my summer vacation: an essay

Here's my vacation in mathematical summary:

Ghana = Burkina + 50 years of development + good street food + beaches - weird French + weird English

Mali = Burkina + natural beauty + tourism

Yeah, that about "sums" it up. Ha! Just a little math teacher humor. Many thanks to Tessa and Annie for their incredible patience. Those ladies got the real AfricaExperience (including not one, but two memorable nights "sleeping" in bus stations). They also helped me get my foot in the door with Bourzanga's newly elected mayor. This guy is definitely the guy-to-know. He's got running water and air conditioning! (Granted the water will need to be refilled via a ladder and the ac runs by generator, but hey, who's complaining?) I guess he heard some "real Americans" were in town and he wanted to meet them. Nevermind the fact that I live right near him. What am I, chopped liver? (Which, fyi, I've developed quite a taste for. Yes, I arrived here as a vegetarian.)

So, school's starting in about a month or so. I'm looking forward to the regularity of a work schedule, however, I am determined to make my life more comfortable this year. I SHALL NOT work too many hours or on Fridays, unlike last year.