Site placement!

This afternoon, after making us wait an agonizing 90 minutes, Peace Corps finally gave us the news we’ve all been waiting for: our site assignments! Though there was no shortage of speculation and flat-out rumor as far as placement, nothing could have really prepared us for the results, and none of the “theories” we developed actually held up. In any case, I’m really excited to be going to KAYES, the westernmost region of Mali (and home to the hottest inhabited place on Earth, the city of Kayes–thanks to many rich mineral deposits that trap heat in the earth). Kayes covers a huge land area, though, and touches Mauritania, Guinea, and Senegal. I’m replacing a volunteer who left a year ago, and has left me with two moderately-furnished thatched roof huts.

I can’t give too many details about my village on my blog, but it’s quite small–under 1000 people–and I will not have electricity or running water, just as suspected.  The village wants me to focus on maternal and child health issues especially, with prenatal consultations and malnutrition education as primary foci. They’re also eager for me to possibly work with health education in the local schools, which I find a pretty exciting prospect as it is a chance to incorporate my interest in youth and get creative with health activities for a younger audience.

I will be traveling to my village on Wednesday for 7 days of fun! (mostly to set up house, establish my bank account, and meet the local important people, so that the moment when I get dropped off all by my lonesome in the village is not quite so shock-inducing). More details to come!