This is great! Although I probably won't be contributing too regularly, since let's face it - I never have internet access. But it will be great to read through when I get the chance.

I am in Bamako right now. Was supposed to leave today for a 3 week trip to Malawi, Zambia and Botswana, only I started having chest pains last week and was brought into Bamako to see the cardiologist and get lots of blood drawn and whatnot. I am not having a heart attack. Unfortunately, since the chest pains have yet to go away, I was told no vacation. Which sucks. They are still trying to figure out exactly what it is. Could be my malaria medication (so I'm not taking that one anymore), could just be a strained muscle... I kinda don't have the greatest faith in medical personnel here anyway, so really who knows. In the meantime, I am trying to figure out what I am going to do with all the vacation days I now have to use... Christopher and I are thinking about a week in Paris in April. I also have friends leaving for Guinea next week, so if I am feeling better I might go with them. But I really wanted to see a Zebra :(

Other than that, things are ok. I am pretty much just biding my time until I can say goodbye to the Peace Corps, as are the majority of people I came in with. I have a project that will hopefully keep me busy from March until June, although that is far from a sure thing. I have become very cynical about development work. I think NGOs are doing everything wrong and ruining it for the rest of us who are trying to help. But I don't want to bitch about that here.

One of my best friends here in Peace Corps - who was my roommate at our staging in Philly and my roommate through training - got married to another Peace Corps Volunteer a few weeks ago at the Hand of Fatim. It was awesome. We got to rock climb and hike. I did not bring my camera to upload pictures, but I will post some perhaps tomorrow. And then a group of us went to see Elephants. Elephants are cool to look at, but only for maybe 20 minutes or so. They don't really do much.

Anyway, I hope all of you are fantastic. And I miss you. A lot. I'll try to write more before I head back to site.