I’ve had a number of people ask me to post of a list of things I would like in care packages. If you don’t want to send me a care package, I completely understand – I love phone calls, letters, photos, emails, and facebook messages too. But if you do want to go out of your way – it’s always appreciated, and it makes my week! ;)
Here are some ideas (honestly, be creative – I love surprises!)
Pictures!!! I’m creating photo boards for my house, so it will feel like home.
Letters (best thing EVER)
Flip Flops
Lotion & other smell good stuff, make up, nail polish & remover
Books (I love bestsellers, Sudoku, and other puzzle books)
Markers, Paper, Pens, Stickers
Deck of Cards
DVDs (anything and everything – except things that will scare me when I’m watching them by myself…New releases/Disney)
Travel games
Food
- Gummies & Candy
- Spices
- Beef jerky
- Dried fruit & nuts
- Tuna/chicken/other cooked meat packages
- Soup mixes
- Crystal light/drink mixes
- Baking mixes
- Velveeta
- Peanut M&Ms
- Trail Mix
- Gum
- Things to make smores
- ANYTHING!!! (except rice, beans, or pasta…i.e. starches)
Anything that reminds me of home…I’m really not picky – it makes me happy that anyone even loves me enough to send me one. XOXO!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Fried Chicken and Mountain Dew
Getting to my village was a challenge all its own. We arrived in Zinder Ville (Z City) after a 14 hour cramped bus ride (we rode next to a chicken for the last leg of the trip). We were greeted by the entire Zinder team as we pulled into the bus station. We walked back to the hostel, and proceeded to put on togas and have a few rounds of beer pong…You know I felt right at home! We spent the following day visiting the market and buying things for our new homes. I bought an orange-ish rug…go figure, and some other essential items. One thing that I really admire about Niger is how trustworthy the people are. When we were done shopping in the market, I gave all my items to a random man on a cabo-cabo, along with the fare, and he made sure that my items arrived at the hostel, while I continued to shop. I have never heard of anywhere in the world that you can do something like that. Incredible!
As a side note – cabo-cabos are amazing. They are the cheapest form of transportation, you get to ride by yourself, and you are not stuck in some uncomfortable, sweaty bush taxi next to random Nigeriens. Fabulous! WARNING – don’t burn the crap out of your leg on the muffler though. That’s what I get for stepping off the right side of the cabo-cabo…Apparently, all the PCV women in Zinder have the same branding. I find it amusing.
We were supposed to head out to our village on the third day, but there was a gas shortage in the region, and we weren’t able to get gas for the car to get us to our villages. But the kicker is that my friends are blaming me for not being able to get to their villages. Apparently the day prior to leaving, a vendor that has shop close to the hostel told us that he was going to pray to God that Lalla (me) could stay in Zinder Ville an extra day. When we went to get breakfast the next morning and tell him that we weren’t leaving for another day, he was excited because he had prayed that I would stay for an extra day. From this point forward, my friends have asked me to have this guy pray for them in certain situations, since he has it in good with God…
My village is awesome. If you can imagine Niger – never-ending sand, dirt/poorly paved roads, huts far from markets and cities, lack of food choices, and a garbage problem, then you can understand why I was so excited to drive into my village. The road has been newly paved, so it doesn’t take very long to get there from Zinder Ville (2 hours), and the streets are tree-lined…I felt like I was driving somewhere in the states…You have no idea how much this one comfort made me feel at home. My village is not far from Nigeria, so there is a lot of influence in my community. That fact alone makes a world of difference. Fried chicken. Fries. Deep fried eggs (who knew?). Mountain dew and other Pepsi products. Loaves of bread. Shaded market. Choices. How exciting! The country director told me that my village was her favorite place in all of Niger, which of course makes me even happier about my placement.
My most positive experience in my village was going to the market and bargaining for something for the first time. I have had my eye on the intricately designed calabash bowls for a while now, and after some observation, I saw that a local woman paid 300CFA for a bowl. Immediately, vendors try to jack prices up because they know I’m a stranger. I was able to explain to the man that I would not pay 1000CFA for the bowl because I knew the prices, and I had seen a woman who did not pay that amount. He eventually allowed me to buy the bowl for 300CFA and an additional larger bowl for 400CFA. As I was walking home, I was so happy that I had actually used my language skills to make this happen. Then I realized that I paid 700CFA for two carved and painted bowls and that total is worth less than a stamp in this country, which costs 750CFA. Then I was SUPER proud of myself. It’s so funny how the little things will bring you the most joy in life.
My biggest challenge has yet to happen; it will be my first month at post (my village) by myself. I only spent one evening by myself in my village, while most people got several days to feel a little crazy. I did realize, however, that when the PCV who assisted with my live-in left me, I was truly alone for the first time since I’ve arrived in country. Most people never have the opportunity in their life to experience this type of loneliness. You are left by yourself in a country that is not your home, you don’t speak the language (at least not well), and you feel like a complete stranger. I can’t explain how difficult this is…All I know is that that night I had to make a conscious decision that I would not cry, and that I would be happy by myself. I had another PCV tell me to embrace the feeling because no matter what happens in your life, you will never feel like this ever again. Even if you join the Peace Corps again, and train in a new country with a new language, it will never be the same as the first time you were truly alone. After your first month, you will start understanding the language better, make friends in the community, and have your ‘American reprieves.’ And it’s guaranteed that you’ll never feel that way again. It’s a very humbling experience to say the least. Now, let’s see if I can get through the first month without going crazy…I expect phone calls people!
As a side note – cabo-cabos are amazing. They are the cheapest form of transportation, you get to ride by yourself, and you are not stuck in some uncomfortable, sweaty bush taxi next to random Nigeriens. Fabulous! WARNING – don’t burn the crap out of your leg on the muffler though. That’s what I get for stepping off the right side of the cabo-cabo…Apparently, all the PCV women in Zinder have the same branding. I find it amusing.
We were supposed to head out to our village on the third day, but there was a gas shortage in the region, and we weren’t able to get gas for the car to get us to our villages. But the kicker is that my friends are blaming me for not being able to get to their villages. Apparently the day prior to leaving, a vendor that has shop close to the hostel told us that he was going to pray to God that Lalla (me) could stay in Zinder Ville an extra day. When we went to get breakfast the next morning and tell him that we weren’t leaving for another day, he was excited because he had prayed that I would stay for an extra day. From this point forward, my friends have asked me to have this guy pray for them in certain situations, since he has it in good with God…
My village is awesome. If you can imagine Niger – never-ending sand, dirt/poorly paved roads, huts far from markets and cities, lack of food choices, and a garbage problem, then you can understand why I was so excited to drive into my village. The road has been newly paved, so it doesn’t take very long to get there from Zinder Ville (2 hours), and the streets are tree-lined…I felt like I was driving somewhere in the states…You have no idea how much this one comfort made me feel at home. My village is not far from Nigeria, so there is a lot of influence in my community. That fact alone makes a world of difference. Fried chicken. Fries. Deep fried eggs (who knew?). Mountain dew and other Pepsi products. Loaves of bread. Shaded market. Choices. How exciting! The country director told me that my village was her favorite place in all of Niger, which of course makes me even happier about my placement.
My most positive experience in my village was going to the market and bargaining for something for the first time. I have had my eye on the intricately designed calabash bowls for a while now, and after some observation, I saw that a local woman paid 300CFA for a bowl. Immediately, vendors try to jack prices up because they know I’m a stranger. I was able to explain to the man that I would not pay 1000CFA for the bowl because I knew the prices, and I had seen a woman who did not pay that amount. He eventually allowed me to buy the bowl for 300CFA and an additional larger bowl for 400CFA. As I was walking home, I was so happy that I had actually used my language skills to make this happen. Then I realized that I paid 700CFA for two carved and painted bowls and that total is worth less than a stamp in this country, which costs 750CFA. Then I was SUPER proud of myself. It’s so funny how the little things will bring you the most joy in life.
My biggest challenge has yet to happen; it will be my first month at post (my village) by myself. I only spent one evening by myself in my village, while most people got several days to feel a little crazy. I did realize, however, that when the PCV who assisted with my live-in left me, I was truly alone for the first time since I’ve arrived in country. Most people never have the opportunity in their life to experience this type of loneliness. You are left by yourself in a country that is not your home, you don’t speak the language (at least not well), and you feel like a complete stranger. I can’t explain how difficult this is…All I know is that that night I had to make a conscious decision that I would not cry, and that I would be happy by myself. I had another PCV tell me to embrace the feeling because no matter what happens in your life, you will never feel like this ever again. Even if you join the Peace Corps again, and train in a new country with a new language, it will never be the same as the first time you were truly alone. After your first month, you will start understanding the language better, make friends in the community, and have your ‘American reprieves.’ And it’s guaranteed that you’ll never feel that way again. It’s a very humbling experience to say the least. Now, let’s see if I can get through the first month without going crazy…I expect phone calls people!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Official Peace Corps Volunteer!
Doesn't Kira look amazing? She has officially been sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer - having passed her French requirements! Now off to her village. Hopefully she can post more observations soon...... meanwhile - check out her pictures - click the links to the right of her post.
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