I got my ballot in today. Cast it for Kerry since I’m pretty sure Bush increases my chances of getting my ass kicked living in an Islamic republic about 20 times. This is a place where rulers are not always liked. (As evidenced by the number of coup attempts in the last month.) Right now most people I talk to assume that the American people are at least partially against many of Bush’s actions. They will tell me that Bush is a bad man, but they still like Americans. If we re-relect him our culpability changes entirely.

For the congressional seat I wrote in my dad’s name. Jenkins can bite my ass. I don’t think my dad wants the seat anymore, but I think he deserves it.

It looks like my life is going to be quite a bit busier this next year…

I was talking to Malick and he told me his contract is up in November and he is not going to extend it. This comes on the heels of Hassen saying he is not working with the university this next semester. Also, if Dia is not already gone, he will be out of here as soon as these trainings are done. With Matt having switched his alliance to the wheat company, that just leaves me.

I was expecting and wanting to be more involved this year. My French is nearly not wretched and I’m developing a sense for how things work here. There is a big difference though between getting to the point where I can deal with being more active in teaching a class and getting to where I can deal with the confused snarl that is the university administration.

So, it is going to be interesting in any case. I need to sit down with Malick and have a nice long talk about how anything gets done here at all.