Happy holidays

So yeah, believe it or not I’m a year into my service and it’s so weird looking back on everything I was experiencing when I first got into country. What a difference. So much has changed yet I’m still Kim. So what did I do to celebrate my one year anniversary. Nothing special, I went out biking to this district. I fell pretty bad, but its ok. It was pretty funny. I went and watched tv, well it was the local news here in Pular and I had a meeting in Pular which I totally understood. but in response to the meeting I got a chance to interject four or five phrases in Pular. Score.

Things have been going pretty good. There was the fete of Tabaski that just passed. It was really awesome to spend it with the family here. So Tabaski celebrates by praying at the mosque in the morning and dressing very nice. Kids walk around and ask for money. I forget what they say, it’s in Arabic but it’s expected to give like “cent franc” if you got it. There is also the sacrifice of a goat which an elder usually does and the idea is after the sacrifice is done, the goat is shared amongst the community for those who can not afford to eat. I tried to get a more accurate reason as to why the holiday is celebrated but it was extremely hard to get a reason other than “because it’s in the Koran.” Ok.

I’m a grandmomma, my cat had five kittens last Monday. I haven’t seen them left because I left for vacation Sunday and my family called me Monday to tell me that they found my cat had mulitipied. LOL. No, I knew she was pregnant but just didn’t know how far a long so I’m really bummed I missed it. I was actually looking forward to being there for that. I just can’t wait to get back and see them all. I already gave them away but I just don’t want anything to happen to them, but Neenee Moussa (my mother cat) will be an awesome mom. As soon as I get back she’s going straight to the vet!

So work is going pretty well. I’m working with an awesome counterpart. This guy is like the awesomest old guy I’ve met here. So he’s been very set on getting the pump fixed at his school. And I completely agree. There’s the school, the health center and the market yet the nearest pump is in the middles of nowhere. So I was like cool but it needs to be fixed within the community. So we went and did sensibilizations in the market and at the schools. (And by WE I mean I prepared all the materials in French and he presented everything in Pular) hey it makes sense if the audience only knows Pular. But it worked out really well. And we are almost at our goal. I think more than half way there and it’s pretty exciting. I hope that it gets fixed by February. (crosses fingers.)

Well happy holidays, it kinda sucks not being home for the holidays yet again, and knowing most likely will not be home for the holidays next year as well. LAME. I hope everyone has an awesome Christmas and Happy New Years.