Pretty far from home

Today was my first day in the township Philippi (pronounced fileepee), and I had to take this picture out a window inside the school because I was too scared to show my camera out by the shacks. I'm sure I'll get over that fear, but even six hours later I'm emotionally fatigued from being in that place. These scrap metal shacks are piled together for miles and miles - you can drive fifteen minutes in any direction without seeing an end to them - and the population density is nearly unfathomable. Everywhere smells like shit, there are audible screams on a regular basis, and yet almost everyone who emerges from this violent squalor is far better-dressed than I and texting away on a cell phone.

I only met a fraction of the students who will be present while school is in session (we are offering voluntary review since all the schools are on vacation for another week and a half), but they were wonderful. They are clearly starving and far behind Western high school students, but they are all smiles and giggles. I sat in on Economics, Accounting, and English classes today, and may have an opportunity to teach one of them tomorrow. Wish me luck :)