Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!! I was surrounded by all my close friends and delicious food during the tough holiday season in Nouakchott, so no worries Nana. I think I might have gained 10 lbs after that care package of pure chocolate and peanut butter you sent. Thank you! Thank you to everyone for the Christmas presents- you guys rock! I cannot believe that it's already January... I have been here for almost 7months. I'm having a great volunteer experience in Mauritania, but love being able to say that next July I will be home. I miss you all and civilization dearly.
On Friday I am heading back into the bushes of Ould Yenge (still not sure how to spell it because I have seen at least three different 'correct' spellings) and will be there until February 10th. I have cell phone servic
e if you for some reason have to hear my voice..don't hesitate to call. I might even answer during class because classroom interruptions are pretty regular. You have the occasional cups of tea being offered,fights to break up,teachers asking you questions about politics, students asking for money... and the list goes on. People don't take me seriously at school because no one at school takes it seriously.This month I am really working hard because I have taken the last month off with Peace Corps sessions in the capital and then New Years in St. Louis, Senegal. Hopefully the ball will start rolling with the girls mentoring center this month before I leave again in February. On February 15th Peace Corps Volunteers will be heading down to Senegal for a softball tournament- WAIST, West African Invitational Softball Tournament. Mauritania has claimed victory for the past 5 years and will hopefully take home the gold again this year. This will be a refreshing vacation before Spring break in March.
I'm finding it harder and harder to write to people and on this blog not because I don't miss you, but I'm adjusting to my new life here. Slowly I'm developing wonderful friendships with other volunteers and even with people in my village. We met a couple Peace Corps volunteers in Senegal, which I cannot even imagine being a volunteer there because they are living the luxurious life, anyway, and he told us that their Country Director and Medical Officer told them that they should 'try to be more like the volunteers in Mauritania because we are working in one of the hardest countries in Peace Corps." We all had these cheesy smiles on our faces and responded with sarcastically surprised "Really?" Sometimes it doesn't feel like I'm working in an extremely difficult place- that should tell you something about my standards right now.
I don't know when I will be able to write again, but know that since distance and technology make communication difficult you all are always in my thoughts and prayers! See you soon.
xoxoxoxoxox
PS- I was at the beach on Christmas Eve and we made that cute little sandman :)
