Wow- once a month is pretty shamefull... I'm sure I've left everybody in suspence... So, past month in a nutshell: baught a horse, working on funding for grain bank, humid as heck, painted girls education murals (that might have been last month) Almost done with my world map, Ramadan, planning a womens cold season garden, planning the repair of a traditional hand-dug well for that project, kinda want to buy a goat... I think that covers all the important parts.
So lets talk about this horse- shes about 15,2 hands high Id guess, almost a gruella color (lets just say a dusty sandish brown with black) with three white socks, a blaze, and a white splotch on her belly. She has pretty good conformation for a Niger bush horse, but she was so skinny when I baught her that I got a decent price for her (although, I think I got the 'anasara'price- 'white person'..) Ive had her for three weeks now, and between her and recent piles of work, I havent gotten out of the bush much for internet time, but thats a good thing. Days are litterally flying past and I cant believe septembers almost gone.. So, I went up to my big animal market, thats not too far from my village, Id guess about 26 K or so, brought the saddle and everything with me, and went straight into the market. So there were about 20 horses total that day to look from, but most werent within my price range. So when I first met her, she was timid, shy, and just really miserable looking not to mention skin and bones. (Shes a total princess now). Anyway, well, I rode her home from market, and 26 K on a tired horse took much longer than I thought it would... Not to mention hot... and I couldnt get that darn America song out of my head ("I've been through the desert on a horse with no name..."), but I eventually got there about 4+ hours later. My villagers have been so excited about her and love to brag that their 'batura' is the one with the horse. I was so worried about what would happen with her when I had to leave the village for a couple days, but the first time I left her, I came back a day before they expected me, and her area was imaculately clean, she had a fresh pile of hay waiting for her and a full bucket of water, and someone was out in the fields grazing her. It made me realize that they feel a sense of pride to care for her, and I havent worried since.
Ok, for non horsey people, we'll move on. Ramadan was a really good experience- I have a new respect for the huge effort it takes to fast for a whole month. So, during all daylight hours, they are not allowed to drink anything, eat anything, smoke, etc. Every morning at about 4, they would wake everyone up to drink water and eat, and then every evening after the 7 o'clock prayer, they would break the fast. I only lasted 6 days in the fasting, after that I baught my horse and I let it slip. It was really hard- not so much the food part, but not drinking water at all during the day, in 100 degree heat, was a huge challenge. However, there was something very rewarding and a sense of accomplishment every evening when you broke the fast. One of the other traditions I love in my area is that people will go to the nearest electricity town and buy a bunch of blocks of ice and sell them in the bush villages- there is nothing like a little ice... I love ice.. Anyway. So the end of ramadan was about a week ago, and there are 3 or 4 days of fete following the siting of the new moon (lunar calandar- as soon as the new moon was spotted, Ramadan ended). The days leading up the the big celebration were a lot of fun too- all the girls (myself included) get their hair braided, get henna done on their hands and feet, and get a new outfit made. Then the day of the celebration, everyone goes around greeting each other, kids get small change or candies, everyone is bringing each other food- I ate three complete DELICIOUS meals that day thanks to the generousity of my villagers, as well as had meat galore. I had baught 4 kilos of dates to pass out as my "salla gift"- it was a lot of fun. Also, the men also attend an extra 10 o;clock prayer that they do just outside the village- I felt slightly akward, but they all insisted that I go and that it would be great to take pictures- (I took pictures all day that day) so Ill try to get those us soon. Anyway, it was a great bonding time in my village and I thoughouly enjoyed my first end of ramadan celebration.
Ok. Whew, moving on. So, we are FINALLY getting started on our village grain bank!!! My villagers are so excited and keep asking me when we're going to buy the grain (I have to tell them over and over that we're waiting for it to be funded from people in America). There's so much to get done in the next few weeks, that I get almost frazzled thinking about it.. Weve got this room for the grain, that we'll scrub out, cement all the bat entrances, and lay down pallets for... I have to organize a grain storgage workshop with the Agriculture agency and a money management workshop for the women running the caisse. The part that makes me most nervous of all is that grain is starting to get really cheap right now, because its harvest, but in about a month and a half, prices are going to be high again so we really have to buy before then. Which, THANK YOU so much everyone who has donated so far!!! My villagers really are so excited and just so thankful that they're given this chance for a grain bank. I've never really been the type that enjoyed asking people for money so thank you all for your support. If you still want to donate (I think we need only 1000 dollars more! were getting close!) You can go to peacecorps.gov, click under donate now, and then you can either type in my name, country of service, or my home state, and it will pull up my project and show you how to donate over the internet. Thanks again, from me and my villagers.
Thats about it- I've got a couple other things just starting- planning for a womens garden (to sell veggitables for income generation) going to do another tree nursery with moranga trees ( the leaves are VERY nutritious and a great nutrition reasource during hot season when there is no produce)- my goal is that before I leave, every family will have a tree in their family concession. Oh, and I need to get to planning some geography lessons to work with the school kids on that go with my newly painted map, and I kinda want to buy a goat... I always said a wanted one as a pet as a kid, my parents I dont think took me seriously...
