I was so sure last time I posted that I would post again before leaving Niamey... then I got a phone call from my villagers that my horse was colicing...AUGH... pretty much I was a nervous wreck for about 6 hours. I spent about 3,000 CFA just on phone credit, first calling my villagers numerous times asking all symptoms, and feeling completely helpless, then calling the L'evage (vet) setting him up to drive all the way to my village to check on her. Then, after that point, my villager calls back, 'oh, shes doing much better now, she doesnt need the vet'.. So I begin another round of phone calls to cancle the vet, talk to my villagers to get the whole story- it worried me a bit because they were a bit vague with the details.. What they did tell me was that she was laying down and wouldnt eat anything (panic?) and then they 'gave her medicine' and she was fine. When I returned from NiameyI asked what kind of medicine they gave her. They replied, traditional medicine... ok, and what exactly was it?... Well, you take a shoe made of cow leather, and tap her stomach. What? and that worked? Of course. So there you go- next time your horse colics, tap it with a leather shoe. At first I was like, no, thats rediculous. But the more I think about it I guess if it was just a gas colic, like they made it sound like, taping on her stomach might have done something... hmmm. Anyway, moving away from the horse drama.

In the final prep stages for this grain bank- I have a seller all lined up next week to meet with and discuss buying/transport. Its been a little more work than I though it was going to be- but it'll be worth it.

Thought I had rid my house of scorpions when I moved in and haddent seen one for a while... until last night.. there he was, sitting in my window. First I just sat and shined a black light on him (ever tried it? its cool...) but then I finally just killed him. I usually let them live, except one of my friends/ fellow volunteer reciently got stung- it was hiding in her house in a shirt that she went to turn right side out. After that story, I'm not sure I'll ever let em live again. Its not that theyre deadly, or, at least not in this part of Niger, but they apparenly hurt and burn like crazy.. No thanks.

One more quick story- so the other day I was sitting with my friend Hilemo at her house, and these two girls (around 10 or so) timidly walked up and just stared... So Hilimo asked them what they wanted and they were like, we've never seen a white person before! I didnt even think that was possible anymore, but they explained that they were from a village way out in the bush, and as they were passing through my village with their family, they heard there was a white person there, and just had to see.. usually when kids stop and stare I find it kinda akward, but this time i couldnt help but smile:)