First Installment

Welcome to my blog. I always had something of a contempt for traditional bloggers...why would you want to put the intimate details of your life online for all to see? The same reason some people post naked photos of themselves, with their faces blurred or cut off: a streak of exhibitionism in us all. I have reconciled myself to writing this, though, because it will be so much more convenient than sending mass e-mails, it won't clog your inbox, and this way you can invite all your friends and enemies to read about what I'm doing in Senegal!

Typical disclaimer: All opinions contained herein are the exclusive property of myself, and in no way reflect the beliefs or attitudes of the Peace Corps or the United States Government, nor any government entity in Senegal.

Okay, as you now know, this will be my online Peace Corps journal. There will be no juicy details of my personal musings or love life (if I ever have one again) so don't ask. I'll tell you if I want you to know. Instead, I intend it to be an edifying and fascinating discussion of my experiences with the Senegalese culture, along with long and boring descriptions of my daily activities. Yay!

I leave in just over two weeks. It feels like I will never actually be truly prepared, nor do I think I will realize the full implications of what I'm doing until they dump me off all by myself in a remote African village with 80 pounds and a carry-on. The irony is that I have spent quite a lot of money buying supplies, while going to a country where people have nothing like all the fancy REI stuff I now own. Well, we shall see.

To begin with, I'll start out training for two months in Thies (accent grave on the "e") I feel very lucky to know French already. I have this inkling that it may come in handy! Anyway, please write me letters or e-mails, but especially letters. There is something special about opening a letter, waiting for the right time when you have privacy to carefully tear apart the edges of the envelope, and draw out a paper that someone spend minutes of their day scribbling upon, and read news and thoughts that are many weeks old, yet still precious because whoever recorded them put their soul into it. Anyway, here is my address:

PCT Abigail Fay
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 299
Thies, Senegal
West Africa

Address things in red ink - apparantly, they look more official that way and are more likely to make it. I plan to write you all back, though the reliability of that may not be so good...depends on the mail system, which of course I have yet to experience. Trying not to think about that right now. Still in the USA for now, and trying to divide my time between all the important people in my life. There are so many! I'll miss you all.