Finally a place to call home...

I'm back. I didn't get internet time last week because I went to a Guinean drum performance instead. Things have finally started falling in to a routine here.  We have class M-F, 8-5 and then we go study French from about 7-10.  Class is a mixture of both French grammar, technical training on public health in Guinea and cross-cultural training.  We all just show up at the designated spot in the village -- usually under a mango tree -- and commence class.  It's actually quite nice in the shade; the sun, however, is brutal.  French is coming along petit a petit, but I've definitely made a ton of progress.  Lane, another public health volunteer who studied French, said that we're cramming about 6 years worth of French into 6 weeks -- so I feel pretty good about my progress.  I can finally hold semi-descent conversations that don't revolve around wanting food, drink or a toilet!

Family life is, well, interesting.  I'm the oldest of 7 children so now I know what it's like to have younger siblings.  They're always in my face asking me to say things, do things, or look at things; they all want to sit on my lap and ask me questions; but what's most amusing is how mesmerized they are by the fact that my skin changes from red to white if you apply pressure (how many of y'all just tried it?) and that my hair is soft and lies flat.  My living quarters are pretty basic, but all the other volunteers in my village (we're spread amongst 3 villages) think that I have it so nice -- mostly because my bathroom is in my room instead of out back behind the house.  But let me just tell you, it ain't pretty.  Having a pit latrine (look it up) inside your room means that it literally and figuratively smells like crap.  I'm currently trying to figure out ways to fumigate; so far all I've come up with is soaking an old toilet paper roll in febeze and using it as an air freshener (and I keep the door shut, of course).

The weekends are generally our time to explore.  We got to go to the cascades (waterfalls) last weekend and it was pretty awesome.  The falls were about 50 feet tall and we got to climb and swim.  Mostly it was fun because all 33 of us were together and we got food that wasn't fish and rice.  Speaking of 33, one of the public health volunteers had to go back home for medical reasons.  We miss you Rachel, come back to visit!!  On Sunday a few of us biked in to town to go to drum lessons, but as goes Guinea, the instructor wasn't there.  We still made a day of it; we rode to the port where they bring the fish in and then went and explored the market at the center of town.  

This weekend we're all going to Conakry for Christmas -- I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S CHRISTMAS!  Apparently we're having a smorgasbord with a stuffed goat, american goodies, beer, wine, liquor and a gift exchange.  So to answer your question Jacob -- yes, Santa does come to Guinea!

Quite frankly it's been so crazy between the transition to a completely different way of life, adjusting to the climate and food and learning a ton of new information that I haven't felt like I've spent much time reflecting on the experience.  Maybe that's a good thing.

Today we found out where we'll be living for the next two years -- and who we'll be living near…  In February I'm headed off to Timbi Touny and it sounds pretty awesome.  After you Google it, if you find something interesting leave it in the comments or call me 224 68 06 11 54 and let's chat.  Supposedly it is cool weather, 15km from the next closest volunteer and has a chefs factory!  Woot woot!

In the spirit of Christmas, some things I'm thankful for:

the ability to log on to the internet and post on my blog

talking to my family back home

my lantern/flashlight

awesome trainees

my American goodies

my Guinean clothes

occasional electricity

MY NEW HOME!

Merry Christmas to all and remember the reason for the season!