Hard Sun

Yesterday was Kristy's birthday, and 2 days before was one of our site mates, Mariam. We have been celebrating and relaxing quite a bit. It has been a good time all around. We were able to make: salad, fettuccine Alfredo with garlic cheese bread, peanut butter M&M cookies, pasta salad, pizza, and a cake! The food was fantastic!

Ramadan is over 1/2 over and school should start soon afterward. Kristy and I have accomplished a fantastic goal, we have acquired a house. We spent a bit of time moving some stuff in today and will keep on bringing stuff as the days tick by until its all at our new home. We plan on looking for at least one roommate to help us share the bills. We really think that with a bit of help there should not be too much of a pinch financially.

Our house is great! or will be when it has some maintenance done for it. We have 3 bedrooms, a salon, a kitchen, and 3 bathrooms! (only 1 really works right now) 2 of the bathrooms are attached to bedrooms. The room we are 99% sure we are going to take is on top of the house so we have a terrace too! Some of the other benefits of the house include being within 2 min walking to the lycee (high school) and around the corner from Matt. I know I know pictures are worth 1000 words but I just brought my camera to the house today and have yet to even take any pictures.

Update on the military stuff - apparently there was an attack on Mauritanian military where some soldiers have been killed, it really sucks that these peaceful people that have opened the lives and communities to us have had to endure this violence thrust upon them. This tragic event happened on the exact opposite end of the country from Kristy and I. We are safe, and happy, don't worry. Much like the coup I have seen no changes. If you would like to pine over this latest development feel free to check the sidebar of my blog and there are some ominous sounding articles on the right hand side, but once again know we are safe and vigilant.

Hot Hot Hot!!!

Kristy and I swore in, the ceremony was long, official, and a bit low key because of the current situation. The swear-in party was a good time, it was great to see so many of our new friends and family members celebrating with us and letting loose. Stage is an intense couple of months; dancing the night away with loads of other Americans was a great time. I even heard a rumor that Kristy danced, although it is unconfirmed and she denies it.

Less than a week ago we moved to Kaedi, this place is great. It is fricken hot though. We do our best to stay inside during the heat of the day. We do not have a place to live as of yet, but the search continues. We ask at least 1 new person a day and have hopes of not living with a family. Our hope may be unrealistic, as our budget only goes so far, and housing is frankly, expensive.

We are still living out of our luggage and that is not good for moral, I really do not want us to grab up a place to live merely because it is better-ish then our current situation. We have gotten a few packages, an occasional letter, and some birthday cards in the mail. You know who you are – THANK YOU!!!!1!!1! In our current situation with all of our worldly possessions packed in bags we will strive to reply, as it will give my days some purpose. Almost all of the people I am assigned to work with are on vacation.

Oh it Ramadan, this means that life is slower and a bit more frustrating than normal. The entire Muslim population (with a tiny number of exceptions) is fasting during the day. That’s no water, no food, no tea, no cigarettes, and no sex while the sun is up for a month. Everyone around here is kinda lethargic. So people eat and drink, all night long nap eat breakfast before the sun rises and try to sleep as much as possible through the day as it is miserable in the heat here without any type of sustenance. We have not had the opportunity to break fast with a family yet, it’s a big deal and supposed to be a great time. We don’t know anyone yet really, and don’t have the gall to just walk into a compound and say we are breaking fast with you (this is totally an acceptable practice here and the people would welcome us with open arms).

Cool Blue Reason

This just in. We were invited to swear in as Peace Corps Volunteers. We accepted, of course. in a few short hours we will take an oath that will solidify our commitment and responsibility to the PC program here in Mauritania.

We had to move the ceremony from one room to 2 others because one is full of some crap, literally.

There will be formal stuff all day today and much less formal celebration this evening. I get to help cook.

I will do my best to preserve these events with a photo or 2.

I wish that you guys could be here to share this event with us.

What I Got

It's been a while since I have written so I should have a lot to talk about, I will try.

The coup = boring. I know that the situation could change at any moment but the history of this country really tells us it wont.

Family. Our family kinda moved to the brusse, and that was weird but not really. They are pastoral so every year when the rains start they take their animals out and make sure they get better care. This is the mark of a people who are kind to their animals and who know that eating garbage is not a great thing for the animals of the people who will later eat them. We were by no means abandoned, we always had an adult around at night and a child most of the time, it just rotated.

Language is coming along, we can communicate with a wide variety of people now for various different reasons. That is pretty cool. I can even bargain at the market, and LOVE IT! I even catch myself thinking in French and using franglish. When I use both languages talking to two people it really hurts my head, it's a world of silliness.

Work. I have been working my buns off lately and so has Kristy. With stage coming to a close we are solidifying all of our projects and filling out evaluations like there is no tomorrow. Peace Corps loves these things, seriously. Model school was a pretty good experience. It reminded me of student teaching, which if you talked to me much when I did it you know I loved teaching but did not love the added work load. I think that regular teaching was easier on my life as a whole, and expect that the same will apply here.

Ups. I am so looking forward to moving to Kaedi, and starting work that we came here for. I know it wont happen for the first month, because of Ramadan. It is the month before school and the month that we arrive. People will not want to work, talk, walk, or anything because they will not be eating, drinking, smoking, or anything while the sun is up.

Downs. I have been crabby lately. I am tired and hungry. This will change after stage as my schedule will be a lot more like I am an adult instead of teenager - adolescence is not fun. Not having the liberty of choosing when and what I eat for example is not something I have had chosen for me for a long, long time. This is going to end though. Wo0t!!!1!

I think that this experience is reforging my very being, it has been worth every moment.

Yellow Submarine

I have only like 2 min left... We are safe, life is good.

Do not worry. There is a link to a news article about the oh so boring coup on Kristy's blog - or use google people who have constant access to the interweb.


peace out yo!

Into the Great Wide Open

Life is good-ish!

I started model school today, think student teaching Peace Corps style, real students real english really new situation.

Model school humbled me today, as I knew it would. It did this for me three times. First when I was teaching and realized I underestimated my students and planned far too simple a lesson. Second when some of the things that I attempted were actually not so bad, considering I barely speak English this is a boon. Third, when I was walking to the cyber today I was called "Teacher" by a student that I had today.

This last time reminds me, why I became a teacher & why we came to the desert. I really feel that the small impact that I will do here will do some good!

My language skills are getting noticibly better, as are my lovely wife's and we are hanging in there for the long haul.

Gosh I miss air conditioning

We Didn't Start The Fire

Greetings from beuatiful Kaedi! Kristy and I will be posted here for the next 2 years. This city is fantastic, the market, the mix of culture, and the ample opportunities that we will have to work with people that are reseptive to Americans (inshalla).

As previously announced my phone is up and functioning and I have realized no one has my didgits. They are 011.222.427.7203 This is an international call and would prolly be best to use a phone card or skype. When calling please do remeber that I am 4 hours ahead of you, but call I want to hear from you.