Return to Site

Finally back at site. Apparently someone did miss me, either that or they missed my money. Sometimes it can be very frustrating but other times very rewarding and right now there are those frustrating times.
Let me explain, i love my community. I live in a small village where everyone knows eeryone and is each other's cousin or brother. I have an amazing host family that treat me as if I'm one of tha family. I work well and have given a lot to the community as it stands. I've given many sacrifices to be here to help and assist them as I a capable to. However it is extremely frustrating to find out that one of my coworkers is taking advantage of me. It's difficult enough to come to a country where you don't know anyone and living amongst people who look at you funny because you dress, look and talk differently than they do. I don't know any better so I ask a coworker to help me fnid soeone to make furniture for my house. And he uses this as an oppurtunity to overcharge me and profit for himself. And of course when the person was finished making the bookcase it was not what i wanted at all and ask him to make another one and this time showed him a photo. And yes he managed to get it wrong again and i complained to my host family and they pointed out that I had paid way too much for what i got in return. And right now I'm outraged cause i noticed he recently purchased himself a nice cute little phone. I'm pretty sure it's from the money he proffitted off of me. So I'm a little ticked off. More sad and disappointed. I'm sad because this is exactly why they have nothing. I'm disappoined because I've been used and i really want to help this communit but i can't if i need to be guarded and feel tat i can not trust them.
I have thought about confronting him and telling him off, there's no need for me to build up my rage. Instead he will learn his lesson the hard way and continue to wonder why he's so poor and why i get to go t America. I guess that could be my sweet revenge. (evil laughter)
Also the week has been a little depressing. My friend's uncle passed. I met this man a couple times and knew he was sick, you just never expect the worse. And i cried a bit while sitting amongst a group of wailing women that i knew and as uncomfortable as i was i geniunely felt their pain.
To make matters worse on the same day my host brother fell off his moto. He fractured his foot and i think his shin as well. He can barely walk and i feel so terrible. Just the other dqy i was trying to prove i can jump higher than him (i didn't manage to though) and now he cant do that anymore. But i think it will heal. I hope so. It's hard to limp around with one leg. I found it funny that the one legged man, Alphoma, came to visit. He had lost his entire leg a little over a year ago because of an moto acident. So what have we learned? Mots are dangerous and you might lose your leg.
Some good news? I have my health. I feel better now emotionally, physically, and mentally. Despite how many times people try to get as much money as they can out of me it's going to come back to them in the end. And I'll be too far away to help. I think I'm gonna spend more time with my host family in my village. They are a decent group of people who take care of me and NEVER ask for anything in return. I do get them things sometimes. They only ake me t stay longer or t eat more or sleep there and take breakfast in te morning. I remember the reason why i didn't want to be there that often because both the brothers had hi on me but that stopped and hae alled me a sister. And have proved to be among the few people i can trust.
After being away from site for nearly a month I didn't get a warm welcome. The doctor I work with yelled at me for not calling. Meanwhile I told him where I was going and why and wen I'd e back. He claaimed a lot of crap but in the end I juust stopped fighting. It wasn't worth it. I did what I had to do and I know I did nothing wrong. Is just the way he was talking to me like i was being dishonest which wasnt the case at all.
Its only been a week and already so much has happened. I was pissed off upon arrival to find my cat was practically starving; And thne hours later arguing with my counterpart. Oh what the hall?

Back to site!

It's been three weeks andI'm finally going back to site! Ahh. I can't believe it, so this will be the last you'll hear from me in a while. Say goodbye to hot water, good cell phone coverage, internet, movies, tv for that matter, electricity, lightbulbs, indoor bathrooms and the list goes on. A tear!


But anyway my address if anyone wants to send a letter or a package here's my address, thanks and take care and happy independence day.


Kimberly PCV
Corps de la Paix
B. P. 1927
Conakry, Guinea
West Africa