Greetings from Niamey

I don't have much time and the connection is slow, but wanted everyone to know that I'm doing great. Training is very tiring and very fun--I love it here.

The Nigeriens have such a positive and wonderful outlook on life despite having very little to work with. I wish I had time to write more, but I hope you understand. More to come later.

Sai Anjima

Peace Corps Eve

Last night was Peace Corps Eve. We got the rest of our shots and medications today and we fly out this evening. We will arrive in Niger on Friday after switching planes in Paris. There are no phones or internet access at our training site (where we will be for the first three months). 42 of us are going and we have already bonded a great deal. That should make our transition a little easier.

There are lots of other people waiting on the computers, so I'll leave this short.

Thanks for reading and thanks for all of your support.

Staging Information

Another post from the phone. Everything went well with the flight, it actually arrived about 15 minutes early. About six of us volunteers arrived around the same time and took a shuttle from the airport to the hotel. I had a "real" Philly cheese steak for lunch. We began orientation (or staging) at 3:00 and finished at 7:00. After that we checked into our rooms and broke off into groups and went to dinner. All of the people i have met seem like great people and i look forward to working with them and getting to know them. Tomorrow we go from 8:30 to 6:00 with a break for lunch. Then, Thursday we get the rest of our shots then fly out in the afternoon. That's all for now.

Well, i'm here at the airport in Nashville waiting to board around 7:00. I just saw my parents and Lindsay for the last time for a while and it was a lotta bit rough.

I'll be spending the next hour waiting with Mr. Potter.

I'm posting from my phone (which is not fancy) so i'm not sure how this will turn out.

Sai anjima.

I Believe Some Thanks Are In Order

Sannu!

I want to thank all of the family and friends that have wished me well. This past week has been almost overwhelming. Not in a bad way, it has been a wonderful overwhelming. It is like being tightly enveloped by a warm blanket on a cold winter night. I will carry your thoughts and prayers wherever I go. Everyone has been so generous with their thoughts, prayers, time, and gifts. It means so much to me that while I'm gone you will continue to support me and tell my story. Not only will I learn so much from this experience I hope you will learn with me. This is the Peace Corps' third goal. Not that I have been thinking about changing my mind, but your enthusiasm has been contagious and a new passion has been born in me. I thank you for this and surely the Nigerien people would thank you if they only knew who you were. I will tell your stories and make you known to them (second goal).

The above map is one of the most detailed maps I've found of Niger. A former volunteer sent me the link. It is all in French, but it is still pretty easy to figure out. It shows lots of information including regional boundaries, roads, dominant languages, and all sorts of other great stuff. It can also be found here.

It is very difficult trying to pack 80 pounds for a 27 month journey. I've been told by people who are already serving in Niger that you can get almost everything you need (don't forget that need does not equal want) once you get there and not to fret. It is my understanding that most people bring too many clothes which is funny because the packing list doesn't suggest many. There is no perfect packing list that works for everyone, but Peace Corps Niger put together a list of things that other volunteers found useful. Once I get everything together, I'll try to post a list of the things I'm taking so that you can see what I was able to cram into my 80 pounds of allowed luggage. During my time in Africa I'll try to write about what items proved invaluable and which ones I wish I hadn't brought along for the ride.

Do you know what else is difficult? Leaving the people I love to go half way around the world to show some folks some pesky American optimism. Oh yeah, and trying to pretend like I know exactly what is going on. Have you ever tried learning three languages at once? No? Really? Well you should try it (actually it isn't as hard as it sounds, just TIME CONSUMING). Ok, that felt good.

Some of you have been asking what I want in care packages, but I don't know what I'll need/want yet. But don't you worry It will be in a future post.

Sai Anjima