Letter from Alex on the first few days

Bonjour, Fofo, sannu, salam, alaikum July 15, 2009

It has been a very interesting not yet even a week. So many things are so different, I am not sure exactly where to start off.
The plane rides were quite boring. Both times I was in one of the middle seats of the aisle. Fortunately, I was sitting next to a fellow PCT from Paris to Niamey (pronounced Knee-ehmeh).
In all, there are 32 of us, 9 guys, 23 women. Youngest will be turning 21 this Oct, I believe. Landed in Niamey mid-afternoon July 9th. Stepped off the plane into 100+F. Passing through security went well, but encountered my first trouble at baggage collection. In Philly, I had cleared out half of my small luggage and stuffed it into the larger & my carry-on so that I could fit some things of another PCT who would have been overweight for checked luggage. And as no good deed goes unpunished, it was the small luggage that arrived, not my larger one. And so once all the other baggage had been claimed, another PCT & I reported we were each missing luggage. Tondi, a local PC guy, helped us with that. The ride from Niamey to Hamdallaye (a village of about 4,000 someone said) showed us the countryside. Must say that there is far more green than I had expected. Lots of trees & what not.
Those thatched huts we saw pictures of are for sleeping (if one must go inside) and personal storage or, if elevated (on wooden frames), for food storage. However, back to day 1, they showed us how to how to hang up the mosquito net using a slip-knot. Slip-knot very important as we found out that first night, for as we were sleeping that night, a dust storm arose which seems to be a herald of rain storms (at least at this time of year). So we quickly had to let loose the knots grab the bundle of net & mattress, and move it inside. Meanwhile, weather changed from a bit of wind to not being able to see 15 feet in the time it took us to climb out of mosquito net, tear down, and rush into building 20 feet away to reset mosquito nets and try to fall back asleep while some metal door kept slamming open & closed from the wind & rain pounding the metal rooftop.
The 10th was first full day in Niger. The nice thing about the rain is that it keeps the next day cooler, albeit a bit more humid. Day started off with introduction to PC Niger staff. Had culture fair on PC compound (where we slept first 2 nights). One girl in particular kept dragging me into the dance. Guess she will have to compete with a certain Sophie who I passed on street one day and seemed to have a crush on me.
Taking Doxycycline for 2 weeks until mefoquine kicks in (no strange dreams yet).
July 11th – We started with a small language lesson to learn some basics of either Hausa or Zarma (I’m doing Hausa). It was fun to be learning some, but difficult nonetheless. Had some stations around PC compound showing how to use the latrine (for those who only used toilets), how to wash clothes by hand, bucket bathes, etc. Found out didn’t pass French Interview for Intermediate-mid level, which I was happy for because then I get to take some French lessons, but am now loathing as we are starting at the very beginning, despite what we already know. Moved in with host family, consists of father (Soulet), mother (Isso (sp)), and daughter (3-yr old Nana).
July 12th – I got my 2nd suitcase. Very nice. Got rust stain on some clothes I had hung up to dry on metal wire. Bought my first stuff in village street vendor market area. Easy enough to do in French.
July 13th – Was second sand storm/rain storm. Not much else except boring language class.
July 14th – Tuesday is Markey day, so after some morning health lessons & lunch, went into Marche. Bought material to have pants made and a shirt. Safety & security lesson after 2 hr lunch break. Shane started feeling sick, but is better now. Oh yeah, I’m rooming w/Shane for these 9 weeks.
I’m starting to get used to this 100+ degree weather, which is good, right? As more evidence that I’m adapting, I was a bit chilly in last nights 70 some degree weather. The days aren’t terrible if you can find some shade beneath a tree (which are common enough everywhere but in my concession). Also, light breeze helps keep things cool.
People around here are nice. It does not take long to get a bunch of kids yelling “Fofo” at you as you walk down the street. Friends & relatives are free to enter compound as they will.
Food is good here. Lots of starch (rice, sweet potato, rice), some beans, some meat (but not tons), from my experience. Several different sauces, tho I think all are tomato-based (at least so far).
Easy to get used to sitting on mat, reaching in & grabbing food with right hand.
Feels like I’ve been here a month already, days go slow & accumulate slower than expected. Don’t terribly miss the cleanliness of home yet, but it still kinda feels like camp, not yet life.

Culture shock #1: Boys & men will often walk around holding hands if they’re good friends. Very common sight I’m still not used to.
Culture shock #2: Lots of cell phones in this country. Not everyone has, but a good number do. And on that note, they said that almost 100% PC Nigerians have cell phones to I’ll look to get one in Niamey. I guess most PCV’s have home call them at a set time as that is easier than calling to the U.S.

I do love you all and miss the states, but can’t think of much else to say. If my memory serves right, I should have a cell phone before my second letter gets home, so maybe that’s what to look forward to. Hope to talk to you soon and know that all is going well.
Much love,
Alex

P.S. Should have brought flip-flops, not just sandals. Shoes mostly for walking long distances I think. Might look for some next Tuesday (Market Day),
P.S.S. Something to think of for Mom, contacts are a no go in this country. Glasses only.
P.S.S.S. I had forgotten to mention I’ve been given a Nigerian name by my host family. Sani, which means second (as in second child, etc.).

Email update from Alex

Wheeeeeee!

So, this weekend is Demystification weekend, and as I'm going to the Gaya region (very southern tip of Niger), I'm staying in a PC transit house along the way with some other volunteers. And luckily, all the transit houses have basic email, so I'm loving being able to send this off.

So, things have been speeding up lately. Days aren't going by so slowly and this last week went by relatively fast. Language class started getting better the end of this week. Still nothing new, but some more advanced tenses/conjugations that I had mostly forgotten along the way. So, feeling far less frustrated now than when we were going over the very basics (like "Bonjour Monsieur. Comment allez-vous?").

The host family situation is going well, the family that I am with (along with my fellow PCV Shane) consists of a husband, wife and one child. Last night I had to go inside to get another sheet which I curled up under. Crazy thing is that, according to my alarm clock, the temperature was 74 degrees. Guess that means I'm adjusting, huh? But I am noticing that the days are seemingly less hot (especially compared to that first day we stepped off the plane), despite it still being around or over 100 most days. It is really nice to get the rains though. It does make things that much more humid, but a good rain cools everything down for the next two days.

Got to cook tonight in the regional transit house here in Dosso. Made up spaghetti with a tomato paste/squash sauce. Turned out well enough, though I certainly would have liked some meat to go with it. But, with this Demyst (Demystification) weekend, even so far, it has made things seem a lot more real and quite bearable. Hearing one PCV talk about what his diet consists of, others how they like to get together to be 'American', etc. This certainly is starting to look like a good opportunity to get a glimpse of what the real thing is like, as in the day-to-day living, activities, small projects (not just the big ones), interactions with other PCVs, etc.

Granted, things go a lot slower here and things may be in the mail, but any letters with news from home or the like would certainly be welcome. I know not much time or events have elapsed, but everyone is liking the communication they get from home. And I have heard that, for care packages (Skittles, sweets, etc) and the like, send things in large boxes instead of several smaller ones as the customs fee isn't different except from the small padded enveloped to larger size; any size box should be the same fee. I'm not in terrible need of a care package, but for if/when anyone plans to send one. Also, not sure what all I can get in Niamey (trip there in 2 weeks time), esp. sweets-related, or even in the larger regional capitals (depending on how close I am and how often I make the trip to Maradi, Zinder).

Hope/expect to get a cell phone when I go to Niamey. It will be nice to hear friendly voices again. It is crazy though, to see cell towers sitting on the edge of town (there is one right next to the PC training site on the edge of Hamdallaye).

Well, that really is all I can think of at the moment. I feel like I should have a lot more to say, but it just seems that everything that is new/strange is really as a matter of lifestyle, not specific events to report.

Alex

Arrival in Niger

This comes from an email sent via the Peace Corps:

I am pleased to announce the safe arrival of the Peace Corps Niger July Training Group for the beginning of their training to become Peace Corps Volunteers. Everyone is in good spirits and, as you can see from the attached photo, settling in well to our training site. Last night they experienced their first really big African monsoon storm and they have weathered it well!We are thrilled to have this new set of trainees and look forward to working with them over the next 2 years.

Charles de Gaulle

Well, landed in Paris around 8am local time, though it's still 2 am Philly time. And I think I finally realized that this is for real about the time that we were passing the UK. Kinda figured that signaled the point of no return.
The group seems to be bonding well, which is very well and good since these are the most of the only Americans we'll know for the next 27 months. There's 32 of us in the group, prolly a 2/3 majority of them women. I believe we're all in our 20's and cover most of the States.
And by the way, things are very expensive here (maybe it's just that it's the airport). Lunch just cost me 7.50 euros for a half liter of water and an 8-inch pre-made sandwhich. Comes out to somewhere around $11+ (according to my mental math) for something I'm gunna try to stretch out as much as possible (if the trip across the Atlantic w/ complimentary dinner and breakfast was any hint, I shouldn't expect to enjoy very much of the Lunch provided at all).
And that's about all for now. My time on internet is close to running out (2 euros for 15 minutes), and boarding is coming up. This will probably be my last internet connection for several weeks, so no updates coming along unless it is from my parents saying they've received the confirmation email that we arrived safe and sound in Niamey.
Should be arriving in Niamey sometime in the mid-late evening local time (approx. noon-time back in SD), so we'll be getting our first taste of Niger food this evening. Wish me Luck!

I'll provide updates and pictures as able.
Alex

Philadelphia

Well, I've now checked into my hotel for staging and where I will be until flying out tomorrow afternoon to Charles de Gaulle in Paris and then to Niamey, Niger. And, even though my trip has just begun, I must say that I have already learned some things about myself and Philadelphia.

1) It is no fun to arrive in the evening in a large city one is unfamiliar with and the apartment at which one plans to stay just to find out that the apartment keys do not work.
2) I have an allergy I didn't know of before. Both times I walked through Chinatown, I was sneezing uncontrollably.
3) They have some really cool architecture hereabouts. I mean, really cool.
4) They also have some very nasty smells hereabouts....and dirty streets and sidewalks (at least, compared to RC). Also, many of the sidewalks are gone to the dogs. Seriously people, take some time to repair the things.
5) Mt. Rushmore has bigger fireworks.
6) Philly has bigger crowds at their fireworks.
7) Philly drivers are fairly good at parallel parking. Oddly, they have this insane habit of automatically swerving whenever someone blares their horn. Strangest thing.
8) Most of the city is within walking distance of where I was staying (by UPenn campus). Made it rather easy to walk around. SEPTA was easy to take as well ($2 to get across town, not bad).

And yeah, that's pretty much my thoughts for now. I have some pictures, but the computers at the hotel don't have a port to read the SD card, so no pictures to be put up for now (maybe they'll have something at the Philly or CDG airports.

So I think that's about it from me.
Toodles.
Alex

Dropped Alex off at the airport today

Under cloudy skies and sad hearts, Alex was dropped off at the airport and will eventually travel to Philadelphia. He will enjoy the July 4th holiday in Philadelphia and will attend a short training for a few days. From there he boards a plane that will take him to France and then Niamey, Niger.