Great links related to Christine's work in Niger

Tim and I enjoy writing about our time here in Niger. Unfortunately, there never seems to be enough time to write about everything and download the pictures we'd like to share with you.

So, while you wait for the next installment of articles from Christine and Tim, I (Christine) want to share with you some interesting stories, fun pictures and excellent websites that I have come across through friends/colleagues here in Niger.

For a starter, you might want to begin at the Sahel Academy website. Browse around and learn more about my school and the community that makes it so special.
http://www.sahelacademy.com/home.html

Don't forget to click on the link to the "Sahelian", the school on-line newspaper. You'll find some recent articles about the "Sahel Games" held in November (our version of the Olympics or Track and Field Day), the softball tournament in October that brings expats to Niamey from the neighbouring countries, and the story behind the construction of our new library building (media centre) over the summer. If you want to know what makes Sahel Academy a truly unique school, read about the graduating class of 2008. My favourite picture is a "Where's Waldo" photo of math teacher Ben Stam on top of a humungous baobab tree. Scroll down to read the article called "God's Provision for Sahel's Math Teacher" posted in April 2008. http://www.sahelacademy.com/sahelian/

On the "Sahelian" webpage, you can find links to past and present staff. There is also a link to our Mattimoe website.
You will find Anisa Blomquist's blog very interesting. She was my neighbour before Tim and I moved houses (you'll find some pictures of Snowy and Missy if you scroll down some). She has some recent entries about the grade 3/4 drama (I watched it and enjoyed pumpkin pie afterwards), the Student Council fundraiser evening called "Bella Notte" (an evening for the kids to dress up formally), great pictures of the "Sahel Games" and an excellent overview of the many construction projects that happened over the summer at Sahel. There's even a picture of my French room being gutted and tiled and re-painted.
Bob (high school History and Science teacher) and Lois Gillespie (Computer teacher) also have a great website. The article called "Bridge Building" just about sums up the reason for our work here in Niger. And if you're wondering how computer technology can be used to bless others, read Randy (SIM computer technician) and Wanda's website.

If you're interested in botany and horticulture, here is a link to the Niamey Gardening Club. http://www.plantsahel.org/page/Niamey+Gardening+Club I attended one of their meetings last year and enjoyed meeting other expats interested in gardening in the Sahel region. Although I would enjoy being a member of this club, I have chosen to spend my energies and free-time in other areas. What makes the Niamey Gardening Club interesting is that they're putting together an encyclopedia of plants found in the Sahel region of West Africa. The site provides pictures and information about trees, flowers, vegetables, fruits, herbs, and plants in the Sahel. http://www.plantsahel.org/

Another activity Tim and I would like to do more often (if it weren't for other committments on Saturday afternoons) is to join the Hash House Harriers club for a walk/jog in the fields and sand and rocks outside Niamey. The club is made up mostly of francophone expats who enjoy exercise and the outdoors. We went last January with some friends of ours. They have a very detailed blog of their weekly outtings if that interests you. http://hashniamey.blogspot.com/ Come and join us for a hike in Niger!

Hippo Watching

Do you have the courage it takes to look into the face of the most dangerous animal in Niger?

The animal that kills more humans in Africa that any other animal? If so, then join me on a potentially perilous adventure up the Niger River for a closer look at hippos in the wild.


In October, a number of friends and I (Christine) took a pirogue ride (canoe ride) up the Niger River. The 7 of us along with our guide had this entire motorized pirogue all to ourselves during the 3-hour trip! Complete with cushioned reclining seats! Come along for the ride!


We leave around 9:30am during the cooler part of the day. It’s quite pleasant on the river, especially with the covered roof to protect us from the hot sun.






HIPPO! Our first hippo sighting is less than 5 minutes into our trip, right next to the bridge only a few metres from where men are washing clothes!


Apparently, this hippo is frequently seen around the bridge and seems quite accustomed to having people around (or is it the other way around that people are used to having the hippo nearby).

We continue up-stream. Garden plots line the edge of the river. We wave to farmers working in their gardens and women and children washing along the banks of the river. The kids excitedly jump up and down in the water and wave back at us.


The banks of the Niger River are an oasis in the midst of the dry Sahel and encroaching desert. Tall grass grows along the banks and is cut for hay to feed livestock.



Another type of long “grass” growing at the edge of the river is actually rice that will be harvested in late November. The “scare-crow” in the rice paddy is not to scare crows, but rather to keep hippos from raiding the fields for food during their nightly “snack attacks”.



A few kilometres up-stream, we see the Presidential palace grounds up on a hill. Next, we come to the dam which helps to control the water level in dry season. The water pump station for the city is located here (actually, only a 15 minute walk from our present house). At the moment, the water level is very high so our boat can go right over the dam. In low water season, boats need to go through the little set of locks.


Fishermen congregate just below the dam to cast their nets from their little canoes. I never quite understand how they can manoeuvre a canoe so easily while standing up! And here I was always taught to stay sitting (or kneeling) in a canoe for stability!

Further upstream, we pass by a herd of cows grazing on one side of the riverbank and a large flock of egrets (or herons) lined up along the other side the riverbank and in the trees.




At the halfway point, our guide points us to the eating and breeding grounds of another herd of hippos. We sit quietly in the pirogue hoping to get another glimpse of the dangerous beast (“underwater mines” as Tim likens them to).

Phhoosh! The sound of a hippo surfacing for breath. There are two hippos this time, but they don’t stay at the surface for long before they disappear out of sight.

“Just be careful,” our guide warned, “if you ever hear 3 loud blows of a hippo surfacing for breath. That means the hippo is angry and is ready to charge you!”