Follow the kids . . .

Hello All,

As always, I am actively stalking potential friends. This time, I watched Karim at school to see who he plays with most. Immediately he started playing with and talking about two brothers, Ron and Ijan. After some sleuthing, I discovered that their family is Congolese and just moved here 4 months ago. Positive they needed friends too, I gave their nannie my number and sure enough, a few hours later, I had a date. Yay! We met up for drinks and kid fun at the Grand Hotel last night. It was a refreshing bit of mom-to-mom time. We've also met a 4yr old Irish boy who lives 4 doors down from us- he also has a skuut bike with no pedals! I can't wait for Karim's to get here so they can terrorize the neighborhood together. We're planning to pop over later this afternoon to try to meet the parents.

Good news! Our stuff has made it off the boat in Benin. It should be here within the next month- assuming it clears customs and the truck doesn't break down or get hijacked on the way here- oh and assuming that everyone it competent- always a risk.

Cheikh left for Agadez yesterday morning in the middle of a particularly violent thunder storm, so I was relieved when he called to tell us he'd arrived safely. We're expecting him back for lunch on Wednesday. We have a new, amazing cook who made Cheikh feel like he'd finally come home when she made one of his favorite Senegalese dishes on Friday(with actual palm oil!)

I'm doing well. Lots of running and yoga. Quite a bit of journaling and prep work for my novel, but not too much actual drafting yet. We're all gearing up for Ramadan to start around the 20th of this month. This week we bought tons of food since all the prices are expected to double this month in observation of the holy month. Does that seem charitable and communal to you? Anyway, such is life.

Cheikh is still working a ton, but we're all adjusting to it. It's nice that we're able to have lunch together every day as a family(when he's in Niamey of course:0). We've found a car we like, now we just have to figure out how to pay for it! yikes. Like I said, things are not cheap here- especially imported things like cars. Cheikh will most likely have to report the update of the final bargaining once we get to that point, since my very presence in the car lot would up the price by 20%.

I'm glad you enjoyed the giraffe photos. Unfortunately, our friend with the camera won't be back until Sept 29! Thinking of all of you- Especially of Heron on his rafting trip and Rachel as the wedding approaches. Congratulations and lots and lots of love from here.