The Tiberi Times: West African Edition - Headlines

Lightning Strikes Computer Lab, Students Scared but Unhurt
Tiberi guesses that the fuse is blown
Tuesday April 27th, 2010

After foolishly attempting to hold a computer class during a heavy downpour a bolt of lightning struck the computer building Tuesday…[more]

Administration Confirms: The Fuse is Blown
Officials say fuse should be replaced ‘soon’
Thursday April 29th, 2010

School officials confirmed reports Thursday that a fuse had been blown during Tuesday’s rainstorm and say it will be replaced ‘soon.’ Tiberi says he’s worried that the computers won’t be back online in time for finals, the 10th and 11th of May… [more]

Biking by ‘le Claire de Lune’
Tiberi allegedly bikes to neighbor’s village by moonlight
Friday April 30th, 2010

Allegedly describing the alleged journey as ‘scary’ at times and ‘beautiful’ at others, sources allege that Tiberi boasts of eating ‘the best chicken of his life’ in a late night trip to Yaba… [more]

No Power
Electricity not restored to computer lab
Tuesday May 4th, 2010

So far this week students have had to spend their time reviewing written notes in lieu of typing practice for the final. Students are beginning to wonder if there even will be a final, asking “are we going to have a final?” School administrators repeated their claims that the fuse will be replaced ‘soon’ but admitted to setbacks because they ‘forgot to call the repair guy’… [more]

Rain on the Bus: Better or Worse than Dust?
Tiberi’s travels to nearby Tougon during a rainstorm
Friday May 7th, 2010

Mr. Tiberi maybe a trip up to Tougon on Friday, despite rain-storm like conditions. He describes the trip as being ‘okay’ but added that he didn’t like ‘dirty water’ dripping from the ceiling. Upon arriving in Tougon Tiberi says he was ‘dismayed’ to see so much ‘dirty water’ on the ground. Luckily Tougon residents Tyler and Jessi came to the rescue with bikes… [more]

8th Annual West African Wrestling Competition Held in Tougon: Hailed a Success
Tiberi attends event with neighbors Jessi and Tyler
Saturday May 8th, 2010

Bringing competitors from across francophone west Africa, the event was ‘really cool’ says Tiberi but soon moved into praises of Tougon residents Jessi and Tyler LeClear Vachta, ‘they saved Oreos for me,’ he says, ‘OREOS!’ then stared dreamily at a dark colored rock on the ground… [more]


No Computers for Computer Literacy Final
Mixed Reactions from Students
Monday May 10th, 2010

Officials confirmed that finals given today were ‘written’ finals on ‘paper.’ Students generally had mixed reactions though Mr. Tiberi could not be reached for comment as he is reportedly proctoring tests all day. When asked when the fuse would be replaced officials set the timeframe to ‘soon’… [more]

Finals Are Over
Student celebrate as teachers left to correct mountains of tests
Tuesday Math 11th, 2010

CAFT students left school Tuesday with a collective sigh of relieve which was perhaps rivaled in magnitude by the collective groan of the professors. “I have a lot of tests to grade,” exclaims one professor while another adds, “It’s not easy.” … [more]

Seeing Red Again

I wake up to an eerily soft light filtering into my room. Something isn’t right. I reach for my cell phone sitting on the desk next to my bed and as I start to push aside the mosquito net a shower of dust cascades down, covering my hand. Well that’s not good.

After very carefully squeezing my way out of my dust trap of a mosquito net I take a look out the window at another world. A strange red glow has replaced the usual bright blue of the sky. The familiar trees and buildings around me were obscured by a reddish fog. And everywhere, small pieces of dust are precipitating down like small, red snowflakes. I close the window. I close all the windows. I’m really hoping they cancel class today but by the muffled sounds coming in the direction of the school it sounds like they haven’t.

After finding and dusting off a dust mask I that had laid dormant in my closet every since its first journey with me from Ouagadougou I stepped outside. The first thing I noticed was one set of footprints across our concrete patio tracked through the thin layer of dust gathered there. On the way over to the school I saw more - the solid tracks of motos and the thin ribbon of passing bicycles as well as two python tire treads. I want rain.

My students have taken on a variety of defenses against the dust. Most are covering their noses and mouth but some also insist on wearing a hat. One is wearing her winter coat. Whatever works. As we set off toward the computer lab several things are running through my mind. First I’m glad that I remembered to close all blind-like window coverings last night. Second I’m really glad that I had won my first battle to get equipment for the lab – sheets to cover all the computers and keyboards. Finally I was wondering how bad this is going to be for my dilapidated fleet of ancient computers. They’ve seen worse – I’m almost sure of it.

The room holds surprisingly little dust waiting for us – no more so than would accumulate in a couple weeks of inactivity. Class is over just as the students are starting to get a grasp on what I’m talking about as par usual. I spent the rest of the day shut up in my room trying not to breath.

Who’s to blame for this? I think Iceland. Asking around the jury is pretty split. I’ve gotten responses ranging from this is definitely the volcano to this is the Sahel and it happens every year to I don’t know but it hasn’t been this bad for twenty years! Whatever is the case, I’m relieved it only lasted a day and I’m really hoping we don’t see a day like that again here for twenty years.

A day by numbers

4 times: I hit the snooze button
87 F: In my room at 7:30 am.
8 seconds: The average period of our rooster’s crowing
10 minutes: The duration of his crowing
2 rocks: thrown at him by me
62 students: My biggest class today
32 students: My smallest class today
12 years: age of my youngest student
22 years: age of my oldest student
2 minutes: time a student who misbehaves in my class has to wall-sit for.
6 classes: In my schedule today
16 computers: working computers in my lab
7 computers: computers working when I arrived
373 MHz: their average processor speed
12 GB: their average hard disk space
154 MB: the average RAM per computer
3 hours: time the youngest class spent raking up rocks with their hands in the sun
105 F: temperature in my room during the afternoon break
3 seconds: time on average to turn on the fan after entering my room
6 liters: water I drink per day on average
2 days: time left until I leave for vacation
20 hours: length of the bus ride to get to the beaches in Benin
5 days: time I will be spending on the beach
9 months: time I have spent in Burkina as of Saturday
5 months: time since I’ve seen rain.
2 months: time until it’s expected to rain in Toma.