Yes, I missing out on all that snow in MA, but we have our fair share of sand storms. Its currently cold season in Niger, which really means it gets to 55 in the dead of night. The best way to describe it is something like a Mid-June beach day in Maine. Not bad right? Except the dust storms are slight annoying. I’ve been hearing a few things about blizzard-like conditions hitting the east coast and I will admit that that is something I do not miss. I believe I will always call New England home so I don’t feel too guilty for leaving it for the desert sun for two years. The jury is still out on whether that was a good idea.

This past Thanksgiving my team and I decided that sticking to the traditional entrees and desserts was the only way to go. My contribution to the menu was Stove Top stuffing, not my own recipe I will admit. Our dinner would not have been possible without the care packages we get from our families. WinkWink! This year we were able to successfully recreate the breakfast turkey sandwich, except with roasted chicken. Still Yummy!! We located a bakery that sold loaf bread, it was quite the discovery.

I have to say, it was a bittersweet Christmas. The thought of being home for the holidays next year really gets me through the tough days, but leaving my friends and my village gets me all teary eyed. I also got some news regarding my mother’s health, which added my longing for home. She was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks into December. The surgery she had to remove the malignant lump was a success; we are just waiting to hear from the doctor regarding the biopsy results. As long as she continues on with her follow up treatments she should be out of the woods very soon. This isn’t the first time she has had to battle the villain known as cancer. She conquered leukemia during my junior year of college, so I have complete faith in her ability to do it again. Go Trish!
In the spirit of my family I came up with the idea of having an Italian themed Christmas. The team and I came up with the menu, which included eggplant parmesean, lasagna, meatballs, and garlic bread. I am so happy my mom taught me how to cook. Thank you Mom!! The whole team got on board early Christmas morning and we had the kitchen smelling like an Olive Garden before noon. We also had a gifted exchanged were I received a small leather jewel box. It’s a typical Niger souvenir, but very practical

I few of us are going to get together for New Year’s a fellow volunteer’s house. We are planning a Star Wars Movie Marathon. Jealous I know. We are all going to bring a snack type food and most likely some sort of beverage, preferable with alcohol. And I would like to point out that 2011 is the year I am coming home. Don’t run to your calendar just yet, but I believe my estimated arrival date would be September 20.