Monday, June 30, 2008

There must be more to protest

Yesterday was a "quiet" day for protesting. The news is that the government is conceding to the wishes of the people, so while the roads and businesses were still all closed, no one was throwing stones in my neighborhood anymore.
There was still a demonstration of women marchers that went by. The story is that a local street sweeper was beaten because he wouldn't clean an area that wasn't his responsibility when he was told to. The man sustained head injuries and died a couple days later. The women were protesting because the wealthy, educated man who beat him was not arrested.
What were they saying as they marched by? "Allah hu akhbar", God is great.
He is.
Greater than all the turmoil and suffering left in the world to protest.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Angry people

Today there is a lot of noise and yelling. Several processions have gone by the house chanting, "Allah hu akhbar!", "We remember!" and "Freedom!" I have been staying in my house.
This video isn't very good, it's shot through the screen, but it will at least give you an idea of how the anger sounds.
video

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Schoolboy mob


We were on our way home from our school co-op when our car was surrounded by fifty to sixty boys. Most were around the age of 11 or 12, though some were younger and there were a few older boys (maybe 17) leading them. The boys I teach and I were in the car with their father.
With no hesitation, one of the older boys from the street ran up on the hood of the car and onto the roof, a younger boy followed him. As we drove backwards to get out of their midst, I was worried someone outside the car would get hurt. But no one did. Thankfully.
There is so much unrest here right now and even the children are involved in the rioting. The problem is that no one is telling them about the consequences of their actions--how much is too far, such as running on the roof of a moving vehicle.
It looks like things here will get worse before they get better.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Chinese jumprope


We studied about China this week.
So we colored our pictures of the Great Wall, learned to say "Shi Huang Ti", and went outside to play chinese jumprope.
video

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Goat stampede


This is the mass of goats that took over the road on my way home one afternoon.

Wall to wall goats.


video
That clicking sound you hear? That's the goatherdess (I think I just made up that word) "talking" to her goats.

And this is the shepherd who didn't keep up with the others. It looks like he's messing with his watch. Which century is he from?

Thursday, June 5, 2008

The egg olympics


Today we held the Egg Olympics.
There were exciting competitions in the egg dive, chariot races, and the egg roll.
We began with a parade around the "athletic field" and ended by crowning the champions with wreaths of laurel...okay, it was just grass.