Happy Anniversary!

Well it is hard to believe, but today marks my fourth year anniversary in Niger! 

Earlier this week, I read through my blog post after my first day in Niger.  I wrote the following:

I left Calgary at -7 degrees (thankfully during a chinook) and arrived in Niamey at 37.8 degrees!! phew, it is hot here!

• as mentioned, the sand is red
• there appears to be no traffic rules or respect of lanes (defensive driving is taken to a whole new level over here!)
• garbage burning on the street
• goats, chickens, dogs and donkeys all over the road (the donkey actually stops for the cars when it gets close - eg: 1 foot away)
• vendors on the side of the road and walking up and down the road . . . beggars on the side of the road
• bright colourful african dresses
• small grass huts beside huge houses

Currency exchange!!!

I was lent money for the day, until I exchange my euros. My colleague gave me $10,000 - figured that would be enough for one day! Today I spent $5000 - to buy shampoo, conditioner, box of kleenex and a pack of gum. This would be about $12 CDN. 675 francs will buy a can of corn.

Well, today, my anniversary day, the temperature is slightly cooler. It is currently 25 degrees and cloudy (though it is first thing in the morning, versus an afternoon comparison). In the peak of the afternoon, the temperature reading was: 42 degrees!


I believe that it is likely snowing in Calgary (based on a forecast I heard earlier in the week)!

• the sand is still red . . . though, now, I would call the colour orange
• garbage still burns on the street
• I have learned to watch out for the donkeys . . . . they rarely stop for vehicles. Neither do the sheep. But the goats usually run away - just make sure the baby goats don't run in front in the process of running away, to their mothers.
• The cows often stop at the sides of the highway to wait for vehicles . . . but not always!
• the vendors still walk down the road with their wares - I call them walking walmart
• the beggars are still on the side of the road as well
• the clothes are still bright and colourful
• the houses are getting bigger and the huts more numerous

As for the currency exchange - this has changed! 5,000 francs will now just buy shampoo and conditioner. In fact, the other day I saw a bag of TIDE - the cost for such luxury was equivalent to $45 CDN! Needless to say, I purchase the local cheaper brand.


And I am still in love with Niger, the people, the culture and what I get to do here.


Should the internet cooperate, here are a few of my favourite photos of the last four years:

Wordless Wednesday

Little Souley

It was at this time last year that I wrote a story about a starving baby and a milk goat.  Little baby Souley was born in October 2010, but his mother was unable to breastfeed the child.  I watched each week and month as Souley got weaker and skinnier.  A teammate visited the mother and family with me one day and gave some advice on how to breastfeed so that the mother's milk would come in - but all for naught. 

I suggested that the baby be fed goat's milk, as cow's milk was not good for his little stomach and digestive process.  The response came back that there was no goat and no funds available with which to purchase goat's milk each day . . . the family was doing what they could with their limited resources.  As the Fulani own many cows, that milk was readily available.

Shortly after this, Souley was admitted to the hospital for a month and gained a little weight on the formula that he was fed.  After this month, he was still a skinny little guy - with so little weight on him that the hospital refused to give him the vaccinations necessary at his age.

I bought a milk goat with its kid and gave this as a loaner animal according to the custom of the Fulani:

The village chief and the mother were so appreciative of this gift - and the next day, I was proudly told that the goat had been milked both the night before and that morning . . . and Souley had drank this milk until he was full!

Later in the Spring, this little family moved back out to their home - a village area about 15 kilometres North of Niamey.  This goat went along to continue to provide milk for Souley and the start of a herd for this mother.  I didn't see Souley again until November last year - and the difference was amazing:

Awkwardly, the whole Fulani village now calls me his mother . . . as I was the one to "feed" him in his infancy.  Even his mother will ask him "Where is your mother?"  As he no longer lives in town, I don't see this little guy often enough for him to recognize me - so the chance to hold him is rare.  In fact, this day, he was plopped in my arms while his mother was off drawing water from a well about a kilometre away.  He was only content to sit with me until she returned. 

It was such a joy to hold this little boy - now a decent size for the toddler that he is. He has a long way to go - he is showing signs of malnourishment and in another year of food insecurity, this is unlikely to change. However, he has made it to his first birthday and is well on his way to survival.  He crawls around, following his older brother and I hope soon to see little Souley healthy enough to walk.

Wordless Wednesday