thanks

On this day of celebrating thanks, I begin to list in my head the things I am thankful for. The list is topped by my friends and family who have encourage and supported me so much through this journey otherwise known as Peace Corps (and life on the grandest scale). There have been some hard times and without these people I may not have stayed in Niger as long as I have. With the situation here, we are consolidated outside of our villages and were barely given a chance to inform our communities that our absence would be prolonged by factors beyond their or our control. I am thankful that I was placed in a village that is so open and accepting. I am not forced to completely change my cultural identity. While I am respectful of theirs they are also reciprocal. They love when I dress up but they know I don't have to. I am thankful to have found so many adoptive families here. I know in my heart that if I had to leave tomorrow I'd always have a place to come back to, wouldn't even need to bother with informing them. I'm thankful to have found such a patient and understanding fiance. There are many people who don't understand our connection but we both understand where the other is coming from. Never did I imagine that the superlative from training would be true ( I was voted "most likely to marry a host country national") I am thankful that I have the means to take care of myself as well as the people close to me here. I also want to take care of my friends in America but that will require lots of patience.

Solid

Oh what a crazy whirlwind this month is turning out to be!

I had settled back into life after returning from my American vacation in August. The months have flown by, and I find myself already in November eagerly looking forward to the fete Tabaski. Tabaski is seventy days after the end of Ramadan (the month of fasting). Imagine a country wide BBQ. My favorite part is the fried sheep meat … this is the only way I will eat entrails (because they become unrecognizable and they taste like bacon). Sadly, it seems as if I will not be in my village.

There have been some security issues in this dear country of mine. Luckily, nothing in my region, but we have a nationwide security plan which we are all subject to - no matter where the threat is. So, I find myself with my team, and we are all lacking information. This is not the fault of our staff; they are bending over backwards trying to accommodate us and to find out information. So far, this is "Day Four" of Consolidation. I am luckier than most because a guard at our bureau lives in my village and I’m sending some bush notes with him to update my coworkers, neighbors, and my fiancé.

Oh yes, so here is the official announcement. I didn’t plan on coming out with it until the new year, but the circumstances and options are rapidly changing. Moctar and I are engaged. We are working on his paperwork to get a fiancé visa - meaning that once he arrives in America we have three months to marry. We are planning a traditional ceremony for friends and family here in Niger which I pray will still be able to happen this July or August.

With all my newfound free time I am getting myself into planning mode. Keep your fingers crossed that these problems will resolve quickly and I wont have to end my service before intended, thus leaving behind a fiancé who depends on me to walk him through all this American paperwork. Pray for my ability to be patient because I severely lack in that department. Look for pictures on facebook!