Day 61 (ish) - Pictures!!

Hello! So here are a few photos that we were thankfully able to upload!!

 

So above is me with our host mom and dad in Hamdallaye, traditional tea-making stuff in the foreground :)

And Ash with them... :)

A horribly blurred picture of our host family's donkeys (jaki in Hausa)

Sorry for the blurriness, we haven't used our nice camera at all yet... this is where we slept for all of PST... under the stars :)

Easily the biggest tree we've seen in Niger so far and its in our host family's gida (Hausa for household)!!

We had class (not together) in our host family's gida with one or two other trainees and a language teacher. From left to right: Chelsea, Michael, and Aschaitou

Us !!

Our host dad, Isoufou, took us out to his field on the donkey cart!!

This is when we were on demyst... walking for an hour and a half to get to the market town almost right on the border with Nigeria.

Thank goodness for ox carts!!!

The entire village of Hamdallaye gathered for prayer on the first morning of Tabaski, a major Muslim celebration.

Our entire host family, including extended relatives on our dad's side.

It is tradition to slaughter sheep after morning prayer on Tabaski, then they skin, and gut them, then cook them like this, slowly and all day close to a very hot fire.

 Our host family had a pregnant cat who gave birth about 6 weeks ago, and this is the one we're taking with us to our post!! Sunanshi Charlie (his name is Charlie!!)

Ash and I at the hostel in the city of Maradi...

We had a cultural fashion show in which Ash and I dressed up in traditional Tuareg outfits...




Me posing for the camera in my tailor-made traditional outfit called a Jabba... so comfy!!

 


Blake and Elisa, thank you SO MUCH for the French press... we have gone through about a pound of coffee during PST...

 

new address!

Hello all!!
 We have our new address for the next two years!! And for those of you who have asked about what to send we will always welcome things like granola, organic dried fruit, and nuts!! :D but, we also look forward to letters! Or any source of news - newsweek, time, the economist, national geographic, major newspapers (would be awesome! - says jos) :) I am also a fan of real simple, just a thought :)
Just a reminder that we have to pay on this end for whatever the value says on the packages. So please be conservative with the estimates... Wink wink ;)
Love to all!!!

Here's the address:
Corps de la Paix 
BP 144
Dosso, Niger

Surprise!! it's a mini blog within a blog!!  :)  (it's called having limited access to internet) haha
Anyway...
We passed our final language exams and will officially be able to swear-in as volunteers on the 30th!!  So excited! :)  (just for the record Jos rocked his LPI and got to "intermediate high" and i made it in with "intermediate mid") :D

Life is grand!!
Missing you all bunches and we hope you are having a relaxing and fulfilling holiday season... take cares!

A Day in the Life of a Niger Peace Corps Trainee...

A day in the life of a Niger PC trainee starts with what we like to
call the Nigerian symphony - a splendid mix of the local call to
prayer and the not so local call to prayer blaring from the radio in
our neighbor's concession, (usually starting around 5am). Not to
mention the cry of the 'jaki' our donkey and the usually surprisingly
off-key 'zakara' or rooster, blend with a smattering of howling dogs
for the perfect cacophony of sound. Zero need for an alarm :)
 Enter the potentially graceful, but more than likely not so graceful
exit from the mosquito net before entering your hut to fish around in
semidarkness for culturally appropriate attire. Ladies, that means
covering of the knees and shoulders.
If you were feeling particularly unkempt you may have thought about
taking a bucket bath as well before heading down to the main road to
find breakfast.
Onto breakfast... One may opt for some 'farimasa' which is the
equivalent of fresh handmade donut holes. There is also 'masa' up for
grabs across the street from the farimasa woman which are mini
pancakes made with millet and a whole lot of oil, just down the way
you can find 'cicena' -fried bean flour. Another favorite of the PC
trainee is the egg sandwich - a bit more spendy but worth every cfa,
finish it off with a 'sulani' (liquid yogurt) and you have yourself
the best breakfast combination THIS trainee has yet to find.
If it's a CORE day you'll find many a trainee making their way up to
bisa dutsi (the top of the hill, i.e. The training site) and preparing
themselves for another rousing day of med sessions, tech sessions, and
language. The best part about CORE day - aside from hearing Tondi's
laugh and finding 'the energy ball' - brings us back to the basics,
FOoD and CoLD drink!!
If it's a nonCORE day one can find several trainees milling about the
main road chatting before heading off to our respective language
classes. Go team Hausa!! :)
At the end of the day one typically finds their way back to their host
family and may spend time attempting to chat in Hausa or Zarma before
dinner.
Dinner, not much variety here (read: we've had the same thing almost
every night - white rice with a red sauce. If we're lucky, the sauce
will have sweet potato!
Then, the sun has gone down and the moon has come out, we retire to
the coziness of our mosquito net and usually fall asleep around 9 ish
after reading or studying (don't judge! We get tired!).

Birthdays!!

Birthdays!!
It just occurred to me that this is the first year for as long as I
can remember I wasn't able to call my Nana on Dec 2nd for her
birthday. I also won't be able to call my soul sister, Jen, for her
big day on Dec 16th. Danielle of MAS (you know who you are and all
that MAS entails) will be celebrating a birthday on the 20th of Dec as
well, which if I remember correctly is the same day she arrives back
in CO for the holidays with the rest of MAS. (safe travels!)
So, due to not being able to wish each of these incredible women a
'Happy Birthday' in the way they deserve I am going to write something
here for the world to see...

Nana,
I have always told anyone who would listen that i got my adventurous
spirit from you- mostly because it's true but also because I then have
every excuse to brag about you. I love you Nana and I miss you dearly.
 You (and Grandy) have brought more joy to my life than I believe you
will ever understand. Please know that I am who I am today because of
your constant love and support. I hope you had an incredible birthday
and that Grandy spoiled you as you deserve! :)
Love,
   - Ashley

Jen,
Oh my beautiful soul sister! Where would I be without you? Thank you
for your amazing friendship. A friendship that comes without
expectations. A friendship that has lasted the years and distance
without issue and that I know I can count on regardless of what life
brings. I love you and hope you have (had) an amazing birthday!
 - Ashley

Danielle,
MAS - what more can I say? What's great is that I know if that's all I
wrote here you would completely understand, that's kind of how we've
worked from day one though isn't it? Please know that I'm (we're
thinking of you and sending you love on your birthday - definitely a
day to celebrate!! Thank you for the joy and light you bring to the
world and to those so incredibly blessed to know you.
Love,
  Ashley

Hmmm... It seems I'm not done there. After wishing 3 brilliant women a
happy birthday it only seems fitting to follow up with birthday wishes
for 3 brilliant men.

Eric,
Happy Birthday on the 20th!!! :)
There are no words for the friendship you have created with and given
to jos and for that I am more grateful than you could ever know. Thank
you for sharing your vision with us and your passion for the world
with everyone you cross paths with. The world is a better place
because of you, please see and know the truth in those words...
 Love from Niger,
    Ashley

Shamari!! Happy Day of Birth on Dec 28th!!
:D I've been showing people wedding pictures, which of course means I
get to tell them about my best guy friend from London who actually
stood on my side for the wedding. :) we have some great memories in
some great cities and I hope we are able to continue that trend in the
future. I hope you have an amazing birthday and spoil yourself in good
fashion (literally). Haha :)
Smiles and Love,
  Tessa

mr Mark,
(you know who you are) :D
I don't know where to start... Thank you for your quick whit that
keeps the MAS laughing and forever wondering what you will come up
with next. Thank you for the quiet and steady strength you bring to
those around you. Thank you for being who you are and sharing your
love with those of us who are blessed to be in your life.
Love and light from Africa,
  Ashley

So that's that! Happy Birthday!!!
I hope this finds you all happy, healthy, and living life to the
fullest wherever that may be... Please know you are loved :D

Dual Purpose Blogging...

Dual purpose blogging: multi-tasking PC style!?!

This blog is intended to not only help me (Ashley) study but to also
give our mom and mum (2 extraordinary women with passion for
education) an idea of what Hausa is all about... Some of the 'building
blocks' of the language if you will.
So here we go! For those of you not interested in language I suggest
you skip over the rest of this blog - I promise not to be offended. ;)
In Hausa it's the pronouns that change not the verbs - no silly  verb
conjugation here! Haha :)
So instead we have this...
Present tense (Na-form):
Ina - I
Kana - you (masculine)
Kina - you (feminine)
Shina - he
Tana - she
Muna - we
Suna - they
Kuna - you all
Misali (example): Ina son itace. = I like/want/love trees.
  *yes, there is only one word for like/want/love
Interesting, no? (if you answered 'no' to that question you may want
to stop reading) :)

Past-tense Na-form:
Na - I
Ka - you (m)
Kin - you (f)
Ya - he
Ta - she
Mun - we
Sun - they
Kun - you all
So, not a ton of differences but if you want to say something in the
past tense these are the pronoun forms you would use.
Misali: Ka son itace. = You (when talking directly to a male)
liked/wanted/loved trees.

Future tense Na-form:
Zani - I
Zaka - you (m)
Zaki - you (f)
Zashi - he
Zata - she
Zamu - we
Zasu - they
Zaku - you all
Misali: Zasu son itace. = They will like/want/love trees.

Okay so let's say (just for a misali) not everyone is always going to
like/want/love trees- although I can hardly imagine it!

That would bring us to, Present Tense Negation: (naturally)
Bani - I don't
Baka - you don't (m)
Baki - you don't (f)
Bashi - he doesn't
Bata - she doesn't
Bamu - we don't
Basu - they don't
Baku - you all don't
Misali: Baku son itace. = You all don't like/want/love trees. (but you
will by the end of all of this!)

Then we have Past Tense negation:
Ban ... ba - I didn't
Baka ... ba - you didn't (m)
Baki ... ba - you didn't (f)
Bai ... ba -  he didn't
Bata ... ba - she didn't
Bamu ... ba - we didn't
Basu ... ba - they didn't
Baku ... ba - you all didn't
Misali: Basu son ba itace. = They didn't like/want/love trees. (not
until reading this blog that is)
 * the 'ba' must be included either after the verb or at the end of
the sentence. (I think those are the 'rules', but let's all remember
I've only been learning Hausa for 5 weeks now.)

And finally Future Tense negation (nothing like having a negative
outlook on the future): ;)
Ba zani ... ba - I will not
Ba zaka ... ba - you will not (m)
Ba zaki ... ba - you will not (f)
Ba zashi ... ba - he will not
Ba zata ... ba - she will not
Ba zamu ... ba - we will not
Ba zasu ... ba - they will not
Ba zaku ... ba - you all will not
Misali: Ba zata son itace ba. = She will not like/want/love trees. (I
think she will though, that's what we call having a non negative
outlook on future tense negation.)

Alright!!! If you've made it this far I am incredibly impressed,
consider yourself a great study buddy!! :)

I know the question on everyone's mind is 'what about independent
pronouns?!?' Not to worry, tis but a moment away...
Ni - I
Kai - you (m)
Ke - you (f)
Shi - he (pronounced 'she' by the way, not confusing at all)
Ita - she
Mu - we
Su - them
Ku - you all
Misali: Ni daliba ce. = I am a student.
(you thought it was going to be something about trees again didn't
you! Oh you tree hugger you! I told you I would have you liking them
by the end of all of this madness!)
 * Ce is feminine. Ne is masculine.
        So, Jos would say 'Ni dalibi ne'.
Misali: Uwatta, ita malamin makaranta ce. Kuma, ubana, shi manomi ne.
= My mom, she is a teacher. And also, my dad, he is a farmer.

Hmmm... I bet you're wondering what to do if you want to ask a
question and my answer is 'use the Ke-form of course'!!
Nike - I
Kake - you (m)
Kike - you (f)
Shike - he (still pronounced 'she'ke)
Take - she
Muke - we
Suke - they
Kuke - you all
Misali: Mi kuke so? = What do you all like/want/love?
 To which the obvious answer is: Muna son itace! <3

THE Question words:
Mi? - what?
Dommi? - why?
Youshe - when?
Wane? (m)/ wace? (f) - which?
Wa? - who?
Ina? - where? (not to be confused with the Na-form for 'i')

Past Ke-form:
Na - I
Ka - you (m)
Kinka - you (f)
Ya - he
Ta - she
Munka - we
Sunka - they
Kunka - you all
Misali: Dommi ta rubuta bisa itace sosai? = Why did she write about
trees so much? (A fair question) :)

Wow!!! And I think that's about enough for now. Thank you for joining
me in this crash course Hausa lesson! I wish we could share a cup of
coffee while discussing the finer points of what we've learned so far
but alas that cup of coffee will have to wait for a later date.
Oh and if I don't have you convinced to like/want/love trees yet do
yourself a favor and look up the moringa tree (it really is a SUPER
tree) - all of this will make so much more sense :) or just give you
something interesting to read about...
Sending love and light from Africa,
Ashley Tess