Yau, Muna Hokies ne

Okay so I wasn't planning on writing another blog until just before I left for Paris, but something really interesting happened today, and I wanted to share.

So every Friday I go to work at the museum. I primarily am an apprentice for Idi, but there is another wood carver Conde who I work with too. He speaks some English and likes to listen to the radio in English. Today on the radio there was talk about the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech. He did not understand everything that was said. So, I was explaining what happened. Idi and Conde both got very worried about me and my fellow students. They asked if we knew anyone who was there. They asked if that could happen at our school. They were very concerned about the students at Virginia Tech. I was telling them how the students were getting so much support from the American public, and I told them about how people are saying "We are all Hokies" and wearing the Virginia Tech colors in honor and support. After I told them these things, Conde said that the students have the support of the Nigeriens too. He said that today even the Nigeriens are Hokies.

So, there. It's been really strange to be here and hear about what happened at Vtech. All of the students here have gone about dealing with it in different ways. Some of us were really affected. Others did not seemed to barely notice. I just found it interesting that the artisans that I work with cared so much about American college students in Virginia just because they've worked with American college students here.

I guess it comes to this. During the semester, if there's one thing we have learned - everyone, when it comes down to it, is simply human. Here in Niger poverty and sickness is everywhere, and everyone shares the burden. It was really touching to see Idi and Conde extend that courtesy to me, my fellow students here, and the real Hokies in Virginia.

see you all in a couple weeks... and I'll probably still post just before Paris.

sai an jima
habiba

Ina san Niger

Well kids, it's April and I can't believe that in basically one month I'll be in Paris with my mom... but enough of that for now.

So, I've been back in Niamey for about a week. First, let me say that this is the first blog I am actually typing here. My mom has been so kind to post blogs that I send her as documents. However, with our new fast internet I can now post directly. That means, however, that there will probably be more typos... sorry.

Anyway. We went on our national trip, which basically means that we got to go see the northern and eastern parts of Niger - basically the part before you get to the Sahara.

Anyway we startd our road trip rather eventfully. Between us and Konni, our first destination, is a place where you can pick up a guide who will take you to see the last free roaming herd of giraffes in Niger. It was sincerely incredible. The giraffes were so close and beautiful that they actually brought tears to my eyes. It was really breathtaking to be so close. For real at least check out those pictures. The peeing giraffe and the peekaboo giraffe are my favorites.

After another 5 hours in the bus we finally made it to Konni. Konni is the village where the Peace Corps Hostel is located. Basically it's the home base for volunteers in about a 3 hour radius. So we stayed there for one night and chose our villages and volunteers that we would be staying with for the next couple of days. I went to Bilandao and stayed with Dogo Drew. Dogo means tall... he is 6 foot 9.

So, first, Drew is very cool. He hails from South Carolina, actually knows what Montreat is, and grew up in Toledo. So we have lots in common. Not to mention, he's just cool in general. He's only been in country for 3 months, and he has only been in village for 3 weeks. So he's very new.

Bilandao was really cool. We drew water from a 270 foot deep well, walked 8 km in the burning hot sun to the market, met missionaries from Seattle, drank the best Sprite ever after our walk, saw a man fight a cobra, at with the chief, and peed in a hole. Viallge life is rough, but really cool.

Now the million dollar question: Will I still apply for Peace Corps? Answer: yes, and you people better write me letters and send me treats (for those of you going into Peace Corps in the near future, I'll do it for you!).

So after our four days in the village, I went with Zags, we packed our stuff up and headed back to Konni for the night. Then, it was up to Agadez.

Agadez is basically the gateway between the Sahel and the Sahara. It's a really cool city inhabited mostly by Tuaregs who are a really cool nomadic people (if anyone ever wants to talk about a really cool nomadic people let me know).

Anyway, we went to the mosque on Easter Sunday and bowed to the sultan of Agadez and Zinder. Happy Easter to us. We had to pay homage to the sultan and ask permission to go into the mosque. He allowed us to go. So we got to climb into the minaret. It was really pretty, but it was a very tiny space - not cool if you are claustrophobic.

We also checked out the artisan village and markets and bought lots of goodies. Then, we went to Le Pilier for dinner - the only Italian restaurant in Niger. It was actually really good... but weird to eat Italian food. We also hit up a grocery store for munchies. They had 2 litres of Fanta Fraise... which if you read my Burkina Blog you know it's pretty much my favorite drink ever.

So that was basically it. We had an awesome time, and it was really cool to see other parts of Niger. They are so different than Niamey.

Oh! I forgot to mention that we saw a dustdevil, basically a dust tornado, on the way home.


Now we're all in full swing to finish work and wrap up classes, and the internet is rocking right now. So, I uploaded pictures. I guess the next time I blog will probably be a wrap up before I head to Paris. Still loving my experience here, but I'm getting ready for a change and looking forward to Paris, Boston and Montreat.

Miss you all and see you guys soon!!!

As always, drop me a line and tell me what's up with you.

Love and sai an jima,
Habiba