E-Mail from July 18, 2001:
Today we had our half way through training language test. It was completely verbal... writing is not as important here for us. I did alright... I think I'm right on schedule with my French. I think it's slow, but all the trainers compliment me on my listening skills and on my pronunciation. I now have the option of starting to learn Doula, a popular local language, but I would like to wait a few more weeks to feel more confident with my French.
Beaucoup d'Amour!!!
I received 10 letters last week, and five today! Boy, do I feel loved!!! Thank you so much for your support!!!
Le Voyage du Diable
Yesterday we rented a bus and went to a town called Taabo to see how they manage their solid waste. Let me save you the trip: They have lots of ideas on solid waste management, but NONE of them are implemented. (This is common across Cote d'Ivoire... there's just no money for trash collection.) But we drove 3 hours one way to learn this. It was great fun seeing a real site of a real volunteer. She's got a gorgeous site right near a large man-made lake. The dam which created the lake provides power for most of CDI and some surrounding countries. We also drove through Abidjan, the economic capital, on the way. We haven't been allowed out of Alepe for five weeks, and we were thrilled to see Abidjan. The only ones of us who have seen Abidjan are those who have been sick enough to need a doctor. Fortunately, my health has been great.
Anyway, we drove three hours crammed into a small bus, and met with the mayor and volunteer for about two hours. We had lunch, toured the "dump" which, since it is not used, can best be described as an overgrown field, and then loaded up to return to Alepe. Hmmm... not the best use of time... six hours in a bus for a three hour meeting at most. But it gets better. On the way home we blew a tire. That added 30 minutes to the trip. Then the sun went down. That's when the police pointed out that the headlights didn't work. Add 20 minutes to figure out how to turn them on properly (you don' think I'm kidding, do you?). Oh but wait... we blew a fuse a few miles later, and the driver actually asked if anyone had a flashlight he could shine out the window. Oh yes. That was a bad solution, so we pulled over AGAIN to change the fuse. Took us 4.5 hours to get home. I walked in the door at 8:30 pm, ate, showered (bucket bathed?) and went right to bed. All this the day before our big French test. Not a good plan, IMHO.
Demain
Tomorrow is the big big day!! We find out our site locations!! I'm so excited!!! I will let you know immediately where I end up. The announcement isn't until the end of the day. That will give us plenty of time to be high strung!!
C'est Fini
I think that's all I have for now. Many thanks to those who made my days shorter by sending letters and books!!
Love,
Kate