Tabaski, or, a day to eat

Lamb is the meat for Tabaski. So this poor fellow had to watch all of us people eat his friends all day. At least he made it... 

Traveling drums! So very cool. highlight? watching the women, and by women I mean Maria (my big boss at IEP) and Nana dance. EPIC.

Where the magic happens. Cooking. That would be all the potatoes. SO YUMMY (Jellica is in the orange stripped shirt)

the men sit separate from the women. so the man cave was the garage and the women got, well, everything else. this is carter, dori's 15 year old son who is also my neighbor

my girls! Anna (Ciwara 9), Katherine (Ciwara 8), Yagaray (high school, 10) Banesi (Ciwara 8)

Nana! and the newborn that made an appearance. 

my girl Anna. 

Dori, my neighbor, fellow American, and all around life saver when it comes to being white in Mali

shhhhhh...

susan! nice shades!

a very subpar picture of my dear 7th grader Christiane 

the women

Last Sunday was the largest Muslim holiday of the year, Tabaski. It is forty days after the end of Ramadan. It's a celebration and in Mali, that means food, dancing, and family. Which, you know, is totally my kind of holiday. 

I wore my first day of school complet and got up and out early to see what was going on. Not much got started until late morning when I walked with Jellica (seen in the picture of the kitchen) to Maria's house where all the festivities took place and where all these pictures were taken. There we talked, ate, drank too many sodas, ate some more, and took some pictures. It was great to be out and to celebrate with everyone. Plus, I got to see some of my kids from school. Some of them ignored me, some swarmed to me...ahh teaching...

All in all, I fully support a holiday that allows me to eat my weight in fries. Fanta was right, the food was worth waiting for!

(check this out for more information and great photos)