Iyaak Lebaas!

Disclaimer: Im typing on a keyboard that looks like an american keyboard, but types like a french keyboard. Please forgive me for all punctuation errors.

Is salaam aleykum! Only a little over week in Mauritania and Im well on my way to becoming quite the greeter in Hassaniya! I feel like Ive been here for a month and its only really only the beginning of my second week! This isnt a bad thing. Theres so much happpening that its hard to imagine it all taking place in one week.

Ill start with the center. After the first day, we began basic health, cultural, language, and security tips. During breaks (which are pretty frequent due to the heat), we would either lay under the tent and read or play cards, go to the market to look around, or take care of chores like laundry or shower/bucket bath, depending if there was any water. The nights in "tent city" were amazing. When the air is clear, the sky is beautiful. This was our wonderful life at the compound/center.

Then, last Friday, we were taken away from our comfort zone and sent to live with Mauritanian families. The families were determained by which language we were assigned to learn. I am in a class with three other PC trainees learning Hassaniya, a dialect of Arabic. My host sister met me at my teachers house and brought me to my new home for the next two months. My room is about 12ft x 12ft; has carpet and a window. As soon as I arrived at the house, I discovered the daily routine of many Mauritanian families. Lay in the salon and watch tv and sleep. And so went my first 6 hour with my host family, except for lunch. Also, they renamed me Fatou, because its easier to say than Liz. Most of us have new names. After the heat, in the evening, ze go up to the roof, where you can pretty much see all of Rosso, and enjoy the cooling breeze that comes with the night. Its amazing to watch the sunset, lightning shows, and just stare at the stars. Once its cool enough, we eat diner, then I pass out.

I have three sisters that are, from what I can tell, between 17 and 27. The middle one and the older one have been very good about helping me out. Chou Chou reminds me a lot of my host sister from Dijon, Lucie. My host mom also lives here. I met her husband last night, after living here for three days and was informed by my language teacher that my moms husband lives with his first wife. My mom is his second. Then theres our "worker", a man who does all of the work around the house. He lives here and is fed. Other than that, i dont think he gets paid. On top of this, there are 6 children under the age of 11 at my house. Yes, children. I kind of like them. Theyre sweet, most of the time! From what Ive heard from other volunteers, I got pretty lucky with my family and house (theres a shower!)

Rosso isnt extremely huge and my house is conveniently right next too the PC center. Its been great to see other volunteers and compare stories about our families. Sunday night, a few of us got together to watch a soccer game on tv at a burger joint. Ive met some wonderful people and look forward to what were all about to experience together!

Thanks for taking the time to rea about my AWESOME life! Im not sure the next time Ill update. The cyber cafe has weird keyboards and it takes quite a while to get out what Im trying to type. I wont be able to put up pics (my computer and camera are locked away in a safe place at the center) until the end of July, inshallah, but feel free to check out other PC RIM 08 peoples blogs!

Take care and keep me updated on whats going on in the states!