AirMail Letter #3 - July 28, 2008

Dear Mom and Dad and everybody,

I'm currently in Kollo which is 30 kilometers from Niamey. I'm staying with another CYE (Community Youth Education) Peace Corps volunteer. She will finish her service just about the same time I finish my training and swear in as an official volunteer. I really want her post so I'll be trying to convince Tondi and Assalama (my CYE Coordinators), but I won't get my hopes up.

Her house is gorgeous. Luckily, most CYE Volunteers have electricity, running water, AND indoor plumbing! Her neighbor is an amazing Taureg man with a cool family which is also the appeal for me. I want that posting so bad, but they speak Zarma, and I'm being trained to speak Hausa. Like I said, I'm going to be dropping hints like mad. Staying with this Education volunteer has made me very optimistic.

You should know that I'm planning on getting a cat. She has one and I found out that I'm NOT allergic. Dogs are too hard to keep as pets here, but I need a pet (one that hunts mice will be especially nice!)

Mom, keep your intention on me getting this post. The water here is treated, and it's pretty close to Niamey in case I ever get sick and need to see the doctors at the Peace Corps clinic. (Plus there's a good vet in Niamey for my future cat!) I also like the Nigerien education counterpart that I would work with if I get this post, and I think we could work well together. There are American missionaries in the area, too.

I miss you guys, but I am loving it here.

Count your blessings every day that you have a flush toilet and a car to get around.

My first bush taxi trip will be tomorrow.

Write soon!

Love,

Jessica

(Jessica enclosed a list of "goodies" that she'd love to get in the mail from home)

O.K. guys, I know I keep asking for stuff, but it's only because I can't find it here (within my budget) AND they bring our mail to us until Swear-In (September 12th).

Some of this list is repetitive because I don't know what you've sent already. I'm on "Demystification Weekend" (we get to go and stay with a Peace Corps Volunteer that has been here for a year or longer to see what it's REALLY like) and my list has expanded. You can send me these things in a flat rate box from the post office (more bang for your buck). On top of the inside write my address on red paper. On all mail you can write "Republique du Niger" instead of just "Niger" so it's less likely to be sent to Nigeria by mistake! O.K. here goes my list:

2008-09 Calendars 

 Magazines

8.5x11 posters  

 Scotch Tape

AA and AAA Batteries 

 Crayons (in a ziplock bag)

Elastic hair ties 

 Eyeglass wipes

Colored pencils  

 small pencil sharpener

Chocolate or Peanut Butter Power Bars

Nature Valley Granola Bars

Small Packs of Oreos 

 Graham Crackers

Nilla Wafer Cookies 

 Goldfish Crackers

Children's songbooks 

 Blue Bic Pens

 Q-tips

 Pocket size French Dictionary

 Doritos

 Airmail Envelopes

 LEXAR 2GB chip for my digital camera

 Small speakers (for my iPod)

 Candy canes for Christmas

 Sudoku books

 Small packs of tissues