July 13, 2003,

I am back in LBV after many travels. I've still not been home since June 1 and it's wearing on me. I got back from london, had a week in lbv, got a high fever, took the malarone in case of malaria, which only made me sicker. It didn't turn out to be malaria but I guess I'm glad I was careful, despite having to voyage 10 hours on the train to koulamoutou, spending 90% of the time watching the rails go by under the toilet.

Working stage was actually fun; the new trainees are all bright eyed and bushy tailed, full of energy, clean, well mannered, enthusiastic. Didn't really realize how long I've been here and far I've come until they got here. Trying to pick out my replacement is intimidating; there are a lot of really great women and I don't have enough information to really be sure. I guess you never can be, just hope for the best.

Two guys ETd already, one medevac from Senegal and a super enthusiastic guy, who shocked everyone. A couple girls we have pegged to ET around site-visit/model school.

We drove up yesterday through the Lopé reserve, and saw maybe 10 cars the whole way (9 hours). Also a couple monkeys and big black speedy snake, which escaped Alfred's attempts at running him over. We got out for a potty break and were interrupted by an angry gorilla, who we heard but didn't see, except for the bushes moving 10 feet away.

It was a beautiful drive and the road wasn't that bad, considering how little it is used. It was nice to see that Gabon has real scenery, mountains and plains and jungle, instead of the savannah I'm used to. The road follows the Ogooué river and yeah, it's beautiful. Only a few villages (15?), well maintained, but so isolated! There's truck traffic, but no one does that road with just passengers, so if you have an emergency you are pretty much screwed. La vrai vie villagoise, quoi; no canned food, just living off the land.

This week we have a Life Skills seminar, which should be a barrel of laughs, plus I am trying to get some admin stuff taken care of before going back to post. I hope hope hope I can get back home by July 26, so I can have a couple days before turning around and going up to Mimongo for my neighbors' wedding. Then site visit, with my replacement, and 17 aout, with Bongo, and then perhaps a couple last days chez les missionaires (Julie is housesitting, and they have the complete season of West Wing), and then back up to LBV at the end of august to COS.

I'm trying to come home Sept 1. We will see. I may have some kind-of big plans after that but I'm waiting for it to be official - don't want to get ahead of myself.

Everyone else is COSing at the middle or end of august, a couple people even have their plane ticket. I think that's what'll make it real. Plus I've been so busy and so mobile for two months....hard to focus on going home.

I hope all is well with you, and that tout se prepare bien.

woozily,
hank