the rains came in

Well I am now officially a volunteer in the United States Peace Corps! We had our swear in ceremony a few weeks ago. The ambassador came to say a few words and we had an elaborate lunch of chicken and vegies! we even had cold fanta! After that we had a celebration and a few of the volunteers made a mexican buffet, which was really good except that the ants thought so too and I literally had ants in my skirt all night biting me. I shook out my skirt the next day and dead ants fell out. Another thing to add to my list of annoying creatures I will get rid of when I meet a genie who grants me one wish. The next day was a day of rest and then everyone packed up all of their belongings and went to their permanent sites. It was sad being a Trarza volunteer because we stayed here in Rosso and watched everyone else sadly depart. I kind of felt abandoned by all these people that have quickly become good friends of mine. I don't know what I will do without Chelsea and Tanya everyday! haha, I am kidding, I love my region mates, I got really lucky with them. I have already said that when I get back to the states I would love to do a road trip and visit all of them.

Megan and I went out to Jider El Moghen finally. We had a ton of stuff to make a home with, a gas burner, pots, matilas to sleep on, a mat, even 2 spoons! Then we got to site and realized that the dream house would take a lot of work and we would have to hall all of the stuff from Rosso. So instead we spent the first few days just talking with families and introducing ourselves and asking if anyone knew of an open house anywhere. We have a few options, the best being the mayor's nephew's house. We basically just asked the nephew if he would move out and let us live there. So we will see how that goes; but as of now I am living with my counterpart who is very nice. She also has the cutest little girl, Fatimatou, that I have ever seen. I want one just like her. Haha, just kidding mom.

Another volunteer, Mike, came out for the day to help us with all of our stuff and to just get out of Rosso for a bit. He left the next day and now everyone in town thinks he is one of our husbands. My family asked me why my husband left me so quickly. Haha, I didn't correct some people because I figured it would be easier just to pretend I was married so that women didn't try to set me up with their sons.

Ramadan also started the day after we got there, which throws an interesting little twist on things. They are not allowed to let anything pass their lips from sunrise to sunset. That is no water, no food, no brushing the teeth (not like they do anyways but you know what I mean). This means that no one cooks for us. We also cannot buy anything in our boutiques in town, every time we ask where we can get something the answer is Senegal. We have decided Senegal is the land of magical things like cheese, bread, jewelry, alcohol, beaches, pants, and palm trees. Our side of the river has no palm trees and the senegal side is lined with them. It is really bizarre. Anyways, it is up to us to be creative with the things our lovely families have sent us in our packages. We made mac and cheese, but did not have butter so we used laughing cow instead and it was delicious. We also made canned ravioli. Then we got really crazy and made a chili with a chili seasoning packet and beans and corn. Sorry I talk about food so much but it is always on my mind here because there is nothing else to do but cook, prepare to cook, go to the market to buy food to cook, eat, and then think about the next time you get to eat. Plus things that would not normally taste good are now great. Like mayonaise on bread, I don't even like mayo, but I do here. So when I try something new I have to think, do I really like this or is it just that I am in Mauritania?

Other than obsessing over food, or lack of food, we have also decided we want to become buff since there is nothing else to do. We went running, which was interesting in this humidity, and we also worked out in Megan's room. People told us for days how they saw us working out and mimicked our arm excercises and laughed at us. I think the women would like a little fitness club though, it is entertaining for them. We also walked about half hour out of town, along the river and tanned in our bathing suits! We tried evening out our legs to match our arms, but instead my arms just got darker. We read and played cards and it was just lovely until we got swarmed by hundreds of bees and ran screaming down the path in our skivies. Everyone within 10 miles of us now know the toubabs have come to town. We also saw a monkey, some giant kuuti lizard guys, cows, and the cutest baby goat ever. I got really excited about the monkey and started clapping and it scared it off.

I learned Hassaniya and Megan learned French so it is funny because we are constantly translating between conversations and there is only one of us at a time that knows what is going on. Also, not everyone speaks Hassaniya, not everyone speaks French, but everyone speaks Wolof (the language of Senegal) which neither Megan or I speak. So that is also fun.

So after a few days we came back into Rosso for Megan's 25th birthday! The hour trip took us 4.5 hours because it had rained the day before and the "dirt road" was washed out. We were in a giant white van in a caravan with 4 other giant white vans. We got stuck at least 10 times and every time we did was an ordeal. Everyone would have to unload from the van and walk in knee deep mud to a drier spot where the van would meet us. Then they tied a rope to the van and would literally drag the van through the mud. Then move on to the next van. Then when all the vans made it we would pack it back up and drive for about 10 minutes and get stuck again. We pretty much pulled the van the entire 35 kilometers. We got to Rosso dripping with sweat, covered in mud, and sunburned regardless of how much spf 70 we put on. We got to the house and everyone laughed at the site of us, and we laughed to right up until the point where I tried to turn the water on and, what do you know, Rosso was out of water again. What an experience, TIA (this is Africa). I can't wait to make the journey back in a few days.

Anyways, for Megan's birthday we made sandwhiches because she is kind of obsessed by them. Rocco went to Senegal and got lunch meat and real cheese and we made proper sandwhiches and home made french fries, it was delicious. I had a birthday candle and we put it in the bread and Megan made a wish. I hope it was that we find a house soon so I can finally unpack my bags that I have been living out of for the past 3 months. A few of the guys got an online Football package so we can have Football Sundays and I can watch along with all the rest of the persistent fans back home as the Bears bomb this year!

I got all of my maladies under control finally and now have a normal bowel movement, etc. I did have bed bugs so I am now covered in little red dots, but at least they don't itch.

I got renamed, I am now Jemilla which is closer to my real name and it means pretty so I like this name better.

I randomly got to skype with mike and carina today. They seem really happy. I am so proud of them. It is so weird they are in Korea and I am in Africa and we were skyping! I love it. There is a camera here in the Rosso bureau and everything so if you want to skype, add me, I am jaime.pollard.

Well this is starting to be unconcentrated. Keep me updated with your lives!!!! I would also love to see some pictures so you should all get online too and do that. At least it doesn't take you 5 hours to upload 20 pictures so none of you have excuses. Anna, I want to see some football game pics or homecoming, etc. or if any of you want to print some pics and send them to me people here love seeing pictures from home!