Appreciation - A New Outlook

Things I have come to appreciate:
1. Coca Cola (especially cold bottles)
2. Fruit (mangoes, bananas, and pineapples are incredible!!!)
3. Hugs (when you can sneak them)
4. The internet (I smile non-stop from the time I get on until I am forced to leave the café or the internet goes out – whichever happens first)
5. Chocolate cookies (I didn’t even like chocolate much before I came)
6. Gum
7. Laughing cow cheese (doesn’t need refrigeration)
8. Nutella (I keep thinking about those jars of Nutella in the cabinet in the kitchen, Amanda…People would give their first born child for some Nutella…)
9. Anything with sugar
10. Tanktops (I love my mosquito net time)
11. Cold air (we love being sick, so we can spend time in air conditioning)
12. Ice cubes (which we aren’t allowed to have most of the time due to bad water)
13. Rain (cooler weather)
14. My computer (I have realized how much I love writing, and watching movies, and listening to music, and looking at pictures…and studying French verbs?)
15. My iPod (OMG – my lifesaver)
16. My pillow (thanks, Mom…it’s so much better than a tshirt)
17. Eye makeup (You don’t want to look frumpy all the time…)
18. My mosquito net (HAHAHA – you bugs can’t get me in here!!!)
19. Jeans (I may be considered a prostitute, but I feel GREAT!)
20. Flip flops (I’ve already gone through several pair)
21. My curly hair (I never thought it would come in handy)
22. The fact that I don’t smell bad (self explanatory)
23. Nail polish (it’s amazing how something so small can brighten your day)
24. Letters (I live for mail…and it never fails to make me cry)
25. Emails & facebook posts (ya yi kyau!)
26. My friends at home (thanks for not forgetting me)
27. Deep conversation (finally feeling like I’m making real friends here)
28. Shallow conversation (sometimes it’s great to break up the seriousness – I especially love hearing about the scandalous-ness of my favorite Federal Hillsiders)
29. The fact that I don’t sunburn too badly (good to note when I get my own concession and can walk around in my bikini to even out my tan – my arms, face, and feet are super tan)
30. That I don’t wear glasses or contacts (dust storms are ridiculous)
31. Phone calls and text messages (ya yi kyau!)
32. Vegetables (heavenly)
33. Pizza (yes…even if it’s made with tomato paste, flatbread, powdered milk-cheese, and sautéed weeds)
34. Mesa Parties
35. Amandines (the most American place in Niger)
36. The American Rec Center (bikini and a beer by the pool!)
37. Paved roads (potholes worse than Baltimore – and that’s saying something!)
38. Upkeep of vehicles (I have never seen vehicles in this shape actually run…)
39. My love of reading (I’ve already read 3 books and we are SUPER busy all the time)
40. Patience (I’m working on it)