Doesn't feel like Christmas, but it is! It's too hot!

Hey, it's that time of the month again, when I get to connect with the outside world, from our lonely outpost at the frontier. This past month was my best month in Niger here so far- things are really starting to come together. I'm improving in French and Hausa, meeting people who want to work together and have ideas, and just getting to know my village and villagers even better. Things are falling into place, as they say. I'm learning more and more how to be HERE and NOW- awake and attuned to each precious moment, not lost in what was or what will be. Living NOW. I am finding a new sense of calm and peace- I don't know how much of this is from my own effort, versus the wonderful people and oppurtunities I've had in my life. How responsible are we for our own lives and happiness? What about the many many events beyond our control? What lies beyond our grasp? I have no answers yet, but will keep thinking.

We are all gathered to celebrate our favorite holiday, the time of year when one is close to friends and family. We are building our communities here- fellow volunteers, our villagers. To celebrate now, we're watching Christmas movies, doing Secret Santa, and eating lots and lots and lots. Cakes, enchiladas, bagels and smoked salmon, candy, treasures from care packages from home. Shout out to the marvelous cooks of Team Maradi! I'll clean those dishes or be your errand boy any day! I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I'm better at walking than cooking.

Because I always like talking about books, I'll talk about my reading. I finished Genesis and Guns, Germs, and Steel, and, safe to say, my mind was sufficiently blown by both! It was good to actually read Genesis fully, and to think deeply and critically about it. The story of Joseph and his Brothers was one of the parts that moved me the most. And GGS gave me a good framework for looking at history. As I finished these books I felt the sadness I always feel when finishing a good book. Like saying good-bye to a close friend. Maybe I'm just a melancholic! Now, I'm deep in Robert Heinlen's Stranger in a Strange Land. I never can go too long without some Science Fiction! And the title and story are very appropriate and even inspiring to our mission here. Some of my friends here (Mason! Will!) have spoken highly of this book, and I'm enjoying it. I always love wondering what marvelous sights the future may hold!

Soon, we have a 1-month training back at the training site. This should be a great time to catch up with my friends scattered throughout the regions. PC Niger, hope you are all doing wonderfully. And Merry Christmas to all- friends here, family at home, friends scattered- hope your holiday is one of happiness. Have a wonderful time relaxing and reflecting and breathing in slowly the lovely warm air of Repose.

Signing out!

Issa- (David, DCM, Run DCM, Bob, Dave, Bummef, Kanta- many names I seem to find myself with! A rose...)

Thanksgiving, nisa daga iyali da abokai ("far from family and friends")

Wow, I've been in my village for 2 months. The time has gone fast. I've only been sick one time, thankfully. I've been doing a lot- visiting schools, practicing language, sitting and talking with folks. They say these first months at post are the hardest, as we're still working on language, getting used to the climate, figuring out our work, and so on. It can be overwhelming but also rewarding. People are so curious about why I have come here. I have had many wonderful conversations. And people making fun of me, in Hausa, for not speaking Hausa well. Haha! Life is motion. There are nice people and jerks, loud and shy people, here, there and everywhere. We are all human, and we too often forget that.

I've been blessed to have a wonderful family as my closest neighbors- Souleymane, Rekia, and their 6 kids (2 others have passed away). I often eat dinner with them, drink tea, play soccer, go to the fields to harvest crops like millet and corn with them, and more. They are very patient and kind and warm to me. Even if I speak less Hausa than their 3-year old daughter Aichatu! They are so happy and positive, even though their life is so hard. Amazing.

Last week was the Muslim holiday of Tabaski. This holiday commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac for the will of God. There is a big prayer in the morning, and then each family slits the throat of a goat, guts it, lets it dry in the sun all day, and then the next day eats it. I made myself watch the whole process. Intense. So much meat! After the slitting, I walked around the dirt roads of my village. Every house I went to to greet people would give me meat! AH! Eventually, I started hiding it in my pocket to feed to my two kittens. My pocket was pretty foul by the end of the day, but my kittens were happy! People are decked out in their finest clothes; I rocked my sick African Grand Bubu. So baller. Kids (and even some adults!) demanded Barka da sallah! relentlessly, as I gave out bags and bags of candy. Quite a day, for sure. Meet your meat, right?

I've been reading and writing a ton here, as I lack the distractions of Internet (only once a month!) and TV. It's refreshing. I've been reading: Chinese poetry, Genesis (yes, first book of the Hebrew and Christian bibles), Walt Whitman, cheesy fantasy and sci-fi (oh how I miss Star Trek and Babylon 5!), and Guns, Germs and Steel. I've been especially interested in this last book. It's pretty well-known, and some of you have probably read it. It's a history of the last 13,000 years of human civilization, since the end of the last ice age, when the rise of agriculture led to sedentary society. See ya later, hunting and gathering! Way passe! The book goes on to describe the reasons why various societies developed how they did. Diamond finds that geography is the ultimate determining factor in human history, as opposed to any racial differences. Fascinating book! Check it out, if you haven't.

Soon will be a great Thanksgiving feast with my fellow volunteers. Team Maradi, woot! I hope all ya'll's went well, over there, back home! Know that I think about you. Oh, and I got a new address:

David Christian Metting, PCV

BP 291

Maradi, Niger

West Africa

Getting mail means so much to me, so write! I am still trying to write, but there is too much to say. Be healthy and happy!

Training's done, and I'm at my village!

Hey all, finally getting to update! Training is finished, woo hoo! Training was a lot of information, about language, medicine, culture, work, survival, presented us to so quickly. It was very overwhelming. I am just starting to process all of this information. Also, during training I lived with a host family and living with a host family can be very hard. No privacy! Or choice in food (rice and sauce...rice and sauce...rice and sauce. lol).

I'm at my village, which I'm not supposed to mention by name on the internet. However, it is located in the Maradi region of Niger. I'm on the road to Nigeria (but I can't go there...). It's a very lush area, with tons of trees, and, my town in particular has a huge lake. Not that I can go in this lake at all without all kinds of health risks...but it's pretty to look at!

Before I really start doing serious work here I have to integrate into my village, adjust to life here. A big part of that is getting a handle on language. In training I had to brush up on French, and I only took two weeks of Hausa. Well, some of the educated people in my village speak French, but most of the villagers just speak Hausa! Learning language is fun though, for sure. I feel my brain expanding.

My new home for the next two years is pretty sweet, for Niger. My house has a huge yard. Like, I could have soccer games in it. The house itself is 3 bedrooms- kitchen, bedroom, and entryway/living room. The "bathroom" is a hole in the ground in the corner of my yard. I have no running water or electricity at my house, though I may be able to get the latter. I want electricty before hot season, (February to June), where it's over 100, up to 120, EVERYDAY and nobody does anything. Anything. With electricty I can have a FAN!FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For animals, I have spiders, crickets, earwigs, cockroaches (frakk these dan iskas, I go Wrath of God on their behinds every time!), ants, a variety of beetles, frogs (especially when it's rainy), and a KITTEN! My neighbors brought him to me because I kept saying "Ina son moussa!" (I want cat!). I named him "G'kar." Kudos to anyone who gets the reference! (HI KEVIN!)!

For life in village I've been wandering around, meeting people, drinking tea, playing soccer with the scores of kids, being social. Being social is so important to the culture here. People are very curious about me, and also about America. I get all kinds of questions about The States, which I enjoy answering. "Are there black people in America? Are you friends with Obama? Is everyone in America rich?" Doing some good cultural exchange.

I often wonder how all of my family and friends back home are doing. I'm thinking of you! I try to write letters but get overwhelmed. I will try to do better! Okay, this is David ("Issa" here), singing out. Peace!

One Month In!

Holy crap, it’s been a month! I have so much to say! It’s hot as heck, buggy, and I use a bucket of water to “shower” everyday! I sleep outside every night, under my mosquito net. I get crazy dreams from the preventive anti-malaria drugs they give us. For drinking water, I get mine from a pump, and then proceed to filter and bleach it. Mmm, bleach water!

The people here, especially my host family, are ridiculously kind to us! They are very helpful and funny and overall amazing. Sharing their homes and food and life with them is very humbling. And by food, I mean rice and sauce.

I’ve been healthy, except when I got sick by accidentally ingesting an amoeba, which resulted in me simultaneously going diarrhea and barfing until there was nothing left in me. Not so fun, but sometimes unavoidable. Antibiotics FTW!

Right now I’m in Peace Corps Training until September 23. We’re learning a ton- medical, cultural, linguistic, technical. It’s kind of overwhelming, but necessary. My American friends here, my books, my writing, and Coca Cola are helping a ton to keep me going!

I’m doing well here, though it is hard. Today we find out our villages, where we will be working for the next two years. Very exciting!

I often subtract 8 hours and wonder what you are doing back home. I hope you are all well! Write me! Or send beef jerky, trail mix, dried fruit, and mix tapes (yes, cassette tapes with music!) Thanks!

David Metting
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 10537
Niamey, Niger


Phone- 011-227-98-39-20-88

I ship out tomorrow!

It's finally here, I'm really leaving! Tomorrow I fly to Philadelphia, where I'll attend Peace Corps orientation for two days. After that I leave for Niger, for two years.

I've been waiting so long for this and now it's here. Overwhelming, definitely! Exciting, of course!
Leaving out on my own to see the world, or a part of it. A situation totally different from anything I've known. A chance to explore, to give back, to wonder. Holy crap!

I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Packed, re-packed, said goodbyes. I'll miss people, for sure. But I won't forget them! I'll definitely email/call/write folks, as time and opportunity affords me.

I will update this as often as I can. It might be a few months though.

Until then!