Say Bye to your Knees

Bonjour tous le monde! Greetings from Mamou!

G 15 is currently jet setting around the country... well tomorrow we will be. The past few days we have been in Mamou, the beautiful Fouta (or middle and less hot) area of Guinea. I will mention briefly that the past few days I have actually had to wear my fleece, it is freezing. While its probably 70 degrees it feels way colder. We all met our counterparts or homologues on friday and have spent the past few days with them and tomorrow we head off to our sites for a visit for a week! In the event you forgot where I will be heading... Kankan. One of the second largest cities in Guinea. I am working with and NGO, and my homologue is great and really patient while my french is ... getting there. I would also like to mention that he looks kind of like Eddie Murphy.

I'm sure some of you got wind of the looming strikes here in Guinea, if not, well now you have. We had to push back this workshop and site visit do to the threat, but for now all is ok. It put a damper in our training but we are all thrilled to finally be here and be out of Forecariah/Mafereyna for a while. Its a breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively) to see other parts of the country. I can't wait to tell you about my house, and site visit. I am a little nervous because its going to be a real test for me and french for a whole week. My homologue and I worked out an action plan for the next week and I will be busy. ALSO it will my first experience in a bush taxi... I am not sure how I feel about it but it's something I have to get used to because its the main for of transportation in Guinea. There are no railways, or buses... just bush taxis. After my voyage I will be able to tell you more, but for now... say a prayer.

Do yourself a favor and check out my friend Liz's blog ( http://www.lizzieinguinea.blogspot.com/) she's posted a bunch of pictures... hopefully I am in some of them, but If I am not you'll get to see what we are up to. FYI for all you soccer fans out there, the Africa Cup of Nations starts tomorrow... and the opening match Guinea vs. Ghana. So break out your red, yellow and green and support my country!

Now it is time for a shameless plug. Parisi, Becca, Fedaks, Allison D's Parents, Kim B.'s Mom, Aunt Karen, Grandmom and Becky (sorry if I forgot anyone!) I got your letters and Thank You so much! I love getting mail, so if you feel like writing me please do!!! I can post my address if needed or send you an email or better yet ask my mom or aunt karen. Now for the plug...
if you are thinking about sending me a package here is what I'd like...

*gummi bears
*sour patch kids
*head bands (the cloth kind)
* toothpaste
*body wash
*dental floss
*cheetos
* beef jerky (never liked it before, LOVE it now... the things Africa will do to you)
* Aunt Karen... do you think you could whip up some rice krispy treats? if not the packaged kind will do
* drink mixes (crystal light, kool aid, purple hawaiian punch)
* orbitz gum
* seeds!!! I have room for a garden so this would be great! (any kind of seeds will do)
* Calendar!
*anything else you think I might like :)

I think that's all for now, and thanks for letting me be shameless and put a mailing list out there. But mail is precious here, when it does get here it is a great thing my friends. I hope everyone is well and I will try to update soon...but as always I love reading your comments and if you haven't called or text me yet, please do! Wish me luck in Kankan and An be Kofe (see you later in Malinke).