Times in Gbatope Come to an End

After returning from the field trip we only had a week and two days left of training and those days went by in a blur. I've been consuming books ever since I got here and last week I ran through Black Hawk Down. Harrowing and disturbing at times but a great read. We had Thursday off to celebrate Thanksgiving and we ate a nice big lunch. We spent a little time in the market in Tsevie and I looked for gifts for my family. I ended up buying them a live rooster which I put in a sack. He was pretty docile in the car on the drive back to Gbatope and we named him Andy. When I got home I reached in the bag and pulled him out by his legs in front of my family like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. They were both thrilled and amused. I also bought a toothbrush in the marche but it seems I failed to notice the word "hard" on the package. Mistake. When I brushed my teeth that night it felt like I was cleaning them with steel wool and my gums ached for the next three days. Later that night there was a fight in the street between a man and a thief. Everyone gathered around to watch. I felt like I was in high school only the fight wasn't over something stupid and there was no one to stop them. Eventually the thief ran away defeated. Before I left my father and I sat down and had a little heart to heart. He told me how much it meant to him that I lived with them and became a part of their family. I was grateful and thanked him repeatedly. It got emotional. The Ayite family has been so wonderful to me, I will never forget. It was hard leaving them, but I plan on returning.