So, update on what has been going on.
Was last in Zinder due to a security situation that has since been resolved. Some members from Niger elected to return to the States, so the size of PeaceCorps Niger is decreased. Added to that, the latest in-coming stage was forced to leave in the middle of their training, and (as far as I know) most have gone to Madagascar which has recently reopened. The rest of us have accepted to adopt a few more rules to help guarantee safety.
We celebrated Christmas yesterday. Enjoyed a table full of good food (including tenderloin, garlic rosemary mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, salad, apple-cranberry stuffing, apple-squash stew, gravy, pumpkin bread, and I think that was all). Also, there was a large number of cookies (several dozen of many different varieties). All in all, a very sweet, and very filling, dinner. Very thankful that Team Z is so full of great cooks. That has made these two holidays quite happy events with plenty of good food to go around.After dinner, we had a White Elephant and Secret Santa gift exchange. Fun stuff went around, with a mixture of laughing and crying (depending on the nature of the gift).
Village life has been going quite well. I have recently sat in on two CAPED meetings (a sort of teacher-training), and am considering not attending any more (though I would have to reconsider that decision if I decide I could do something to make it more effective. I dunno, maybe have everyone check in cell phones at the door, not gabble when the leader is talking, not shouting across the room, etc. The good thing about these meetings is that they take place in French, so I'm able to follow what's going on (although the entire point of the message was lost on all but a few at the latest meeting).
Two others and I visited a fellow PCV in mid-December. So, we headed up north (passing through some interesting landscape) to help paint a world map. We spent the better part of thee days up there, working at a primary school in a village a few km away. It was a worthwhile experience, heading out to visit another person's village.
So, time for a few photos. Here's what the bush taxi was like. On the way up, Sean and I were sitting on bags of rice, legs hanging over the side, just behind the cab of the pickup. Our only hand holds was a bar that ran along the outside of the bed of the pick-up, and since it was market time, the bed was packed until we were sitting at the same height as our hand holds, making a very difficult time of holding on. We were sitting on the left hand side, and had to work to stay on our very precarious position, especially on the right hand turns. I had the added bonus of having a lady behind me (inside the bed of the truck) elbowing and kneeing me in the back in order to find a better position. Didn't let her win that one, however, as I figured my situation was worse than hers. Meanwhile, Sean was catching the thorn branches as we were drying by and Audrey was sitting inside the bed with the cab to her back, which left her with several bruises on her back.
And here is us sitting on the top for the ride back. Surprisingly enough, this was a much better position to ride in. Wasn't afraid of falling off, wasn't being hit by thorns. In all, a much better experience.
And here is our wonderful world map. The grid lines have since been erased (happened after we left, so no pics of that). It turned out to be a rather interesting experience as the smallest paintbrush was a 2", so we ended up finger painting and using the tips of millet stalks. Perhaps not the proper way, but amusing nonetheless.And yeah, that's what's been happening in the life of Alex. Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night.
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