Another year older...

Another birthday come and gone, another year older. Thanks to everyone who called, wrote and facebooked me, I love and miss you all.

This birthday was definitely like any other. Last years was a total bummer, my first year in Africa, my first time at site alone...anyways not to be a downer. But this year, now thats a whole other story. Me and a few other volunteers decided to escape the city of Kankan for the weekend and head to Sabadou Baranama. It is the site of another volunteer, Alex, but unfortunately he wasn't there. But he got us in touch with a french family that lives out there and also happens to be in charge of a park. A park in fact that protects endangered animals.

We hired a taxi and started our journey on friday, unfortunately we forgot that they were working on the only bridge out of town in that direction and we couldn't cross. bummer. But the following morning after a delicious carrot cake made by yours truly, we made the trek to Sabadou. Now I do have to say that communication is difficult here and we kind of showed up unannounced, however not to fear the french family was there to welcome us and put us up in their hotel for the night. We ate good food, swam in their pool, checked out some animals and I made a new friend. Her name is Mookie and shes a chimpanze. Pretty much all of my pictures are of her and I will post them to make you jealous. She was the funniest, most curious primate ever and we bonded. I was sad to leave her behind, even if she did fart on me when I first met her.

Without further ado... Mookie.





Me and Mooks hanging out in the hammock

Cleaning up Jeans hair

So cute

Sporting my shades.

Run around sue...

I can't believe that I've been back a month, some days it feels like minutes others it feels like years. The hot season is back in swing and oh mylanta georgia did it come quickly. A week or so ago I was sleeping with a fleece blanket and now along with the Harmatan winds the HOT season back and I am unable to sleep. Maybe its the shock to my body, but I am having the hardest time sleeping but at least I'm reading a lot. My cat is doing much better, no more episodes mostly because I won't let her out of the house. But I think its time Tiya de gets a good talking to.

Work is work. I'm frustrated un peu at the moment, mostly because we were supposed to give a business training months ago and it has yet to happen. It's really my first hand look at the corruption in this country. Now don't get me wrong I love it here, but whats been happening over the past few weeks has been seriously discouraging. I'll give you a brief overview. My organization M.G.E, AACG and ADAPE have been giving business trainings together over the past few months. M.G.E gave the training in Siguiri, AACG gave thier part in Kissidougou and now we are waiting on ADAPE here in Kankan. He have been chasing around the guy that is handling the training here and he keeps giving us the run around. Since November he's been saying that there will be a training, and until now nothing but talk. Two or three times a week me and my counterpart have been stopping by and he keeps saying next week, oh the next week we'll do the training. And now hes gone off the Conakry. He was already given the money... and as much as I don't want to speculate... how can I not? I know I'm not supposed to point fingers and accuse and I don't want to. But, I am really disappointed. It is also giving my organization and AACG a bad rap, because he's trying to pull a fast one on both of us. The 3 organizations are responsible for the trainings and the donor of the money has trusted us to go through with it. But what can I do? My counterpart is discouraged and the representative from AACG is out of the loop because the guys from ADAPE don't even bother to inform him what's going on. In all its a bad scene. My only hope is that he comes through and changes my mind. Though my view of him is already tarnished.

In other not to solemn news the new group of volunteers will be heading out to their sites this weekend. I believe they swear in tomorrow, and then get to do all the fun shopping for their sites. A bunch of current volunteers is there to help, as for the rest of us we'll be waiting for them at the regional capitals. I've been lucky enough to help out with their training and they are a great group of volunteers. I can't believe I've been in Kankan for a year, its truly been incredible. I can't wait to see them a year from now. I wish them all the best at their sites, and to my SEDers Du courage!

For the moment, thats all I've got. Nothing too exciting going on here but I'll be sure to keep you posted more frequently. Don't forget in a few short days is my.... BIRTHDAY. Shameless yes, but come on people I'm in Africa. An be.