Hello Glasgow!

Hello to everyone in Glasgow!!Dad informed me the other day that my blog is on the EPB website. I will try to put a little more effort and creativity into this blog. Send me an email with g-town updates, chaunceyboggs@gmail.com. Or if you would like to send me a letter my address is:

Chauncey Boggs, PCV
Corps de la Paix
B.P 222
Nouakchott, Maurtiania
West Africa

I started teaching English at the High School a month ago and it has been a challenge. I only teach nine hours a week, but right now that's enough. I am still adjusting to my new life and enjoying the slow pace for the moment. After Christmas I plan on starting an English club...we shall see. My students are...well, difficult. I have four different classes that meet every week for two hours. Each class has at least 40+ students and a couple wooden benches that are falling apart. That is not the difficult part of teaching but more so the lack of respect from the students. They are always talking, singing, walking out of class, drawing, fighting, offering marriage proposals to the teacher,(I'm serious) playing ridiculous music on their cell phones- you name it...anything except paying attention. The Islamic religion prohibits men and women from touching so the boys sit on one side of class and the girls on the other and the girls are, of course, always chatting. I am the only female teacher at my school which didn't really surprise me because usually by the age of 14 girls are married and expecting children. People in my village find it hard to believe that an "old woman" such as myself isn't married-yes, they call me an old woman at 22. Ha! I just laugh and tell them that work/traveling is more important for some people. What else can I say? They think I'm crazy, but I really don't care. If I inspire one child during my two years- it's worth the daily diarrhea. On that note I would like to say that I am healthy again! I haven't been sick in weeks. :) Don't worry Nana.
Other than school life is getting easier in Ould Yenje- easier meaning I am feeling more and more at home. Thank you for all the wonderfully put together care packages- the food is so appreciated, especially for Thanksgiving :) For Christmas all the volunteers are heading to the capital, Nouakchott and then to Senegal for New Years. I'm more than ready to see everyone!
The pictures above were taken last month. The one with the Mauritanian flag was taken at my school- can you see the bell in the front? You hit the barrel with a rock & that is suppose to be the sound of class beginning, but here it is the bell for tea and then class. The bowl of rice, potatoes and something green is my lunch--well, followed by a couple power bars :)
Miss you all so much and think of you daily. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The cold season is here..a freezing 70degrees in the morning has me wearing my fleece to school!
oh, and about the kid picking his nose-- it is culturally acceptable to pick your nose in public. Where am I? Seriously.