From Mom:
Easter, about 1 p.m., we got a call from TC. We returned the call (hmmm, calling Italy costs $.07/minute...calling BF costs $.37/minute!) It was so great to hear from her! She really sounds well, engaged, and up to the challenge. She says:
It is hot, hot hot...not sure how hot, just hot. She is presently with her host family in Yaka. She stays with them about 3 months on a schedule of 10 days with them, then 4 days in a place called Gource where they have more PC orientation. She said when they are in Gource...the PC has engaged a hotel..or what they call a hotel, actually it is more like a hostel. Says Gource is the only place they go that has toilet plumbing and that that is a mixed blessing. Says that the water is frequently turned off...and that one can always poop in a pit but can’t always poop when the water is turned off. She is amazed to find that pooping has become quite the topic of discussion.
She is in a group of 14 people whom she likes; she has good friends in the group. With her in Yaka are 4 other PCV.
Says that she was really apprehensive about the “adoption” situation r/t the ceremony wherein they were paired with their host family. Said the 14 PCV had been together night and day for about 2 weeks and were a bit reluctant to go off to new places. Says that the ceremony was a big tribal event and that the four of them stood there for the ceremony and only at the end were they paired. She is now quite happy with her family...they call them by family names..Papa, sister, etc. For a while she was confused about her Papa ...turned out there are 3 of them in this extended family. The whole extended family lives around what is called a courtyard...actually, TC says, it’s a big dirt place. And they wait on her. She is having no success changing this. She has a brother who is her same age...so she and he laugh and say they are twins a la Michael and Memuna [some family cousins]. She also has a sister who is her main family contact person. She and her sister sleep in the courtyard as her little hut is just too hot. Her tent is mostly mosquito netting. Says they and she laugh a lot about her French...they mostly speak the language called Moore..but several do speak French which is different from the other PCV in Yaka...in their families, they are lucky if one person speaks French.
She is with the family for breakfast and dinner. In between times she has assignments...like learn to wash her clothes and go to a church and learning similar cultural things. She has high praise for the organization of the PC.
Says food is...not...good... "like there is nothing that I really think...boy, I’d like to have some X”. In restaurants they only serve pasta with sauce, couscous with sauce, rice with sauce and wheat with sauce. So, she thinks she’s getting thinner. MaryEi, I asked about her hair...no, she hasn’t cut it but she thinks about doing it every day and is certain she will one day soon. She was calling from a “rickety” phone box on a dirt road in Yaka. She called and when we tried to call back, a young girl answered and only giggled with I P L A I N L Y said “Patrice McShane Peace Corps” Then she hung up – twice. But we finally made it work and hope to talk to her another Sunday. She will be emailing us the emergency number to call if she must be reached at once.
And, her comment:” Everything is so different here. We have stopped commenting on how different it is and just expect to be surprised” This sound like a pretty good adjustment to me.