2004-07-08 - 9:06 a.m.

As I am sitting in this internet cafe in Kaedi, there is Arabic music playing in the background... it almost feels like I am in the middle east at times as the arabic/muslim influence is intertwined so deeply with every aspect of Mauritanian daily life.

So I moved into my Mauritanian family and instantly acquired a new name: Aziza Mint Boryessa ( Aziza daughter of Boryessa). It is a White Moor family, which means their first language is Hassiniya, they wear mulafas, have two black africans as slaves, they own goats which have no boundaries when choosing where to pee, sleep, eat, play... the house is always filled with people who come by to meet the new Toubab (white person), stop for tea, sometimes a meal, and other times a nap or the whole night. I have three sisters, one of whom owns a tye-dying boutique in the local market. I will be going with her to do some tye-dying tomorrow (friday): I'm looking forward to it!

Hassiniya is an intense language to learn if you don't have any arabic background!!! Being used to easily learning Latin-derived language, this is certainly not a piece of cake, but nonetheless it is exciting to see some progress... it is so easy to forget the things learned just the previous ay though: I definitely need to find some time to sit down and study!

I had the intention of doing so last night, but there were a lot of people over at the house last night and they all wanted me to practice with them: I was quite amusing to them! Not to mention the amusing break where they had me dance under the stars to their arabic chanting and clapping! :-)

I also acquired a cousin, who's really the only person in the family who knows French enough to carry on a conversation. Him and I were up till midnight last night (very late in Mauritania when you don't have electricity!)talking about many things... with our broken french we were able to have interesting conversations about Islam, Arabs vs. Americans vs. Israelis, safety and security in Mauritania vs. in other Arab Countries, cultural differences between older and younger generations, etc. I feel like I am starting to engage in one of the goals of Eyeet is-Salaam (Peace Corps), which is to promote the cultural exchange and understanding between American people and Mauritanian people... it feels good, especially in current times when there is such a thin line of harmony between these to cultures.

It is still very warm here and the main part of the day is used by Mauritanians and myself to rest and stay out of the sweltering heat: Mauritanians have a Siesta too and it is called Limgil (mine goes from 12.30pm to 4pm everday!!!):-)

Ok, hope you are all doing well... write me emails, leave me a message on my guestbook, loooooove to hear from you!!!!!

Hugs,

Jordy

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