the road more or less traveled...

It's been such a long time, and so much has happened. I am about to hit the open road with Liz and her cousins for adventures in Senegal and Gambia. I will then return to Guinea and barely have a moment to breathe. So since I found myself with a whole day to do nothing, I guess I can update you on whats been happening.

- As many of you have read thanks to the other volunteers who are much better at keeping up their blogs G 15 (my group) has lost 2 more volunteers. Though I am not able to discuss the reasons for their depature, you can check it out at katie's blog (tckinguinea.blogspot.com). I was lucky enough to see Katie before she left, and it was the hardest goodbye ever. Melissa, unfortunately, I was not able to see but miss her all the same. Katie and Melissa, Haute, Kankan and Guinea just won't be the same without you.

-G 16, the new group has arrived in country. The reports I'm getting from the volunteers that are training them are great. This new group of volunteers seems to be extremely motivated and eager to learn and even more ready to get out to their sites (which they find out on friday) and start teaching.

- Friday marks the beginning of my very first vacation in Africa. Liz, and her cousins invited me to tag along on their adventures to Senegal and Gambia. I am really excited to start seeing other parts of West Africa.

- Work is going swimmingly. By the time i get back from vacation we will have already started a 6 week training for 2 very large groups of businessmen and women. It will take place here, in Kankan and Siguri a town about 2 hours from here. So until Sept. 13th, I'll be all over the place!

- Girls Conference is also coming up, along with the arrival of the new volunteers at site. Girls Conference was started long before my time as a volunteer, it takes place once a year. It was scheduled for June but there were some political problems that caused us to reschedule. However, each volunteer invites a girl from their village/town and they come to Kankan or Mamou for 5 days and learn about a variety of different things... from planning for the future, to health issues. I, along with Adam, are planning the Kankan Conference so its kind of my baby and I'm excited to see it finally happen.

- So turns out my illness from earlier in the month was a nice little cocktail of ameobas. It was nasty to say the least. I'm feeling better and hoping they decide not to resurface.

- There is real ice cream in Kankan. Real being a relative term. It is by no means anything like the ice cream we know, and speaking of ameobas it might even bring them back again, but for now its a nice, refreshing treat in the hot sticky mess that is Kankan in the rainy season.

For the moment thats all I can think of. I really need to be better about writing things down so I can tell you all about them. I'll post some pictures to make up for my lack of information. I'll be back sometime in mid-september. Until then, I love you all.


We stopped for breakfast in Kouroussa and these two girls stopped by to wish us Bon Voyage.


My favorite, non-volunteer resident of Sabadou Baranama. Lancine.

Storm rolling in over the mountains of the Fouta.

One of the four bats the boys killed in the volunteer house.

David rigged himself up a nice little contraption for sleeping.

Sweet Home Pennsylvania

After sort of being a 'site rat' for a few weeks, I finally escaped to Conakry for some 4th of July festivities/medical problems. The medical problems are not as crazy as last time, but the bugs in Guinea LOVE me. Anyways, I blew into town yesterday much like the rains that roared throughout the night. Katie, Jess, Felipe and I scored a Peace Corps ride into town, and we manged lots of jolly ranchers and even listened to some Y100.... yes, my fellow Philadelphians, that is the Y100 our old radio station! I was so stoked and even though the tape was from 1999 I still rocked out to it in honor of my hometown. It felt like I was cruising the streets of Montco. Though every once in a while I was humbled by the site of goats, sheep, women carrying buckets and other various things on their heads and the ridiculous potholes that tossed and turned my poor stomach. But alas, I am here in once piece, albeit soaking wet. We haven't been getting much rain in Kankan, though it's supposedly the 'rainy season'. However, I was fully welcomed by the rains in Conakry, and soaked to my core.

Recent Happenings:

- Our Chauffer's wedding, I'm sure that I've mentioned this before...but he married his 2nd wife. Muslim's are allowed to have up to 4 wives, and Conde is well on his way.

- I met a monkey named Aminata. In the event you were unaware, Aminata is my African name.

- There have been some political problems, the teachers were striking, the military and police were feuding. Of course, there are still looming problems mais, c'est la guinee.

- Our Country Director and My APCD are leaving, and we've had quite a few staff changes. Also we are welcoming our new stage G 16 in a matter of days!

- My cat is super cute. I HATED cats before I came here but she keeps away bugs, rodents and cuddles with me at night. What more could I ask for?

- I am on my way to becoming the greatest Guinean cook ever. Ok, total lie. But I am trying. I learned how to make peanut sauce with Conde's first wife. Or I sat there and watched and occasionally got to stir.

- My house finally looks like a real house, or at least that someone lives there. I've been living out of a suitcase for the last 6 months.

Finally I will leave you with some pictures...

My cat, Tiya De. It means Peanut Butter in Malinke. Guineans are mortified that I named my cat after a food item.

Tiya again.

Conde and his 2nd blushing bride.

Butt touching at Conde's wedding. Felipe, Katie and I.

and again.

Katie, Jean and I looking lovely in our matching gear.

Breaking it down, Guinean Style.

The creator of my beautiful wedding attire, Mr. Sow.

Feeding the masses.

My first Mosque visit. Jean and I during the Religious Ceremony at Conde's wedding.