it has been awhile

hi. so i know it has been almost forever since updating all of you, i apologize.

my village and my villagers are amazing. they are all so helpful and so sweet to me. obviously there have major language obstacles, but other than that i have been adjusting rather well.

i wake up every morning with the sun and make breakfast, which is usually oatmeal. After that, depending on the day of the week i usually go to my health hut in another town. There i help with baby weighings and pre natal exams. The nurse uses this tool that kind of looks like a trumpet to hear the baby's heartbeat during the exams. In the beginning he had me listen after he was done. I would just always shake my head and smile, but every time i heard absolutely nothing. one day he put the horn (for lack of a better word) up to this woman's belly and had me listen. I was said in my baby zarma "oh yes i can hear it". he said "no you don't because i have the horn placed on the front side of the baby not the back!" so i was caught, and now he doesn't offer me a listen. I still get to help though with the exams, so it's all good.

When i dont go to my health hut i hang out in the chief's concession with my village mom and the other women related to my chief. I still haven't made it to my school yet, but hopefully i will go once i get to my village.

Right now i am in the capital because my we had our in service training for two weeks. Afterwards, we weren't allowed to travel for awhile because of some security issues. However, that has all been taken care of so now i am running errands in Niamey and afterwards i will be heading back. I am really excited to get back to my village and see everyone.

I don't have any really amusing stories for you right now, mostly because i still have no idea what is going on when people are talking to me. I am sure that will change soon enough and i will update you!

all right happy holidays!

love always E