January 29, 2002

Dear Mom and Dad,

Season's greetings! Since the post is on strike, who knows when you'll get this. Holidays, as you know, were wonderful, and getting back to Ndende was hard. Plunging into work was good and I'm filling up the next two months with SIDA exposées, a club, sex ed with the grade schoolers, and all the various conferences I get to travel for. Oh, and a survey on sexual attitudes. I don't know--it's so hard to judge--how much impact I'll have but it's more than I'd have if I sat on my butt, so that keeps me motivated. My boss came through and saw me give an exposée and was pleased enough to ask me to present at our in service training. She said she'd help me out with the survey too, and that's going to help a lot -- she goes all out for the vols she likes, and after a few bad starts I think we're on sure footing. I'm psyched for the survey, especially because there is no information in this country on how people feel about condoms, and how much sex they have, and with who. I'm no Gallup but hopefully we'll get things I can graph and use to show the Ministry of Health, or NGOs, what the realities are. Stats are nerdy -- we made fun of those who were always asking for them -- but hey, why the hell not do a survey. We might learn something. Plus, I'd get to spend a lot of time playing with Excel in LBV. :)

It's good to feel busy and have projects -- makes the time go quickly. I'm out of the house a lot more and have people to visit, bars to chill in in the afternoon (but beer only with Peace Corps folks). It was no good at the beginning not having anyplace but the house to be in.

I've learn how to wire lamps and make doors with mortises, and I put up batik paintings and the Dogon blanket in the living room, so it's much more homey. Petit à petit. Today I also hacked down the weeds and vines that were coming in my bedroom window. It really is a jungle back there. The weeds are relentless. I should take pictures, since it's not the same in the dry season.

Righto. Off for beans and pineapple chez Mike!

Love,

Hannah