so this past week we learned our site assignments aka where we will be spending the next two years of our life. i have the most fantastic site imaginable and will be in the north, near podor in a little village called santhiou diambo. (i'm going from memory on the spelling because i don't have my sheet with me). i'm about 20 km from podor which is just a spit from mauritania and about 30 km from our regional housein ndioum. i'll be serving my village, about 400 people and the village right next to it, about 200 people. what makes me most excited is the fact that i am only a kilometer away from emily, another volunteer here and one of my best friends here. we're super excited to do a lot of projects together and hang out and cook. i really couldn't have asked for a better placement. we even met the girl we are replacing, kiersten, and she gave us so much info on the place and was awesome. needless to say it is gonig to be legendary! (quick shout out to renée, how cool is it that i can put accent marks in right away because of the french keyboards?)
a little more infor about my village, it's right on the senegal river..i will be able to actually see the river from my hut. my village is a fishing caste village and the other village is herding, so it will be interesting to work within the different castes and to see the interaction between them. i will be living the the village chief's brother and they seem to be excited to have me live with them. i will be able to have internet access in podor but no electricity in the village so hopefully be able to update this thing often.
this past weekend the whole lot of us went to the beach to relax. it was awesome swimming in the ocean, in april, and not getting burnt. the beach was so clean (lake michigan is was NOT) and there were seashells everywhere which i of course had to pick up. i had a great time and even helped make sunday brunch for everyone. yes, the family tradition continues... it was a much deserved break and worth the crowded hour long bus ride. some even had enough balls to ride the 35km there. it might not sound too ar, but in 110 degree heat and the sahara winds blowing in your face, you'll have enough admiration for those guys as i do.
training is finally taking off; we're beginning to get more involved with the technical aspects which has given me renewed purpose of being here. in two days (thursday) we are leaving for our "demystification" or our visit to see what being a volunteer is really like. my language class is heading to the west near matam but in the desert for ten days. it's about a fourteen hour car ride and our site has been registered the hottest place on earth more than once. i was able to catch the weather last night and saw that it was 44 degrees C. i don't evenwant to know what that is in farthenheit, it's just plain hot. my site will also be hot and i'm told i will just walk into the river with all my clothes on as a act of desperation, but it won't get as hot because of the river. mind you, i have no idea what AS hot means. we're all pretty pumped to be taking off for ten days. our language teachers are the best and i know they'll have a great time with us as well.
okay, i have to get back to the center in order to make it home before dark...take care everyone and be safe...think about you all the time!
oh- quick shout out to the gore's for the awesome package. wet wipes and peanut butter and pretty much everything will be taken with me for the road trip....you guys are awesome...kathy, i won't even describe to you wear i go to the bathroom... also a huge thanks for all the e-mails, letters, and comments you guys have made. it's good to know that i'm in your thoughts and they're always a great pick-me up even if i'm not able to reply right away. love you all!
peace,
jaime
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