The silence of the lambs

We're down to our final days in Niamey, and I'm working to find the balance between finishing all my assignments and enjoying the rest of my time in the city. There's so much more that I want to do here, and on some level I still can't fathom how this could all come to an end so soon.

Classes were cancelled Monday for the fete of Tabaski, in which everyone kills a bunch of sheep to commemorate the moment in which Abraham sacrificed a sheep instead of his son Ishmael. ("But wait!" say the Biblical scholars. "Wasn't that Isaac?" Alas, you've obviously been reading the wrong holy book.) The holiday starts early in the morning when the sheep are killed, there heads and skins removed. Then they are slit down the middle and strung up over a fire for roasting. Not to worry, this all takes place on the side of the road so that everyone might enjoy the festive sight of entrails! My homestay family invited me back to their house, which was nice, although they also sort of kidnapped me and forced me to spend the night. I did eventually make it back to the CFCA, where I am now busy living out my final nine days in Niger.

written by

The Boston Wanderer on December 12, 2008 from Niamey, Niger

from the travel blog: Sandstorms

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