Six jours qui reste en Afrique

Six days left in Africa

this will probably be my last post.. although after 6 pm today i am officially done with class and will have some nice time on my hands. i'm actually in the middle of writing my last paper of junior year - in french - on henna traditions in hausa culture. ironically, i am in the midst of suffering from a henna inflicted acid abrasion on my hands and feet (yes, the worst spots on the body to be itchy) and am covered in rash in the shapes of flowers and leaves. opted not to go to the clinic (and spend all of $5) because i have about $20 US left and i'm determined to make it last through the end. it's amazing how our concept of expensive has changed. sometimes we want to slap ourselves for getting upset over losing 200 CFA... which may only be 40 cents US but it covers a whole taxi ride, 1/3 of a beer, half an egg sandwich, two brochettes... etc. anyway, i think i'll survive the rash. mind over matter has in many ways been the motto of this entire experience, and i wouldn't want my last week to be ruined sulking in my scratches.

very last week... i can't believe how fast time has flown by! at the same time, i feel like i've been here forever. yesterday i walked home from the museum, which i haven't done for the past 2 weeks because it's been too freakin hot. we've actually been getting nice breezes throughout the day recently, and i'm not sure what the temperature has been but it's been much more pleasant than those 125 or so days. anyway, i chose to walk that scenic staple route, and as i walked home i realized all the things i will miss (aside from the stank of poo river and burning trash, of course!) we have the kids who scream anasara fofo from the river; we have our little beggar baby on the corner, whose family makes a killing off of a bunch of americans who can't resist a cute face; we have the automechanic shop on the side of the road (which is just a bunch of motorcycles and guys sitting on a bench) and then we enter the CFCA - where students passing by politely greet us in french, and then we meet up with our staff who greet our return in hausa and zarma. i hadn't done that walk in a while because i normally come home drenched in sweat, but yesterday was nice. i savored every minute of the walk, one which i will miss.

don't have it in me to get sentimental and reflective now. am already planning on writing extensively on the plane -as long as i don't need to benadryl myself to sleep, this time with good reason!- will revisit the blog then :) thanks for following