Contact 13
"…One
more night on the beach…"
April 15 - April 19
April
15
Mom & Dad -
Happy Easter! I'm sitting here on the beach. It's about 6:30am. It's
so beautiful here and the waves are the biggest I've ever seen that
weren't on TV. The sun just came up over the Palm trees. I thought
about taking a picture but decided it wouldn't do it justice. So,
I didn't. We're staying at this little place. It's got 5 little "bungalows"
(round houses with thatch roofs) right on the beach. There's a restaurant
too. It's this British couple who owns it. So we can speak English
:). There's an Easter Special going . It's a little pricey but we got
dinner last night & we get breakfast this morning. Let me back
up and tell you about swearing in. It was about as exciting as my
college graduation. But I'm very excited to be a volunteer now. FINALLY!
After the ceremony, we went to the church for a reception. I told
Benedicte I wanted a picture with just her - not AP - and she was
so happy. We were talking on our way there and I told her she's not
really my Mom - because she's just a year older than me. I said she's
my sister and my friend. She got the biggest grin on her face. I asked
her "what do you want me to introduce you as?" She said
"ma soeur" (my sister). It was a Hallmark moment for sure.
She also gave me her secret address. She said if I need to talk to
her about anything, AP won't know. I think that's so cute. And I like
her better. So I'm writing her and maybe sending her little treats.
I can send a packet of kool-aid. She loves that. Friday morning, we
left Monga for Abidjan. The whole town was out to see us off. It was
quite an event. And on top of that, everyone was crying! I didn't
think for a second it would be sad. But it really was…saying
goodbye to all our formateurs, the families. Mariam, the Director,
had to leave because she couldn't handle it. It was very touching.
Benedicte gave me a going away present Fri morning - 2 jars of peanut
butter & 3 liters of oil to make soap with. We got to Abidjan
Fri afternoon with all our bags & bikes. We did a little shopping.
I bought some running shoes and a stove. We went out Fri night to
a nice little bar on the water. Abidjan looks pretty at night - because
you can't see all the trash. There was a guy there who guards the
Embassy. He's a US Marine. I was sitting next to this girl Heather
from Alabama & she said "Niki, I think he may be from our
neighborhood." Sure enough - Suwanee GA. Crazy, huh?! I forgot
to tell you, you would love this little beach where we are. It's called
Jacquesville (I think that's how it's spelled). It was in the Lonely
Planet book - in town there are all these little open air "bars"
that you can eat in - breakfast, lunch & dinner - and they're
really cheap too. I think we're going home Tuesday. I love this place.
We're definitely coming back. Oh, I totally forgot… After the
reception Thursday, we were having a party at Mariam's house. Well,
I sure as hell wasn't going to keep wearing that garb I had on. It
was what they call a "pagne complet". It's a piece of fabric
tied around me like a skirt (very difficult to walk in - baby steps
only, especially when you're sweaty…imagine at the pool, wrapping
a wet towel around you as a skirt. Now try to walk in it). Ok. You'll
see a picture - but she also gave me these slip on flip flop shoes
that (this one's for you, April) looked like little black slip in
bedroom looking velvet (or whatever they were) shoes that Heather,
our dearest friend and colleague, used to wear. So anyway, Mary &
I wanted to get transport back to Monga (from Alepe) to change our
hideous clothes (her's was much more hideous!) and get back to the
party. Well, transport didn't come. We were walking with Mary's Mom
and she was walking so slow. We couldn't walk because of those damn
skirts. We had "rug burns" on our legs where the skirt kept
catching. So, to make walking easier, Mary & I lifted up our skirts
to just above our ankles, that's it, and Mary's Mom told us we had
to let go of our skirts - basically calling us tramps. OK. Not really.
But I was a little peeved. So finally, Mary & I decided we'd walk
back to Monga because it was dark and if we didn't go now, we wouldn't
make it. So, we ditch her "Mom" and start booking it back
- both in hideous outfits, me in the most uncomfortable shoes I've
ever worn. I still have cuts on my feet. Anyway, it was hilarious
because people were coming back from the fields and here come 2 crazy
white girls, all decked out, with our skirts hiked up above our knees!
It was a sight. Mary said it looked like we were running away from
something like an arranged marriage or something. I took some pictures
of us in the middle of the dirt road. It's hard to tell stories on
paper. Maybe after you see the pictures, you'll get a better image
:). OK. Time for food. I'll be back later. I forgot to tell you…
When we were actually "swearing in", all 43 of us were standing
up with our right hands raised, repeating after the US Ambassador
(I know, Dad, I can't spell.) So they get to the part that says "I
accept this without any mental reservations…" Everyone looked
at each other and just busted out laughing. They said that happens
every year. He's saying that and we're all thinking…"what
he hell are we getting ourselves into…"
April
16
Happy Easter! We got up this morning and for Easter candy we ate…sugar
cubes and drank hot chocolate :)! We are having so much fun here. I'm
afraid to go to site. Mary, Julie, Josh & Leo are an awesome group.
I can't even describe how amazing this place is where we're staying.
It's called Chez Laura - Campement de J'ville. It's a quaint little
place. We played in the ocean today and the undertow is super strong.
I have never seen waves this big. They're so cool just to watch. So,
basically we watch the waves until it's dark & then we watch the
stars til we fall asleep - get up, watch the sun come up over the
palm trees - repeat :). The stars were so cool last night. I don't
know if you remember, Dad, but in 8th grade, for our Ocoee trip, we
went to some mountain top to look at the stars (& see how wintergreen
lifesavers sparkle :)) & it was the most stars I've ever seen in
the sky at one time. Last night was second. And some of them actually
sparkle. They change colors. And they were stars - not planets. And
last night, there was this "light" in one area. It looked
like what I picture the "milky-way" to look like. I hope
you get a chance to see this when you come. I need to find a constellation
book so I can learn about what I'm seeing. Hey, just to throw some
prices at you so you can get an idea… I talked to someone who
used a "driver" here & she said he was fabulous! It's
30,000 francs/day plus gas. He sleeps in his car & she said you
don't have to feed him - but she did. And there were a total of 4
people in her group. She said he's nice, good driver (which is harder
to come by here than in Atlanta :)), smart, dependable. Food can be
done cheaply. Hotels generally aren't too bad, if you're not in Abidjan.
Then fun stuff is your call. Right now I think it's ~740 francs (CFA)/dollar
- but you can check online. I can't wait til you come. I just know
it'll be here before I know it. I'm going to be really homesick right
about that time. I don't know what to do if I don't see you for that
long! Gonna go take a nap. It's very stressful over here. I need my
rest :). ~~ We just got back from dinner. We sat at this maquis and
there was a lady on the side of the road walking some awesome chicken.
I love this place. You would love this place. It's kind of an African
Bryson City. There's a little corner diner that I already feel like
is "mine". People here, they're so nice & want to help.
Sat (yesterday), when we got here, Josh realized his bag never got
put on the car. He left it in Abidjan sitting next to the "bread
lady", who we bought bread from before we left. So Josh went
back to look for his bag and was going to come back last night or
today, depending on transport, asked someone where some place to stay
was, said he was looking for his brother & sisters and this man
said "I'll take you there." And here came Josh, bag &
all. I guess it's hard not to notice 5 white people coming through
the main part of town. But it was so nice for him to walk Josh. It
was 1km away & this guy wasn't young. So, then later today, we
were buying bread here in J'ville, and the "bread lady"
here said "did your friend find his bag?" I guess word travels
fast. Oh. I forgot to say - the "bread lady" in Abidjan
was "watching" Josh's bag. It was right there where the
care loads up. The honesty surprises me sometimes. It's really nice.
So now we're beat after a long day in the sun & water. And we
have to do it again tomorrow. I'm not going to want to leave this
place. I can't wait to tell you about it. I'm going to bed. Sweet
dreams. See you in the morning :).
April
17
It's another beautiful day. I don't want to leave this place. It's
making it even harder to go to my village. But I'm leaving today.
I think they're all staying til tomorrow. I've got too much to do
and I'm starting to panic. I'm going to get to my village and time
is going to be standing completely still. I hope I'm ready for this.
This is going to be so hard. I'm going to really need to talk to you.
My brain is going crazy right now. I'm gonna go pack my stuff right
now. I'll be back when we get to Abidjan. I miss you so much. ~~ OK.
I'm not going. I'm going to be stressing out like a mad woman on Thurs,
but once I get to my village, I'll be glad I stayed one more day in
this awesome place with people who speak English?! So, I'll try to
call you Thurs or Fri from Bondoukou. So, since I'm staying, I'm going
in the water…later!
April
19
