Running around

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Sorry for the late entry everyone (and it won't be a great one at that ... I have to run and get to the taxi stand).

I went down to Conakry for the 4th of July (and gorged on lots of American style food), but was asked to leave immediately afterwards to show the new Country Director my village. We've have a great staff here in Guinea, and the new director and his wife are only adding to it all.

So I'm still alive, don't worry. I wanted to upload pictures, but it seems that their might be a virus on my card, so you'll all have to wait until I get it sorted out in August. Sorry!

Things are going well. There was a stint there were I didn't leave my village for 5 weeks and I went a little stir crazy, but it was worth it. I got into a lot of random situation just by being around and available. For example, I went to a couple of weddings. They were fun because I'm friends with the song leader so we just sang and clapped the entire time. But they were also extremely depressing because the brides were very young. However, as a result of me being upset by the age of the brides, I was invited to another ceremony in one of my districts where they were honoring the girls at the primary school who got good grades. It was good because I was the only woman of status there, so they sat me up front with all the officials. I'm friends with the man in charge of the primary schools, and he was the keynote speaker. During his speech, he kept referencing me as an example of how it was in fact possible for a girl to be educated and how it wasn't necessary to marry them off at a young age. The community cheered and gave me lots of hugs, even the three imams. :)

So for now, it seems like my energy is going to be moving in four main directions: Vaccinations, Malaria, Pular, and Girls' Education. They were all chosen for many different and complicated reason that I unfortunately don't have time to explain. But if you have any comments on any of them, please email me about it (or even better, write me a letter!).

Quick update for everyone: Nancy I got your letter, Kristi I got your package. THANK YOU!!!!!!! You have no idea how much it means to me :) (Well ... Kristi might)

See you in a couple weeks!

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