Hi everyone, this is Kira's mom again. She has not been able to post for a while, but I speak with her often, so I thought I would send an update.
Kira spent her 1 month in her village - learning to cope with loneliness, isolation, new language, constant stares, cut hands, mice, flies, more cut hands, a bathroom door swelling shut, a wallet being stolen, her sister announcing her pregnancy (much to Kira's dismay) and awesome new friends!
She is actually doing really well. Quite of few of those who made this venture with Kira have ET's (Early Terminated) which speaks to the harshness of Niger. Kira is lucky, she was placed in a Region that enables more contact with other Peace Corps Volunteers and they seem to have developed a great support system.
Since moving to her village, Kira has had a lot of 'firsts'. She has been truly alone for the first time in her life. She has had to cook for herself. Experimentation has taken on a new life of it's own. She absolutely loves the food we have sent, and she is great at mixing new concoctions. Rice with ANYTHING, and gravy mix.... of any kind makes a great meal. Oatmeal suddenly is 'amazing' as breakfast. (too bad she didn't agree as a child!) I sent her a box of food and it was like Christmas... if only Christmas was so easy! I could just buy her food and she would be content... lol... NOT.
Kira got a cat. The cat's name is Roo.... named after her old roommate Amanda... her prior Roo. The cat helps with the Mice problem and the Fly problem - and it provides Kira with responsibility. She has bonded with Roo, with I was not sure would happen.
The village she is stationed in has a fantastic market, which offers fresh fruit, eggs, chicken, and other wares. Kira is pleased that their market is large and considered the best in the Region. Many of her Peace Corps Volunteer friends come into her village every Friday to purchase goods and they often spend the evening to relax and enjoy each other's company - and speak ENGLISH...
Kira has befriended many of the villagers including the Vice Mayor and his two wives. (that takes some getting used to) but she tells me that she feels very safe and everyone is extremely nice and helpful.
She has had some tough moments.... especially cutting her hands severely on the ceiling fan (yes, her temporary home has a ceiling fan - which is no more than a sharp metal fan). She probably needed stitches, but we decided they were African Tattoos - to show her character. But her hardest moment was when her Laptop failed (power cord issue and a new one is on the way...) but that was her lifeline, where she could play cards, view her pictures, listen to music, etc.... so it was a hard moment.
Kira does have cell phone service in her village, so we can speak often - which is a god send for both of us. Internet is only available when she is in the regional capital every few weeks.... but since her laptop is out of service for another week, she hasn't been able to post.
Kira has been getting involved with the schools, sat in some French classes, made friends with the 'seniors' and talking with the teachers. She is excited over the prospect of getting more involved.
Kira has lost a good bit of weight and toned nicely, as she is working out daily.... (shouldn't we all?).... She plans on coming home with a six pack... so all need to be prepared...
Kira's French is amazing... and really fun to hear when we are on the cell phone. You can't imagine what it is like to hear your child speak in another language. I am so impressed... and proud.
Well, Kira hopes to post soon, she plans on being in the Regional Capital over Halloween Weekend (they have planned a party) so she hopes to post to her blog then.
Meanwhile, thanks to all of you who have posted, sent her letters and care packages, she is always so excited when she receives mail, she reads every word to me!
Many thanks for your support -
Pam
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3 comments:
To Kira and Mum,
I'll bite; its so difficult to speak on the reality of life outside the shores of the states. Its a whole different ballgame-- from the loneliness, to the linguistic differences, to being the lone carrier of anything resembling your own cultural subjectivity in a room full of folk far different from you; its a different thing. One few others understand till they get up close to it.
I hesitated to spit the truth to you when you were uninitiated because those words fall on an an uninitiated conscience differently than they do on someone whose been in the middle of situations like that. But here it is, babes.
I think its interesting you/yall call them Niger tattoos. I dig that.
My only questions deal in particular nuances of that specific place on the globe-- like, if you had to describe it, whats a piece of that unspoken shorthand people rely on from day to day out there that the uninvolved American might not soak up so easily? I know what it is here and what it is in the desert. But I haven't dug Niger (yet).
Let me know if that package got there! I'm concerned. Told you, sometimes its dicey moving packs out there.
Between the lines I read it. Its tough in ways that can't be described. But do y'thing, babes. Holla at us on this end. We got your back no matta what.
Cese
WOW! Roo really is the perfect name for your cat! He is a lot like me (minus the psycho part!)...helps with mice, teaches responsibility, and there was uncertainty about the ability to bond with each other! I mean, who would have thought that an ISTJ and an ENFP could get along so well and become best friends! ;) Ha ha! I'm soooo incredibly proud of you, Kira! Keep up the good work! I love you!
Hi Kira,
I ran across your blog and boy did it bring back memories.
My wife and I were Peace Corps volunteers in Niger from 1986-1988. Your pictures were a gift. It looks like nothing has changed - even the volunteers. Some of the chairs in the pictures are the exact chairs I remember sitting in during stage at Hamdilaye. Of course we didn't have cell phone service or the internet! Even a phone call at the PTT was outragously expensive. So that has changed!
My wife and I were Lycee professors at Dosso.
I can tell you from my experience the first few months after posting are the hardest. Stay with it though. It _will_ get better. During the first few months I thought about returning home early a lot. I finally made up my mind to not think about it for three months. That I would re-evaluate after the new year. That was the best thing I could do. It took the pressure off and I could focus on my work. By December everything was great. I'd adapted and was enjoying myself.
Good luck to you. I'll follow your postings.
John
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