My First Days in Guinea

I've been in Guinea for about 5 days, and so far, so good. Although, we have been somewhat sheltered because we've pretty much only been in the Peace Corps compound so far. The city we're in, Conakry, is exactly how it is sterotyped in the movies.. crazy, dirty, no sewage/trash system, little children (often naked) running around. My big adventure since we're been here was go to the local market with the previous volunteers who know their way around. It was chaotic and all the trainees and myself returned a little scared and culture shocked. They sell everything there from food to shoes to microwaves.. anything you need! While we were out walking around, the groups of african children yell "Fote! Fote" at us, meaning "white person, white person" and another kid got scared and starting crying when he saw all of us. All you can really do it laugh at it. Our compound is literally right on the beach, it's a beautiful scene, but unfortunately, the entire beach is covered with trash, so you can't really go on the beach and definately not in the water. You're just asking for diarrhea if you do that.

We've had alot of training so far, we're training 8-5 daily, which is about 4 - 1.5 hour sessions, 3 meals, and a few tea breaks. The sessions cover everything from how to speak french, how to speak the local language (called Susu, and no, it doesn't involve clicks haha), safety, cross cultural training, and other things like that. Today, we learned how to squat to poop into a pit latrine and how to wash your butt with your hand and to use a water can to rinse it off... always a good tool to have hah.

I have to say, I'm already sick of the food and miss american fast food (gabs, you know i miss this haha). For breakfast we have a baguette with peanut butter, jelly and butter, and a hard boiled egg with tea or coffee. For lunch, we have rice with different types of sauce, usually something red and spicy. I really don't know what it is. For dinner, we have rice and sauces again, but with meat. It seems in africa they have 2 kinds of meat.. fish or "viande" (french for meat), so I often have no idea what the "meat" is. The fish is a whole fish (head, scales, and teeth!) usually floating in the sauce. I am still a little scared of the meat, but I eat it anyway and it's usually good.. besides the occasional bone.

Tomorrow, I am headed off to a different city about 2-3 hours away from here to start our homestay portion of the training. I haven't met my family yet, so I have no idea what I'm in store for. We have our adoption ceremony tomorrow afternoon, then tomorrow night, I am off to live with a family for 3 months that I don't know and won't really be able to speak to. And i'll be pooping in a pit latrine and showering in a bucket. I'm excited though, and I can't wait to learn more and see more of the country.

That's pretty much the last few days of my life here. In the homestay village, there is no internet, so I'll be without internet for the next 3 months. I'll keep this updated and email everyone when I get a chance. Until then, write me letters :)

I miss and love everyone!