Alex's Field Trip

Just because you live in third-world Africa doesn't mean you need to miss out on that great preschool tradition: a field trip to the fire station! Alex's class went to the Nouakchott fire station today to see the engines and learn what firefighters do. Alex was so brave and didn't cry when they sounded the alarm, and he even enjoyed a ride in a fire engine! Since we were off work today, Aaron and I got to come along.

Although their donated building, trucks and equipment are ancient, the firemen (and women! who knew??) are very dedicated and were so proud to show the kids around.

Alex and his classmates in the fire station's pickup, the only

vehicle they own that was built in this decade.

Our tour guide showed us inside the very, very old ambulance

Miss Amel (their teacher) explains what happens

when the station sounds the fire alarm

Yes! We even got a demonstration of how

the firemen get downstairs quickly!

Here are the kids taking their ride around the station

(the little boy at the window is Alex's friend Ben). Half of the

kids were quite terrified, because they thought it was just a

chance to sit in the truck. Then the doors were shut, the sirens

went on, and they took off!! The firemen were confused as to

why the kids were crying - and why the parents were all

laughing about it!

Our fireman tour guide figured Alex was

the smartest kid there because 1) he wasn't

crying and 2) he has glasses.

Obligatory class photo with the fire truck.

There were about 30 vehicles in the station yard and only 11

are driveable.

Other uses for the ladder truck apparently include:

replacing the Mauritanian flag.