Attaya, Watermelon, and Dysentery

Well, I'm finally back to the Kombo area, where the capitol is. Training is almost over and it has flown by...I can't believe that I've already been here 2 months! Our swearing in is on December 8th and then on the 10th we go to our permanent sites. I'll be in the Central River Division on the south side of the river close to River Gambia National Park and Georgetown. I'll be doing a lot with small scale poultry production and working with a large women's group. My host mom/counterpart, Ami, recieves chicks from Dakar and raises them intensively to sell in local markets. I'll also be in the heart of watermelon production country! The watermelon season is just coming to end though...but I'm looking forward to next year! The people here drink a lot of Attaya, this green tea that they add butt loads of sugar to and sip out of shot glasses. It is really good but I feel sick if I drink too much of it. What else....I feel giddy after not having had internet for so long...I just recently got over dysentery! A few of us bought some guavas and were so excited that we didn't think to wash them... They were soooo delicious at the time but oops, big mistake. Flash back to the Oregon Trail...all four of us ended up with amoebic dysentery and had to take antibiotics! I've gotta run but I'll write more later in the week!

Things that I would salivate over recieving in a care package:
*food
*deflated soccer balls (I have a pump and needles but left the ball I brought with my host family during training)
*powdered chai drink mix/crystal light
*cereal/granola (it's really expensive here)
*dried fruit/fruit leather
*pesto
*pictures of you
*letters telling me what you are up to at home

Dama nama suma nit ni (I miss my people.)
I miss you all a ton....almost as much as I'm missing an eggnog latte. Drink one for me!

Love,
Mandy aka Awa