The count down is now

Folks-
I have not written on this thing for a while, for that I apologize. I went back to America for the month of Aug, saw many people and ate some good food. I may be difficult to live and work again in American after being here for so long. I got back at the beginning of Sept after spend a few days in Dakar, Senegal- -having meetings with PC staff and volunteers up there in hopes of creating a volunteer based collaboration between Senegal and The Gambia (which I am told after the fact is basically already in place but I don't see it because that only involves the 'higher' volunteers in country).
When I got back to The Gambia, it was really hard to adjust back to life here after being in America for 30-ish days. In America, one can purchase anything of need at any time of the day at nearly any story near your house of record. That doesn't exist where I live here; I have to plan weeks ahead of time to buy a package of noodles to make spaghetti. Think about it if you have ever traveled to even Mexico, it's a shock to come back home, to your couch or your pet dog and your latte at your nearest Starbucks. Needless, I still haven't recovered from after I got back, and it may be difficult coming back when I am done in April.
Since Sept, I've been getting my work restarted and off the ground again, at the same time trying to get the work and project sustainable so I can leave it behind in 5 months, and at the same time thinking about, reading about, and starting to apply for my life after Peace Corps- -which that in itself is a terrify thought. Getting a real job? Grad school? Extending here? Extending somewhere else? Volunteering for the UN or some of aid agency? As of this past week I am pretty certain I will get a MA in International Sustainable Development, and get a certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies. (by definition it means this, hit this link: http://www.iisd.org/sd/). 'So, what will you do with this Travis?' you rightfully ask yourself as you read this. Well, I have no clue. I have ideas, but my grad schools will most likely keep me in the States, but work and my passions may take me abroad. Work may be working for USAID or for UN (like UNICEF or WFP), I feel that aid money is being utilized is unnecessary with costs us as American millions a year. I want to change how aid money and community development is implemented. So there's that.
Work is going. My Boys Club fell apart, simply because the boys don't want to meet anymore. My road project in my village is still at the beginning stages, and will most likely be that way til I leave. The road project with Engineers Without Borders is going as well, with the engineers coming in Jan to start fixing the road. Overall, the powers that be are not utilizing my experience and knowledge of being here and in development work, so I will just put in my time with the project and wash my hands of it. The bike pedal powered millet milling machine, well, I had a meeting about that with my counterpart today actually. Turns out that I don't think we can reproduce the entire machine here in this country, this creating another road block...I think I have a solution because that is what my Dad taught me and that's how my brain works...but it that project is, like the others, are still in the beginning stages. My main projects here never lifted off the ground, funny how much that happens in West Africa. I wont blame anyone or anything. I feel accomplished. Just tired, burnt out, ready to move on with my life. I've been here from almost 2 whole years now, away from the people that love me the most and who understand me the best. I am sure you all have missed me as much as I've missed you.
The rainy season is done, then it get really got in sept and oct. Nov should be cold, like 85 during the day and 75 at night, thus using a blanket at night which will be nice. My host family is well, my parents back in the States are helping me to assist two of my host siblings pay for their fees,putting them through school...education is above anything else is invaluable, which anyone can carry with them throughout their lives. (thanks mom and dad!)
what else is going on. oh, I am assisting in training the new PCVs that are coming tomorrow, they will replace my group when we leave in April. I am training the Trainees in culturally appropriate condom demonstration, and bed net dipping and how to make a local mosquito repellent. should be good times, hopefully leave a mark on new volunteers as the embark on their 'saving the world' journey just before I end my own.
there is an All Volunteer meeting mid this month, and then a few days later i'll do my session to train the new Trainees, then go back to site. I will most likely spend Thanksgiving at my village, we will have a big Thanksgiving dinner during out All Vol meeting. Nov is busy, it will fly by. Dec may calm down a bit, but a lot of volunteers will go home for the holidays.
i'm drinking cold water right now. it tastes amazing. earlier I had a cold water, a cola flavored juice mix and some gin from a local gin packet (which are rancid). I may invest in some cashew liquor. anyway, cold water is lovely, I'm tired of semi-cold water.
love you all, keep me in your thoughts
Trav