Missing My Africans

messages from dani and myself after coming back to the States

from dani:
I miss them too... Except not Abou when she tells me to go back to the states and Rashida when she's satan's spawn... Bahaha.
I miss our chicken.
And I really miss Mamoona.
And okay I even miss that super tall man lady that ALWAYS asked me for my belongings... Without fail....
I miss Barbara.
and the boy that everyone hated but we loved because he was so sweet.
I miss Zerma, even though it caused me much stress and heart ache.
I miss downtown and gettin' pissed at the kids.
I miss Bobay... My hubby.
and his pigeons.
And I miss running in at night only in the midst of the dust storms, never before and having a sandcastle in my tent.
I miss market day.
And farimosa on Sundays under our mysterious structure/get away.
I miss walking for miles with Charifa and never really knowing where we would end up.
I miss windy windy.
I miss late night talks and weyno.
I miss "Charifa une Charifa deux Charifa uh uh uh uh uh."
I miss rice and beans and hiding in the hot back room to eat our food.
I miss it all.
And I REALLY miss you.

from myself:
well since its 9:30 right now... I miss you giving me the ok to set my bed up :-)
I also miss...singing Zaru Neeya a million times a day and doing all those hand games
awkwardness at compounds when we first entered
hearing Africa's heartbeat- (the pounding)...
our teamwork in getting water to our house
praying together every morning and your heart of joy and encouragment
Bakissa watching us like a hawk- well not really that part- but I do miss B bunches
our cow eating our dalas
the way the old lady took the goats back to where they belong
trips to the bush after dark
and early morning adventures to avoid being caught with the black bucket
having filthy feet and never feeling completely clean
laughing so hard- the day of the kuuku, the baby, and Bisara's makeup
running to Kollo and Sidinary and waking you up so early
the meat lady... however crazy she was
dinner conversations in Niamey
moments in "African paradise" with B & K
the excitement of gettting a new outfit made or even more so the fun of selecting the fabric
Arfat and his friends and the rat
sneaking videos of the old lady
the joy Bob Marly had in letting you cook
Laban! the coolest and most refreshing thing in the bush
I miss it all too!!

So I never did write many more stories from my time in Africa on here but I have been able to share my experiences and memories with many since coming back to the States :-) and that has been good for me because I enjoy sharing.