Niamey Update

Greetings from Niamey!

This is my first post since coming to Africa, but unfortunately it will have to be a short one - computer time at the Peace Corps Bureau is limited with 33 of us fighting for the internet!

Anyway, everything has been WONDERFUL so far. I am still in pre-service training until September 23, so my days are spent in language class (Zarma) and we don't get much free time. But being in Africa is so exciting; there is always something to do and people to greet! Sadly, I have not yet seen any giraffes, but my small host village does seem to get a lot of camels on market day....

In other news, we recieved our site announcements today! These are the villages where we will spend the two years of our service, our "new homes" in Niger. I am very excited to announce that I will be in Sambera, in the Dosso region - look me up! Just as exciting is my newest furry friend, a small, grey kitten named Mouse. I found her sad and alone in my village, and am working on feeding her and getting her vaccinations before making her my permanent site-buddy :) Adorable pictures soon to come.

In the mean time, please feel free to send me letters! I love to hear from people back home, and even if I can't write back right away, I appreciate every piece of mail I recieve. My address here (at least for the next 2 months of training) is:

Michelle Binger
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 10537
Niamey, Niger
West Africa

Hope to hear from you all soon! Feel free to email and leave posts here, as well, and I will respond as often as I can. Thanks, and look forward to a ton of picture updates soon!!!

Love,
~Michelle