The Color Orange

Soon-to-be new mail address:
me, PCV
BP 66
Kaedi, Mauritania
West Africa

Yes, moving sites again, this time not because of al Qaeda. One of my classmates (i.e. second-year vol) et’d from her brousse site near Kaedi, where I had my training. She was running the GMC there so my director, Siham, asked if I would be interested in moving again. It makes sense because there are two Girls’ Ed volunteers here in Aioun, but none in M’Bagne. Siham made it clear that this was my choice entirely. I took several days to think about it, but I sort of knew what my answer would be as soon as she asked me. I asked to stay in Aioun until after Thanksgiving so I assume I will move in early Dec. I will be sad to leave my new sitemates and friends here, and I’ll miss electricity, but I feel good about the decision. Ready for another adventure?!

The Aioun GMC opening ceremony was today. Check out some of the girls sharing cookies afterwards. They are a great group and it has been really nice to work in an established GMC for a few months. It will make the transition to M’Bagne that much easier. There is a bread strike here at the moment, which is irksome because that is a staple of my diet. I may have to start making my own. Urgh.

A school building just collapsed in Petionville, Haiti. I stayed in a hotel there two years ago this month. Haiti has the ability to pull on my heart like no other nation save my own. She is bleeding and struggling and she is our neighbor. It makes me wonder what the hell I'm doing in Africa. I want to be there, using my bare hands to pull rubble off trapped children. For all my lofty talk about regional studies in North Africa and learning Arabic, I think my place is closer to home.