Letter #5
Thursday 6-24-01
Hello Dorothy, Horst & Christina!
How are you?? I hope all is well. I'll look forward to hearing from you.
I'm alive & well in Africa. Can you believe it? I can't. I've been here three weeks & it still mostly feels like a dream. Or perhaps like I'm on vacation. But it's easy to think of you while I'm here, & remember all the things you've told me about living overseas. Two examples come to mind today -- you once said your English had become "clean," without idiomatic expressions. I'm finding the same thing. It's easier to speak plainly than to explain what "beating a dead horse" is. :) Also, I've been really good at just accepting what I don't understand rather than trying to figure it all out. I remember one time you telling me something was closed Thursdays, & I asked why. You looked at me wearily & said "It just is -- I don't ask." I know the feeling!
So much is different, so much doesn't make sense,... sometimes it's easier to save my brain power for other things! :) Especially if I have to ask the questions in French!! :)
Oh, Dorothy, this place is so beautiful & interesting!! I hope you've seen my letters on the website -- www.semma.com. The family I'm living with is great, & the Peace Corps training is good too. There are 30 of us here together for 12 weeks for training before we are sent to separate villages. I'm so excited to have my own house & a job to do! I think I'll be good at it -- listening to the needs of the villagers & then teaching them how to solve those problems. The idea isn't for me to find experts or funding, but to show the villagers how to do it without me. Sounds like many projects will be about water, health, or latrines, but there's also lots of work to do with women's co-ops (farming or crafts) & girls' education. You know I'll love those!
If you can believe it, in this small town with only one paved road, there's public internet access. If you'd rather e-mail than write, use kkatewhitmore@hotmail.com. I'll probably write back -- on paper -- the French keyboard makes me crazy!
I'm not allowed to travel until Dec. 1 -- first 3 months at site I'm to stay there & "plant" myself. But, if I get to the continent after that, I'll be sure to put Germany in my plans! If you happen to be planning a trip to Greece, Spain or Morocco, let me know. I'll meet you there! :)
My little brother in this family (Yann, 7) is driving me nuts begging for a card game, so I'd better get him off my back. Should I be offended that the game I know as "crazy 8" is known here as "the 8 Americans??" Hmmmm.....
Drop a note when you get a chance. My current address is on the website.
Lots of love,
Kate