Flat Isaac

For a school project, Isaac (my sisters middle child), sent us a flat version of himself for us to take pictures and share a little bit about our life here.  The boys were excited to do stuff with flat Isaac and I got to thinking that some of you might enjoy seeing the picture we got too.  Here is the letter that Flat Isaac wrote to Isaac about his time here.

Dear Isaac,

Thank you for sending me to Africa.  It is hard for me to find the words to describe everything I saw, smelled, heard, tasted and touched.  Life here is very different.  However I have tried to write a few things down for you to learn a little bit about where your cousins live.  I hope that someday you too will get to visit and see it all for yourself.

Your cousins live in a small town an hour outside of the big city of Dakar.  There is one paved road coming close to their house, but after that it is dirt roads.   There is sand everywhere!  There are also animals walking free all over: cows, pigs, horses, donkeys and goats.

Each morning the boys wake up and go to get bread for breakfast.  They get it from the local boutique that is just around the corner, which is where they buy a lot of their food.

After that it was time for school.  Ethan let me go to school with him.  It was all in French, but he translated for me.

School ends at 1 and then we headed home for lunch.  I was starving as it was very much past a normal lunch time for me, but they seemed to be used to it by now.  Lunch usually involves a rice dish.  They eat all around one bowl.  I was even daring enough to try eating with my hand although I had to be careful and only use my right hand.  The food was good, but I could see how it takes some getting used to.

Even the clothes their are different.  Although a lot of kids can be found wearing shorts and shirts, the grown ups don’t wear shorts and the ladies all wear skirts.  Dressing up is a lot more important there.  It is important to dress up when visiting people, even friends.  When dressing up they wear traditional cloths which are very colorful and bright.

On one of their days off we drove an hour a way to a pool.  Tyler and Ethan were very excited for the chance to get a way and have some fun.

Isaac, Ethan and Tyler were so excited to share a little of their life with you.  It has been so long since they saw you and are looking forward to seeing you this summer.  They also hope that one day you can come and visit, because there is so much more that they can show you about life here.  Thank you for sending me in your place as it was a wonderful opportunity.

Love,

Flat Isaac