Always in the deep woods when you leave familiar ground and step off alone into a new place there will be, along with the feelings of curiosity and excitement, a little nagging of dread. It is an ancient fear of the unknown and is your first bond with the wilderness you are going into. What you are doing is exploring. -- Wendell Berry

The TRIP: GUINEA - wonkifong --> MALI - bamako, djenne, douentza, Dogon Country --> Burkina Faso - ouagadougou, bobo-dioulasso, bala, ouagadougou --> GHANA - tamale, mole national park, tamale, yeji, volta lake ferry, akosombo, accra, green turtle lodge, elmina, cape coast, accra, hohoe and wli falls --> TOGO - kpalime, atakpame, lome --> BENIN - cotonu (transport stop) --> NIGER - niamey, tahoua, agadez, camel trek in aiir mtns, niamey --> BENIN (abomey, grand popo, ouidah, ganvie, cotonou) --> CAMEROON (douala, buea, top of Mt Cameroon, limbe, sangelima, yaounde, kribi, douala) --> MAURITANIA (nouakchott, atar, chinguetti, camels into the sahara, terjit, choume, ride the coal train, nouadhibou) --> MOROCCO (western sahara, dakhla, agadir, essaouira, marrakesh, imlil, summit of jebel toubkal, fes, chefchaouen) --> cross the Strait of Gibraltar --> Malaga, Spain --> fly to Geneva, Switzerland --> Les Grangettes, France
Click for a map. Updated April 30, 2007

vendredi, décembre 29, 2006

Bundles of Wood

At times, the stacks measure eight feet wide and 3-4 feet high. Bundles of wood containing 8-10 or more three feet sections of branch or tree are laid in front of the Principle’s are. The bigger the stack, the more trouble that I know a group of students is in.

“Two fagots by tomorrow” has been a recent statement to students not acting as the school administration would like. This means that the student has to either purchase the wood or grabs a machete and head out into the bush to cut down a tree. The wood is then carried on their head to school. Students usually have a few days to bring in the wood but if they refuse they are not allowed in school.

“Carrying a bundle of wood for 7 km will tire them out so that they will behave today,” smiles a teacher.

And the wood, what do you think happens with it?

posted by Frank @ 3:14 AM