The Color Orange

I think that's correct Spanish. ;P Anyway, Happy New Year everyone! I'm spending it on Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, the only department of Spain technically in Africa. It's a bit nippy, but I went swimming anyway. Then Kim and I got Happy Meals (they come with yogurt for dessert here!). We each got the talking rhino/hippo thing from Madagascar 2. It's kind of creepy, actually. Maybe European kids have different sensibilities. Second picture is Pablo (1st year vol), and Edna and Kim. Our friend, Maylen is also here with her parents. We all toured the historical museum in Las Palmas yesterday. It was raining but still a fun day.

I can't believe I'm here, actually. I didn't realize how focused on work and life in PC I had been for the past few months until I got here. I'm relaxed, thinking about 'stuff,' and feeling good about going back. I don't have much time left in Mauritania. It's true, these two years are going by so fast. This time next year I hope to be home with my family and my cat, Nema. Happy Belated Birthday, Daddy, I love and miss you!

Hey, ever wondered what would be on the soundtrack to your life? Well, I've decided my intro (like when you make an entrance) would be Sugarland's "Something More." Pablo is Bon Jovi's "It's My Life" (or possibly something from Westlife!), Edna is Shakira's "La Tortua," and Kim is Beyonce's "Survivor." Currently listening to Sugarland's "We Run." They always make me happy. Prospero Ano, con amor, everyone.

Ah, in Nouakchott for the holidays. My new site is pretty and I'm starting to learn Pulaar (sehdeh, sehdeh). It's interesting, I think Hassaniya diverges from classic Arabic when it takes on Pulaar words, because a chunk of vocabulary is exactly the same.

For those of you with extra change, who want to shave more off their 2008 taxes, check out the Peace Corps Partnership website. My regionmate, Justin LeBlanc, lives in a small brousse site and is trying to fund a project for his community. The following text is from my country director, Obie Shaw, about giving through PCP. It's difficult to find extra money this time of year, especially with the current financial atmosphere, but if you're interested,these projects do make a difference, even more so because it's with a American volunteer on the ground.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to let you know about a new project funding source that Peace Corps Washington recently instituted. It is now possible for individuals (and businesses) to donate to specific Peace Corps Country Programs online through the secure Peace Corps website.
If you are looking for an unusual gift for the holidays or perhaps you are thinking of making an end of the year charitable contribution, please consider a donation to the Peace Corps Mauritania Country Fund.
A few quick facts about donations to the Mauritania Country Fund:
• 100% of funds donated go directly to supporting a project benefiting a community in Mauritania (zero $$ go to overhead or any other administrative fees);
• Projects are funded based on strict criteria which include a 25% contribution from the local beneficiary community;
• Each project is overseen by a Peace Corps Volunteer on the ground and monitored and evaluated by Peace Corps staff;
• Donations are tax deductible (for U.S. taxpayers) and you will receive a written confirmation of your donation from Peace Corps Washington;
• With so few NGOs operating in Mauritania, the PC Partnership Program is the primary source of funding for Peace Corps Volunteer projects in country.
As always, thank you all for your consideration and generous support of the Peace Corps Volunteers and their communities in Mauritania.
Happy Holidays to All!
Obie
P.S. If the link above does not work, you may reach the Mauritania Country Fund webpage by copying and pasting this link in your web browser: https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=682-CFD
Or, go to the main Peace Corps website (www.peacecorps.gov) and follow these steps:
Step 1, click the "Donate Now" link on the left side of the screen.
Step 2, click the “Donate to Country Funds” link located both on the left hand side of the screen or in the middle section.
Step 3, in the middle of the screen under “Search by Country of Service” click the dropdown box and select “Mauritania.”
Step 4, click "Donate to Country Funds" located in the middle of the page.
Step 5, In the search results click the “Mauritania Country Fund” link. A donation box will be located on the right hand side of the screen."

Thank you, everyone who reads this! It's strange to me that I love finding money for other people, but break into hives if I have to ask for it for myself. Wonder if there's any future in that . . . ;)

My sister will be singing in front of the National Christmas tree tomorrow! She'll be with other grad students from Virginia, so look for the cute blond mezzo with glasses! Go M! I love you!

This is my last post before Christmas. In a few days I travel by Peace Corps vehicle to Aleg, then by taxi brousse to Kaedi and M'Bagne, my new site. Once I reach M'Bagne, I will stay there until just before Christmas, so no internet for a couple weeks. Should be fine, just like being back in Nema.

Though it lessens my time in M'Bagne, I'm glad I stayed in Aioun for Thanksgiving. It was so nice to be with everyone, current sitemates as well as a few future sitemates traveling through on the way to Dogon Country in Mali. We had chicken, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce (imported of course), and five kinds of pie! I made pumpkin pie completely from scratch (cooked the squash myself), something I would not have believed possible before. Get this, it actually tasted like pumpkin pie. The only thing missing was whipped cream. I'm going to make myself really sick when I get home next summer. Other pies were apple, pecan, cherry, and chocolate pudding. I keep thinking about them. Sigh.

The picture is of a mural I helped my sitemate, Susie, put together. It's for the Health Post (Susie works there) where they give vaccinations for infants. The drawings and text underneath chart the schedule for Polio, Measles, and several other newborn vacs I'm not familiar with. I did the drawings, Susie did the text, and some of the older members of the GMC painted. L to R is Susie, Akla, and Khelethiema (pronounced 'huhlehthima'). That was fun, thanks, Susie!