2004-08-30 - 7:02 p.m.

It's August 30th 2004 and I officially survived two months in this country...today is hotter than hot in Kaedi and the heat is rising with the pressure of "swearing-in" just around the corner.

We are due to finally become official volunteers in 10 days and between now and then I will be busy preparing:

-a business skills training class for local convenience store owners in Hassiniya ( to be presented on Sept. 2nd)!!! With a written report to be turned in on the 6th.

-a closing ceremony/party for the families and counterparts of our SED class (Small Enterprise Development) to be held on the 5th... why did I volunteer to organize this again???

-a speech in Hassiniya to be given the day of Swearing-In during the official ceremony... did not volunteer for this one, but was apparently graciously "volunteered" by Sidna (the training director)

-packing up and saying my goodbye's... getting ready to leave my family to go to the Lycee on the 6th

I've been spending a lot of time with family members who arrived in Kaedi just for the rainy season ("li-khriiv")- it's been very nice to have meaningful conversations with some of them, explaining the mission of Peace Corps, my motivations for being here (they don't seem to understand the concept of me being here primarily for the experience rather than monetary rewards... they don't believe Peace Corps will not be giving me a really high-paying job at the end of these two years!), current world events involving peace/war/terrorism/etc. (they really want me to tell Mom not to worry everyday and every minute about my safety because Mauritania is indeed a peaceful and welcoming country... and I agree 110%... I will write an entry one day focusing on Mauritanians' concept of hospitality... Inshallah!), theories of development, etc. All this in French/Hassiniya: Mashallah!

I've been meaning to reply to individual emails that many of you have written to me... I will get to it before leaving Kaedi Inshallah... but if you could do me a favor in the meantime and try emailing me your snail mail addresses that would be great: as I wrote previously, MAghta LAhjar does not have an Internet Cafe, therefore I will have to resort to a lot more snail mail and will have a lot of time to write to many of you... just need your addresses!

I am trying to upload photos right now... inshallah it will work out and I will be able to share these with you.

With love and good thoughts,

Jordy

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