Have returned back to Bafia and I find myself happy to be here....I guess the rain and outdoor latrine was starting to get to me.  Bafia is hotter and a little dryer so I can actually dry my clothes outside and they dry within a couple of days.....must dry indoors most of the time in Batie and so it takes long time...oh well, I'm sure I will become accustomed.  I'm looking forward to making that house my own and settling in.  I'm learning about all the different posts my friends experienced.  People posted on the sides of mountains (north west) with gorgeous views and people in the extreme north which is hell to get to (two days traveling by car, bus, taxi, moto and train) but really interesting muslim culture and hot hot hot! I'm am going to be visiting a lot. My volunteer in Batie threw a party (it seems mine is the party house...how appropriate) and I met many of the volunteers in surrounding towns...really fun! and they spent the night.  I'm looking forward to doing that. There is a great deal of crushing poverty (its no secret) here but people bear up under it pretty well.  They always seem to have enough to eat but little else. They always walk around looking all dolled up in their pagne and clean shoes despite the very muddy conditions (especially in batie).  I gotta figure out how they do that. I'm the one who looks beat and dirty all the time.....  People are always asking for money and stuff and are prone to steal, so I have to be very careful.  If you give anyone anything, the whole village will show up at your door asking for their part. They also have a tendancy to yell "la blanche, la blanche" at me often...(hey white woman, hey)...It doesn't bother me too much, but the volunteers that have been here for a while tell me it's hard to live with after a while.  Right now, I just smile and say bonjour....later I picture jumping on top of the offender yelling "My names NOT LA BLANCHE!!!!  whack whack  (Just a little humor)...oops gotta run....

I received three packages in the mail recently. Maryann, Mickey and Chris and Pat and Pam!  Thank you so much for all the treats, tootsie pops, chocolate covered almonds, beef jerkey and almonds (good protein action!!), hand sanitizer, food flavorings, measuring bottle etc etc.  You guys are the best.  I have shared some with rest of class and am told I have the BEST friends!!  I agree.  I know there are other packages coming.  It seems to be taking about a month so don’t worry yet….they usually do eventually arrive.  For you band geeks out there, I had to give a teaching presentation in using the Peace Corps style of teaching, and decided to use, “How to play the drums”.  I used the 3 sets of colorful sticks randy gave me to teach a simple pattern and then made a drum kit out of a roll of toilet paper, a french dictionary, a bag of tootsie pops, a soap holder and a pad of paper for a rousing finale to “Smoke on the Water”.  They loved it.  Oh, as regards packages, I noticed that the prices you have paid to send them was very high….which makes me appreciate you all the more!!! , but just know that it is much cheaper to ship if you use the Post Office system “If it fits it ships”…still not cheap, but much cheaper that what you fine friends paid!   Maybe squeeze stuff into the envelope or smallest box….un grand MERCI!!!  P