Close of Service Conference

Hello all and my apologies for being so long since I last wrote.

I'm currently at my Close of Service Conference at a fancy hotel on the river. Three days of half protocal, half our little bit of luxary at the end of a hard core two years.

This is just to quickly write that my spirits are up and so is my motivation. A lot has been going on in the last month. I've been feeling much better about where I am with my serivce, even after some additional and interesting turns in the road. Projects are going well and even some things are starting to fall into place for my transition back into the US. Really, I can't help but enjoy my time here now. The weather is a bit more manageable, and I am truly feeling like I'm really part of my host family, albeit some squabbles that I hope I get a chance to touch on later. Tomorrow I have to say goodbye to Hunter, fellow volunteer who has become a brother to me. That'll be the start, a tough one for the start. Five of us who had become particularly close got together for a picnic dinner on the top of the grand plateau, watching the sunset over the city of Bamako and talking about the last two years and the future. Then Hunter had a crazy dance party with his community and a bunch of PCVs who came in. Dance/sheep-slaughtering party I should say. Gotta keep it native.

My journal is filled with more adventures- a huge change in our malnutrition program, more "mice" in my house, encounters with traditional healers... but without a computer here it is hard to keep you all updated. My camera is filled with pictures that this internet can't share with all. So I will try try try to post blogs, pictures etc in the next few days. But, I also need to be present here. Close of Service is a big deal, and I don't want to miss much time spending with my friends here. Just know I'm doing well and I'm thinking about you all and we'll catch up soon.

And I'm looking for a travel buddy who wants to go to Uganda at the end of August. Think about it :)

Peace-
Emily