Last Night on Earth

Well I'm leaving tomorrow morning to go to my site! I should be back in the evening on May 5th (maybe even the 4th) so you can try calling me then. I'll write you all letters and hopefully I'll have some pictures to show you all when I get back.

Au revoir!

My list

I don't like putting this up here cause, but it's easier than sending out a mass email. Here are a list of things that are hard to come by in Guinea that I would like.

*Kick-ass immune -it's an herbal immune system booster and would be found in some sort of organic/natural herb store...maybe vitamin cottage
*a nalgene bottle
*powder drink mix (lemonade, kool aid, ect.)
*chocolate
*brownie mix
*cereal
*Fabreeze
*Contact solution**
*AA batteries
*avede- be curly
*proavctive
*Economist magazine (I hear it's good to read if your thinking about taking the foreign service exam)

These are just ideas (mom) you can be as creative as you want. I'm pretty much appreciative of anything (well don't send rice and sauce we have plenty of that!)

A View From Up Yonder

So I sat on the balcony at the PC house in KanKan and tried to find things that would be out of place in America. Here it is:

*2 10 year old boys selling bags of water on the street (parents now where in site)
*Lady shamelessly picking her nose
*Lady then brushes her teeth with finger and tea kettle
*Finally washes her feet with tea kettle
*Man carrying chairs on head
*2 grown men straddling a bike while carring tire
*baby passed out on back of 9 year old girl, head lauling arm dangling
*Dumpster/Gutter
*women praying in shop
*arab music followed by 80's hits coming from ice cream shop
*Ice cream cone to go...in a bag
*women in burka (covered in black including face)
*woman riding side saddle on moto
*round about with half gasoline barrel in center as "police stand" and yes they still circle around it
*2 Pcvs walking away from ice cream shop with 3 large ice creams
*Ambulance in line of about 20 cars for gas
*little red and yellow bags filled with habiscus and ginger juice (yummmy)
*blind man using little girl as seeing eye dog using a pole as a leash.
*Girl picks up empty cup and places it in bowl on her head then proceeds to get money from ice cream man which she gives to old man

The Guinean Life

I really want to describe what it's like living here in Guinea, but I'm becoming too accostom to it. I'm having a difficult time remembering things that are not exactly normal by our american standards, but I got some suggestions from other PCVs.

Trip to the Bank

American:
In and out usually 5-10 minutes. Occasional long waits on Pay Day...by long I mean a half hour

Guinean:
Massive globs of people. No real lines persay. Our trip took 3 hours

American:
Banking is very private and confindential. You have at least 5 feet of personal space.

Guinean:
What's personal space?!? We created a 5 person human barrior to keep people away as anyone can easily read the computer containing your information (also helped in keeping a first come firt served policy that is not widely recognized here).

Trip to the Market

American:
Make a list of what you need and go bye it without any hassle

Guinean:
Walk past street venders seeling numerous items in search for what you need. All the while you are fighting mobs of people wanting you to buy their items.
1.Find what you need
2. Bargain price which takes loads of patience
3. Price still too high
4. Move on to another vender
5. Repeat steps 1-4 several times until you realize the first guy gave you the best price
6. Humbly return

Transportation:

Today we went to get a taxi downtown. We were told the price was about 6,000-7,000 FG, but the driver tries to make us pay 28,000 FG After long discussions we finally decide on 15,000FG (because of increased gas prices) On the way back we paid 6,000 without even bargaining. No I'm not bitter

What's my biggest frustration?? I'd have to say it's the men. Fisrt of all men have a different view of a woman's place in the world. The women are carring the majority of the work load, yet they are treated only slightly better than children. Women need to be Disciplined by their husbands. I've already know several women who have been beaten since I've arrived here. I remember one night I went outside for fresh air and heard blood curdling screams coming from the next village. What can you do? Not much you can talk all you want but you might as well be talking to a brick wall. Behavior like this is just accepted as a part of life and rarely questioned. You can however talk to the youth and they are more willing to think outside the box. Maybe one day attitudes will change, but not anytime soon.

Photos try round 2

Round 3

just cut and paste

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/melinda_rizley/my_photos

Photos try round 2

Photos

Goodness this is sooo tedious. Makes me never want to take pictures again. I was up til four in the morning trying to get photos uploaded. There not all uploaded, but there's a good chunk.