Tuesday about 5p.m.ish on St. Patrick's Day

I had St. Patrick's Day a day early....I've just arrived back from a "standards setting" whatever with six teachers, six head teachers, and six primary education advisors. As before, I was the most underdressed person in the room. I won their hearts and minds with a Michigan Mint each (made right outside of Mason)following their lunch. We had a group picture taken at the end of the workshop, and I was the only white person in it. LJ & SK--Do you have any black children in your classes or at church or at ballet or soccer?

To answer BB's question about encountering any anti-US sentiment....I have to admit to hiding behind the cover of representing a Canadian NGO. But, today it was out in the open: I used to live in Canada but now I'm living in Michigan. You see, I had to make the tie to the mint. Anyway, no one threw a shoe at me, and remember, they love Obama! For the morning break, I had a new roll named, "Obama." Yes, I did have someone take a picture of me and the roll. Then, someone point to a crumbling muffin and said, "That one is called 'Bush.'" I would say having Obama as president of the US means much to the whole continent.

The buildings here are short and good for short people. I would say five stories would qualify as a skyscraper.

In terms of wearing a hat, I haven't yet taken it out of the bag. But, I am putting on sunscreen every day. Note: it's the rainy season, so there are terrific thunder storms almost daily. They are short and intense, and so I always carry an umbrella in my bag. I also have NOT had anything on except the "dressy" T-shirts I packed. I don't know how these women and men stand wearing suits and stuff around there arms. I'm also wearing sandals due to the weather. That's right, friends in Michigan, it's warm here.

Yesterday, I met a woman from the Netherlands (LJ, SK--Can you find it on the globe? Can mommy and daddy find it with you?" Hint: It's a very small country in Europe. Can you find Europe?

Anyway, the woman's name was "Joke" Von Something pronounced "Yo ku." She has been in Malawi working for three years for a company called, "Storybook Workshop" that takes information for children out into the countryside on videos, books, photo galleries. Because she's from another company, the Malawi government requires her to have a work visa (permit). Joke's visa has expired, so she can't work for the company until she gets a new one. That is good for the project, since the training manual needs to be put together. Moses has been trying to work on the manual now for two years. Smile. Anyway, it's underway and will take her only about five days. (Dan--There is a market niche here for someone with your skills.)

Yesterday (that I thought was St. Patrick's Day) I to a small restaurant about 4:30 p.m. because I hadn't eaten since 7 a.m. I asked for a menu, and the man told me that the chefs were "on break." (Is that why I keep running into unemployed chefs?)
So, I went to Kips again, since I could not face another curry of something at the hotel restaurant. I order a small pizza--vegetarian--and was it ever good! It even had corn on it! The owners of Kips are from south Asia. I noticed that the two owner brothers went to a room named "Namaaz" at 5 p.m. I thought....hmmmm..., I wonder if they are going to 5 p.m. prayer, since I think they are of the Islamic tradition. Sure enough, they came out of the room about 7-8 minutes later putting their prayer beads in their pockets.

That's it for now, I'm going to walk down the street to face the curry of something.