Another update from Tyler

6/12/09
 
Today we hiked up to Nikola, a remote region of Bayonnais in the mountains northwest of the village where we are staying.  This was the site of a tiny school/church where they are thinking about putting up a larger building.  The current 10ft by 36ft shack (stone and tree branch walls; tin roof) that is there is currently used for over 100 elementary school students!  It’s amazing to see how much people here cherish an education—they’ll walk an hour up a mountain each morning just to get the chance to go to school, even when that school is nothing more than a few teachers under a canopy.  It’s actually quite inspiring to see such a strong desire to learn!
 
While Michael, Nick, Wendy, Jason, and I were out surveying that school site (and taking in the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, valleys, and rivers), Rex, Kyle A, and Kyle C got a ride into Gonaives (the nearest big city).  They scouted out prices and availability of locally available building materials, and from the sounds of it all went well on their excursion, too!
 
With the internet out all day (except for just a little bit ago), it’s been limiting our ability to communicate everything we’d like back to Wisconsin and San Francisco.  But, looking on the bright side, it freed up our evening for a few other activities…a couple of us went swimming in the river, and a few others got a chance to take on the kids in a full-on soccer match right outside our guesthouse!
 
Bonne nuit from bayonnais,
 
tyler