Happy New Years!!!

After returning home from the camping trip, myself and the other volunteers decided to go on another day trip to a waterfall closer to the regional capital.  We got a taxi which had 4 seats and we filled it with an 5 persons including the driver.  We headed to the waterfall where we were stopped by the military personnel whom were guarding the dam.  We didn’t know it at the time, but the Chinese had come in previously and built a hydroelectric dam next to the waterfall, which supplies the regional capital and a few other bigger cities with electricity.  We were told we had to pay 10,000 francs each person, so we asked to see the ticket book were the price was written which was only 5,000 for all the other tickets.  We were quite annoyed.  We told him we were volunteers, teachers for various subjects, and he told us he didn’t care and that he had not heard or seen the affects of us here in the country.  That made me even more made so we finally ended up paying the 10,000 francs for each person in the car, our taxi driver even offered to pay it for us, and explained that he was uneducated and didn’t understand.  So once again, for every negative experience you see the positive side of things. 

Waterfall

We finally made it to the entrance of the waterfall and meet some of the Chinese engineers who were back working to fix the dam, they said the water had been stopped and that the waterfall was dry.  That sent me even more over the edge because the guards had not said anything about it.  But we continued on anyway and heard some running water, then stumbled upon this beautiful waterfall.  We were able to walk right to the edge of the waterfall and take pictures.  It was beautiful even with the dam closing off a bunch of the water.

Us sitting on the edge of the waterfall

Looking down from the top of the waterfall

We continued on and saw the plant were the water was actually running through the generators and transferred into electricity, entered the control room, got to see which cities the plant supplied electricity for.  It was really interesting to see such a developed system and structure and compare this to what is available in my village.  We then walked up to the dam which had a large bridge, and 4 different stair cases leading to the water.  We were able to walk right onto the bridge, down to the bottom of the dam, and up on top of the dam too.  It’s feels so wrong to walk into all these areas; the control room, the bridge, out to the edge of the waterfall, because in the States normally all of these areas would be blocked off or someone would be guarding each area.

The hydroelectric plant

The Dam

Then on the way home, we stopped and had tea with the Chinese men, who could not speak, French, English, or Pular, therefore we were communicating via hand movements and pointing to the maps to show where we were from.  Tomorrow I will be heading to the missionaries with Matt, the other volunteer, to celebrate the New Years, therefore I will chat with you all next month.  Happy New Years!!!

At the bottom of the Waterfall

At the top of the Dam

At the top of the waterfall.

Le Noel (Christmas)

Our ride into the regional capital went well this time, surprisingly.  We, the other volunteer and I, finally had determined the best route, but I started off and could not understand why I was so tired, and why the students on their way to school were passing me.  We finally stopped at Matt’s village and I checked that my tired was flat.  So we tried checking for a leak and could not find anything.  We pumped my tired back up, then 5 minutes later it was flat again.  So on my bike in, we had to stop every so many miles to pump my tired up, then had to walk our bikes up the last 5 k where there are 5 hills.  At the top of the hill, I am sweating like a pig, sweat dripping down my face, and I am an reddish brown color everywhere from the dust blown up when car or motorcycles were passing us, and there were 3 military men checking identity cards.  One of the guards told me I should not continue into the city that I should wait till his shift ended and go to his village with him.  Then he asked Matt if he was okay with this, because he thought Matt was my husband.  Thankfully Matt said he was not and we were able to continue into the city and get to the Peace Corps house.  I took the longest shower with cold water, but it felt so good to get my hair completely rinsed, and wash and scrub all the dirt off of me.  I think you all got snow, hope it was a white Christmas!

I enjoyed a wonderful christmas eve dinner with the other volunteers in my region of the country, watched the new Harry Potter movie someone's parents had sent to them for christmas and then took off to another volunteers village to do some hiking and camping.  We started off with a local hike in his village and realized half way up the boys who offered to take us did not have a trail they were following, which led to them creating a new trail, via machetes and knifes.  We finally made it to the top and the view was amazing!  Beautiful to look around and a lot of laughs on the way up and back down, sliding, falling, tripping, etc. Then we did a big camp out at his compound where his host family was excited to meet us and feed us a delicious meal.  

At the top of the mountain!

The next morning we woke up early packed our bags for our camping trip, found a taxi driver to take us to the different sites we wanted to go to.  We took off, 10 of us packed into this car, our baggage on top, and the poor car barely making it on some of the crazy roads.  We arrived at our first site which had these amazing rock formations; you could try to see how high you could get to look out.  We then piled back into the car for our next destination.  

A beautiful multi-level waterfall which we all jumped in and swam in.  It was not warm water either, but felt nice and refreshing to submerge my whole body in water.  We hung out there for a while, enjoying the sun shine, the refreshing water and climbing around to places we were able to walk.  

First waterfall where we swam

Rock Formations

Then finally we made our way to the final destination.  We parked the taxi and grabbed our bags and began to hike down the path.  We arrived at the viewing spot and it was incredible.  Breath taking!  Afterwards we ate lunch down on the rocks above the waterfall, walked across a suspension bridge which looked to say the least, a little sketchy.  It brought us up above the waterfall but over the running stream.

At sunset a friend and I walked down and were able to walk to the edge of the waterfall and look down over large decent.  It was quite frightening but amazing to be able to get so close.  Then later that night we made a camp fire, set up the tent and slept on the rocks beside the waterfall.  I know you wont believe me but, it was freezing.  The girls slept in the tent, boys outside, and I have never snuggled so close in my life.  IT WAS FREEZING!  We were so close but slept with out the top of the tent and were able to fall asleep under a star lit sky.  

Crossed this bridge very carefully!

Some other tourists and our friend from the village.  If you look
at the large waterfall, we are standing at the top of the two
levels of the waterfall!  AMAZING!!!!

Next morning we got of, had to jump around to try and warm up, started a fire and heading for home.  View the photos below.

Some funny stories:

I gave a test the last week and I added an additional question, “Que voulez-vous devinir après les etudes?”  First of all the students raised their hands and asked I don’t understand, do you mean after school today or next year?  I said no, what do you want to be when you grow up.  They were so cute, said oh okay, and wrote down their answers.  I forgot to bring the responses with me, but many said, military, doctors, and mathematicians.  But three of the answers I truly enjoyed!  The first one I loved was, the president of the country because I would like to change they lives of the people struggling in the country and make a better life for all.  The second one I really liked was “A teacher because they are the future of the country and my life”; the third “I would like to work in agro-forestry to help my family, village, and country from starvation.”  Some were just so thoughtful and so selfless I was astonished and proud of them.

I was teaching an English class, teaching the days of the week and asked a student to translate in English, “Hier c’est Dimanche” and a girl went up to the board and wrote, “Yesterday, was Sunday Fun-day” I forgot I had explained Sunday as the saying Sunday Fun-day for football Sundays and because there is no schools for students on Sunday.  I just died laughing because she was so innocent in writing that, trying so hard to understand the English language.  Often they ask me questions about song lyrics, and often I have to say its over their head, because the lyrics are so inappropriate and I don’t know how to explain it in a way they would understand.

Some Pictures

Waterfall 30 K from my Site

Awesome African Tree

My market on a non-market day

The School Yard

The boys at their soccer game explaining the strategy to beat their opponents

December Fun!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and that it’s a white Christmas for you.  It is so strange right now for me, because since it’s a Muslim country, Christmas doesn’t exist, therefore there is not a trace of Christmas here.  No stores with Christmas decorations, no Christmas lights, etc.  Quite depressing.  Also in the morning when I wake up, its around 45 degrees then at around 1 to 2ish PM it’s about 90 degrees, so it feels like Christmas here in the morning with all the people walking around in big winter coats, scarves, mittens, and I am in my pants and a light sweater.  But I am not complaining, I would rather be a little chilly then sweating all the time. 

School has been going alright, we had a visit from the inspector of education who was checking in on the various junior highs to see if the students were coming to class and if the teachers were giving two exams per month.  I showed up to school at 8:00am ready to teach my class, as well as the other students, and found out that the director would not be arriving till later in the day and that the students needed to come back for class at 11:00am.  For the kids that live over 5 or 10 kilometers away I felt terrible that they had to make it all the way to school only to find out they would be sitting around for the rest of the day.  I returned at 11:00AM with no students to be found and the ones that did come, did not bring there notebooks to take notes.  Therefore the class was pointless.  The students finally showed up around 11:30ish and I was the only professor to start my class on time.  Then at 1:00PM I switched and started teaching my 10^th graders, who again had no notebooks and were starving because they had not had any lunch. 

At 3:00PM, the kids were getting rowdy because they were so hungry and the Principal was making them wait for the inspector to arrive.  I also had all the other teachers from the elementary school standing outside my door and windows watching me teach to the kids.  Just a little bit of pressure! and I was playing a game with the kids to try and keep their attention so I think that intrigued them as well.  The Peace corps director arrived, to check and see how school was going, living arrangement, community, etc and to bring me a small present, (a wheel of laughing cow cheese) which was so thoughtful and a gift I truly enjoy, as well as a package, which I opened latter and saw was from Mrs. McKenzie.  Had some food bars, but more importantly teaching resources, which I am so thankful for.  Thank you Patty and family!  I returned to school and the inspector had arrived, I was summoned to the classroom where the teachers were being evaluated, and asked to look at my grading notebook.  I was the last one, and they went on and on about how well organized my notebook was and stated could the other teachers mimic my work, then about how amazing the United States was, how important the English language was, etc.  I was quite embarrassed, because here I am learning to be a teacher and then all my colleges were around me, and they wouldn’t stop talking about my organization and America.  As all my friends know, I am very organized if not too organized, so I had not thought much of it.  Then the inspector made a speech and said a special thank you to me for being there and making the sacrifice to come to Africa, etc.  Again it was so nice to hear, but I would have preferred the conversation said general to all the teachers.   

That weekend I had a friend visit me at site, so I made dinner and a peanut sauce (Maffe tiga) and millet which I gave some to my neighbors as well, who politely took the dish, but in the morning when they gave it back to me explained that I needed to learn how to prepare it.  (aka, they did not like it)  I laughed and took them up on this task the following week.  The way I had prepared it, was wash the millet, then put it on the fire and cook it like rice.  It ends up turning out like cream of wheat, pretty good in my opinion.  The way you are actually suppose to cook it is; grill it in a pan, pound the millet after with the mortar and pestle, wash it, then lay it out in the sun to dry for the day on a piece of cloth, then the following day, cook it in a pan, but with a tiny bit of water, so it turns out like cous cous.  Quite different then what I had done and probably will not make that for a long time after, haha.  I also cooked pancakes with maple syrup my parents had sent in a care package for breakfast the next day and a strong cup of instant coffee.  Thank you mom and dad.

Then I asked my neighbors for their hoe, because I wanted to clear the path to my house as well as start doing some planting in my yard.  They said I could not have the hoe until I had learned how to prepare food, and do the womanly chores.  So I prepared something to eat and asked again.  They gave the hoe to me with a great deal of reluctance only finally when I said it would be for my friends who was visiting me.  They agreed finally, but said I couldn’t tell anyone in the states if I got blisters.  Then I was able to clear my path where I had people walking by, and standing at my entrance to watch me, then yelling to their friends to come and “check this out”.  Surprisingly they learned that a white girl can do yard work, haha.  I joked with them and they were impressed with my work.  After that, I decided that I needed to get some better soil, because right now it’s the dry season so the soil is of no use.  So I went out the next morning early, with my hoe and a plastic bag, and starting picking up piles of cow poop.  The whole time I was doing it, I was dying laughing inside thinking about what my life has come to.  After I took my poop baggie home and mixed in with the soil, which I took my first aid medical latex gloves and used for the mixing and planting.  Pretty good gardening gloves if you ask me!  I planted two orange trees, two grapefruit trees, and 4 avocado plants.  My neighbors keep telling me, nothing will grow and I should wait till the dry season.  I’m hoping it will all grow, if not for me the next volunteer who is at my house.  Next, I’m going to try next for a banana and papaya tree, then get some okra and bean plants going! 

Then the weekend came around and I decided to stay at my site and work in the garden.  I went to the market chatted with the ladies at the market, my students, and continued on home to cook some lunch.  Then went back to the market a little later with some friends to get my phone, and started heading home, stopped to talk to friends on the road.  Finally I looked behind me and saw a man who looked a little but off.  They call them “feus” here, in English a crazy person.  I stopped to pretend to be texting on my phone and he passed me, so I thought I was in the clear, then he turned around and started staring at me.  I decided not to go home, and I walked to my neighbor’s house, but I had to pass him, and my head went crazy with ideas of when I had been attacked in the capital.  I had to do everything in my power to stay composed and not scream.  He followed me in their yard, and they told him to leave, he told them he loved me, and finally they got a stick and made him leave.  I spent the rest of the night helping them cook and trying to keep myself calm.  Pretty nervous and uncomfortable.

Since my last chat, I had mentioned my intention was going to be to start a girls soccer team.  That did not plan out this month, but what was exciting was, the Director of Education made a competition between the larger villages.  Unfortunately it is only for boys, because as I was explained they are stronger… but the last week or so they had soccer games between the 8^th and 10^th grades, 7^th and 9^th grades, then the final between the winners, 9^th grade.  I was excited because those are my students and they truly played a great game and deserved to win.  At one of the games the “feu” found me at the game, tried to give me his trash then grabbed at my leg, I again got nervous and startled, my Director of Education told me not to be scarred and that he would do nothing, but that if he was bothering me to get a stick and he would leave me alone, but that I was safe and not to be scarred.  I felt better after that and nice to know that people cared about how I was feeling.

Also this week I taught my ninth graders a Christmas carol as well about the holiday Christmas.  I taught them the “12 days of Christmas”, they were hysterical and tried really hard to get the song right.  Check out the video below.  Lastly, I walked home from school the other day and saw this BRIGHT green thing on the ground moving.  I realized it was a BRIGHT GREEN SNAKE.  He was heading under the fence into my yard, right near my outdoor latrine.  I paused then ran to my neighbors who said not to worry; “it was like that in Africa, he was just passing through yards, and to not provoke him”.  I call tell you I will not be going anywhere near him, and thankfully I only had two more days at sight before I heading to the regional capital for Christmas and refused to use my latrine.  I taught an English lesson to these other students and told them about the snake and what color it was; they said that was the most dangerous snake, and that medicine was really hard to find here.  I thought to myself great!

Lastly, I made the trip to the next village over (19k) to stay with the missionaries for the pre Christmas celebration with another volunteer.  I had tacos, with guacamole and freshly baked soft sell tortillas and brownies for dessert.  I am so fortunate to have them so close and it is so nice to exchange conversation with them about life in Africa; the difficulties, the struggles of teaching, the positive aspects, and speak English.  Thank you so much for all you do for me!

Happy Christmas Eve, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Years, I miss you all a ton and hope you all have a wonderful time-sharing the holidays with your families!  I know I will miss mine a ton!  Love you Mom, Dad, Luke, Nicole, and Brooke!

Month 2

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  I would like to say that I am celebrating the same as you all, but I am unsure that is the case!!!  No pumpkin or apple pie here!

After my last trip into the regional capital myself and the other volunteer were able to find a ride back home; we paid a pretty good penny for the trip, but it was worth it, I was quite tired.  The following weekend I decided to head to visit another volunteer at his site.  I thought I could find a ride, but it was not possible, so on Thursday right after my two classes at 12pm, I took off and had a student ride with me halfway.  The first part of the trip was not too bad, pretty flat, but it was quite sunny.  Then the second half of the trip, I had been told there was a pretty good size mountain, but I thought it couldn’t be worse than my trip into the regional capital the other weekend.  WRONG!  This mountain was much bigger, I also had shared some of my water with my student, therefore didn’t have as much as I needed and was dreaming of a large glass of water.  It didn’t help that I was passing these tiny waterfall, with running water, but I didn’t dare take a chance of drinking not filtered water.  I was walking my bike up these massive steep hills/ mountains, people passing me on motorcycles and cars, telling me that it was good I was exercising, and to have courage.  Little boys would see me, grab their bikes and head forward with me, chatting, asking how they could get a visa to the US and would I be able to help.  At one point I asked a person how far I was from the village I was trying to get to, and he said 8 km, the next person said 14km, the next person said I was going the wrong way and I was 42km away.  I almost started crying until I saw a small stand, bought a small mini cake, and a soda because I was so thirsty, had been riding my bike for over 4 hours now and hungry.  As I was walking my bike up yet another mountain, I heard the sound of car passing on pavement, and I knew I was close.  Only 4 km; I showed up in his village, asked for him by his name, which didn’t work, then I pointed to my skin and said, “Where is the white person?” and I was immediately brought to where he was.  Quite the voyage!

The weekend was the Fete de Tabaski, which is where the village kills cows or goats, dances in the street, eat, and have no work or school.  I stayed in his village for the party because the principal of his village told me if I left he would never talk to me again.  Also while I was at his village I hiked to two waterfalls, which were amazing!  I will have to post pictures another time.  Then I headed back on Monday to my site, early in the morning.  The ride back was a piece of cake, heading down the mountain, but I had been given a sack of potatoes, I had my back pack and I took the other volunteers kitten, because he was leaving and his family didn’t like that the kitten was black.  So I put him in my bag and left the zipper a little bit open.  On my way down the mountain, I met a man and a women on a motorcycle; (here when they use the cars or motorcycles, they shut the engines off and coast down the hill/mountain to conserve gas, therefore we were going the same speed) they were asking me what I was doing in Guinea, then they started to go faster than me and we parted ways.  Then I saw them waiting for me at the bottom of the hill.  There was a waterfall on the side of the road, so they asked me to stop and take a picture with each of them.  While they were getting ready to take the picture I checked on the kitten, and felt something hard and yellow.  All the potatoes had moved to the back of the bag and the cat had been squished by all of them, so I had to do some readjusting.  Poor thing.  The ride took my only 4 hours on the way back, but I was quite exhausted, and found out my village was celebrating the fete that day; so I got showered, and was brought around by my girl students to see all the hair getting done, the people dancing, the food being prepared, then I declined going to the big party which starts at 8pm and ends at 4am, dancing outside to music.  Too tired.

The following day I went to school, but no students were there because I guess when they is a party, the following day the students don’t go as well as the day after that.  Quite difficult for planning lessons and teaching the students!

My first night with the cat went well, he slept right on my shoulder, and purred the whole night.  It was nice for me, because I had someone else to care for.  The second night, the cat was wide awake at 4am, I was still tired, and he kept bothering me, so I rolled over and tried to not pay attention.  When I woke up again at 6:15 with my alarm, and the cat had gone to the bathroom on my sleeping bag.  REAL GREAT!  Right then I thought I would give him back, lol.  Also I have to keep the cat on a leash because my neighbors don’t like a BLACK cat.  Unsure why, so I have the poor thing on a cord so he can walk around, but he normally tangles himself around the various plants or posts in the yard.  One day I came home and he had salivated all over his arm, because he had wrapped himself around a bush and was choking himself.  I ran over and found him, untangled him, where he rested for the rest of the day in the shade without moving.  Poor thing. 

I’ve still been doing some cooking with the principal’s wife, which is always fun to learn how to do things the right way, then try again at my house.  I had a pretty tough week, spoke with my parents for moral support, and then received the two packages from my parents, where I ate the m&m’s before I even looked at what was in the rest of the box.  THANK YOU!  Top favorites, besides the candy was the instant Folders coffee, dried fruit, and crystal light packages.  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!  This week I also started teaching two English classes, to my 9^th and 10^th grade classes.  They are so excited to learn English and I think it helps me a lot for the kids to see my as a resource outside of math.  So now in my village almost everyone knows, “Good Morning, Good Afternoon, and Good Evening” 

That weekend, there was another friend I had made in the village that agreed to bike with me and take me to a waterfall 39 km away.  We headed there early in the morning at 8am, then had to hike to the waterfall off the road, where I finally saw it.  It was massive, amazing, spectacular, and refreshing.  I took many pictures I will post later as well.  Then on the way back we stopped and had some lunch, peanut butter and bread.  At this point it was 1 or 2pm, the sun was hot, we had both run out of water.  This time I was really dreaming about water.  I even passed a field and could swear I smelt cold ice tea.  We had to stop and ask a person on the road for water, where she brought us unfiltered water, but I was so thirty I drank it.  Then I seriously thought maybe I was not going to make it home, I was so tired, so thirsty, and so hot.  Made it home, and slept for the rest of the afternoon.  I think I forget to realize just how hot the sun is here. 

I taught the following week, math and English where I am slowly starting to get into a routine.  But have not mastered trying to manage so many kids in one class.  My parents sent me rulers and protractors a friend had given them.  I gave them to the students and they were so excited.  Of course the next day they forgot to bring them with them to class, but the thought they will use them soon and remember to bring them along with their books is a hopeful thought.  That weekend I headed to a neighboring village to meet the other volunteer at the large weekly market as well as meet the missionaries there.  I finally found another route there without having to trek up the mountain, and it worked out wonderful.  I met him, bought a stool and a mixing bowl, (Calabas) then we found the missionaries who were nice enough to bring us home to their house for lunch.  Right now there are about 4 families living there.  It was so nice to speak English, and relax with fellow Americans.  They invited us to come to Thanksgiving, which we agreed to do, but the day before.  I headed home and again was shocked by how hot the sun was and how much energy it took out of me.  That night I cooked food using my little stool.  PERFECT!

I thought a great project for me would be to work at the local clinic.  I was brought in by the doctor to look at a patient.  She was having stomach problems.  I was taught how to take her blood pressure, and listen for her heart beat.  Not bad.  The next patient that came in was a woman with a bad infection on her finger.  They injected her finger with some sort of anti disinfectant stuff, and then cut the infection off with scissor.  I almost had to lie down I was going to pass out.  Not sure this is going to work. Then the doctor had me writing prescriptions, which I was very uncomfortable with, until I saw there were other people helping there, which were not doctors writing prescriptions as well.  I am unsure that is the best project for me, so will have to re think if that is something I want to help with, especially with all the disease and sickness.

Then Wednesday, right after school I took off for the missionaries’ house.  Made it there, got to look at pictures, helped make home made pizza, meet all the other families and kids, and relax in the convenience of culture.  That night not only did we eat homemade pizza, they had made brownies for us.  Then we spent the rest of the night playing board and card games, phase 10, a game I use to always play with my grandparents.  (Miss and love you both)  Then I had a slumber party with the girls in the family, which was fun for me.  I was able to leave my cat with my next-door neighbor thankfully who agree to watch him for me for the weekend.

The next morning at 6am, we were woken up to play ultimate frisbee.  It was quite cold, normally in the mornings you see all the Africans dressed in winter hats, jackets, shoes/boots, while I’m normally in pants and a short sleeve shirt.  We played with them all, nice to get some physical exercising without having to get on my bike.  Then had baked oatmeal, grapefruit, and homemade yogurt with jam.  AMAZING!!!  Then the other volunteer and I took off for the regional capital and were told to try a different route.  We started off at 9:00am, stopped at his village real quick, then continued on, the hill/mountains were not too bad until we got to the new route, where we had to walk our bikes up, people again passing us, telling us to have courage.  At one point, there was a group of young boys with machetes, who started chasing after me yelling for me to give them money.  Then Matt, the volunteer behind me had rocks thrown at him, but he got off and scarred them off.  After he was not feeling so well, so we had to stop.  We were approached by a group of women, whom I explained to that my friend was not feeling good and we were going to wait.  They flagged down a taxi, told us to get in.  It was filled with older men, I explained I didn’t have any money, and they said that was fine, hauled our bikes on top and drove us the rest of the way into the city, dropped us off and pointed us straight and took off ; one of the nicest things that had happened to me here!  The women were so kind to have force the men to take us, and the taxi driver/ helper was studying English at university, so I conversed with him, and he was so happy to have spoken English.  Then we arrived at the regional house, showered with running water!!!!  And finally relaxed.  One of the volunteers was cooking dinner, it was Thanksgiving and I was celebrating it with Americans, no football game on, but beggars can’t be choosers!  I miss you all a ton, and which you all a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Things are going well here, still trying to figure out how to work the kinks of school out, started teaching English, and now my next task is to start a girl’s soccer league.  One step at a time; Little by Little (English) Petit a Petit (French) and Seeda Seeda (Pular, local language here)

First Month at Sight!

Where do I begin!

It’s been over a month since I’ve been able to use Internet or a computer.  Quite a different lifestyle, but certainly makes me appreciate my limited access.  After my stay in the capital, where I bought a small charcoal stove, buckets to hold food in them, my shower (a bucket and a scoop), a dishwasher (a sponge and a bar of soap), plates, etc, I was ready to head to site.  I was sad to leave all the other volunteers I had grown so close to, but knew this was what I signed up for.  I hoped in the car with my group heading to another small city, with all our belonging on top of the SUV, bikes and all.  We took off and immediately I knew it wasn’t going to go well.  I immediately got car sick, and had to jump over my friend to start dry heaving out the window.  I’m hoping you can see how the four-hour trip turned out.  After spending two days in a smaller city close to my site, we met all the important people, in our region, then in our villages.  I showed up at my site, again after dry heaving the whole way again, and I was brought to a completely different house then I was shown at my site visit.  If you remember I was shown 6 houses, then chose one, and had my supervisor assure me I would be in that house, but that was not true!  Lol I had to laugh, as the country director said to me, “are you okay with this?”  I just laughed and said, “Sure.” 

I unpacked, put up my mosquito net, tried to make my new home comfortable, but then the night came.  The first two nights I was doing well, I ate every meal with my principal, who would scoop more food on my plate, telling me I needed to eat more.  I would head home with such a full stomach I couldn’t roll over in bed at night.  On the third night, I had my moment where I thought to myself, “what am I doing?”  I had been looking at pictures, writing in my journal, and entertaining the a million visitors whom had showed up at my house.  I told myself once school started it would get better! 

The first week of school came around and I had 14 students out of 89 in my ninth grade class, 5 out of 63 in my tenth grade class.  I guess they were right when they said that the first week didn’t count.  Students were outside of class working on the cleaning up the schoolyard rather than in class learning.  I was baffled!  I was told the next week would be better.  I spent this first week, lesson planning, and learning how to cook with my supervisor’s family.  His wife only speaks Pular; I speak English and some French, so most of our conversations were her handing me objects and showing me the motions, then laughing at me when I completed them wrong.  I just sat there like a three year old confused and unsure what I did wrong.  I spent most of my time with the son translating, and speaking to me in French.  After the 10th meal of rice, and a gallon of oil, I decided I needed to learn how to cook so I could monitor the amount of the ingredients; oil, salt, sugar, etc.  I had told the principal’s son that I would like a cat when I was at my site visit, and he said he had found me one.  He told me in was in his hut.  I went in, the cat was on a leash, and when he pulled on the leash, the cat thrashed around, hissing, and crawling.  I thought to myself, this isn’t a cat its a tiger.  He said the cat was just scared but that it would get friendlier.  I sure hope so was my thought.  That afternoon he came over to my house with this sack, I thought to myself what is that.  Turns out it was the cat on a leash in the sack.  No wonder why the thing is so mean.  He brought the cat in my house, tied it to the window then pulled the sack off the cat, and again the cat started hissing and running around, then ran under the bed to hide.  Later that night, then principal walked me home and we brought food for the cat.  When we went into the room, the cat had jumped out the window, but because it was on a leash, had not gotten away.  Just sitting outside.  So we feed him, him hissing at us both.  We left him outside and I climbed into bed and started reading.  Then I heard this crying outside, and I didn’t want to wake my neighbors who lived right behind me, so I went outside, grabbed the leash, with the cat hissing, and refusing to move, I dragged him inside and tied him to the window, locked the window and went to my room, he continued to cry, so I put earplugs in and thought to myself, I am never having kids. 

On Thursday I checked to make sure the cat was still in the room, he was, hiding under the bed and I left for school.  I told the principal’s son, that I couldn’t do it and could he return the cat, he said it would get, and I thought about my crappy night of sleep and said no thank you.  Then, I was in the middle of class when my principal asked if I could come with him, apparently he had spoken with my supervisor and I was moving today.  He had chosen 15 students who would be helping me move.  I was then told to finish my class and head to my house where they would be waiting for me.  So I apologized to my students and told them class was done for the day.  The best part was he said to walk in a large group so I could monitor my stuff was not stolen.  That’s right no car, the poor boys were carrying my suitcase, bed, table, chairs, and million things I had bought.  And we were walking in a train through the center of town.  Once again, all I could do was laugh and think only in Africa.  The best part was the cat was still in the room, but they boys had gone back to get the bed pieces and mattresses and thought the cat belonged to the neighbors and released the cat on the leash.  Poor thing, but I guess that was one way to get rid of it.

The next night, I was then laying in bed reading, probably around 7:30 pm (once it gets dark, there’s not much to do, so if I’m done lesson planning, I climb into bed and begin reading till I fall asleep, that’s right well over 10 hours of sleep at night, lol) I heard this yelling outside my window.  I immediately turned off my headlight, and laid still.  Then I heard an American voice, I ran to the door, and it was one of the other volunteers.  He had biked to my site, a 4-hour journey!  I spent the weekend with him, heading to the market, cooking for my family, because the son of my principal was going off to university.  It was so nice to speak some English, and relax and feel like myself.  (I realized I had not let my guard down since he came, because I always had to be ready for visitors, had lesson planning to do, and was meeting new people each day, and constantly trying to think in French.

The second Week!  On Monday, I showed up to school praying for more students, I had around 50 out of 89, not too bad.  Also very intimidating such a large crowd.  I started teaching and got into my rhythm for the week.  I was getting good at cleaning my house, washing my laundry, getting my water, and learning how to cook with the principal’s wife.  I now live much closer to him now, so its great.  Also this week, it poured at night, at first it was scary because I have a tin roof now, so its really loud, but then I realized its more soothing.  I’ve started to stay up at night listening to my IPOD and preparing for my class the next day.  I cleaned my entire house on Friday because I only work; Monday 8-10, Tuesday 8-10, Wednesday 8-12, Thursday 8-12, yep 12 hours, I am also tutoring a group in English, and am tutored in French and Pular.  Sometimes when I just want to relax, I can’t because students come over, at certain times during the day, I have 15 students sitting on my porch, half of them are not even my students, there younger once.  The best part is, I can be reading a book, or looking off in space, and they can stare at me for hours. 

I also have been visiting with different neighbors, so I’ve helped cultivate peanuts.  I was forced to sit under a tree in the shade, given a blanket to cover my clothes, etc.  There are so funny, with how protective they are of me.  Then I went to the market with a neighbor who helped me buy a mortar and pestle, which is used to make sauce, and bought some other goodies.  Then, I was relaxing on my porch with students who had showed up; I saw a white face over my fence, and realized it was another volunteer who lived 28 kilometers from me.  I ran to greet him, it had taken him 2 hours to get to my site.  We went back to the market and got some stuff for him, but I had also been volunteered by these boys I speak English to, to make them dinner for their last night in the village because they were heading to university.  I made spaghetti and tomato sauce, (aka oil, crushed tomatoes, lots of salt, and tomato paste) so we ate that as a group, and it was nice to have the other volunteer there with me.  The next day after he left, my principal showed up and asked me to get ready to go to a wedding.  I biked on the road after him, and randomly he says “its this way”, I look to the right and it’s a field of tall grass… I was concerned.  After riding through this field we came upon a grouping of huts.  I was introduced to all the men, sat with the men, while my principal introduced me, then after that was done and everyone had been starring at me, we left to go meet the wife and women.  Then we were forced to eat, the two of us, a separate bowl, spoons, etc.  Normally everyone eats out of a large bowl with their hands.  After, we left and my principal asked me to go to his house and eat couscous with curdled milk, I almost died, then I had to go tutor in English, where I was forced to eat another meal, even after I said I had already ate two lunches.  Needless to say, my stomach hurt real bad that night.  Lol

Third week!  Time is flying by, I’m starting to pick up the local language a little, and the people love when I speak in Pular, so I’m trying my hardest.  I have students tutoring me in the language, then a professor helping me with French.  Today I was sitting with two students on the porch when the student in 8^th grade asked me, “Madame, pourquoi votre cheveux est different  (Mrs. Why is your hair different, you have dark and light colors) I just laughed at first and tried to explain, God made me that way, then he pointed to my legs and said, why don’t you have hair on your legs or armpits, and why are your eyes different color… everyone here has the same color skin, hair, and eyes?)  He was so cute, and I was thankful that I had actually shaved my legs and armpits, lol I tried to explain that in America there are all different types of races, and people don’t all look the same.  Then the other students stated, “I love white people, I wish I could be white” I asked him why and he said that.  He said, “because there beautiful and ….” (he had nothing else to say) lol I said that wasn’t a good reason and he needed to think of a better reason before he could ever say that again.  He said he would work on it. Lol I gave a test on Wednesday, and I was baffled by the amount of students who were cheating.  I even had one student throw a piece of paper out the window, then say he had to go pee, I walked out with him and grabbed the paper and told he didn’t have to go to the bathroom now.  I ended up grabbing 6 tests and giving them zeros.  It was absolutely ridiculous!

Then on Thursday, the DPE (The director of Education for our region) came to town, class was canceled, and tents were set up, of course music as loud as possible, and the best part was, they had all the head people sitting at the front tables in front of all the students, elementary school and junior high, and all their parents, and I was called to sit up at the table as well!  The best part was they were filming the speech with a small old school video camera, and I saw the camera man got stuck on my face, to the point where my principal had to wave to him, to move the camera away. Lol After the speeches, we were feed lunch, and the DPE asked me to sit next to me, and chat.  He was very nice, but once again, there were all these important people there and here I was sitting next to the head honcho.  After that night there was another weeding my principal informed me of, and he said to be ready to go tonight, I met the groom before hand, and he asked to get a picture together, I said okay thinking he was just being nice.  During the middle of the ceremony, as the priest or whatever they call it here is talking, I am asked by the photographer to come and stand in the middle of the husband and wife, so I crawl over the wife, as the priest is still talking and have our picture taken, I was mortified that I disrupted the ceremony, but it was nothing to them.  After I was given my own individual plate of food, about 7 little cakes, and caprisonne, (that’s how its spelt here) One of my students was the DJ and asked me to get up and dance with him.  I politely declined, lol.  Oh boy!  I am not complaining about the special treatment, because I know they are doing it out of respect and it could be a lot worse, I could be treated poorly, so I am not complaining, but I have realized I will never blend it, and sometimes that’s hard to deal with.  I’m use to making do, but here I am treated like some important person when I am just as normal as them, but because my skin is different and I am American, I have these special privileges.

Then my Saturday went like it always doesn’t, cleaned the house in the morning, washed laundry, got water for the next few days, charged my solar flashlight and IPod.  This morning I actually cooked breakfast, scrambled eggs, and put it in a piece of baguette.  Made some instant star bucks coffee Amy had sent me and was fat and happy after.  I got dressed in my African complete (Outfit) and headed to the market.  On my way there I ran into one of my neighbors who said she was going to the market too, so we went together.  I went to see the principals wife and help her set up, again communicating by handing me a bag, then hitting the table for where the stuff should be laid out.  Haha Then my students got out of class and started to file into the market, so I had a large group of the female students asking me what I needed to buy, then walking me to the vendor and bargaining the price for me.  The last time I was at the market, I had asked a vendor to make me a baby marmite (pan that can be put on the charcoal stove) so I paid him for my special order, bought a rice shaker.  Each week I try to purchase one new item for my house.   After I went home and put everything away.  Of course on my way home, every person I saw commented on the rice shaker, and asked if I know how to use it.  I don’t so I just laughed and said not yet.  Lol

Then one of my students stopped by and said he was heading to a larger market on Sunday and I asked if I could go with him, because it’s the halfway point between my sight and the other volunteers.  I headed out with the student to the larger market and realized I was quite tired.  Then he told me the mountain would be starting soon.  I almost died.  I had to get off my bike to walk up the mountain.  It was awful, I was breathing heavy, sweating terribly, and just when we finally got to the top, the rain started in.  I was biking through the rain, puddles; I had dirt sprayed all up on my shirt and shorts.  The ride back was even worse.  The mountain was even worse on the way back and this time even the student had to walk up the mountain.  I was so tired after that and cooked a little with the principal’s wife and relaxed for the rest of the day. 

The last trip and funny story I have is this weekend I decided to ride my bike to the regional capital.  So as I am teaching on Thursday morning, at 10:30, the rain begins, and I think to myself, is this a sign I should not be going?  So I called the other volunteer and told him, that I was still planning on it, would he be willing to still go in to the regional capital.  He said yes, and I took off right after class.  Walked up the huge mountain, sweating, panting, and thinking maybe this wasn’t a good idea, as the rain was pouring down on me.  Then I make the turn to his sight and still had 14 kilometers to go.  It’s a lot of ups and downs on the hills, often times, I had to get off and walk.  I finally arrive at his sight, walking up the hill, with all his students at the top, and thought to myself, can I actually make it 40 + kilometers more.  I ate a quick meal, and we headed out before I could think twice about this horrible idea.  We continued on, and the amount of hills, and then the final mountain was horrendous.  We had large cars, trucks and motorcycles passing us, as close as possible, people asking for our bikes, my legs hurt so bad, I don’t even know the amount of hills I walked up, and after leaving my sight at 12pm, I arrived at the regional capital at 6:30 right before the sun set.  It was probably one of the worst trips of my life.  I have run a marathon before, but to explain the exhaustion in my thighs from the constant up and down hills was like nothing I had ever experienced before. This was probably my last trip biking in, except I have to bike home on Sunday.  I was also nervous; because I was carrying my computer into the capital and my principal had told me there were bandits on the pathways.  And when we were biking we heard people calling out to us from the forest, quite scary, and I think adrenalin was the only thing that kept me moving!  That’s all for the first month, its been a lot of emotional ups and downs and I am hoping soon to settle into a standard mood soon.  Miss you all and ton and hope all is well with everyone.  

Here are the pictures of my students!

My House!

9th Grade Class, 89 Students!

10th Grade class, 63 students!

The Farewell, Au Revoir!

As the final days approached it was a sense of bittersweet.  Exciting to be going to live at my site, begin teaching, create a routine, and be independent, but more sad because I was leaving "My Family".  My host mother now called me her daughter, my host brothers now considered me part of the family, and more importantly I was going to miss being around a busy house with "my family".  On the day before our final ceremony, I was told to have my bags packed at 3:00pm, everything besides my misquito net, pjs, and clothes for the next day.  My family stood and watched as I packed my bags.  My trying to get from one suitcase to another in my room, while stepping around my host brother standing in the middle of the room, watching me pull clothes of for the next day, bras, underware, etc.  He was quite inquisitive.  Then my mom came into my room and handed me a blue plastic bag and told me to open it.  It was a complete African outfit with matching sandals.  She had had an outfit made for the farewell ceremony, so I could be completely African!  It was BEAUTIFUL!  I was so touched!  Then the Peace Corps SUV pulled up and I started bringing my 20 bags to the porch, lol.  My mother just stood there looking, and my brothers looked somewhat the same.  After, I headed to the soccer field for the final game of ultimate freesbe with all the volunteers and some instructors.  I arrived home, and sat with my family for the rest of the night, I call it porch sitting.  Not much talking, but a lot of looking at nothing in the dark.  My host mom explained how sad she was for me to go and than my grandmother felt the same.  I was brought to a house to receive a letter from a neighbor who was from my new site village, and he wrote a note presenting me to the community. 

The next morning I woke up, did the dishes for the final time, showered, packed my bags, and misquito net, and went around to the local neighbors to say my goodbyes.  One of the neighbors burst into tears, and I tried my best to pull it together.  My grandmother shook my left hand instead of my right which means I have to come back and visit to shake with my right hand (the correct way to greet).  A sign of caring!  My mother kept translating for me saying my grandmother was sad and didn't want me to go.  Then I left with my host mom and two brothers, and went to the farewell ceremony.  I took some pictures with them before and durring the ceremony, then as I was leaving, I gave them an "American Hug" as I called it, and felt some tears coming.  I tried to walk away gracefully and not let them see me crying, but I lost it when I saw my mom knocking on my window in tears.  This was the frist time I had ever seen her cry.  I lost it!  She told me, I had to come back, and that when I invited her, she would try to come with "my new family".  She shook my hand with her left hand and I knew how much I meant to her and how much I was going to miss her.  I waved goodbye with tears running down my face and took off for the capital in the bus with the other volunteers.  It was like saying goodbye to my family in the USA again, but for a second time.

We arrived in the capital, unloaded our gear, picked rooms.  A few of us went on a run around, found so many fruits we had been missing; apples, pinapple, grapefruit, watermellon, etc and had to stop running so we could buy them and walked the rest of the way home so eat these fruits we had been missing.  I took a shower with running water, even had a handle for hot water, that worked, sat on a toliet to go to the bathroom, (pretty important to specify) and slept in an airconditioned bedroom with some of my new closest friends.

The next day we went downtown to withdraw money for our settling in allowance.  As I was waiting for the others a few of us decided to explore the surrounding stores.  We found a small boutique that had some America pleasures.  I bought a COLD yogurt, and a twix bar.  AMAZING.  Then that evening, was our swearing in ceremony.  We all dressed in a matching fabric, and were finally asked to raise our right hands and swear in!  It's official I am now officially a PEACE CORP VOLUNTEER!

Swearing in Outfits!

My mom and brothers

Me with the Guniean Flag!

My Host mom proud of her certificate
to have hosted her first volunteer!

I will be heading to site on Tuesday, aka will not have access to internet.  Therefore farewell again, and I will update you in a month with my new adjustments to site and an independent life in Africa!

Final Days with My Host family!

After a nice relaxing weekend, where I didn't have to lesson plan, and was able to hang out with friends and enjoy the last weekend with my host family and with all the other volunteers, I finished with the home stretch of classes in both French and the local language.  I had my final language interview to check that my French was good enough to continue on, which I believe went well.  Its quite bittersweet.

Yesterday we had a soccer game between the teachers and volunteers.  I would like to say that we (the volunteers) pulled our weight, but we are in Guinea and the teachers are born and bread to play this game.  We ended up finishing with a tie.  The best part was, because its rainy season, we got to play in the rain and for the first time in a while I was cold in Africa.  I arrived home after the game soaking wet, and got a shocking look from my host mother who told me to change.  My host brother also knocked on my door to tell me he was leaving tomorrow instead of Thursday.  I was quite sad, but he looked just as sad too.  I told him to let me know when he was ready for his gift.

He came into my room a little bit latter and I told him to get all my brothers together so I could give them their gifts.  I handed out the gift bags my mom had sent along with the gifts I requested.  Then I told them to open them!  I think I was more excited than they were.  But I found out that wasn't true!  My brothers opened up the bags and pulled out the Boston sports shirts my parents had sent, immediately pulled off their shirts that they had on, and quickly changed into their new attire.  They were astatic!  I was so excited that they like it so much!  I then told them that if they were going to wear these Boston shirts they needed to understand that they could not like NY.  Often times when they have said they wanted to come to the United States, I would ask where, and they would say, "New York".  I believed this was because NYC was the largest city in the US.  Therefore, they promised when they wore the Boston shirts, they would not like NY, because I explained the large rival between the teams.  They laughed and for the rest of the night, they came in my room thanking me a million times.  My host mother even came in and thanked me for their gifts and I could tell she was so touched.  I will be giving her a gift on the last night.  I got her a can opener, and oven mitts because they normally use a plastic bag, or old rags to pick up the lids to the boiling pans.  Hopefully she will like her gift just as much.  I've posted a pictures of my brothers below, one is missing, but you get the idea!

Thursday I will be heading to the capital.  I'll let you know how the gift giving goes, the packing, the final ceremony with our families, and the trip to the Conakry goes.  Hope all is well!