A major problem returned peace corps volunteers face is guilt. It is one that I can not escape, especially living in country. The fact of the matter is that once I left peace corps, I could escape a life of extreme poverty. Not to say I am not still poor, but I went from living on $200 dollars a month to living on $500 to $600 and I make much more that that.

This $500 to $600 lifestyle allows for a maid and for ice cream, cokes and vacations. Things I often can not enjoy. My maid makes $80 dollars a month. She works a couple hours 4 times a week. This money includes her transportation, so her take home is around $50 a month. I have met two of her children, but I know she has more. My husbands family lives on around $200 a month. That includes $100 a month from me and Mowdou. On average 13 people live at the family house. Most of them are not working or working and not making money.

Things were not that bad, but now food prices are raising. The prime minister of Mauritania says that no one is suffering. However, I visited my friends and family in Kiffa. People are suffering. I saw a number of people go from surviving to barely surviving or dieing. I was an honored guest as I walked around town and people offered their best. That is what makes me so sad and so guilty. They could offer me so little.

Still, what can I do? I can not send money to everyone. Even if I do, it will only keep them alive. Meanwhile, I just eat the dinner my cook makes and drink a coke...

Peer pressure has been strong to join over the past year, but I resisted...it was easy I had no real internet connection. However, now that I have an internet connection and my peace corps friends have scattered the globe...I have joined.

Now I wonder why it took me so long. I have found so many people.

by the way, some people think Morocco is roughing it...but I think it is nothing but perfection (with a couple of crazy people.)

My Morocco photos are finally posted. I went on the trip a year ago with some Maurtanian Peace Corps volunteers. You might notice that I posted ALL of my photos, not just my best. That is so my travel compainons can pick and choose. I am about a year late, so it is the least I can do.

Check out http://pics.livejournal.com/leah_travels

I know it is wrong to think a possession can make you a more interesting person. However, I really think that my new (to me!) motor scooter makes me a little cooler. It is hard to drive it in sand, but fun and better than walking everywhere and cheaper than taking a taxi all the time.

I would insert a photo, but my camera is on the fritz. Just trust me, you would want to be my friend, if you were not already, once you saw the bike.

Have you ever been so far behind on communicating you do not even know where to begin. I feel like a novelist staring at a blank page, but with far less interesting stories to tell. Yet, this is no way to treat friends.

So, here is an update.

Mowdou and I are staying in Mauritania for awhile. We have sent in the VISA application, but we haven't hear anything. I have taken a job as a teaching assistant/ substitute teacher for an english speaking school. At first I was disappointed to take such a detour from my career path, but honestly, I am learning a lot about management of people and learning styles.

We are hoping to return to America in June. When the school year ends, but a lot relies on the VISA process. Luck-ly, my parents are helping us out, an unexpected surprise, so I have hope.

The mass email is soon to follow...perhaps I will even write some of my friend that I think about on a regular basis.

Ugghh....I am terrible.

I am considering buying an external hard drive.

Does anyone have any advice? A recommended brand? If so, let me know.

Thanks.

I have been trying to organize my photos. I have decided to make photo albums before I return to the United States.

Anyway, I was working on organizing my Morocco photos from last year when I remembered...

Damon, your evil twin is traveling. (I had to fake I was taking a picture of something else to get this.)

Recently I sent Mowdou's visa papers to my parents in New Mexico. Strangely, when I tracked the package on-line I felt a surge of jealousy. I wanted to be the package.

Check out it's journey below.



Date Time Location Service Area Checkpoint Details

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

September 15, 2007 13:05 Nouakchott - Mauritania Departed from DHL facility in Nouakchott - Mauritania

September 15, 2007 18:47 Dakar - Senegal Arrived at DHL facility in Dakar - Senegal

September 15, 2007 23:45 Dakar - Senegal Departed from DHL facility in Dakar - Senegal

September 16, 2007 10:25 Paris - France Arrived at DHL facility in Paris - France

September 16, 2007 11:33 Paris - France Departed from DHL facility in Paris - France

September 16, 2007 14:40 Brussels - Belgium Arrived at DHL facility in Brussels - Belgium

September 16, 2007 18:24 Brussels - Belgium Departed from DHL facility in Brussels - Belgium

September 17, 2007 19:54 East Midlands - UK Arrived at DHL facility in East Midlands - UK

September 17, 2007 20:21 Frankfurt - Germany Transferred through Frankfurt - Germany

September 17, 2007 20:22 Frankfurt - Germany Departed from DHL facility in Frankfurt - Germany

September 17, 2007 22:45 East Midlands - UK Departed from DHL facility in East Midlands - UK

September 18, 2007 03:41 DHL Wilmington Airpark, OH - USA Transferred through DHL Wilmington Airpark - USA

September 18, 2007 05:21 DHL Wilmington Airpark, OH - USA Arrived at DHL facility in DHL Wilmington Airpark - USA

September 18, 2007 05:32 DHL Wilmington Airpark, OH - USA Departed from DHL facility in DHL Wilmington Airpark - USA

September 18, 2007 07:57 Albuquerque, NM - USA Scheduled for delivery

September 18, 2007 08:34 Albuquerque, NM - USA Arrived at DHL facility in Albuquerque - USA

September 18, 2007 08:37 Albuquerque, NM - USA With delivery courier

September 18, 2007 11:54 Albuquerque, NM - USA Shipment delivered

If you have Skpe let me know. We can talk.

Hey everyone,

Yep, still alive. I have officially Closed my Peace Corps service. However, I am still in Mauritania. What can I say, I really love the heat. Ha! No really, we are living in the capitol (with our DSL) until we figure out what we are going to do. I have a prospect for a job, but I really would like this position I found in DC. I hope all of these things will get sorted out in the next couple of weeks.

Aside from that, we are looking into what it will take to have Mowdou come to the US with me. He is researching graduate schools and preparing for the GRE. Fun right?

Just want to let everyone know that I have downloaded almost all of my wedding photos into my livejournal photo album. So when you are looking for something to do, check it out.

Even with the high speed internet in Capitol it still took me a couple of days!!

Enjoy!!

I realized recently that many of you do not know when I finish. Yes, I have completed two years in country at the end of the month; however, I have only been a Peace Corps voluteer for only 21 months. We are allowed to be let free after 23 months and yes, I will be signing out at 23 months.

What am I doing after you ask? Well, only God knows. I have alway been a person that follows the spirt, but it has not given me a clear direction yet. When it does I will post a blog. I promise.

Lastly, my program director had his last day today. He was a good boss. He was fair and understanding. I will miss his humor and guidance over the next two months.

All things come to an end.

Well, once again it is the hot season here in Mauritania. For Kiffa voluteers that means problems with water and electricity and heat reaching 115 in the shade. I think these are the moments that make me a better person or at least a more appriciative one.

Mowdou and Me

I have posted a few wedding photos for people. Keep in mind, we had an American type celebration and a Maurtianian Day. The photos are all mixed together, but I think it is easy to figure out.

My problem is that I get really busy. Then by the time I sit down to blog, I am so far behind I do not know where to start. So, how about I start with I am getting married this weekend? I know, I know. No notice whatsoever. Hopefully, we can all still be friends.

Anyway, since no one had notice, no one needs to feel guilty for not flying to Africa to attend. Although, I do wish that some of my good friends from America and my family could be at the wedding. Still do no worry; you guys will not be missing too much. I am having a party where we exchange vows, but the actual wedding will be Pulaar style. That means people sit around and eat while I have my hair braided. Perhaps we will do something American when we go back. I am pretty anti second weddings, but I need to have a celebration with my family and friends around.

That being said, mom, don’t worry my friend Chris is here staying with me. He is worrying about every little detail that does not matter and driving me slightly insane. Actually, perhaps you should worry; I think he has your job mastered.

I am late aren't I. Oh well. All the same, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Hopefully, I will post a few journals in the next couple of days if God and internet willing.

Until then.

So, yesterday I talked to my parents on the phone and my dad said, “Are you having problems accessing your blog?”

The sad answer is no. I am retarded. I can access it, but I am so far behind. I have new site mates to talk about, a bucket of comments about my trip to Morocco, a new house in Kiffa with a few problems to share and my internal monolog surrounding Ramadan.

This blog will have nothing to do with these things. Mostly, because I need to prepare for going to the US in a month, so to help me with that, here is what I need from you.
A list of good movies from 2006 and 2007!

I need you to remember that I have been out of the country for over a year, thus I had to have missed more than a few movies/TV series. So, let me know what I should try to see in the theater and what I should definitely rent/buy before leaving the states again.

I hear that Blockbuster has a 1 month rental deal. It is like as many movies as you want for a month. That might be a good idea for me.

As usual, I have been having problems with internet in Kiffa. Right now, I am in NKT working at a girls conference, thus I have internet, but not a great deal of time. All the time I have had on the internet, I have been looking for airline tickets. Yep, that is right, I am going home for a visit. Thanks to my parents. Anyone that is interested in seeing me, I will be in New Mexico around the 20th of November and will leave around the 30th. I will be extending my layover in DC. So, people in the DC area, I will be in around the 17th of November.

On another note, while I am gone in November, there will still be a Leah in Kiffa. That is right, I had a baby named after me. To be honest, I just happen to be the volunteer they are closest to right now. They have other children named after volunteers. However, I still think it sounds cool that a child in Africa was named after me.

Well, hopefully I will be able to update my journal before I go to Morocco. Did I tell everyone I am going to Morocco. Well, I am am. This Friday! I am going with to other volunteers and I am pretty excited. Ten days of modern technology and Mc Donald's. Yippy!