August 2008

Sleeping Outside – The Milky Way: One of the most amazing parts of being in Niger is getting to sleep outside under the stars every night. I fall asleep every night while staring up at a sky full of twinkling lights. It’s so clear here that the Milky Way seems to be only miles out of reach rather than millions of light years away. I often find myself wondering who else is looking up at the same stars or who will be gazing at them when night falls wherever they are in the world. It helps to think that the people I love back home will be looking toward the heavens thinking of me the same way that I think of them each night before I drift off into dreamland.

There are many things I have already become accustomed to here in Niger, and I wonder how challenging readjusting to life in America after two years will be.

Working My Fingers to the Bone - Laundry: Right now, I am completely spoiled and get my laundry done for me once a week. I bring my laundry up to Tondo Bon every Friday and the staff hand wash and iron it for me. It’s fabulous. However, a Nigerien will never wash your undergarments for you, which means that I have to hand wash my undies, bras, and socks (I have only worn socks once in about 36 days).

I usually do my own laundry once a week. My mama would be so proud of me! I take a small bucket, a packet of Omo laundry detergent, and whatever needs washing into my bucket bath area to be washed. In order to wash clothes here, you fill a bucket with some water, add the detergent, and then scrub the garment by rubbing it vigorously against itself. On more than one occasion, I have literally rubbed my knuckles raw from scrubbing my clothes together.

I will admit to missing the convenience of a washing machine, but doing laundry by hand is pretty cool. It feels good to do some real work and feel like I have accomplished something. I feel as though with every little task/skill I complete or accomplish I am becoming more and more self-sufficient. I have been sheltered and coddled for last 26 years and I have never been truly forced to fend for myself. My situation is drastically different now and the only person I can look to to get things accomplished is myself. It feels good to know that I can be self-sufficient and have the ability to do things for myself.

Mefloquine, Malaria, and Hallucinations: I take a pill once a week to help protect myself against contracting Malaria. These pills are great in respect to helping defend my immune system, but as with most medications, there are myriad side effects. If there was a commercial for Mefloquine, I can say with great certainty that 7/8 of the commercial would be devoted to the side effects. I can’t help but picture an advertisement for Viagra right now…ahhh, home…

Headaches, depression, anxiety, intestinal upset (really, what won’t upset our intestines in Niger?!?!), vivid dreams, hallucinations, and a long, long list of other possible side effects are associated with Mefloquine. I have been the lucky recipient of some Mefloquine-induced hallucinations. I see bugs and birds (crows to be exact). I know some of you may be thinking, well aren’t there a ton of real bugs and birds in Niger and the answer is yes. However, there aren’t any crows and since I frequently “see” them flying at my head, I’m pretty confident they don’t actually exist. As for the bugs, I just tend to see creepy crawlies moving in the periphery of my vision and when I turn to get a good look at what unimaginable insect is crawling far too close for comfort, I find that there was nothing there in the first place.

Funny hallucination story: I was over at some friends’ house and I needed to use their latrine as it was getting close to nightfall and as you already know, I do NOT use the latrine after dark. So, I go into the latrine, drop my drawers, and push their latrine cover aside. Upon pushing the latrine cover aside, to my extreme horror, about four cockroaches come barreling out of the hole. Startled, I jump about 3ft. in the air, scream like a little girl, and proceed to run out of the latrine while trying to pull my pants up (big no-no – one should ALWAYS have their pants on before exiting the latrine, especially in Niger). Luckily, my friends’ host family was not in the vicinity, so they weren’t able to see me with my pants half off. One of my friends, who has nerves of steel, grabbed a sizable rock and marched right into the latrine and proceeded to smash the cockroaches (she did this amidst fits of hysterical laughter). She assured me that the coast was clear, so I went back into the latrine after working up the gusto to do so. Again, I drop my drawers and then stand their bare-assed staring at the latrine hole having an internal debate about whether I truly want to squat over that hole and risk a visit from an uninvited guest and consequently peeing all over myself. Before I even have the chance to squat, I notice something moving out of the corner of my eye. I turn and see a cockroach crawling along the base of the wall. I glance about a foot behind the cockroach and see a mouse chasing the roach. Once again, I scream like a small child and start grabbing at my undies so I can pull up my pants. I can’t get a good hold on my undies, so I can’t get my pants up. Now the real panic sets in. I want out of that latrine stat, but my pants are still around my ankles. Finally, I get my pants up and dart out of the latrine. My friends are laughing uncontrollably as I try to recount what happened. My friend picks up the rock and marches right back into that latrine to defend my honor and what does she find? NOTHING! That’s right, as it turns out, the whole thing was just one of my Mefloquine hallucinations. Happy times!

Funny Nigerien Anecdotes, Part II: One of my closest friends here in Niger is a super rad girl that grew up in Hawaii, but is a San Francisco girl at heart and now calls The Bay home. She also happens to be Chinese. Nigeriens love to point out and comment on her heritage and when we walk down the road together, there’s no shortage of people saying, “Ooo, Chinois.” (Chinois is the French word for Chinese.) There’s a definite air of awe in their voices as they pass my friend and make their comments.

During Dymystification, a weekend spent with current Volunteers out in the field, my friend came back with a story that I think will always be an inside joke for my stage and the staff alike.

In both Hausa and Zarma, the word for “no” is “Ah-ah.” One afternoon, while touring the village she was visiting, a man noticed my friend and said, “Ooo, Japonais.” My friend corrected the man and said, “Ah-ah, Americaine.” This man was not convinced and proceeded to wave a single finger in front of her while saying, “Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, Japonais!” He was adamant that he knew her actual heritage and that she was incorrect in thinking she is Chinese.

She shared this story with all of my stage and the staff upon returning from Demyst and since then, we are constantly saying, “Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, Japonais!” Perhaps you need to be here to appreciate the hilarity of the story, but I think everyone can appreciate the comedy in having someone tell you that you are not the ethnicity that you are.

Packages, Letters, and “YES PLEASE!”: Let me start by saying that I absolutely LOVE getting packages. Seriously, it’s like Christmas, but so much better because I actually need the stuff. Letters are equally as AWESOME and I go a little nutty every time the post comes. That being said, keep ‘em coming!

There are many things that I just don’t have access to here in Niger or that are rare and expensive so I can’t afford them. I miss snack foods! I know I’ve said that before, but snacks just don’t really exist in the majority of villages and when I do find them in the capitol, they’re just too darn expensive for my $2.50 per day budget. So, there are certain things that I simply can’t get too much of! If you’re feeling inclined to send a package, here are some things that I do and will always want/need (in no particular order):

Velveeta Cheese – smallest blocks available
Smarties – my favorite candies
Nutritional Yeast
Wasabi Peas
Dried Fruit
Envelopes – for sending letters home
Pictures – I want to see you guys!
Clif Bars – regular Clif Bars and Clif Mojo Bars
Soap – small, travel-sized, anti-bacterial bars
Blue Diamond Almonds – Wasabi and Soy Sauce flavor
Oreos
Nilla Wafers
Gold Fish Crackers
Pringles – Salt & Vinegar flavor
Cream of Wheat – individual packages (instant)
Ho – Ho’s
Fruit Snacks
Soccer Balls
Books
Quinoa
Any sauce mixes – especially those that just need water
Any muffin, brownie, cookie, or pudding mixes – especially those that just need water
Single serving jelly packets
Single serving condiment packets
Gobstoppers – my other favorite candies
AA and AAA batteries
CDs – make mixes of current songs…we don’t get any American music here!
DVDs – any really good new ones

When sending letters (or packages for that matter), throw a newspaper or magazine article (from Time, The Economist, Discover, etc.) in with it. It’ll help me keep up on current events and as many of you know, I like interesting things (I miss you T-Bizzle).

Thanks to all of you who have written and sent packages already. I have loved every one of them and can’t wait for what is already on the way!

Words of Wisdom, Part II: “Faith looks up, sorrow looks back to what might have been, and worry looks around to gather more woe. But faith, faith sees prospects for the future and moves ahead.” –Unknown Author

Shout Outs: My friends told me that I should give shout outs with each blog entry to friends and family. I think this is a superb idea, so here goes:

This entry’s shout out goes to Jason, Michele, and Baby G since it was their idea in the first place. I love you guys and miss you so very much. Send me some pictures of Baby G so I can see how big she’s getting!