18.04.05 - 18:57

A salaam aleykum!

I am fully aware that it has been over a month since I have last updated. Some of you might feel neglected, forgotten, uncared for. (OK, well, my mom does, at least.) I kindly remind those people that I do, in fact, live in a third-world country.

Here is a terse little list of events that have transpired recently:

* The Close of Service conference took place in a "resort" called Keur Macene, which is near Rosso. Everyone in my "class" got together to discuss the future, revamp our resumes, eat a roast phacochere (wild boar), and talk about the end of our Peace Corps experience. Except, of course, it won't be the end of mine; I will stay in Nouakchott another year. Still, a chapter is ending.

* In my absence, no one in Kankossa did anything to further my AIDS conference, so it hasn't happened yet. This should not come as a surprise to anyone who knows Mauritania's hatred of personal accountability.

* My dad is here! It is amazing to have him here. Inshallah, more on that later.

* It has gotten up to 118 degrees Fahrenheit in Kankossa. Rocking! But don't worry; it only gets up to 95 inside my house.

* I have gotten a better idea of the type of work I'll do in my third year - I hope to focus on AIDS and sexual health issues, as well as doing some work for the Health sector of Peace Corps (such as being a contact person for incoming and current PCVs.)

* The air has gotten dry and dusty, so my boogers are about 79% dried blood.

* Annika's dad also came a little while ago. It's so fun to see Mauritania anew, through someone else's eyes!

* I hate taxi brousse I hate taxi brousse I hate taxi brousse I hate taxi brousse I hate taxi brousse I hate taxi brousse I hate taxi brousse I hate taxi brousse

Inshallah, I'll write again soon

Oh, and by the by, I'll be looking at MPH programs when I get back to the States. If anyone has any advice about that, I'd love to hear it!

-Molly dit Lalla

previous - next