We're back home and everyone is anxious to share all that we experienced with teachers, students, friends, and colleagues. We've heard that Zan, Elizabeth, Kim, Will, Burchie, Rich, Lenny, Debby, and of course Tony, have all been talking to students and adults about what we saw and learned in Senegal. Here are the first pictures in. This is Debby on her second return trip to Fugett Middle School where she was sharing stories with the French classes. More pictures due in from other folks soon.

THOUGHTS FROM DEBBY ... The seventh grade kids loved hearing the music and could be seen dancing in their seats : ) While we were viewing the pictures from the school at Yene Kelle, there were reactions of how lucky we are in West Chester to have such well-equipped classrooms, yet how we are not nearly as careful with our classwork as the Senegalese kids were. The kids all wondered how people could have done what they did to the slaves at Goree?! This brought tears to many eyes. On a much happier note, all the kids and the Mrs. Copeland, their teacher, would love to have classes and meetings like we had with the mayor, sprinkled throughout with song and dance! Some folks loved the idea of eating together out of one plate, some would feel very strange trying that. They had a little trouble believing that everyone we met in Senegal seemed to live their lives in constant Random Acts of Kindness, but they thought that would be a wonderful way to live life. We all wondered about how the people there magically seemed to know what the people around them needed or wanted without having to ask.

When I told the kids about Will's exchange with the Dakar Chief of Police and how there are few if any violent crimes or murders in Dakar, I asked them why they thought that might be true. They came up with amazingly insightful questions:

• Do they have any race issues there?

• Are there any drugs there?

• Are there different religions and do they get along?

• How much TV do the people get to watch? Movies? Video games?

One student talked about a book she was reading that pointed out that today's video games are almost identical to military training, desensitizing children and adults to violence. Really, the STUDENT offered this information - such wisdom from our youth. The discussion was heartwarming as these kids talked about what we could do to improve our own culture here in the states.

As several different girls got to try on the sensible yet beautiful women's clothing, the kids seemed to warm to the idea of not having to wear tight, clingy clothing which causes them to constantly worry about having perfect bodies. What a relief that would be, they said. The sixth grade kids last week seemed to react to this even more than these seventh grade kids.

All classes are planning to write and send pictures to the kids and adults in Senegal who gave us their addresses and emails.

Irma was invited to do some of her animated interactive storytelling at the African American Museum in Philly. What an honor! You can see Earl and Backa here providing the rhythmic background. The kids and adults were totally enrapted as Irma told her "How the Monkey Found Misery" story and others. Just look at those kids' faces! Of course, our whole crowd was there to cheer her on!

Click here to read the Monkey story and see our other activities for children.