Ditinn, Guinea, West Africa
29 January 2001
Hi Ma,
Thanks for those two letters. They were great. I think
e-mail is a great way for you and I to communicate. For you especially
since you are such a swift typist. I do enjoy receiving letters too.
Everything went well, getting back to my site, greeting
people, and starting up work again. My stay by Nicky's place was nice, but
it went by too fast. We kind of just slept a lot since she had been sick
and I had jet-lag. I was unaware that you talked to her mom, but she told
me that she e-mailed you. What was it about?
I am in Conakry for an In-service-training for the newest
group of volunteers. We'll be discussing what we've been up to, what kind
of things are available and how we can improve the program. I got in to
Conakry last night at 9 pm, after leaving at about 9:30 am, yikes.
The first car I took broke down about 5 times. We were
waiting at the side of the road for a long time, but I got a chance to
start reading the book about Malcolm X. I have the flu right now.
Can you hear my distorted voice? (Due to the dark-yellow, chunky snot and
phlegm) I thought you might have wanted to know some of the details.
I just visited my friend Kate's village for the last
couple of days. Her Dad came to visit and I wanted to meet him since she
did the same for me when you came. It's amazing that everyone still asks
about you in my village on a daily basis. I gave out the photos to N.
Oumouratou, Mama Guerze, and my friend Celou and his family. They all
really enjoyed them. My little friend Alpha Oumar asked if he could get a
photo too (he was the one who got the shoes from Buck). I also gave
Nene the Peanut Butter. She was really happy, but she wasn't sure how to
eat it since it was encased in such an unusual way, for her at least.
The war/rebel stuff has certainly cooled off.
Supposedly the rebel leader was caught, but it was unconfirmed. (Did I
tell you this already?)
The cat was doing OK, but she was a self-sustaining
ecosystem of fleas and ticks and dirt, etc. when I got her back. I bathed
her and I hand-picked off a bunch of critters. FUN!
Well, say 'hi' to everyone for me. I wonder if Joey
ever got the termite mound picture that I sent him?
Talk to you maybe? I'm here until 5 pm in the PC house.
Love,
Mike
