a Sandy Spring

So this is more of a test entry then a post. This is the fam/friend email, but I didn't have a chance to be creative just yet. I've been a bit busy in the capital the past 2 days. I figured I would at least get something out for you to read. Next time it will be a for "real" entry.

The Easter weekend has finally passed. Honestly, I was not looking forward to being in ville alone on Sunday. Ricky left for vacation last Friday to visit some other volunteers out east, leaving me in Torodi. I was able to talk to my family for close to an hour, but sometimes that’s just not enough.

When I look back on my life around this time last year, I was struggling with some personal stuff and of course that same week my invitation to the Peace Corp arrived. I truly believe there is a reason for everything that happens in one’s life. (sorry for the generic ‘mom’ statement) I cannot believe it's been that long since I accepted my invite to Niger. The next milestone will be my year mark in country, which is quickly approaching. I would say time flies when you are having fun, but it hasn’t be an easy road for me. But, I have reached a really healthy happy place and wouldn’t change a thing.

I have been doing a lot of self-reflection on what I want the next year to be like regarding my service, which can get overwhelming. I am trying to make realistic goals that I know are attainable or at least settling on the fact that I can not change the world. I am good, but not that good. So I am trying to find a middle ground between those two.

Enough personal stuff, lets talk ville!

Here’s some social life news. All of my team members were able to visit me this month, which was so great. First, was Robyn after St.Patty's Day. She is about 2hrs from me and lives in urban ville similar to mine, though she has a FRIG in her house. Not that I am jealous or anything. We did the basic walking and chatting with villagers during the day, but at night we had cocktails, read magazines (5 months old), listened to girlie music (I suck & didn’t bring my ipod so thankfully she brought hers over), and talked about American food way too much. Next, were Emily and Nick this past weekend. They left early Sunday morning for Nick’s ville for work related things. During there visit to Torodi, I also put them to work. We sketched out Niger on the grid for the map that Ricky and I started in the library. After that we went to a small ‘café’ in my town to unwind. It was delicious, had music, and was super cheap. The owner even gave us free hats!

Yes, its great to catch up and have Amerik time, but one really nice thing about having friends come that may not be so obvious is realizing how widely known you are in your ville. With Emily especially, she came on market day and pointed out to me that so many people in my ville were calling my name or waving. It was nice to finally feel like a “Torodian” and not just some white lady. And of course, the reverse happened to me in Emily's ville. I went to visit for a few days to work on cook stoves, like my Dutch oven, for her neighbor, Rahinna. I felt so weird having to stop and explain who I was, where I was from, and of course if I had a husband. You begin to appreciate the familiar feeling of your own ville.

Now for some Nigerian family updates. Perhaps, because I am getting a bit lazy due to the heat or just plain lazy I have decided to stop cooking dinner. I will now eat with my neighbors Fatima and her daughter Ramatu, who has 5 kids. She gave birth to her last child during my IST. His name is Ibraham, but we call him Eboo. I'll take some pictures. From time to time I’ll be buying them ingredients & getting them meat or beans for their sauces. Aside from not having to cook, I figure my use of the native language (Fulfulde) will only improve, but I will have to learn that Eboo is not an American baby with diapers so if I hold him I have to time it so that I don't get pissed on during a meal.
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On to the work and project topic. I have established my English Club with the C.E.G. students, which has close to 12 members. (5 of which are girls) The club takes up between 2-3 days of my week, but just in the evenings. Next I hope to work on the Teacher Appreciate Day with these students. I hope to have the event in June at the close of the school year. In regards to the library possibly reopening, not so sure it will happen. Ricky and I tracked down the man that worked there last and he informed us that he quit because he was not paid for close to 2 years. I have set some long term goals in the hope that I can get it up and running, but it won’t happen while Ricky is here. I am writing up some funding proposals today and tomorrow that will provide my club with some basic materials and also help with any future events the students want to plan at the library.

The count down to my vacation has official begun. I leave in less then 12 days! I will arrive in Dosso ville around to the 20th and spend one or two nights visiting fellow volunteers then on the 23rd off to Benin! The girls and I have planned it out so that we are in Ghana for the a little over 2 weeks and can really enjoy all the touristy goodness of the country. I will be back in Niger on the 21st (day after my bday) and plan on celebrating my 24th on that Saturday with my team. My aunt sent me FunFetti Cake mix and frosting so all I need to buy is the extremely expensive ice cream and I’ll have all I need for a full on American Birthday Party, soda is also included.

Okay, hopefully this is enough Katelyn News till (maybe) June. I hope spring is treating you well and that the weather continues to be beautiful.