The Color Orange

Ok, so I'm sitting in Equinoxe Cafe in Nouakchott where they have wi-fi, rare thing here, and decided to catch up on friends' blogs. Holy crap it's been awhile. I discovered a Chicago friend has gone through a divorce and it makes me feel sad and also so disconnected. I had no idea and it's been months! It's my fault, really. I dislike spending alot of time online, except for work, but also am very bad about using the phone or mail, except for work. It's one of my (albeit few) failings. ;) But seriously, I knew this friend when she was dating, then attended her wedding, knew her as part of a couple, and now she's single again. I know it's life but still difficult. Her writing sounds as strong, if not stronger, than ever, though, so that makes me happy.

Finally back in Mauritania. I missed it, actually, especially after an interminable taxi ride from Dakar to Rosso (took 13 hours, should be 5). I'm at the training center in Rosso and am very impressed with the new volunteers. Out of a class of over 70, not one has left and they are three weeks into training! My class lost four in the first week, one even before we got on the plane in Philadelphia. I'm amazed by them, but also amused, because they have the exact same conversations (about food, host famillies, food, gi problems, food) my class had! It's fun to be part of a circle like this. Many PC programs (i.e. in other countries) have more frequent rotations. One class will come in the summer, another in the winter, then the summer, so there is a constantly changing team of volunteers, but with only one training session per year, we have the chance to get to know each other, old and new volunteers. I'm sappy, but I like it. RIM rocks, whoohoo!

Btw, I strongly dislike Paris. Every other part of france is great, though! :) I highly recommend all the non-Paris parts of the country.