That's right I passed!!!!

You're now reading the blog of a very soon to be Nigerien Peace Corps Volunteer.... I have passed my medical exam, passed my zarma (Praise Irkoy) exam.... so now if I can just make sure I don't get medicallly seperated in the next 72 hours I will take my oath and become a volunteer. I'm so excited I'm about to burst. The 2 months (exactly tomorrow) have been a rollercoaster that I am more than ready to get off of.

The past week has been all together joyous and down right awful. We had 3 people leave in 2 days....and not that I was particulary close to any of them but when you know someone with only a plane ride away from seeing their family, friends and boyfriends its easy to get homesick. There were several factors and a lot of us were feeling the same things which made it a lot easier. I didn't want to et but I did want to be home for a like a day or two and then come back. But this has passed. Today I got a huge package and a letter from my grandparents and that took away any lingering homesickness that was still there. I will head out to post on Oct. 2 and will stay there for a complete month. My IST (In-service training) is the first 2 weeks of Dec. then we'll spend X-mas in Zinder and New Years in Maradi as a stage.

I think that is the key to my success as a volunteer looking forward to the chances when we'll all get together as stage. Or when new stage's come... visitors come (hint hint)...because when I start thinking about it as 2 years I sorta get dizzy. The other PCV's in country have been more than welcoming. Tonight is the GAD (Gender & Development) dinner/auction. Tomorrow they are throwing a BIG BBQ for us at the Niamey hostel, Friday afternoon we'll swear-in, there's a big party that night back up on site, we have sat to relax and then I'll leave Sunday morning to head off to Dosso.

So in a nutshell.... my life is grand!!! I love Niger. I love most of my stage. I love my village...no complaints.... talk to you all soon. Take care !!!

The picture is me with The Niger River behind.