Another hitchhiker? Pick them up!

Wow, it's been a long time. I am so sorry. I really am going to try and blog more often (goal: blog every time I get to a computer). So a lot has happened since I last blogged, so I guess I will quickly summarize what has been going on with me here. During the month of November, I continued to teach and I can't tell you how much I love my students. They are so respectful and helpful, which from the stories I have hear from other volunteers, this is rare. I am very lucky in that sense. Also during November, my friend Rachem and I took a five hour bike ride (literally up a rocky mountain) to Labe. Rachel and I have trouble finding transportation in and out of our villages so I find myself riding my bike a lot, especially to Rachel's site where there are a couple missionary families who feed us well! This bike trip was quite the experience and I have to say the ride back was like a walk in the park. After Labe, we continued on in a bush taxi to Mali-Yembering to visit our friends. These villages are in the northern Fouta and are beautiful. It gets the coldest there, and in fact, during the month of January, beaucoup de cows died because of it and the "government" of Guinea was contacted. We all came together and celebrated Thanksgiving in Labe. It didn't really feel like Thanksgiving-I mean it was like 90 degrees, but the food was great and I got to spend it with my friends who really have become my family.
During the month of December, I barely got any sleep as I was so excited to go home for Christmas. However, my trip to Conakry to catch my flight was an adventure in itself. I biked to Rachel's site to leave in a bush taxi "early" Sunday morning. The mini-van-like taxi finally left around 10; however, we didn't get very far when my driver was pulled over and a fight broke out. Apparently, my driver was suppose to be driving a different car, but he took this van, which was packed with about 17 people with baggage packed high on the top and on top of that were more people, because a porto (white person) was in it. Finally, the fight was settled and we were off. I shared the passenger seat with one other person. Whenever I ride in a bush taxi, I am in the most uncomfortable and distorted positions. We weren't even half-way there when we were going down a slight incline and the wheel fell off. After we screeched to a stop, we all got out and they tried to put the wheel back on. That didn't work. So there I was, on the side of the road, it was about 4 in the afternoon, and I still had a long way to go. After about an hour and a half on the side of the road, I started getting nervous and I started pacing, thinking about my options. There wasn't any phone service, I was about 45 minutes away from the closest village, and I was being attacked by bugs. I started wondering what my chances were for hitchhiking and whether I could just put my hand out and wave someone down. As I'm contemplating all this, I see this guy drive by and he is by himself (usually all cars are loaded with people). I decided not to do anything; however, lucky for me, he came back 5 minutes later and asked if I was going to Conakry and offered me a ride. So I went from sitting in the hot sun and a crowded taxi to an air conditioned truck. I explained to him that my French was bad, but that I was so grateful he picked me up. It turned out he could speak English so this Cuban man took me all the way to the Peace Corp office free of charge, while also paying for my dinner. And how was home? Amazing! It was so good to see all my family and many of my friends. And the food wasn't too bad either! Thanks to all who came and saw me. I am so grateful for that trip home.
I made it back to Guinea safely, despite all the political drama and change here. We are now only on alert status which means I can continue doing what I came here to do. I am very glad things happened as "peacefully" as they did and that I wasn't here for the coup. Last month I attended a week long seminar in Mamou. Before I left, I went with my sous-prefet, who is also my host dad, to a small village 20 minutes from Mombeya. I was told that the US ambassador was going to be there. As soon as I stepped out of the car a video phone was on me. The people there formed two lines (think the movie Grease) and the sous-prefet, some doctors, and I (the only porto there) walked in between these lines where people were yelling and cheering. I was then seated up front and presented as the US ambassador, a representative of the US Embassy and apparently, I gave a large sum of money for them to build a hospital. I'm sure my mouth just dropped; however, I couldn't help but laugh. I was really just a face to them that represented this aide. So after we blessed the land they were going to build on and they gave me some nice indigo tissue, we had a huge feast and I even got to eat fries! Back to the seminar in Mamou. It was a great time. It was the first time my whole group was together again and it was so great to see everyone. The seminar was so we could get an idea for our secondary projects. I have started two thus far. I teach English now, twice a week. They love it! I wish they were as enthusiastic about learning chemistry as they are about learning English. This past week I had my first girl's club, which was available to all the girl's in my school. We went over the type of things they wanted to talk about and next week we are talking about HIV/AIDs. I'm also doing some hunting for soccer jerseys for the girls. And last night, I got the chance to talk to our SED APCD about the possibility of getting a well for the school. So I am very excited about all these projects.
Everything is going very well. I really love Mombeya and the people there. Also, my French is getting better and I've been able to communicate more with my students. I have even started learning some Pular so I can greet the older women in my village. They think it's hilarous when I try and speak Pular. I also got a cat last month. His name is Caty. He is very cute and he loves eating those huge lizards, so it's been nice having him around. My host mom finally had her baby. A boy, who they call my husband. He is adorable. And some other excited news: I have reception at my house now so that's been great. So my new number (yet again) is 62978615.
Thanks to everyone for staying in touch with me by e-mails, mail, and phone calls. I love hearing from all you guys. Anyway, I love and miss you all very much and I promise I will be better at blogging.