Salut Senegal! Martha's 2008 African Adventure

Martha!
Wow, what amazing adventures you are having. I like your idea for he profect to raise money forthe school. I hope that you are very successful. Are school supplies available there in S enegtal that you could purchase them in the county without having to ship them fsrom the USA: or will you just try tosend the funds diredctly to the shool:
Did yu Mom tell you that Unclew Rick and i ARE HEADING to China at the fund dirctly to the school? dID YOU mOM TELL YOU THA uNCLE Rick and I are headin gto China at the end of August to teach at the sam e University where Amy taught/? Brian is heading back to Australia as soon as he is able, so our family will be stretched out across the globe betrwewen all of us and you and Lauren. Love and hugs! Aunt Suzanne

Martha!
Wow, what amazing adventures you are having. I like your idea for he profect to raise money forthe school. I hope that you are very successful. Are school supplies available there in S enegtal that you could purchase them in the county without having to ship them fsrom the USA: or will you just try tosend the funds diredctly to the shool:
Did yu Mom tell you that Unclew Rick and i ARE HEADING to China at the fund dirctly to the school? dID YOU mOM TELL YOU THA uNCLE Rick and I are headin gto China at the end of August to teach at the sam e University where Amy taught/? Brian is heading back to Australia as soon as he is able, so our family will be stretched out across the globe betrwewen all of us and you and Lauren. Love and hugs! Aunt Suzanne

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Martha!

Wow, what amazing adventures you are having. I like your idea for the project to raise money for the school. I hope that you are very successful. Are school supplies available there in Senegal that you could purchase them in the country without having to ship them from the USA? Can you set up a contact to do that for you before you leave? Or will you just try to send the funds directly to the school?

Did your Mom tell you that Uncle Rick and I are heading to China at the end of August to teach at the same university where Amy taught? Brian is heading back to Australia as soon as he is able, so our family will be stretched out across the globe between all of us and you and Lauren. Love and hugs! Aunt Suzanne

Dear Martha, It's too hot for you there!! Please come home when you can, since none of us want you to melt too much! Have fun and stay cool in Fatick. It sure was good to see your Mommy!! Love, U. Jno

29 Mar '08

Hi Marti,

Glad you like your new home. Your Mom told us about your move. Have fun, Learn lots and be CAREFUL.

Your Mom just went out for a walk. We have really enjoyed her being here with us and there has been much joy in our house and we wish her stay could have been longer. Marit had just left when Jeanne wrote that she was coming and we thought it would be too long a stay and now we wish we could have her longer. Yesterday she and Jon went to the Arborutom and saw many beautiful flowere and the Butterfly Castle (?) and took meny pictures. We went to Best Buy and got a PC cord for her camera and downloaded over a hundred pictures on my computer. What a nut and how we laughed. We will print out some. We went to the $3.00 movie last night and saw "There Will Be Blood" Uf Da.

Thursday we went to Peoria and visited the Feigals. Jeanne's God Parents. Bill Delivered Jeanne when we lived in Thief River Falls, MN.

We have had an enjoyable visit and this is getting too long, so

Bye for now, Love to you, G'Pa

Hello Martha.

In a little while I am going with Grandpa to the store to pick up some groceries for dinner. Perhaps Chicken with a yogurt sauce. He will see.... the chicken will be good and delicious. Now I am off for a walk and to hear the birds.

love to you and your family.

mom

Dear Marthinson, I'm going to go to Sky Harbor in a couple hours to pick up your Mom. It'll be good to see her! She'll rally enjoy the temps here. High 80's for fun & sun. Tomorrow, we are moving the entire office to new digs, after lunch. All of the Voip and Data lines will be put in tomorrow morning. I miss you!! Where are you transferring to?

Love, U. Jno

Dear Marther,

Happy Late Easter. We are still under several feet of snow and supposed to have 1-3 inches tonight!!! Grrrr. Brrrr. Can't wait to hear about your break. What are Pulse articles? I'm clueless. Had a great chat with your dad last week while your mom was entertaining for a birthday party. Hope all goes well with your transfer.

Blessings and love, love, love,

Armchair Auntie

Hi martha.

happy Easter on sunday. I hope you had a very wonderful spring break. Lauren is here for spring break before she flys to the Dominican Republic.

We went to jjs for dinner tonight and Jj told us all about their trip to the dominican. He loved it.

We are going to linda and Tom's for dinner tomorrow night. Then I better finish packing for Arizona.

take care and talk to you on Saturday or Sunday.

love love mom

Hey there martha.

just got home form Choir.... it was great to sing and see Claire and the "gang". I had seen Sue Daubner at the gift show in Mpls.

Tomrrow, we are going to Depere to glaze the tiles. There are 500 so we will be there all day I am sure. It will be wonderful to see them again.

Have a wonderful and safe trip to wherever you are going on Spring break.

I am going to visit John and Dad in Arizona. looking forward to it.

Take care. love love lovemom and dad!

ps. Gertrud and Sylvia loved your new Blog entry. I am going to read that now.

Hey there martha.

just got home form Choir.... it was great to sing and see Claire and the "gang". I had seen Sue Daubner at the gift show in Mpls.

Tomrrow, we are going to Depere to glaze the tiles. There are 500 so we will be there all day I am sure. It will be wonderful to see them again.

Have a wonderful and safe trip to wherever you are going on Spring break.

I am going to visit John and Dad in Arizona. looking forward to it.

Take care. love love lovemom and dad!

ps. Gertrud and Sylvia loved your new Blog entry. I am going to read that now.

Thor talks about old people in Florida. Well, that's what they get for going there in the first place. Out here in Arizona the elderly are stepping out every day. I'm about as old as dirt and still walk around our square, daily and even flirt with the gals---sometimes. Just finished my mile and am now going to the laundry to pick up my shirts.

So then how about you? I sure enjoy your descriptions about your area, the languages, the people and customs. How about the dances-are they like the dances in the USA or what? I recall the stories of your Mom about the Queen line dancing in her island. Anyway, gotta go. Jon is busy with his work and seldom gets home before 5:30 and sometimes 6:00. He goes to YMCA every other norning at 0600, comes home and makes breakfast.

Love to you, Princess

G'Pa

Hi Rosebud,

So, you aren't getting married soon--That's good to hear . LOL. Your blogs are getting better each time!--very clear writing, wonderful descriptions. Thanks for sharing all this with us. We are still under at least three feet of snow. Heading to spend a long weekend in Chicago with Josh--take in some sights, the Art Institute for sure and dinner where he serves--NAHA a five star, world famous place. I can't pronounce half the words on the menue. He told us not to be nervous. He will lead us through the procession of courses. I can't wait. I go on spring break the end of this week. Waiting for sun and warm temps--nothing at all like Dekar. Just finished grading a bunch of essays and must head to the UW for classes. Love, care, and blessings from your armchair traveler aunt.

Mary

Dahling Mahtha,

Happy Birthday, my dear. I'm sorry to be a bit late, but you know me. I hope you managed to tear yourself away from your intense schedule of rigorous study long enough to celebrate the occasion. This, of course, I'm saying with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek, because I know you.

I'm currently engaged in my own cultural/economic program in southwest Florida. This is a region of the country known for its semi-tropical climate, a markedly slower pace than the midwest, and a lot of really old, really rich white people. I participated in a cultural ceremony wherein a ragtag group of bohemians from the fringes of society assemble in a public place, raise their tents, and offer items they've made for sale to the locals. It's commonly known as an 'art fair' and can be quite festive. I noticed many of the attendees doing a very interesting dance. It consisted of a series of short, faltering steps, and the shuffling of one foot just slightly in front of the other in a slow un-rhythmic fashion. It was often accompanied by an almost imperceptible amount of drooling. When I asked my neighbor what this strange dance was called, he said "It's called tottering, you idiot. It's how really old people walk." Boy, was my face red. For my costume I chose my "Minnesota" t-shirt you and Lauren gave me for Christmas. It's amazing how old Minnesotans (of which there were many) light up at the sight of a middle-aged man in a Minnesota t-shirt. I took many opportunities to tell them of my wonderful god-daughter from the U of M who is studying in Senegal. My study here is now complete and Tuesday it's back to Wisconsin to resume an intensive study of snow.

Keep doing what you're doing , my dear. Judy and I are both so proud of you and really look forward to more news of your adventures.

Love,

Thor

Dear Martha,

We are all wishing you a very Happy birthday and a grand and glorious year. May the Lord pour out a blessing upon your life, heaped up and overflowing into your lap.

Love,

Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Rick

The day after-- I hope your Birthday was a happy one, even though you are far away from home. I think Jon had a good one, too. We ended up at the Black Angus. I sure am enjoying your adveture in a society so completely different from anything you or I have ever encountered. It is hard for me , knowing you, that you are in this kind of environment. but then you come from strong stock and can adapt to whatever situation you are in. I am very interested in your adventures and the way you tell your story. Amy is writing a book on her adventures in China and I am sure you could also write a good yale about your adventures, so far. Your descriptions of the people you meet and the areas you visit paint word pictures. I will always remember the one where you compared the lady's mother to my Dottie. Keep the stories coming, my dear Marty. I'll be here to read them.My Love to you, G'Pa

"...Happy Birthday, dear Martha, Happy Birthday to you-oooo!!" Love, your Picean Unk Jno

Hi Rosebud!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! We love you.

Mary and Dan

Derest Marther,

Wow, What a wonderful blog post. I want to be there, with you. I'm sure we all do! I loved the part about the schooling AND the dancing. How fun! Happy Birthday! How do they celebrate birthdays there?

We are still plowing through piles of snow. We are expecting another 3 inches tonight. School is going well. I have some wonderful students--kids that are lots of fun. We are getting to know each other as the semester progresses, and they now feel they can kid me about things. I find I am forgetfull, and unless I write everything down, I get dates mixed up and ask for assignments when they arent' due. So, I got a big calendar and carry it with me--along with colored markers.

Both Matt and Josh are well. We are going to see Josh in two weeks for my birthday--spending a long weekend in Chicago. That will be our first week of break. Can't wait for a little get-away.

So you encountered Rhinos? Oh, I wonder, are the pictures you send pictures that you have taken? What an amazing place. Our love and Happy Birthday wishes.

Love, Aunt Mary and Uncle Dan