A trip to Zinder...

I'm getting worse and worse at this blog! I'm so sorry I havent updated, once again, in over a month. This time I'm serious, I'll do a lot better.
In my defence, however, this last month has been a whirl-wind of activity and I feel like I've been running nonstop since the beginning of July... I keep waiting for it to slow down, but with only 4 months left of my 'official' service, I think it's only going to gain speed like a rock rolling down the hill.
ANYWAY, I appologize in advance for the long post, I have a whole month to report on after all.
Work:
The zoo is GREAT as always- Baby hippo, healthy and happy, he's up to 15 litres of milk each morning, I'm concvinced that he's still hungary after, I'm just having a hard time convincing the vet too (it doesnt help that its kinda a tiring ordeal to feed him- he's getting big.. and frisky). Baby monkey, still healthy and happy, and, scarily enough, big enough to get curious and wander away from his mother, as well as small enough to fit through the bars... red flag?
I tend to get a little frustrated as 'Niger time' is not the same as 'Nichole time'; things like, the baboon cage that's ALMOST done, which has been ALMOST done for about 8 months now, which means I can't outfit it until the workers finally get around to it.. Or, everytime it rains , if it's still raining the next day, nobody seems to show up until late morning, because it's raining. I understand its raining, but animals still eat when it rains.. honest.
Other than that, I've been spending my time with my daily feeding of the monkeys, warthogs, chimps, busy cleaning out cages when people have the day off, and each time it rains it creates a massive mud bog in the crocodile pits, so thats a full afternoon of fun :)
Life besides work:
About a week ago I finally left the city for a bit and headed out east to Zinder! I have some great pictures on my camera, so next time I'll have to remember it and upload them. It was a fairly short trip, 8 days, 2 of those strictly traveling- the bus ride is a little over 14 hours one way. (after living in this country I will never EVER complain about an 8 hour fight, EVER again... that sounds kinda nice right now). So, after one day on the road, I spent two full days in Zinder Ville, got to visit Zinder PCV's houses, the Sultan's palace, and the Artisianal village (baught some really cute earings made out of coconut shells!!!). Also met with the Enviornment agent there- he wants to start a zoo and asked if I could meet with him and discuss his plans, construction layout, etc. He wanted me to come back to meet with the builders from Nigeria, but I dont know if I'm going to have time for that before December. So, after Zinder, I headed out to the bush and spent 2 nights at Ariana's village, and then 2 nights at Liz's village- BOTH villages were great and a huge difference from back home in Tahoua region, and even back home in Tilleberi region. between hiking up mountains and wandering though baobab forests, as well as hanging out with their villagers, it was a great trip, and so nice to get back to the bush for a few days.
Sadly, the day I arrived in Zinder,I got a call from home with news that my Grandma had passed away. I tried for a minute to put it together how I could get home for the funeral, but with a day-long bus trip just back to Niamey, plus two days of flying, including a $2,000 plane ticket, I couldn't see how to make it work. I'm so sorry I couldn't be home, I will miss her very much.
In a matter of days, the stage right before us will head home, having completed their service. I still think of myself and them as having just arrived not too long ago- two years really isn't as long as I thought it was! Myself and a couple others from my stage are planning the leaving stage's completion-of-service dinner and party, so it should be fun, but sad to see them all go.
As for leaving myself, someday it'll happen, but I don't think I'll be leaving with the rest of my stage- I still havent decided more than simply extending my service for a year. I have a few ideas and opportunities, but nothing official. (I dont want to announce anything I'd have to take back a month later!).. Although, I probably should get going on this decision thing soon.. running out of time!