Sorry... address is wrong!

Hey everybody,

So the previous address that Sommer listed for her in Zinder is incorrect as some of you might of found out when you tried to send her letters and packages. The second to last line where it says

Zinder, Africa is incorrect it acutally should be Zinder, Niger.

So in the future please address it to all the same address except Ziner, Niger instead of Zinder, Africa.

Sulan

Officially a Volunteer

Hey everyone! So yesterday was "swear-in" where I officially transitioned from trainee to volunteer. I am super excited to get to my village and will be leaving for Zinder for good this Saturday. I feel a little nervous but very excited at the same time. This week I will be able to get online a few more times and my phone is available for calls. After this week though it will be harder to get a hold of me so just be advised. I miss you all and hope all is well in the States.

Sommer

Team Zinder

[September 13, 2007]

Well I JUST got back from "live-in" which means that I got an introduction to my village here in Zinder, and let me tell you it is amazing. Scary as hell being the only volunteer there but pretty amazing nonetheless. First of all it's beautiful...the village sits in a vallley with big rolling hills all around. Its breathtaking. Everyone is really nice and the people aren't too conservative so they understand if i wear pants and dont cover my head. its kinda cool. Also, I can exercise and go running and feel completely safe doing it (at training they told us it wasnt okay for a girl to go running by herself or not wear skirts, bla bla bla, which in some villages it isn't, but with mine, I got pretty lucky). There is defintely work to be done as well...nutrition projects, water issues, etc. However, I'm still learning the language so that is the goal for the next couple of months...can't really get much done if I can't communicate ya know? haha. Also, someone in my village speaks English! It was awesome at the time I found out because I got stuck at a market abotu 5K away and was freaking out about how I was goign to get back with the little water I had left adn low and behold this guy comes up to me and starts speaking english! I about hugged him..so needless to say he got me a ride back and I arrived safe and sound. He is going to help me a lot with the local language for sure. Anyway, I go back to training for two more weeks and then come back here to Zinder for the next two years (assuming i pass my language exam, crossing fingers)! Pretty exciting. Also, it might be comforting for you to know that there is another volunteer, kelly, pretty close to my village and we are going to meet at market atleast once a week..and she'll be staying the night probably once a week at my village as well. This is great because we can keep eachother sane adn also do projects and such together. Oh and in other good news I'm putting my name down on the waiting list for a bike because the road to the market is good enough terrain for a nice bike ride...yayyy exercise! Okay, I'm gonna wrap this up, hope all is well with everyone. Keep in touch and let me know how you all are doing as well!!!!

Peace and Love

Sommer

Contact Info

Okay everyone here is my new cell phone number:

o11 227 96544907

The best time to call me is after 6PM here....which since I'm 6 hours behind, means around lunch time for you. If you call me, its free for me! So unlimited talking...or atleast limited to how much you want to pay. :) We can also text apparently, and that is cheaper for me.

Also, once I get to post in October, the only internet I will be able to use will be internet cafe BUT more often than not I will be using the Outlook at our hostel and there is an email address for that computer. However, you MUST put my name in the subject line for emails to get to me. Here is the email address:

zinderpcvs@intnet.ne
Dont' forget! My name needs to be in the subject line.

Hope all is well!

Sommer

One month down...26 to go! haha

Hello all!

Well I am adjusting well here and besided bug bites and other questionable things that I guess you could call bites, I am in health... or "Lahiya Lau" in Hausa. SO I have the BIGGEST news that affects the rest of the next two years of my life, where I will be posted! Drumroll please.... Zinder! Yes! I will be in the far east of the country which many of you may think is crazy, BUT I asked for this region because I've heard so many great things about it. First of all, Zinder used to be the capital back in the day so it is a big city (second to niamey) and I am only 35K away from it which is great. The people of Niger are supposed to be very laid back too and the city is supposedly cleaner. My village is right off of a main road so its easy to catch taxis to the city. A little about my village: has about 800 people, has a market 5K away, and there are some established NGOs there apparently--World Vision and GOAL. The girl who was stationed there before me said she made great friends and did good work with the clinic and actually built a school while she was there. There are a lot of women's projects going on like reading/writing classes in Hausa, sewing/knitting, and the girl before me taught them how to make tofu. how awesome is that? So, anyway, it sounds very exciting, and a soem of the PCV's in Niger have horses...so who knows? Maybe I'll get one! Anyway I'm VERY excited and do my "live-in" not this week but next week which means we go and stay there for abotu five days to do a trial run per say. Another good thing is that I will be next to another PCV...only about 7K and she is in training with me and is really nice. Okay, thats all about my village. Other good news, I'm getting a cell phone! Actually, I already got one, but I don't have teh Sim card yet with my phone number, but when I do I will let you know. So get your calling cards ready and call me up! Here is my new address starting October 1, 2007:

Sommer Neff PCV

Corps de la Paix

BP 641

Zinder, Africa

West Africa

Remember write "air mail" on whatever you send me.

I also want to let everyone know that I am doing really great! I feel like I am getting into a routine now which helps me relax a little and enjoy myself. Language is getting a little easier and I'm just trying not to put to much pressure on myself. I am in high spirits after learning about my future post. Also, I've made a couple of good friends, Natasha, Katie, and James to name a few who have been great ears for me to vent and gab to. However, with that said, I miss you all SOOO much and just wish that I could have you all here with me.

Okay, so Im goign to quickly explain these pictures and they are in no particular order as I am tyring to hurry because there is a line behind me.

1. The group going to Niger out of our Stage. There is only a lucky five of us and we are all girls. woo hoo! However we are joining a pretty big team so it's all good. They gave us awesome tshirts and made cookies for us when announcing our posts. So nice!

2. The "Shake"-- a prominent religious leader we met at at village south of Niamey. Very nice...he treated us all to dinner and cokes.

3. Me playing frisbee with the neighborhood hoodlums. gotta love em.

4. One of the first meals we all ate together. I eat liek this with my host family every night. On a mat with my hands. FUN! haha

Anyway, those are all the pics I could download right now, but i will try to do more later. Thanks for teh awesome camera by the way, it's come in handy.

Okay, well I have to end this, I wish I could write more, but will defintely do so when I have more time.

Missing you all!

Sommer