We're back on line!

The internet service is working at school again! So once more, we'll try to give you weekly updates every Thursday of what's new with us. We're slowly trying to answer the emails people have sent over the past month, but it may take time. Thanks to all those who sent letters, especially to Mme Pelletier and Mme Bermel's class who sent a big pack of letters from every student! We really love letters and are answering them promptly! Sorry if any of you were worried about us when we didn't answer. We are all safe and sound. Though some of you may have heard about the increasing difficulties over the border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopa, this is not affecting daily life in Eritrea. We're are all hopeful that nothing will come of it, or that better yet, Ethiopia will decide to accept the international decision and accept that the disputed land is Eritrea's. But if a war did begin, VSO would be up here to get us within a few hours. An evacuation plan is all organized and we feel secure that we would be well taken care of. Keren is not near the disputed border, so nothing would happen here right away. So, please don't worry. We would be very sad if we had to leave and sadder yet for our friends who would have to stay if a war began.

On to cheerier things, life has returned to it's routine after the Eid celebrations. The kids continue to make it through school. Simon's handwriting continues to improve through copying tons and tons of notes from the board. They continue to see classmates being hit by their teachers but so far have not been hit and hopefully never will be. Kim's and my classes continue to be lots of fun. I am constantly laughing with my students. Yesterday, the grade 12 boys struggled to explain where one of their classmates was going until one finally said, ''urine'', and I finally understood!

Last weekend, was our good friend Saba's daughter Kelly's first birthday celebration. Birthdays aren't celebrated here, except for the first, which is a major event. Saba spent the week cooking , preparing decorations, getting her girls dresses up all fancy, getting her own hair beautifully braided, and having her hands and feet hennahed for the occasion. We spent the day feasting and visiting with her guests and even got a bit of dancing in. It was a lot of fun. Kelly continues to amuse us with her attempts to walk (almost there) and do sommersaults (which involves sticking her bum in the air and singing) , which she has learned from watching Simon and Saba's older daughter Yasmine practice gymnastics.

The weekend before last, we headed down to Asmara with the kids for a weekend workshop with VSO. Where else could you let your kids wander around a capital city and feel totally at ease? It was nice to visit a big city and eat some special food (pizza, fries, ketchup) and to catch up with some of the volunteers whom we haven't seen since we began our placements. But there's no place like home. Asmara is higher up and can feel pretty chilly now as ''winter'' approaches. We weren't used to the cold or the hustle-bustle and traffic. Keren remains nice and hot during the day and is a nice, calm and beautiful place to live. (Though I guess I'm getting too acclimatized. I'm wearing a fleece sweater in the mornings because it's ''cold'' out. I checked the thermometer and it was 14 degrees! I guess it will be tough getting used to Canada's temperatures again!

The goats are now out of our yard and Saba has us all excited about putting in a garden (especially Simon, who plans on planting loads of potatoes!). We'd like to grow some beans, sweet potatoes, corn, potatoes , and some greens. I'd also like to plant some fruit trees. It seems crazy to have this big yard with only thorn trees in it when we could have guava, papaya and citrus trees. We'll see if there are any we can plant that will produce before we leave!

Guess that's about all the news for now. Please don't send us messages through this blog as I don't know how to check them and it's slow. Please send messages to ''eatburns@yahoo.com" instead of to our hotmail address as hotmail is slow here. Better yet, send us a letter c/o Anseba Islamic Institue, P.O. Box 71, Keren, Eritrea, and we promise to write you back. Simon will love you if you stick a few ketchup packs in the letter. I'll love you if you stick a few good tea bags or a scotch brite scrubber in. And Kim will love you if it's a chololate bar!!!!

Take care,

Barb