Hippos, Rocks and Mangoes

This post is a bit overdue. 

While we were away we managed to have some fun which included going to see hippos. Now why we left "danger" to go ride in a tiny little boat with hippos only a few feet away, I do not know. But to make sure it was safe, we sent the girls out first. :) Anna and another teacher, Renée, with their trusty guide.

Have to catch the sweet moments while we can get them. We were huddled in the boat trying to keep warm while not moving much so we wouldn't rock the boat.

With boys, sweet, calm moments don't last long.

Finally seeing them! They made a lot of noise and we enjoyed watching them move in their habitat.

                                                                My number one man

                         Showing off my beads that got added to my hair as the week went on.

We then headed off to a Baobob tree that you could walk inside of. It was naturally hollow in the inside. Really quite interesting. When tribes fought each other, the women and children would hide inside the tree for protection. It became a spiritual site where sacrifices are made.

                                                        Seeing how high they could climb.

Another day we headed off to an area where there were all of these rock formations. We met up with some friends who live in the same area. They worked hard to hold up the rocks.

                                                           This cannot be more Kenan

We also enjoyed being in the land of more fruit! Mangoes had already come out which the kids wholeheartedly enjoyed. Strawberries were also in abundance- good thing since my boys ate 15 kilos in 10 days!

                                 The last night before some of our team members left for good.

Anna's last night we went to the streets to celebrate Burkina's second place finish in the Africa cup. This was a huge accomplishment and you would have thought they had won it all by the way they celebrated. Anna chose to believe it was just her going away party. :)

This doesn't even do the craziness justice. People were standing on their motos while riding, ghost riding their cars (leaving the car in neutral and sitting outside of the car), making sparks by leaving their kick stands down while driving, screaming, celebrating and being plan crazy. I kid you not there were times I feared for my safety. It was insane. We could not come up with anything that would cause such celebration in America. Pandemonium. The police did nothing to stop this behavior. I admit the atmosphere was electrifying and intense and one could not help but celebrate with them, at least when the dangerous and crazy people were past. :) I wish I could better describe the scene as it was almost riot-like yet in excitement rather than anger. One of those times I was glad to be there to experience it yet also wondering if I had lost my mind to stand out there amidst it all.