Noon

Yes, that's right, on my Peace Corps service clock it is actually noon. A few seconds beyond, if we're going to be exact. I knew that this day was coming but it's like one year of anything, as soon as you think it's just getting going, it's gone. As of September the 5th I am officially a second year volunteer. It's strange to think of it like that. Almost all of the training class before me has left to go other places, some have gone home, others have found jobs in other areas of the world, and a few are extending their Peace Corps service in other countries. Here are some highlights of my Peace Corps service thus far:
- Biking 35 miles.
- Eating with my hands
- Taking a 9 hour taxi ride
- My cat having a total of 8 kittens (only half way through)
- Living without running water
- Listening for the delicious sound of yams being pounded
- The drumming coming from the Christian Celeste church next door
- Having the ability to tell a man who has asked me to marry him that I could only take him as a second husband and that I would be a bad wife as I can't cook, I can't do laundry and I refuse to haul wood or fire, and I don't ever want to have children.
- Girls Camp
- Teaching women about the glories of mud stoves
- Attempting to teach women how to crochet with plastic bags
- The taxi ride from Djougou to Bassila, I avoid this at all costs
- West African clothing
- Drinking local beer
- All beer comes in liter bottles for less than a dollar, when I went home I felt that the bottles were way to small, and the beer too expensive.
- Feeling like I was melting due to the heat
- Figuring out how to cook good food with what I have available
- Reading, a lot
- Expanding my vocab because of reading

And last but not least:
Sharing my experience with the world through my blog has been a great source of support. When I went home for vacation I began to realize just how many people read my blog on a regular basis. I had people come up to me and ask about certain posts, it was great to know that there are a big group of people who follow my story. Thanks everyone!