http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Africa , Niger en-us Tue, 01 Dec 09 08:59:21 +0000 Tue, 01 Dec 09 08:59:21 +0000 http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Niamey/blog-442975.html Here is a nice mobile pharmacy in Dosso...anything and everything you could possibly need Jaundice gonorrhea diarrhea stomach problems diabetes fever and much much more Doesn't it make you feel better already to see your potential treatments being served out of old trash cans gas cans plastic bags and dirty water bottles http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/blog-385883.html So I had to stay an extra three days in Niamey because the airport staff are on strike. I went out to find some soap and the only thing I could find was this Lendemain Difficile or The Next Day is Difficult...Antihangover soap. I haven't been drunk in well over 20 years but where was this stuff when I was 15 Notice the back side soapmanwoman to the second power or squared...what do http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Niamey/blog-385876.html When I crossed the border by buss I was really positive and meditative. The hot wind blowing furiously in my face as the bleached scenery rushed by drenched in the strongest Sahelian sun. It was a pleasure to see slight hills and eventually a valley in which the Niger flowed as we drove into Niamey the capital. This is Niger remember not Nigeria This is a country of some 14 million people http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Niamey/blog-343247.html After the awful bus from Cotonou dropped me off in Fada I met up with PCVs Beth and Aisha. We happened to be in Fada on the night of a Floby concert what luck Floby is a popular Burkinabe singer.The next morning we joined PCV Courtney on a bus to Niamey. There was a big fiasco in which the bus company sold us tickets and then didnrsquot want to let us get on the bus but we managed to ge http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Niamey/blog-294361.html I was just in Niger for 10 days conducting a workshop for Imams and Pastors to equip them to discuss HIV and AIDS in their congregations and communities. It went very well thanks for asking All of the translations were exhausting but other than that it was a great experience. It is nice to be in a forum where we can discuss our similarities and not focus on our differences The group was v http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Niamey/blog-273803.html One of the things I love about West Africa...It is not very clear due to the fact that both of us were in moving vehicles but I just get a kick out of the ladies dressed to the max zooming about on motos and scooters...no helmet purse slung over the arm bags and shopping stuffed onto the front. This one was a 'minimum baggage' you notice she doesn't have three kids and a goat on the moto with http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/blog-273799.html February 25 2008Goodbye NigerIt is our last day here in Niamey Niger. We work for the morning and I complete the pedology map and copy maps we have worked on over the past few days to Amadoursquos computer.We go to lunch at the Italian restaurant. There is a special lunch menu that you can choose between two options for each appetizer main course and dessert for the cost of 7000 cifarsquo http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Niamey/blog-250249.html February 24 2008We wake up around 630 pack up the bedding we had brought in and are ready to go around 7. We are the first ones up so head outside into the cooler air. The temperature outside is wonderful. Lots of interesting sounds around the village animals chickens roosters a few vehicles people. There is a smoky haze in the air smoke from cooking fires and fires for heat. We find t http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/blog-249837.html February 23 2008The Project at GoundayHappy Birthday Chris. Well not a traditional birthday in any way for my dear husband. The only indication it is his birthday are the cards for him from the kids and a birthday email. I wish him a happy birthday we eat breakfast and then we head out. We are off this morning to another project also located at the Burkina Faso border but more west of Niame http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/blog-249829.html February 21 2008Wow what a day it has been a full and exciting one We had our usual breakfast prepared to leave then headed to the lawyers office on the way out of town. She is a neat lady very dynamic. From there we headed to our project at Koutouggou. Our route was the one bridge over the Niger River south towards Burkina Faso.The highway portion of our route was paved and in excellent http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/blog-249014.html February 20 2008WindyWoke up to hearing the wind howling around the building. It was so dusty this morning with the strong winds. The sun was extremely dim in the sky looking more like a moon. The sand literally swirled on the street in front of us as we drove to our meeting. It looked the fine snow that can swirl around on top of a road in winter such a neat site. It actually felt a little coo http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/blog-248345.html February 19 2008Today has been an office day to start. Chris Amadou and myself have been discussing our projects and looking at some of the data I have. We went for lunch at the Grand Hotel. It is a very nice hotel and apparently quite popular hard to get into. The route there took us past a huge stadium. On the way back to my delight and surprise I saw a camel with a large load on its back http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Niamey/blog-248029.html February 18 2008Another day another airline. This evening we flew Air Senegal from Bamako Mali to Niamey Niger. This is a new airline for me to travel on and it was a good flight. At the airport we had to go through a passport check then a health check making sure immunizations were up to date then pick up our bags and finally a baggage claim check. It took a bit of time but it was rela http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Niamey/blog-247667.html Hello Folks Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Was in Niger then and Happy American Thanksgiving was in South Africa thenI went to Niger for work in Oct and was able to get out to Zinder for the first time since leaving the Peace Corps in 1999. I've had a hard time getting motivated to write this blog no idea why just a bit overwhelmed with everything else I suppose. I just got back from So http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Zinder/blog-223729.html Not happy today but still have to be happyLife is not that easy but i still have the choose.yeahbe happy or notthe answer is Be HappY http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/blog-85351.html The ceiling was black or was it white Or did it actually change colour depending on the time of the day That was all that I could grasp as I lay in bed with Miss Malaria munching medicines. In the hallway outside my room highheeled prostitutes ldquoclicketiclacketedrdquo back and forth with their new and old customers and outside our questionable hotel unenthusiastic independenced http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Zinder/blog-84066.html Heya readersI hope you're all doing super. I am here in my hotel room in Niamey Niger and it's been a pretty good trip so far. I'm a little grumpy due to frustrations with this continent but in general things have gone well. I will elaborate cuz that's what I do best So last night I took the dreaded trip through the Ouagadougou airport to get on my flight to Niamey. I hate the Ouagadougou a http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Niamey/blog-68300.html not really. . . i had all these grand plans for writing a whole bunch updating all the missing adventures but here i've been back for a while now and just now getting onto this journal. there's just so much too do visit with yussef's family remodel his room get ready for the rainy season buy presents. i will also blame a large part of my lazyness on the heat it's soooo hotwhiny voice it r http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Niamey/blog-64085.html woke up earlybecause it was hot and i rolled over and felt the cool spot where my body just was.got up to drink coldcold water from the freezer too cold to drink in big gulpshad to peehad to drench with water before going back to bed for a bitgot up lateropened the window the metal part already scaldingi wrote a little shifting out of my sweat every once and a whilewent to Yussef's sister's hou http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Niger/Niamey/blog-44538.html