal, but at the same time I'm sure you'll be glad to get rid of ginormous cockroaches.
Meanwhile...I still have another oh, 8 months here?
You think Orange Crush is eightieslicious, you should come to Germany. This country is permanently stuck in the 80's. All the leg warmers, mullets, and brightly colored polyester blend shirts, and I feel like I just stepped out of a Molly Ringwald movie. Meg, I can't believe your time is almost over...I'm not even close.
Love,
Alex
p.s. My puzzle is nbbnip. Heehee.
WHITE TILE?!?! That sounds lovely, ma dear. I'm in the middle of a paper right now, and your blog was just what I needed to refresh me. Maybe when you come home for xmas we can have some more team fun (with diminished numbers obviously).
Oh yeah, and I met Katie's friend Jessie Clayton. She's really cool. Wee! I miss you!
I'm jealous! I never get cool super-duper secret passwords. mine this time is omcyuvp. not cool. boo.
Dear Sweetness,
And...sometimes the world just opens up...and gives itself to you. And you say yes! Love the way you "receive". News? Pat's got a car! I'm on Women's Retreat at La Foret (with 58 gorgeous FCCers...including mother/daughters like Katie and Susan!) Ahhhhhh. It's chilly. Winter's coming. Truly busy...but also truly engaged in life. A striking combo! Love as you let yourself drop right into your project. Your curious spirit and resourcefulness will come in handy! So...I'm guessing that we could begin to count the days!! That would be 29!!
The moon rose so full and golden tonight. And I thought of you...
xoxoxo Momma
p.s. My secret code sounds like the sound you make when you want a cat to get off the counter, "cjsptz"!
Episode 41: Tiny Bubbles BUSTS THE BED!
err...futon. Hey, as long as it works and the hornet lost the fight, I'm a happy camper. ORANGE CRUSH?? Le sigh.
James: fofump = sound kate makes while breaking a futon.
Liso; James IS weird. I think we shall be neighbors....hope hope hope! I still owe you a pizza from that time I devoured yours halfway through the night. If we're chataeu neighbors, I can guarantee it within the cold month of january!
Sannie; yeahm it is weird to think I don't have much time left...but as I'm head-first diving into research, I've yet to have time to really savor that fact. I'll miss my family. I won't miss the bugs. I envy you your months.
Alex: If you take a picture of yourself in Germany clad in the aforementioned items, I may die a happy girl.
Jenny: Eeew...I'm in the middle of a paper too! (well>>>kind of for the next three weeks kind of paper) Team fun has only just begun.
Lo: Comment again! Good passwords come to all in due time.
Mumsy: Your life is always full full full...but come January... ;) 28 days! What kind of car? And where is he going? (I have a friend in Boston that I want him to meet if he plans on traveling in that direction.) Love you so!
p.s. yvjbpznf
...is it yiddish?
Thanks for the info, Ellen. Registration attempt number 1 under way.
Grandma - Wow, that letter got there fast! Say "Happy Thanksgiving" to the family for me and give them all my love!
Grandpa - Thanks for the weather report! I tried to explain the concept of 'cold' to one o my Senegalese friends here and she just shook her head at me. I think you have to feel it to believe it.
Dear Megest, or Dearest Meg,
I write to you with the sun streaming across my desk and that faint smell of laundry detergent evaporating of the drying clothes in my room. Today Battell beach was full of freshman who had organized a Quidditch world cup. It was an actual tournament with brooms, cloaks, quaffles, bludgers, keepers, seekers, chasers, beaters, and of course a golden snitch taped to the back of a skinny cross country runner who ran away from the seekers. The hype began earlier this fall and the excitement culminated this beautiful sunny November afternoon in typical creative, ingenious Middlebury fashion.
I went rock climbing in New York again yesterday. We stood at the base of a cliff watching the ice melt on the sunny rock face for minutes in silence. In places, the water flowed in rivuletes behind thin sheets of ice and we watched the water collect on outcroppings until it exceeded the horizontal extent of the imperfection and spilled over the edge. It was a cold day of intermittent sun and numb fingertips grasping holds. Beautiful.
Love and miss,
Caitlin
I need some creativity in my life. Therefore, I have decided to write this in the style of the previous post:
I write to you with the fluorescent light streaming across my thesis carrel (kitchen table) and the faint smell of coffee evaporating out of the cup I stole from my roommate in my common room. Today Battell beach was full of dorks who had organized a Quidditch dork-athon. It was an actual tournament with brooms, cloaks, a soccer ball, two oversize kickballs, stolen dorm chairs and hula-hoops. The hype began earlier this fall and the excitement culminated when some clown charged the lane, took out a defender and ate it hard, destroying one of the chairs (and likely causing some internal bleeding) in the process. It was all in typical creative, incredibly nerdy Middlebury fashion.
I went on a bike ride the other day. I stood in thigh-deep water at the low point in a failed stream crossing attempt watching my body temperature and self esteem melt away as it had been since the rainy outset of the ride. In places, the water flowed in rivulets behind the thin sheets of Lycra covering me and I watched the water collect in my shoes until it exceeded the horizontal extent of the side vents and spilled over the edge. It was a cold day of intermittent periods where the hurricane-like rain stopped and numb fingertips grasped the handlebars for dear life. Moist.
Love and mister,
James
-----------------------
Good day to you, Meg. Warlock Santa says, ”Holla” (or if you’re Jewish, “Challah.”)
Not gonna lie, that’s the funniest thing I have ever thought of. I rule.
PS- I love dorks…and freshmen….no hate, only love….
PPS- Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Remember that.
This is for James:
I hope you're not mocking me. Either way, you rock and thank you for not disturbing my during-party slumber on Saturday. And second, way to bring Warlock Santa back into this, even though Meg probably has no idea what you are talking about. Kate will be pleased beyond words, she's still not talking in her normal voice, she may or may not have changed her identity on the facebook, and I believe she incorporated him into her take-home exam on Chinese poetry. Brilliant.
Caitlin
Smore Vikings (and 35 hidden 'Le' s)
You may think that Le Vikings fan had given up on the season. Le Wrong!!
Le Vikings fan was simply laying low, sleeping perhaps, waiting for the right time to explode on the scene again. Le Vikings of old are back!! We have Le Defense again and Brad Johnson (Brad Johnson?!?!?) has lead the team to 3 victories in a row.
Since I last wrote, the Vikings have played Carolina (lost badly 38-13...and worst of all, we lost Culpepper for the season due to an injury). It looked Le Bad. Very Le Bad. And then, Le Brad stepped in.
Our next game was against Detroit. Our defense finally kicked in and we managed to win the game in a somewhat convincing style. After Detroit, we played the New York Giants who have had a great season so far. Over the last two years, the Giants have spelled the downfall (d-o-w-n-f-a-l-l) for Le Vikings. This year didn't look any different. Le Brad looked horrible. By the third quarter, Le Vikings offense had only gain 6 (six!!) yards. However, Le Vikings didn't give up. Le Defense intercepted a pass and ran it back for a touchdown. Le Special Teams scored two touchdowns (one on a kick-off return and another on a punt return). By the time the last minute of the game rolled around, the score was tied, 21-21. Le Vikings had the ball and it was up to Le Brad to make something happen (preferably something good). In 3 plays, Le Brad moved the ball just barely within field goal range for our rookie kicker. He had already missed two field goal attempts in the game. This one was going to be for 48 yards (longer than the ones he had missed) and it would win the game if he made it. Would he make Le kick? Well....I've already given it away, haven't I :-). Of course he did.
Last night we played Le Packers in Green Bay. They were very Le Mad because we had beaten them before with a last second field goal. They wanted Le Revenge. I think this game was a turning point for both Le Offense and Le Defense. At last, they both played well in a game. Le Packers have been having an awful season but they always play tough against Le Vikings. By the end of the game (minus 3 seconds), the game was again tied. Le Vikings had the ball and only had time for a field goal attempt. This time, the field goal attempt would be from 24 yards. And again, Le Vikings won the game with a last second field goal. Le Packers are very Le Mad at Le Vikings. Le Life is good!!!
Well my dear Le Meg, it is time for Le End.
Le Bye.
Dear Caitlin and James:
(first a repetition of James' birthday greeting)
I write to you with a mixture of sweat and mosquitoes streaming down my back and that faint smell of body odor evaporating from computer users near me. Today, I imagine, Battell beach was covered in admirers who had organized a parade of birthday well-wishes for a certain J. Rogers. It was quite the fiasco, I'm sure, with screaming fans, fainting women, wide-eyed children, and Caitlin naked, as usual, with something gold taped to her behind for modesty. The hype began about 22 years ago when this odd child popped into the world, greedy little eyes already searching for the newest mountain bike and the rattiest drinking jacket he could get his hands on. Now, over two decades later, the excitement has culminated on this November morning with sheer hysteria and an eery underscore of Eric Clapton melodies.
Secondly: Warlock Santa?
Love you both, you hooligans.
Meg
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