Never one to pass up a free lunch...

So last week was a melange of emotions. However amongst all the bad news, there was light at the end of the tunnel and a whole lot of good news. I'll spare you the details as it is not my place to say the reasons, but we had two volunteers decide to return to the states and end their service. I will say that these two people were amongst my closests friends in country and I am sad to see them go, but alas it is not for everyone. I am grateful that I was able to spend every day with them in pre-service training both in SED and Language classes and I wish them nothing but the best at home... and hope that they send me lots of mail.

As for the good news... well I got word from my APCD (hes my boss basically, scroll down in the blog and you'll see a picture of him, his name is Josh), that the Ambassador was coming to Kankan and that he would be over to see the Peace Corps office and I'd be dining with him. I was thrilled, honored and also nervous! I've been a volunteer for two whole weeks and already I'm meeting with the big guys. This called for a change in my schedule, not that there was much of one to begin with but I was busying myself with my trapper keeper of appointments, cleaning my house like a good Guinean when my phone rang and it was my Regional Coordinator. Now mind you its Saturday afternoon and I'm not doing much but I wasn't sure what was going on... he told me there was someone that wanted to talk to me. Adam had come to town for the ambassadors visit! I was so excited, and I apologize again Adam for thinking you were Zach, but I was thrilled and hopped on my trusty steed of a bike and rode up to the office. Little did I know that word spread around upper Haute group and they all came in to town for the visit! Though I did make friends with other americans that are currently working in Guinea it was so nice to see all of my fellow PCV's. Now, technically we are not allowed to leave our site for the first month because we are supposed to be focusing on integration... but the ambassador was in town. We spent the next few days hanging around the house, cooking, staying out of the heat and even had an impromptu toga party. You know us crazy PCV's. I was lucky enough to get to have lunch with the ambassador twice, one more official than the other, but both as for both I am extremely lucky and grateful that I was able to attend. And really am I ever one to pass up a free lunch, (even if its Guinean food)? I am sad that everyone is leaving me again, but they will back soon enough and I need to focus on integration, getting back into the swing of work and my APCD is visiting in the upcoming week.

I am also going to push that each and every one of you consider visiting me. I was talking this morning with a dear friend of mine and we've decided that no matter how much we blog, email and describe our lives here we can't possibly do it any real justice. Though you may be thinking that Guinea isn't exactly a hot vacation spot, it will surprise and challenge you (and probably you're insides) while you're here... but think about it, just not in the rainy season. Thats my marketing plug for Guinea....heck if Guinea isn't you're cup of tea I am more than willing to meet you in another country.

Candee and Neil, If you're reading this... I miss you guys, wish you all the best and keep in touch!