Thursday, August 14, 2008
With Love from Nouadhibou
The following was written two days ago:
So, I have been told, yet again, that I need to update my blog more often. I promise to try! But you all know I'm terrible with personal communication (in pretty much every way) and add that to the fact I have to walk half a mile to get to the internet. It's a wonder I ever post anything. I am constantly writing posts in my head, but they rarely make it to the screen. (ok, ok, it's called laziness)
I am currently in the northern city of Nouadhibou. It sits right on the ocean, close to the border with Western Sahara. My friend, Maylen, runs a girls' center here and I am helping get the center ready for their special summer sessions starting shortly. The 'Bou' is as developed as Nouakchott, but with a cooler climate, less traffic and fewer nutsos. I love it and have decided to eschew trips to Saint-Louis, Senegal in favor of the Bou. There are a number of Spanish NGOs here and, surprisingly, I'm beginning to understand just a bit of Spanish, mainly because I can understand French, I think. But Spanish is my language goal on returning to the US.
I guess that is the big thing now, bigger than the disappointingly boring coup. I'm taking the GRE in October and looking at programs in development or public service at Vanderbilt, Marquette U, the Kennedy School at Harvard, or American U, in order of preference. Program fit is paramount, but financial aid or fellowship possibilities run a close second, since I will have no money when I COS out of Peace Corps next summer.
It's bizarre to me that I'm heading in the grad school direction. Even a year ago, I thought I would go through life finding work based solely on experience. But something is nudging me toward a masters. On va voir. ;)
So, I have been told, yet again, that I need to update my blog more often. I promise to try! But you all know I'm terrible with personal communication (in pretty much every way) and add that to the fact I have to walk half a mile to get to the internet. It's a wonder I ever post anything. I am constantly writing posts in my head, but they rarely make it to the screen. (ok, ok, it's called laziness)
I am currently in the northern city of Nouadhibou. It sits right on the ocean, close to the border with Western Sahara. My friend, Maylen, runs a girls' center here and I am helping get the center ready for their special summer sessions starting shortly. The 'Bou' is as developed as Nouakchott, but with a cooler climate, less traffic and fewer nutsos. I love it and have decided to eschew trips to Saint-Louis, Senegal in favor of the Bou. There are a number of Spanish NGOs here and, surprisingly, I'm beginning to understand just a bit of Spanish, mainly because I can understand French, I think. But Spanish is my language goal on returning to the US.
I guess that is the big thing now, bigger than the disappointingly boring coup. I'm taking the GRE in October and looking at programs in development or public service at Vanderbilt, Marquette U, the Kennedy School at Harvard, or American U, in order of preference. Program fit is paramount, but financial aid or fellowship possibilities run a close second, since I will have no money when I COS out of Peace Corps next summer.
It's bizarre to me that I'm heading in the grad school direction. Even a year ago, I thought I would go through life finding work based solely on experience. But something is nudging me toward a masters. On va voir. ;)
