Ou est Pierre?!

Mais, il va a la bibliotheque, bien sur!

The story behind the library: there have been dozens of books stashed away in a closet in the dar chebab the whole time I've been here. I had glimpsed them once in the beginning, but had gotten the impression that they were few, and mostly French.

One day, when I used two kids' books that I happened to have lying around my office during a class, I realized that the kids, despite being too old for them, were totally eating them up. So I decided to use whatever resources I could find in there, and there were actually many more books than I had anticipated.

Anyway, long story short, there is a small library in my classroom now. I don't teach anymore. I sit in there from 5pm to 8pm every day. Kids trickle in and out. Some want homework help, some want to hang out...few want to read, unfortunately, but some paw through the books. So, the plan is to have the reading competition to generate interest in actually using the books. Then, if the administration can cooperate with me in making it sustainable, I'll attempt to write a grant to get more books. Because, you see, we can count the books that are already there as the community contribution necessary for PC to approve a grant.

Kids in the community do need books. Schoolbooks are very expensive, and dictionaries are even more pricey. Vocabulary is the biggest element lacking for kids who want to study languages. But I don't want to acquire some resource and have it get shut in a closet as soon as I leave...so, we'll see what we can work out.

I had a discussion with a student today who was very passionate about how women need to defend their rights...she said she'll help me do GGLOW activities for the others once I get the manual next week. Cool!