The first rains may have arrived at the beginning of June but it wasn't until last night I rememebered what rain is truly like. After the best part of a year with dry, hot sun every single day a rainstorm was a blessing. It really feels like I've come full circle now and since it's back to Kaolack those first 3 weeks seem strangely familiar once again. Some things haven't changed. We were still the only ones to stand in the street and enjoy the full force of the stinging rain, the cold, ferocious wind and the constant drone of thunder and strobe lighting. Master P and Orlando had taken a motor scooter to the market and found themselves a bit stuck but arrived hoeme a few hours after in a bread van looking like two drowned and scruffy rats by which time the rest of the family were safely under the canopy eating mangoes and madd fruits with chilli powder and sugar by torchlight and playing word association games to entertain ourselves.

I'm currently in the Diapolante centre which has now finished teaching for the year. Unfortunately Louise got a high fever last night and has been quite sick so the doctor's been to drug her up so she's in bed trying to sleep or at least whilst there's power enough to have the fan. Power cuts have been horrendous lately, so much so that there were protests which got a little violent in Dakar and various towns, including Joal. In about 2 weeks I've had dinner with the power on once. Since arriving home from St Louis Joal has had no water either so I've been perfecting my technique at the well several times a day. Luckily it's been after we finished work so going in the morning had't been such a problem. We left Joal on Thursday in the end after putting it off and off - enjoying life in our street just too much! The fishermen are repairing a gigantic net outside our house which spreads the length of the street so everyone has been sitting out, drinking ataya and watching the kids get tangled up in it all day long. I did a week of English lessons with Toure's daughter, Awa, too every afternoon which everyone enjoyed and resulted in the whole family learning parts or the body and numbers. Suddenly we seem to know a lot more people in the quartier and only as it's nearing the end! It's been gradual the whole year but there are so manye people I wish that I'd met sooner and been able to get to know better. Ami's son, Alioune, was 2 weeks old when we arrived and now he's 10 months old and changed beyond recognition. It's strange to think that that change will just keep going once we're gone...

We also said our goodbyes to the schools, it's still not hit me that I won't be back teaching there ever again. As for everyone else we're going back to Joal for the final weeks in August to see everyone before it's time to go. Aicha's school had it's end of year ceremony and prizegiving for which we helped cook for her class and even received diplomas for the art club and our contribution to the department of Thies' competition for primary schools ("Genies en herbe') to which we contributed 30 handmade medals, made in oen very dedicated days worth of aching backs and fraying ribbons.

The plan is to leave here tomorrow and head SE but we'll see how Louise is feeling and if I can get all my washing done in time! Hope you're all having a lovely summer and a nice July,

Kirsty x