Playing, Being a Wife, Dancing, Being Amused and Hitting Someone are all the same thing, right??

They are in the wonderful language of Gulmancema. "Pua" is the word for wife, to play, to dance, to be amused and also to hit someone or something. At least it was yesterday, Gulmancema also has the amazing ability to to change meanings, spellings and pronunciations depending who and when you ask. If that is not enough to keep you on your toes, the gens (people) of my new village and reason find it amusing (pua) to speak in Gulmancema, French, Moore and even a bit of Fulfulde all in the same sentance. Sounds like fun, doesn't it. It is like a huge jigsaw puzzle. It can be frusturating, challenging and fun all at the same time. There are certain pieces or words that fit together easily, other pieces that look like they should fit together but never do, and a bunch of pieces that look almost the same but end up being vastly different. And after a long and argueous process it all comes together, or at least I hope that is what will happen in this process. And so dear readers I will say "se dalinba (or gar linba)" until next time.

**Village Side Note** In the process of moving to my new village I have been adopted by my PCV neighbor has his little sister. Having a big brother has it's ups and it's downs. Culturally it makes hanging out together a more natural thing and saves us the trouble of not having to convince everyone we are not married. BUT... my big brother is taking his role seriously and picking on me merciously as older siblings do (Trinity you would be proud of him). He is also getting the fun job of dealing with a few proposals that have come my way. He turned down the bag of eggs, but threatens that if he had been there when Iwas offered four cows he might have accepted.

**Update on Photos... or lack there of** I have wonderful pictures I am looking forward to sharing with all of you. Unfortunatly the computer here currently is nto agreeing with my camera so you'll have to wait some more. Hey, I am in Africa so give me a little break here.