Greetings Earthlings!

Huh. Odd how I seem to have forgotten how to type in the last month or so. Anyway, hello from Niamey. It's been forever, I know. Trust me.
If I've learned anything from Niger so far, it's to take things moment to moment and to "sai hankuri" (have patience). It's extraordinarily easy to get overwhelmed here. I'd liken it to getting on a crowded Red Line car during a Cubs game. You have no idea if you are going to arrive in one piece, but at each stop, your confidence increases, and eventually you arrive at your destination safe and sound, if massively sweaty. Yep, that's like Niger.
A month later, I am still getting used to the "newness" of it all: donkeys braying (actually our family goat was gurgling this morning, and it was hilarious) at 4am, the prayer calls five times a day, new food (well, really just getting used to rice and sauce 2x/day every day), etc. I can say for sure that Nigeriens have been super welcoming and patient with each of us. Certainly the Peace Corps staff have been AMAZING, and my fellow stagiers are a funny and boisterous bunch.
Anyhoo, we have been busy, busy, busy with training. Two days a week we have core sessions up at the PC compound on things like how to reset your shoulder should it become dislocated in the bush (not kidding) to how to plan and facilitate meetings Nigerien style. The other four days we have language training in our host village at different families' houses. We sit under big shade trees and have a little blackboard, and it's all pretty much exactly what you'd think of when you think of Africa.
Homestay is going fine, although I totally threw my host mom for a loop when I presented her with dried garbanzo beans to fix (because we only have beans twice a week at best, and this is our only protein source. Those who know me know I NEVER think protein is an issue with vegetarians but it is in Niger.). She looked at me like I was nuts, and I had to try to explain (in Hausa) that they are cooked the same as black-eyed peas. She said she'd serve them tonight for dinner, so I'm nervous. Otherwise, they're a nice family, although I feel badly sometimes that I'm more interested in their goat than I am in their children. So some things never really change.
The weather is a rollercoaster ride every day. We're in the midst of rainy season, and when they say it rains, they really mean it downpours, and the dust kicks up so it looks like Oklahoma in 1929. The heat is intense (partially because we are now spending 95% of our lives outdoors, including sleeping), but then there are days like today when it's about 85 and windy, and the locals are donning ski hats and sweatshirts. Not lying.
Anyway, thank you to those who are writing so faithfully. I'd compare it a bit to getting mail at camp. We all gather around and see who got mail, and it kind of makes or breaks your week.
Props to Ambriel for being the most frequent writer, and for including early holiday greetings. I played "mash" by myself but was fairly disappointed in the results: living in Niger, married to one of my language trainers, and working as a trash lady (which is something that is desperately needed here).
In short, I'm having fun, trying to stay healthy (a huge challenge) and enjoying the ups and downs.
Love and miss you all. To, sai anjima.