Just an update on the last couple of days.  Christmas eve I had couple of friends over and we did a very low key dinner and then iced some cookies.  We took plates of cookies and bags of toys around to some of the people in our neighborhood.  The kids we were taking the toys to live either in shacks on open lots or are squatting in unfinished buildings.  These are people who really have nothing.  I've seen the kids play with sticks and ribbons from VHS tapes.  We tried to be stealthy and managed to leave bags at a couple places without being spotted, but at one place we talked to the people and they were very appreciative.  It really made my Christmas to see the kids out playing with their toys in the days following Christmas.

The day after Christmas we decided to drive to the beach in Assine but got lost and didn't find our way.  Instead we stopped at a beach club in Bassam, it looked closed so we went to turn around and then got stuck in the sand.  We put it in 4wd and got out of the sand but it popped out of gear and we couldn't get it to engage at all.  It was not moving.  So, I called our mechanic and he drove out to Bassam on his day off with his son and fixed it within minutes and followed us back into town!!!!!  He is a God send!!!  While we waited for him we did eat the most delicious poulet braisee with mustard sauce and tried to enjoy the beach although we were a little stressed about how bad the damage was to the car.  

Later that night we went out for "mandatory fun" with Shane's office to Rue de Princesse which is sort of like Bourbon St. or the strip in Cancun.  Apparently its got a reputation for being a bit dicey and some locals won't even go, but since we were with a lot of locals who are all law enforcement, we were safe.  We ate and danced a club, and it was soooo funny.  There was a corner with mirrors and the Ivorians love to get out on the dance floor-by themselves- and stare intently at the mirror as they dance.  It was HILARIOUS!!!  We had a blast out there though and for several songs we were sort of in a circle and people were taking turns getting in the middle and doing there own thing for a minute.  It was fun. The DJ was hilarious and one of the Ambo's body guards who was with us is a relative of the owner of the club and at one point they played some song were everyone chanted that was about Fleurgence.  Too funny.  Anyway, I still feel like I belong here more than I have anywhere else.  I'm not sure why but last night as I was, for a while, the only white person in the club, I thought "yep, this is what I always imagined my life would be like!"