First week (continued)

from letter of September 24, 2005
Well, I’m finally getting around to writing. It’s been really busy so far being herded around N’Djamena, but this afternoon we head out to Darda where we’ll begin training for real. So, as I said in my e-mail we showed up at the airport and one of my bags didn’t so much show up. So I had to wait with Adji, one of the Peace Corps staff, and then I had to sit in this waiting room for him to talk to people so I could file a lost bag form. I thought I was the only one who lost my bag but when we got to the training center, I found out that Steve had too (he thought it fell off the truck though and was really worried but it was actually lost on the plane too.)
So the first day was fun and I didn’t really think about the bag. In the morning we went to the embassy to get our badges made and meet the ambassador – so yeah I already went back to America. In the afternoon we got our first real experience in Chad when we left where we are staying (SIL, a dorm like place… actually more of a camp like setting. I stayed in a room with Becky and we all just hung out outside most of the time.) Wandering around we got called “nassara” for the first time. Kids wave at us, and we said “qa va?” to a few people. It smelled like gasoline everywhere and rotting fish in the market (with flies buzzing all over them.) That was the only thing that made me sick feeling. There’s trash everywhere in the streets and everything. Across from the Peace Corps office there is a “lake” of trash and feces which there are people constantly walking through. It doesn’t feel like a city at all, so I can hardly imagine what it’s like being en brousse. But people here seem really friendly, especially the Peace Corps staff who I have been talking to in my mediocre French. I can basically express myself, but sometimes I forget words. But mostly (completely) we’ve been speaking English amongst ourselves. We start language classes on Monday and tomorrow we have to have a conversation with our language trainers to determine what class we’ll be in (I think I’m probably somewhere in the middle since some people have lived in France and others haven’t taken French since high school.) On Monday we move to our homestay which isn’t supposed to be the best experience ever because some of the families don’t even speak French. So basically you can’t communicate with them at all. I still don’t know what the deal with meat is in that situation but I’m sure we’ll find out (but I’m not the only vegetarian anyway). The food so far has been good, but not too protein heavy, a lot of vegetables (which we’ll have less of at training.) The PCMO (medical officer) says there will be more beans in the veg food there so that’s good. This morning we went to the Grand Marche in N’Djamena which is gynormous and there are so many fruits and vegetables, but that’s just the time of year right now – plus we are in the capital and apparently everyone cooks with peanut oil (which you know I love) but I guess they aren’t used to it (well I guess it’s kind a weird for baking). And you can get ginger too. So I don’t think I will starve at all. The PCMO (who is really nice) said I should eat fish if I really am not getting enough protein but I will be fine with the crazy amounts of beans and peanuts.
I already said, I think I like everyone here and that makes everything a lot more fun. But it is kind of weird because I feel like I have absolutely no focus. I know that’ll change when I start having work to do.

(Rebecca's missing bag was found - Bob)