Back to Kaedi

Well I've just finished up an interesting first three weeks in Boghe and am returning to Kaedi to meet up with the other 60 volunteers. Much has happened in 3 weeks, I think most of us are more changed than we could imagine. I have been through some difficulties, mostly in the last week, meeting face to face with the issue of slavery in my host family. It really jarred my perceptions of Mauritania and my family. I've come back around full circle since then, but I spent at least one day wondering why I gave up running water, toilet paper, pants and diet coke to exist in a cultural exchange that was so seemingly one-sided. I felt like I was giving up alot of myself and getting nothing in return. That was pretty misguided of me, I spend most of my time here getting to know people and talking and trying to learn the language and the customs and every time I make an effort, if I even try a little bit, people pull out all the stops to help me out and help me strengthen my language skills and comfort level and understanding. My french is improving with leaps and bounds and my Hassaniya is starting to come together. I have so many stories to share and never enough time or internet bandwidth to share them with all of you, its a shame!!!

After I felt so frustrated, I was sitting out with my family as several neighborhood boys played with an old cassette tape player listening to music. For children, as well as adults cassettes are huge here. This really inspired me to pull out my ipod and start sharing my music with them, to see if they had heard some of the things I listened to. In Mauritania, as in the States, hip hop is incredibly popular, but many artists in America dont seem to get any airtime. Sharing music with these boys was for me, an incredibly rewarding cultural exchange. I only had a few hiphop and R&B songs on my ipod but they really got a kick out of Lauryn Hill, and Chingy, of course, Akon. I felt really glad to expose these kids to new music!! I tried a Fall Out Boy song on them and let's just say that it didnt go over well at all! Poprock is falling on deaf ears over here. After that I showed my hostmom pictures of everyone that I had stored on my ipod. She says I am a photocopy of my mother! Most of you guys will probably agree. I will try to get a photo of my host family soon, I just have to find someone to take the picture, and I really dont trust mauritanians with my camera yet!

Boghe !!!!

Hi everyone long time no update, I'm still figuring out the internet connection issues here. During the middle of the day its very slow, but in the AM its pretty fast! I'm trying to get some pictures up for everyone to see my little slice of life here. I mention this alot, but I really love it here. I'm amazed at how quickly all 70 of us took to wiping with our left hands, eating with our right hands, a completely different set of cultural norms and languages. This is only the beginning of our third week in Boghe. This and none of us in Boghe got terribly ill, either!!! By the end of July we will find out what our permanent sites will be for the duration of our service in the Peace Corps! For class I get to interview the owner of the cybercafe! This means much more internet time! Yay!! I have a flicker account now, look me up under chargingsky. www.flickr.com/chargingsky I have added photos of Kaedi, Boghe as well as Nouakchott. I gotta run, keep me posted on world news! Also, skype me at 011 222 763 9611.


Kay Bye!

Nouakchott, Kaedi, Boghe

I know its been a while, but yes this is finally my first post about Mauritania while I am in Mauritania. I have been given all my shots, trained extensively and spend the last week at a lycee and Kaedi with 72 other trainees. We're a great bunch, really! I dont have much time left @ the internet cafe but I will say that I am in Boghe and I'm really enjoying myself. I'm learning french currently and will be learning Hassaniya soon!!! My host mom is awesome, and I have a 3 year oldhost brother who doesnt like to wear pants!!! That's all for now, call me at 0112227639611!!!


-HEATHER AKA Fatou/Fati

Aforementioned Links About Mauritania

3 Days to go until Stage in Philadelphia, and I can barely contain my excitement. At the same time, I have a 5+ page long packing list and an 80 pound limit on my luggage, somehow these two don't seem to meet in the middle.


I am posting these links so that all my readers can get a rough idea of what I'm getting myself into. They probably do not account for about 98% of what I'm about to experience in the coming 2 years. I find that to be the best part!!

http://www.salon.com/wire/ap/D8OAOT3G0.html

http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2007/04/17/fat_in_mauritania/index.html

http://lexicorient.com/mauritania/

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5467.htm

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/africa/mauritania/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/791083.stm

http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Country_Specific/Mauritania.html

12 Days and Counting...

Here is my address in case anyone would like to write to me or send me emergency supplies during training:

Heather Wyllie, PCT
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 222
Nouakchott, Mauritania
West Africa

**Please note that padded envelopes work best, don't declare a value on the package, and try to wrap the package up in tape so I can tell whether its been tampered with. Also writing PAR AVION (airmail) has proven effective according to past volunteers**

I also cannot begin to mention how unprepared I feel as the days to my departure wind down. I guess the best thing I can do is enjoy home as best I can, and make the most of it as I'll be missing it terribly, soon enough.

5 Weeks 5 Days

Until I get to Philadelphia with 76 other volunteers to meet up, get shots, eat cheesesteak (I'm thinking Geno's -any opinions?). Two days after that we board a plane bound for Mauritania, with an estimate of 3 or so layovers. I will eventually get to Kaedi, Mauritania to start my training.

Until then, what will I be doing? I have to work and attend about 72 happy hours/going away things until my dad comes to Washington, DC and moves my stuff out of my apartment June 9th.

Then I have several weeks to chill out, start packing, hang with my dog and my family and everyone in Babylon before June 23rd, the BIG HUGE SUPER PHANTASM Going Away/Lyzzy's Graduation party we're currently planning. Did I mention it will be pirate themed? I think you should attend. I have couches for you all to crash on.

I will try to answer as many questions as you guys have about Mauritania through this blog.

I meant to post alot of informative websites about Mauritania and its culture, but there are few and alot of them are in French. I will save that for next time.

Instead I will post my amazon.com wishlist, so you may see what I need before I leave for Mauritana.

The Birth of my blog!!!

I had to set this sucker up sometime. This is it, you've reached the official "Heather Wyllie joins the Peace Corps, is sent to Mauritania" Blog. More to follow, such as my address and other neat facts.