Continued…

Lessons

I

     I am to be tutored in French language. Zarma language.  If time, Hausa Language. And, Nigerian culture. We Peace Corps Volunteers-in-training are herded into groups of three or four, depending on our roles to be.

I am going to be a Youth Worker.

I am going to be a Youth Worker who is a Physical Education Teacher.

“Education de Physique et Sport.”

I am going to teach young boys and girls how to play basketball!

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

We, I, are, am taught in cute little huts that protect us from the huge red sun. Issa taught us, me language.

“Je suis American. Corps de la Paix. Je m’appel Beth.

Mata fu. Mata goy. Ima Beth.”

We, I, are, am taught in cute little huts that protect us from the huge red sun. Mamadou taught us, me culture. Only, I am alone for this special lesson.

“Nigerien men are first class citizens.”

        “American men are first class citizens.”

                 “Nigerien women are second class citizens.”

                             “American women are third class citizens.”

This special lesson tells me I have a special place.

We, I, are, am taught in cute little huts that protect us from the  huge red sun. A soon-to-be exiting PCV taught us, me physical education techniques.

“Use colored headbands to organize the kids into teams.

Equipe Rouge. Equipe Blue. Equipe Verte. Equipe Jaune.”

“Most of your students will not have sneakers.  Try to discourage them from wearing their flips-flops so they don’t stub their toes when they are running.”

To be continued…

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