This letter was written 8-22-08 and received 9-6-08
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A Little Glimpse into my Life
I love Niger. My favorite parts of the day can never be predicted. There are some days when I loathe the idea of having to find a cab or a bush taxi ... dun dun daa. But then there are days when you find a driver who doesn't try to get more money out of you. Or you find someone willing to take you where you need to go on the first try. I also like walking around Niamey and having vendors remember you. I ran into Ousmane who I had negotiated cell phones with for some other stagieres. He saw me as I was heading into the bank and yelled my Nigerien name out.
Last night, in search for food, we stopped FINALLY at a little stand not far from the hostel. I started chatting with a Nigerien named Jamilou. He invited me to eat with him since I hadn't gotten my food yet but I declined since I was with my friends. I told him he could come over to our table. He came over and chatted with us in Zarma and French. I'm hoping my brain will learn through slow absorption.
Today, Maria and I walked around the Petit Marche. I didn't have anything specific in mind since my post is pretty much completely furnished. I was still looking for the Niger soccer jersey for my brother. The beautiful thing here is that you can ask a shopkeeper where to look and they will actually find it, buy it, and then resell it to you. They usually get better prices too. I found a nice tapestry of the mosque in Agadez and I'm debating between sending it home and keeping it in my house. I can't wait to go to the artisan's district. I've seen some beautiful sculptures and carvings that I can't wait to invest in.
With the good things also come the unnerving things. Kids and old women will follow you begging for money. It's so hard to just say "May God bring it to you" and keep walking. The young boys will often ask for cadeaux. They are easier to deal with. You just ask for a gift in return and when they say they dont have one tell them you don't either and they usually go away.
Thursday I move to my village. I'm sure this first month will be the longest but I am excited to play games and hang out with my villagers. I love talking to people. It comes so much easier to me. Maybe it's because I have to be more creative with communication.
Last night, in search for food, we stopped FINALLY at a little stand not far from the hostel. I started chatting with a Nigerien named Jamilou. He invited me to eat with him since I hadn't gotten my food yet but I declined since I was with my friends. I told him he could come over to our table. He came over and chatted with us in Zarma and French. I'm hoping my brain will learn through slow absorption.
Today, Maria and I walked around the Petit Marche. I didn't have anything specific in mind since my post is pretty much completely furnished. I was still looking for the Niger soccer jersey for my brother. The beautiful thing here is that you can ask a shopkeeper where to look and they will actually find it, buy it, and then resell it to you. They usually get better prices too. I found a nice tapestry of the mosque in Agadez and I'm debating between sending it home and keeping it in my house. I can't wait to go to the artisan's district. I've seen some beautiful sculptures and carvings that I can't wait to invest in.
With the good things also come the unnerving things. Kids and old women will follow you begging for money. It's so hard to just say "May God bring it to you" and keep walking. The young boys will often ask for cadeaux. They are easier to deal with. You just ask for a gift in return and when they say they dont have one tell them you don't either and they usually go away.
Thursday I move to my village. I'm sure this first month will be the longest but I am excited to play games and hang out with my villagers. I love talking to people. It comes so much easier to me. Maybe it's because I have to be more creative with communication.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Je Suis Volontaire
I am now, as of 9/12/2008, an official PCV. My close of service date is 9/11/2010. I left my host family yesterday which was really hard for me. I was very attached which isn't surprising since that's how it was for me in Luxembourg. It was hard not to cry because the excitement, fear, sadness and happiness hit me all at the same time. I carried my things up to the training site and just burst into tears. Luckily my friend was there to help me smile.
I just arrived in Niamey this morning for installation. I am one of the last to get installed on Thursday so I'll be hanging out until this Thursday with some important meetings scattered throughout the week. I can't wait to start setting up my house.
It's so hard to write sometimes because everything is all jumbled in my head. The Swear-In Ceremony was at the US Ambassador's house. It was a pretty simple affair. We had three PCTs give speeches in the local languages (Zarma, Hausa, and then French). Afterwards we had dinner in Hamdy with all of the staff.
The next morning I got to learn how to use the bank. Rather than going back to the ambassador's I decided to bush taxi back to Hamdy to spend our last free day hanging out. I live in fear of bush taxi's, but the experience gets easier and easier. I found a car right away and only had to wait for about thirty minutes. Now, knowing at least a little Zarma, I found chatting more enjoyable.
I had dinner one last time with my host family and then had tea with my Baba. I hung out in the boy's club for the last time and was accompanied by Hama and Karim up to the site. I planned on staying up all night because I didn't feel like unpacking my sheets and mosquito net, but I ended up falling asleep in the refectoire. Not the most comfortable. I woke up at 4:30 when people started to break fast (it's Ramadan). Before I left Karim presented me with a certificate for the Boys Club.
I just arrived in Niamey this morning for installation. I am one of the last to get installed on Thursday so I'll be hanging out until this Thursday with some important meetings scattered throughout the week. I can't wait to start setting up my house.
It's so hard to write sometimes because everything is all jumbled in my head. The Swear-In Ceremony was at the US Ambassador's house. It was a pretty simple affair. We had three PCTs give speeches in the local languages (Zarma, Hausa, and then French). Afterwards we had dinner in Hamdy with all of the staff.
The next morning I got to learn how to use the bank. Rather than going back to the ambassador's I decided to bush taxi back to Hamdy to spend our last free day hanging out. I live in fear of bush taxi's, but the experience gets easier and easier. I found a car right away and only had to wait for about thirty minutes. Now, knowing at least a little Zarma, I found chatting more enjoyable.
I had dinner one last time with my host family and then had tea with my Baba. I hung out in the boy's club for the last time and was accompanied by Hama and Karim up to the site. I planned on staying up all night because I didn't feel like unpacking my sheets and mosquito net, but I ended up falling asleep in the refectoire. Not the most comfortable. I woke up at 4:30 when people started to break fast (it's Ramadan). Before I left Karim presented me with a certificate for the Boys Club.
It was a perfect ending.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Last Week and a Half
So things here are snowballing so fast into swear in. On the one hand I am very excited and on the other hand I am scared. I'm sad to leave Hamdy and that I won't get to see my host family everyday. There's been some days where if I hadn't had them to go home to that I would probably have considered going home. They have made all the difference in my being successful here. I'll miss the other volunteers too. It's so easy when everyone is in such a close proximity to one another. Granted, my closest volunteer is only 18k away but still ... that's not 18 feet.
This past week I spent in MY village. It was so exciting to walk along the main road and practice my Zarma greetings since that and "ay go ga dondon Zarma cine" are the only sentences I can say (that means btw "I'm learning Zarma"). Each day I went to the inspection and a different coworker took me to their home for lunch. I'm really going to fit in where I work. The atmosphere is just so laid back and Nigeriens are always joking around with one another. They love to laugh and I share that quality.
Thursday I was sick which was no fun. I felt so bad for my coworker because he felt bad that I was sick at his house. He had just got done telling me that when it rains during someones visit it is that person bringing their family luck. Then in the span of 45 minutes I had to use their latrine 4 times ... in the rain and lighting. Not to mention, at this point in the week I had just run out of toilet paper. I am resourceful and used a pad and a dryer sheet to wipe but that only worked once. Then I had to buta it ... not as hard as the first time but definitely not an enjoyable experience.
But - I do have a normal bathroom set up in my house! My house is gorgrous. I live in a gated community and I have enough privacy ... almost too much, though. I live a roughly 25 minute walk away from the hub of the city (the area surrounding my work place). That means for me to meet people I have to stay out later. I will encourage people to visit me so long as it is during daytime hours. I am also hoping to get a bike. This, I'm sure, will only contribute to the forty pounds I have already lost.
Friday I headed back to the city. My bush taxis in Kollo are pretty exceptional. It was the city taxis that gave me the most trouble this time around. I was so tired, still stick, and just wanting to get somewhere that felt safe .... funny how standing in the middle of a busy street doesn't feel the most comforting. I repeatedly flag down taxis who aren't willing to drive me to the hostel. I get in one who says he'll take me (finally) but he says for 400 cfa ... this is double the price and not realllly worth it. I get out and finally ask to go to the PC bureau. As soon as I was in the car I felt like crying. I was so relieved.
This past week I spent in MY village. It was so exciting to walk along the main road and practice my Zarma greetings since that and "ay go ga dondon Zarma cine" are the only sentences I can say (that means btw "I'm learning Zarma"). Each day I went to the inspection and a different coworker took me to their home for lunch. I'm really going to fit in where I work. The atmosphere is just so laid back and Nigeriens are always joking around with one another. They love to laugh and I share that quality.
Thursday I was sick which was no fun. I felt so bad for my coworker because he felt bad that I was sick at his house. He had just got done telling me that when it rains during someones visit it is that person bringing their family luck. Then in the span of 45 minutes I had to use their latrine 4 times ... in the rain and lighting. Not to mention, at this point in the week I had just run out of toilet paper. I am resourceful and used a pad and a dryer sheet to wipe but that only worked once. Then I had to buta it ... not as hard as the first time but definitely not an enjoyable experience.
But - I do have a normal bathroom set up in my house! My house is gorgrous. I live in a gated community and I have enough privacy ... almost too much, though. I live a roughly 25 minute walk away from the hub of the city (the area surrounding my work place). That means for me to meet people I have to stay out later. I will encourage people to visit me so long as it is during daytime hours. I am also hoping to get a bike. This, I'm sure, will only contribute to the forty pounds I have already lost.
Friday I headed back to the city. My bush taxis in Kollo are pretty exceptional. It was the city taxis that gave me the most trouble this time around. I was so tired, still stick, and just wanting to get somewhere that felt safe .... funny how standing in the middle of a busy street doesn't feel the most comforting. I repeatedly flag down taxis who aren't willing to drive me to the hostel. I get in one who says he'll take me (finally) but he says for 400 cfa ... this is double the price and not realllly worth it. I get out and finally ask to go to the PC bureau. As soon as I was in the car I felt like crying. I was so relieved.
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