ANASARA!

Well, to be perfectly honest, not too much exciting has happened since I last wrote, but I figured since today is the last day of orientation, I’d write another blog to wrap all that stuff up.

So the other day we got to go to the American Embassy. We had a tour of the facilities there and got to meet some of the security people and the boss of the msg boys we met. The gave us a political overviez of the country and then e officially registered ourselves as being in Niger for the semester. So they know we are here and you could call the embassy to stalk us if you wanted too. After we went to the embassy we visited the Univeristy to meet with the dean. He is part of the reason we are able to come here. So it was nice meeting him an getting to thank him for his contributions to our program. However the coolest part was after the meeting whn we drove to some plateaus and hiked to the tops. We got to stare out over all of Niamey. It was really beautiful. The city is very isolated and everything around it is pretty much the bush. Duing the evening we got to have dinner on the terrace with our teachers. It was lots of fun. Binta cooked again, which means the food was awesome. We also had hibiscus juice and ginger lemon juice, both of which I am going to try to learn to make at home. Our professors seem nice, and they are looking forward to classes (shedules for which we should be getting today).

On our free afternoon, some of us went shopping for panas. The pana is how they measure fabric here. It is about 3 yards and can be used as a one-size-fits-all wrap-around skit, but also you can get things made. We’ve been shopping for fabrics and are hoping to go visit a tailor this week.

On Saturday morning, those of us working at the Musèe went and met our artisans for the first time. I did finally choose wood carving, and I am working with a Fulani man, Idi. The language barrier is rather difficult, but hopefully as I learn more French and Hausa it will get easier. He was pleased with my ability to draw. So hopefully I’ll be able to carve. I get to start practicing on soap on Monday. Who knows, maybe you will all get small mishapen hippos. In the afternoon, we went to Yazi’s house to celebrate his sons’ weddings (multiple sons multiple weddings). We met his family and got to eat amazing food that the women cook all day. We also saw some ritual stuff that they do to get the grooms ready for the wedding night. They were putting henna in their hair. Also, they showed us a huge crate of supplies that would be taken to the bride to get here ready. It was really interesting. After things calmed down we played a french card game, “huits”, with Yazi’s nephews. Then we taught the Egyptian Rat Screw. It was lots of fun to see them play.

Today we went to Balleyara, a huge market about an hour away. It was very overwhelming but interesting. Today has been the hottest day yet. We’re a little run down but looking forward to the Superbowl party with the people at the embassy, and believe it or not, we’re looking forward to starting classes tommorow. Just cross your fingers that I don’t have an 8 AM.

Sai an jima!