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: