Why, you ask? Well I learned this the hard way. Last weekend I walked Alison down to the Gare so that she could get back to site, sitting there, with my 2 kittens in tow, I decided right there on the spot that I too would make the trek to Mandiana with her. I bought my ticket and then sat there for the next 5 hours waiting for the mini bus to load up, even though before I bought my ticket I decided that I did not want to ride in a mini bus, too late now. By the time I decided that I no longer wanted to go I was packed in the last row of the bus with my cats on my lap and Alison in the seat next to me. We were on the road in the slowest mini bus ever, 4 hours and 2 prayer stops in we were no where near Mandiana. I was fuming, and my kitties were going crazy. Alison, my voice of reason assured me we'd make it there evenutally. Finally 2 hours later, and the longest 6 hour journey ever we made it Mandiana. I was so happy to see Katie, bathe and use the bathroom. I guess I neglected to mention that I was having the worse case of diarrhea in country to date. But we made it one piece, my plan was to turn around and go home the following morning. Yeah right. I stayed until Monday morning and had a much more pleasant ride back to Kankan.
Back in the big city I helped my homologue with a formation for a bunch of villages surrounding Kankan, it was all in Malinke. I did a lot of reading and writing in my site journal. The formation isn't over until monday, I believe I've missed the last 4 days. Malinke land is just too much to handle right now.
In happier news my APCD Josh paid me a visit this week! Though this was his last visit to Kankan I was so happy to see him, and eat some of the best white beans and fillet capitan in city with him. I even got to see him dance. All in all a great site visit. Josh's contract is up at the end of July and I am terribly sad to see him go. I'll get to see him one last time in July and then hes off to the City of Brotherly Love! All my best to him and Elin.
MAIL RUN: THANK YOU'S must go out to Dave, Travis, Frank, Heather, Aunt Karen, Rachel and all the Lathams, Ryan and Alex, Kristi and the Borko's and Dad. This past mail run was the best ever. Thank you so much for thinking of me, and I make sure to eat every last bit of food. LOVE YOU ALL!
As for the rest of the month, I will be attending the marriage of our driver Conde on Tuesday. Myself and 5 other Haute volunteers are going and we have matching outfits for the occasion, I will be sure to take lots of pictures. Upon my return is Girls Conference. We have been working hard, and I almost have everything secured to make it a success, or at least I hope. You probably won't hear from me until next month in Conakry. So until then, go jump in the pool for me and have an icy cold glass of lemonade.
