In Service Training

I'm half way through in service training. We're back to the training site in Hamdy, which is nice. They have good food, and lots of it, and real showers. They also have laundry service once a week :-). The training is more fun this time too. We have had more demonstrations and hands on stuff that is applicable to our job, instead of just lots of language and culture. Wednesday we got to go to ICRISAT, a research institute trying to develop better crop varieties and farming methods suited to dry climates. There is a PCV there working with them, actually the same PCV that was in my village before me. I may try to move there when she leaves and work with them to promote their methods and such throughout the country. It would be great experience if I decide to go into the green industry in the states. I don't imagine that a year with an international horticultural research facility would be anything to scoff at. Nothing is definite and it's a long ways away.

Village life is good, if boring. We've had a few sprinkles, but no real rains yet. I think I'm going to farm this season, if I get back in time to plant. I'll be there in a week or so, so there should be plenty of time. I will probably plant millet and beans. I'll also be planting a lot of vegetables in my concession. They don't garden during the rainy season, and I may have to try to encourage that. They have little time, what with the working in the fields and all, but could make some serious cash (by nigerian standards anyway) in the market if they grew some veggies too. Still working on the rabbit thing, talking to lots of folks to figure out how best to go about it. I also don't have a camel yet, but I'm getting closer to it. I should really wait until after rainy season so I don't have to keep it tied up and bring it food.

In general, all is well, I haven't lost any more weight, thank goodness, and I'm going on two weeks illness free (knock on wood). I've been getting lots of goodies :-), Thank you all for the packages! I'll try to get another round of letters ready to send your way soon. I'll be back in Niamey next weekend, so keep an eye out for me fri/sat/sun online.

P.S. It seems I've started a trend :-)