Top 10

10 reasons I think I deserve to go on vacation:

1. I killed 5 mosquitoes, full from a night of feasting, this morning who took up residence inside my net.
2. When one rash goes away, another comes
3. My room leaks... a lot
4. Power outages all the time!
5. Many cancelled meetings because of rain
6. 3 books read in 3 days (I broke my computer and its getting fixed)
7. No compost site yet: we have no mayor so the job keeps getting passed on to the next guy
8. I rub deet mosquito repelent all over like body lotion daily
9. I sweat all the time
10. Havent been to France since Spring of 05... I'm due

Just 10 days until gelatto :P

The 10 things I need to do before I leave:

1. Meet with my host mom's womens group about funding a possible garden
2. Door to door trainings about composting (like all 40 will get done in the next week! not being negative... just realistic)
3. GET A COMPOST SITE which was supposed to happen like 2 weeks ago
4. Go to Thies: pick up my new pants and dress, see the host family, pick up my computer, check internet and meet a friend's mommy!
5. meet with a compost steering group: but they don't really know yet that they are in it so first I have to convince them to join the group and then to show up to the meeting... hmmm
6. plant a lime tree! host mom wants a new tree, i want something to do and host sister likes limes!
7. set up my room with many many buckets to catch the rain
8. make a list of everyone to buy gifts for in italy
9. call or visit all work partners!
10. PACK for the most amazing vacation of all time!

Have I mentioned that its just 10 days away? 10 days until:

1. I can wander around and not be stared at or called toubab
2. i dont have to tell anyone where i am going or where I am coming from
3. eat whenever i am hungry
4. stop eating whenever i am full
5. be confused when people speak a foreign language... wait a minute... but not get ridiculed when i dont understand
6. eat gelatto!
7. drink wine!
8. I wont have to greet and shake everyone hands whenever i walk into a room... even though i will have the tendancy to do it anyways!
9. i can expose my knees
10. i can opperate on my own schedule!!! yey!!

10 days friends. 10 days!