I have arrived, safetly & soundly ;-) My first day was exhausting but after a 13 hr flight from NY to Niger me and the other 42 PC volunteers arrived in Niamey airport. We were greeted by other PC voluteers & staff with a big bottle of warm water! My first thoughts off the plane was "damn it's hot" and "how does this bathroom thing work???" Probably TMI, but a reality of my new life for the next couple of years. As we all boarded the bus to head to the training site outside the captial I was so grateful for the AC during the 30 min ride. Driving along the main road I was greeted with waves and smiles from local Nigeriens who have been anticipating our arrival. To see the little children, women and men so elated to have a large group of strange Americans coming into their homes warmed my heart and reaffirmed my purpose in PC. Since Niger is landlock and mostly desert, I admired the red clay rock formations in the distance and the sandy roads that were sprinkled with thatch huts and Nigerien families walking along the side. As we approached the training site I was pleasantly suprised to find my cell phone had recieption and was recieving messages but since all these messages would cost me I decided to enjoy the moment and relish in being unattainable and free from the modern leash of communication. At the training site we were greeted by more PC staff and brief overview followed by a my first Nigerien meal, pasta with goat meat sauce, which I found quite delicious. I am also not a picky eater so any food that wasn't an insect or unidentifiable animal sounded good to me.
As end of the day approached I was also happy to find a shower on the training site, since I was informed I would be taking bucket baths I was not expecting one; although that luxury was short lived ;-) The sun had finally set and the pitch black night of the desert was in full effect. For my first night I was unable to sleep; this could be due to the fact it was only 9pm and I am have never yet to go to sleep at that time since adolencese. Yet I layed awake in my mosquito net staring at the beautiful sky bontiful with stars and enjoying the cool night breeze;I imagined my many days to come and the stories that would fill them up. This is how my adventure begins!
