We went to Matts village to visit for a day. The woman in the front of the line is Rabi. Katy’s African mom. She helped the woman behind me carry part of her things after much teasing and saying, no I will not help you. The little girl is about three years old. Not to happy to see white people. Especially tall scary Ray

The trail to Rawfi is well worn and narrow. It would be impossible to get lost between the villages. We are going to visit Matt, and Rabi is coming to teach the women in his village how to make Tofu.

Our first view of Rawfi.

Matt treated us to a snack he purchased when we arrived. This is ground leaves, casaba and onion. It also has peppers, but he told them to make it mild for us. Their food is very spicy

Katy told us we would be able to go on a boat ride on the lake near Matts village. Sounded like a great idea until I saw the boat. This was the best of three. Matt asked several villagers if we could borrow a boat. He chose this one. He did not however go out with us as it seems the fourth person caused it to sink too quickly. I was of course more than reluctant. But Katy as many of you know does not give up when it comes to adventure.

After waiting for the fish to be cleaned out of the boat it was our turn. Oh yippee

The lake is very shallow, and Ray is in the back using a pole instead of paddles. Faster Katy, bail Faster!! My job was to hold on and pretend there really were no beetles crawling over my feet. I was not afraid of drowning, however a drink of the water contained more species than I was willing to ingest

A rest in the shade on the trail

In the village in Rawfi, tofu making complete. Rabi was pleased that all the members of the women’s group from Konni came to learn how to make Tofu with the women from Rawfi. The chiefs wife from the village of Rawfi is also there with her sons. The turnout was a compliment to Rabi. She is such an intelligent hard working person. She is a strong influence on the women in her village and has been so eager to learn from and support all Katy has tried to do. (She is seated to the right of Katy)

The money also helped buy shovels and blades for the hoes.  4 people work at a  time.  2 use hoes to loosen the soil and then they take a break and the other two workers shovel the dirt into small buckets or containers.  It is then hoisted on a rope or strap and dumped .  Not long after we left they hit water!!!!

Ray, also named Ali by the chief, and unofficially The Old One helping pull buckets of dirt.

Holes are dug as the well deepens. The soil is very hard.  These provide a way to get in and out of the well

We asked if he needed to measure Ray, he looked at him and said no, the shirt will fit fine, and it does. Two days later we went to pick it up. He charged $2.00 in American money.

I am truly impressed with Katy’s skill at functioning in this country. All with a smile most of the time.

Halfway to Korap. About a three mile walk.

The chief greets us as we arrive. News of our coming spread by little kids who met us on the trail in the village of Fari. (which means white sand) which is 30 minutes from Korap.

These buildings are graineries. They store the millet

The view of the village over the wall of Katy’s concession. Each hut is surrounded by a brick and mud wall for privacy as well as to keep the animals in. The oldest son builds his home in the parents concession. His wife then lives there with him when he marries.

The donkey cart was also purchased with Peace Corp funds. This man takes care of the animal and the cart, then others in the village pay to use it to take things to the market in Konni. Before, the vegetables etc. had to be carried the 12 miles

A grumpy camel being loaded with millet stock

This is the school in Fari. Katy worked at the school as a volunteer occasionally

Taken on the way to Rawfi. About an hour walk from Korap. Matt is the Peace Corp worker in Rawfi. The closest American to Katy

Sunset in front of one of the Mesas Katy enjoys. From the top she said you can hear all the pounding and the prayer calls from the surrounding villages. A peaceful place

The village of Korap is home to two different groups. The Fulan live in the north end of the village and are herders. The Hausa live at the southern end of the village and are the farmers. These two little structures are actually chicken coops. There are guinea fowl in them. If you look closely you can see the legs of the one on the right. The Fulan people tend to be more tidy. They also keep their animals to one section of their concessions.

A photo of the inside of the school. Any where from 5 to 20 kids come to school on any given day.

A brick yard in Korap. This is just outside the village. Each family has a section. Each also makes a distinguishing mark or or pattern on the bricks.

A small, but efficient home.

The metal door comes in handy during some of the intense dust and lightening storms

Isiah and Rabi, making us feel welcome

A place to take a rather cool bucket bath

Bathroom facilities.  Katy’s was so clean compared to the others we had used.  The cockroaches need to be scared away at night.

Rabi preparing one of the chickens her father gifted us with.  He gave us 2 chickens.  Typically he would be lucky to afford two chickens in one year.  Rabi showed us the entire preparation process.  The meat was wonderful.

A great dinner. Katy bought the cabbage and tomatoes in Konni.  We ate the chicken over Pasta.  Rabi would only eat after we had finished.

Happy New Year!!!!

Time to do laundry

House cleaning day

To the left of Katy is the water purification system..You pour water in the top, there is a filter, and then the bottom also contains a charcoal filter.  Katy added bleach for us.  No problems the whole trip with illness from food or water.  This was definitely due to Katy’s diligence .

One of the foot pumps Katy was able to get grant money for. This allows them to do flood irrigations which is so much more efficient than hand watering.

The womens garden which has also been one of her projects. Onions, broccoli tomatoes. The millet stalks cover the young seedlings to protect them. Mango trees are in the background. These are not part of the project.

Plots are hand cultivated by the men. The women will then plant, care for and harvest. They will also sell what they do not need and the money will help them as well as start the next garden.

The chief showing Ray his gardens. This is a field of soy beans.

The mesas in the background.

Flood irrigation being done. The man on the right owns the pump and gets paid by the men who own the farm plots to pump water.

Yep, this termite nest is almost as tall as Katy.

It isn’t often the well is deserted

The Fulan take the cattle out to graze during the day, the animals return home when they get to the edge of the village.

Meeting the villagers who are always so happy to see Amina (Katy)

Amina is back with the other white people. Villagers peeking inside the concession, but respectfully waiting to be invited in.

Katy and her two moms. Rabi is so kind and wonderful. We will be forever grateful to her for all she has done to welcome and help Katy. When we arrived she had swept the concession and filled the water. She also would not allow any villagers to visit on the second day until after Katy greeted her for the first time during the day. She was concerned we needed to rest, and we did.

Ray and the chief heading out to his gardens. He was a great tour guide, and was happy to spend time showing us his crops, mostly onions.

So many photo ops. A camera nearly causes a riot. After pictures are taken they are delighted to see themselves. It even gives little ones, who are so frightened to see white people the courage to hid behind big sister and peek out

A goat has been slaughtered to celebrate the birth of a new Fulon baby. The mom is young, and a friend of Katy’s. The goat is for the naming ceremony.

Happy to see Amina. Even happier to have a picture taken. The two girls on the right came and visited our hut everyday. If Katy was not there they would sit and smile, then try to teach us Hausa.

Kodee, a new mom and son Atiki. His birth was extra special to Katy, as Kodees best friend Nana had died in childbirth just several months ago.

The day of the naming ceremony, villagers bring gifts and visit. This hut is very small, and extremely hot. The baby is a week old. By the end of the day Kodee was so tired. The father will see him for the first time and learn his name the day after the naming ceremony. Kodee will stay in her mothers village for one month and they will expect her only to take care of the baby. She will not be allowed to pound millet or carry water. She will then return to her husbands village with the baby. It is about a half hour motorcycle ride away. Kodee and baby arrived in her village by motorcycle. If she had not been offered a ride her and the baby would have made the journey on foot.

A visit to the scho0l. Only five students today.

These three little girls were near the trail as we were leaving. the little one on the right had just laid down a very large bundle of sticks she had been carrying on her head

Playing gin with Isiah and friend. This was our last night. Katy later learned that Isiah had left the village while she was helping us get back to Niamey. She was sad to hear she would not see him again before she has to leave. He left looking for work. Isiah learned to read and write and speak some English. Not to mention he is a pretty good gin player.

Rabi and I watching the card game. We got her the wool blanket. She was shaking she was so cold. She also obviously knows how to play gin, even though she denies it. She would laugh and clap before a good play.

Grandpa and little one in the village square

Iggy Claire and Rabi. Iggy came to say goodbye. She is a very fun energetic lady with a wicked sense of humor.

The chief of the Hausa people on the left, Ray, and The Malam of the Fulan people on the right. Katy had given the Malam some money and asked him to buy Ray a hat. He could not find one, so gave the money back and gifted Ray with one of his own hats.

Rabi arguing that I should not be carrying my pack. After convincing her I appreciated the offer she agreed if I would be sure and give it to her if I was tired.

The smoke in he distance is trash burning there are no landfills, plastic is a major environmental issue

On the way from the airport to the hotel.

Katy bargained and got us a great room.   Much better than the one the manager tried to give her to begin with

Walking through Niamey ato the markets

lunch at the Gaway, after trying to learn to shop the markets.  If you look or touch you draw and enthusiastic crowd of merchants to make you the best deal  A little overwhelming

 This boat is on the Niger River which runs just beyond the terrace where we are eating lunch

The Mosque.  Katy arranged a tour.  Yes we went up all 117 steps (very narrow steps) and reached the top for a view of Niamey

A view from the top of the Mosque. 

Caption

At the hostel in Konni.  This is the patio outside the cooking area

A screen porch for sleeping when it is raining or too buggy to sleep outside

The luxury of  a warm shower

Our beds at the hostel.  Very comfortable, but a noisy village at night.  The talking stops just before the animals begin to wake up

Caption

On the way through Konni to find a bush taxi.  It is market day and very busy.  The bus to the left is like the one we took from Niamey to Konni.

One of many types of bush taxi..If you look closely you cna see the two cattle inn the bed of the truck.  the women sit to the sides on low benches, the men on the top bars holding on.  Fortunately Katy got us a livestock free ride.