26 August 2005 - 17:06
Yesterday was my birthday. Yesterday, I spent 10 hours in a taxi brusse on my way to Nouakchott to have surgery on my ingrown, infected toe (curses on the infernal sand I walk through every day!). Some birthday present. At least when I got here, I found several birthday packages waiting - thanks Mom, Grandma, and Hope!
So I'm 25. Half-way through the best decade of my life. I think that calls for a little self-reflection. What have I accomplished in the first half of this decade? Hmm...I graduated with a degree from college, lived on three continents, learned three foreign languages, avoided holding a real job, and made less money in five years than most of my more white-collar-inclined friends will make this year alone. Good work. I expect more of the same from the second half of the decade.
I'm also half-way through my Peace Corps service. Awesome. More self-reflection...What have I accomplished this last year? I have survived living in a Third World country, adapted to a completely bizarre culture, learned two new languages, taught myself to cook, gotten pretty good at cooking, taught myself how to grow a garden, opened two feeding centers for malnourished children, participated in three vaccination campaigns, gave health lessons in a foreign language, helped organize an AIDS conference, visited two other African nations, made a few friends, and had a pretty good time overall. Not bad, but I think I need more travelling and more working this next year.
PICTURE TIME!
July visitors and travels.
Pics from the two feeding centers that I've been working on and at for the past several months.
