It's been a while

It had been a while since I last posted. As you are most likely aware I was evacuated from Niger at the end of Jan 2011. It was an interesting time emotionally for me during this evacuation. I was in my village for only 8 days. Yet some how in those 8 days i have become very attached to the village and it's people. I had made friends that i still cherish and miss alot. I think one of the things that i am most grateful for it the opportunity to see my village. i did not pass the language requirements to go to the village but Tondi allowed me to go anyways with a tutor. Without this treatment i would not have had to opportunity to meet such wonderful people. I am forever grateful to Tondi. thank you!

My village was about 3k from the main road and market town. there was no real store or market in my village. it was broken up into four sections. i did not get the chance to know the other sections as much as i would have liked. there were a few projects that i was thinking of doing in my village: a community garden, an adult literacy class, help with the existing school system, and farmer field school (a scientific approach to farming). One of the hardest parts about leaving the village when i did is knowing that i did not give the village anything when they gave me so much. It is an unfair situation but one that i can not change and should not dwell on for long.

The evacuation came as a surprise even if if shouldn't have. The week before the evacuation there was alot of stand by warnings and curfews. I was called one morning and told that i was being evacuated. i was not told why or when only that i had to pack two bags both about 40-45lbs or less. I was to call no one and could tell no one. the only thing i could tell my village was the i was leaving for security reasons. I was to wait for further instructions. These instructions did not come until late that evening when i got a text message saying that if i was not informed before now i was to stay the night in my village. I got another on at around 8pm that i was to leave on the first bushtaxi out. I was not told when that would be and had to ask the chief or maigari how to get the the road and when to leave. I was to wake at the first prayer hour 5 in the morning and be out by 6.

I got to the regional capital and my regions hostel where i had the first contact with other volunteers and called home to inform my family what was happening. I was in my regional capital for about 4 days when we were shipped off to the capital to do the last admi papers before taking a round about way to the airport and flew to Morocco. There were did our close of service (COS)and helped us figure out what to do next.

In COS we had medical and other activities that we did learned about our options there were a few options i could take: close my service, re-enrollment, direct transfer, and expedited return. close my service is never going to another country which was out of the question. re-enrollment is applying again with a quick application, being pushed to the head of the line, and given more of a say in your service. direct transfer is being send from Morocco to another country. expedited return going home fore a few weeks and then being sent to another county. All of the options for expedited return and direct transfer had language requirements that i did not meet. I chose to do re-enrollment.

I came home after my service and went through some readjustment mostly sad or numb feeling, avoiding places and feel overwhelmed. I am now over such times and have finished my packet for re-enrollment i am waiting back on a response which should be any day now. I will keep you all updated about my options.

i would like to thank everyone for the support that they gave my during this emotional time.

My new address

My new address Corps de la Paix, BP 291 Maradi, Niger, West Africa. I'm finally in Maradi we are celebrating the new year. It's my first day here we are having pizza and cake. Just hanging out making new friends and having a blast. Go to my site this week don't know when yet.
This is all of us in Niger 2010 group. You should check it out. Written by Jacob. http://jacobmbarela.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/cha-and-farm-bios-2010/

So I can't add a slide show of pictures but if you go onto my facebook there will be an album for you guys. I did my last LPI and got intermediate low which is not what i needed. However Peace Corps is letting me swear in anyways. Since i learn the best in an immersion environment and showed a determination to learn the language. I will be having a language trainer with me to help me if i need it for two weeks. I will be retested in two weeks to make sure i get intermediate mid. But I'm swearing in and becoming a full volunteer!! I was so scared that i wouldn't be able to. Swear in is on the 30th and i move to my ville on the 2nd.

Christmas here was a blast I'm part of the committee and we had Christmas caroling. Made an amazing meal of sauteed vegetables, chicken, cake, cookies, fruit salad and bread. We did secret santa and decorated a chalk tree that was written on the blackboard. We had movies playing and games going all night. Along with a dance party! The next morning we had a pancake brunch and pizza for lunch.

Tell you more later. Love you miss you.

Language Immersion

So let me tell you about language immersion. Oh my god what have i got myself into! I think this is the hardest thing i have ever done in my life. I have reached every limit i have and have been pushed farther. I have cried laughed screams and smiled in a span of an hour. I wanted to quit and loved this place at the same time. i have been stressed, frustrated, relaxed and overjoyed. I wondered if this was for me and why i am doing this? What is this all for is it worth it? My answer to that is YES! I can and will do it I have strength to prevail. I am doing this for me and for the people of Niger who need my help. In the end it will be the best thing in my life.

SO let me tell you about language immersion it was hard and we spoke a fair amount of English but also a lot of Hausa. There was four participants and two trainers. The girls which were five of us had to squeeze into a small hut which was made for one person. Oh wow was it small but we did it. The food was good we had one of the local women make us food. Sometimes we cooked ourselves. You will never guess what i have started to eat eggs, crickets, and beans. I know i hate those foods at home but i think the need for protein is making anything taste good. We had class everyday and a lot of different activities to do. Like teach someone how to make an improved cookstove in Hausa and i was alone. It was hell! I think it was the hardest thing i had to do since i got here. I started to cry in the middle of it and wanted to disappear. But they seemed to like it or they were just being nice one or the other. I can't tell yet since the culture is so different.

I'm nervous for my village since i don't feel like i can speak Hausa really well. I don't really understand when people talk and i don't speak really well. I know that this is normal and that i have only been here for a month and a half but it is very discouraging. Sai hankori (have patients) and i will learn it. I just hope I can pass my LPI's i will learn alot when i get to my village. I will get my site announcement this friday I'm really excited. I hope it's in Maradi but i have a feeling it's not. Since that is what Sangra said which is my adviser person. I really like it here it is the place the i felt most at home.

Niger is good it's getting cold well Niger's version of cold which is like 60-70 in the mornings we need to put on a sweater and it's cold to sleep. I say savor it while it lasts since the hot season is right around the corner and i will be wanting to have this cold back. The days are comfortable though which is nice.

Miss you all and Love you

Details about NIger

Hey well I'm better! Let see what can I tell you about Niger. I have a bit more time to write now. Let me tell you a bit about the village. It has a market (Kasuwa) that comes every Tuesday. There you can get anything from food to electronics animals and clothes. The main problem is that they speak Zarma and I'm Hausa. However language immersion will be next week and i plan to use that time to learn everything i can. the village is very busy with a lot of children. It is funny they ask you for your name in french but they can't understand your answer so we have fun with that and respond with flip flop or water tower. We use it as a time to be creative.

The peace corps site is a place that we can be ourselves. There are a lot of us at different places and that is the only time that we are all together. I have alot of friend from other places so it is a relive to check up with them and see how they are doing. The site has a volleyball court and we play a lot of games after classes. I am a part of the sports committee we are going to try and play Quiddage.

Thanksgiving will be an affair we are going to cook dinner and have a blast. I missed Tabaski which is the killing of the sheep and celebration for two days. I was in Naimey but i got to have some of the meat (nama). Right now we are doing some shopping and learning about Naimey.

What else classes are long but they make it fun. We switch teacher every week so that we can learn a new accent. The tech sessions are what are most fun for me. I am learning about tree nurseries, composting, and gardening as of right now but there will be alot more later on. The med training is a bit boring i know most of it but there is still more to know. I find my English is getting bad so i hope everyone can understand this.

I miss you all but I'm having a blast. I didn't tell you about the sand storm did I. Well i was in a sand storm it was loud and sandy we had to go inside to sleep. It was beautiful in the morning there was a new layer of sand everywhere making it look clean and pure. The nights hear are beautiful there are so many stars and the moon can be like it's day time. Sometimes it hard to sleep with that much light. The prayer can wake me up as well as the animals but I'm beginning to learn how to sleep through both.

The weather is hot hot hot at least we are going into the cold season aka not 113 F. It's only in the 90's. Which is really cool for here. LOL. The nights are cold though we have to wear a sweater to bed at times.

Niger and sick but having fun

So here is an update! I finally got here and it is hot. I have bacteria and amibas right now so I feel sick and I'm ontons of pills. But don't worry about me. Ina day or so I will be back to normal. So I went through a sand storm we had to go inside to sleep and sand was everywhere. I'm learning alot in my lessons though I still feel like I don't know anything but that will come with time. We got to go to see a real site which was awesome. I can't wait to really get involved in a site but that is a long time from now. I miss you all and love you. I also have a bunch of friends here it is a great environment everyone is really nice. My family has 9 kids they are all so funny. They help out alot with the language and can always make me smile. I'm getting alot of rice and milit. Don't really like milit though.

Training

So I got a lot new info. One important thing is that I won't have any contact besides letters for three weeks after I get there. There is an estimated amount of volunteers of 45. They will keep me very busy! So here is my schedule for training.

I arrive in Niger at 3:20pm on Oct 22.

• I have to navigate luggage security and customs on my own. We meet up with the Peace Corps staff in the parking lot. We are whisked away to Hamballaye the training sight. Which is about 45min away.
• When we get there there is a welcoming ceremony, dinner and orientation

Oct. 23

• 7:00 breakfast, Orientation by training Manager
• Introduction to medical sessions and survival tips

Afternoon

• interviews and language proficiency (French)
• With a culture fair

Oct 24

• Overview of Pre-Service Training and language classes
• Visit the Chef de Canton (the Chief) and get a tour of Hamdallaye
• Session on how to use Nigerien tools

Lunch

• Put valuable in safe
• host family orientation and reception with family
• Move into host house

I will live with your adoptive family throughout the 9 1/2-week training, up until swearing-in as a Volunteer. I will have a round thatched hut, with a pit latrine and outdoor bucket bath area in your family’s compound in or around Hamdallaye. My family will speak the language that I will be learning in Pre-Service Training, Hausa or Zarma. I will eat dinner with my family during the week and have most meals with them on the weekends.

Oct 26

• debriefing of the night with the family
• rest of the day is medical sessions and Safety and Security

Weekend
GET TO KNOW YOUR HOST FAMILY!

Most days I will be leaving language, technical and cross-cultural training
Tuesday and Friday will travel to training sites for core sessions and safety and security training. it can be a 5-20 min trip walking or biking.

Nov 6
Leave for demystification (Demystification is an opportunity to visit PCVs in the field.)
I will lave with a group on public transportation and be with another currently instated Volunteer Sunday and Monday. I will see what they are doing and practice the language.

Nov 10
I will navigate the public transportation alone to get back
demystification trip debriefing

Swearing-In Date Thursday, December 30, 2010 at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence in Niamey

Immunizations

· Optional HPV Vacinne #1 (for women)

· Rabies #1, #2 and #3

· Typhoid

· Hepatitis A&B

· Meningitis

· Flu

· Diphtheria

· Tetanus

Influenza

If I can't speak at and Intermediate Level when you are sworn in you have 10 days of intense language training if you still can't you have two weeks of language. If after that then they declare you hopeless.