My host sister today received news that she has been offered a full scholarship to study for her PhD in America, at the same university where her boyfriend is studying. Unsuprisingly, everyone is absolutely delighted - we're off to climb a celebratory mountain shortly, and then off out for dinner. My ayi especially is over the moon. She spent the morning clucking ecstatically, has declared me to be a lucky mascot, and started making jokes about her daughter winning a Nobel prize. At the current rate of progress, that could yet happen.



Ayi line of the week: 'Have you ever considered plastic surgery on your nose? Just a little bit off the end, maybe?'