Been here for a week...

Hello everyone,
This is the first contact I've had with the internet since I left Canada and I am thrilled to touch technology! I arrived in N'Djamena last Saturday evening and left the following day for Abeche, now home to me. It's about an 850 km drive that took nearly 2 full days of driving. The first day was spent watching the herds of goats and cattle go by as shepherd boys took care of them. We also passed village after village of thatched houses with fields of millet (like corn) surrounding them. That first night was spent in a small town where we slept beneath the stars and I enjoyed my first Chadian meal of macaroni and some sauce which we all ate from the same tray.

Our second day of driving was through the mountainous region of Chad in the beginning and towards the end of the day we encountered scores of camel herds led by nomads. One of the WEC missionaries travels with them from time to time. We also enjoyed wildlife of monkeys and vultures- my favourite;). We arrived to a wonderful meal that night at my new home in Abeche. I live with 2 Americans who are both here long term as well as a Swiss girl, Mirjam, who teaches the other WEC missionary family here. We share a room and it is wonderful to have someone to relate to.

The rest of my week here has been fairly relaxed, I have not yet started teaching (I did a few short hours). I have also visited the market a few times where I purchased my Lafaya, a head to toe veil. It definitely adds to the heat! We never leave without covering our heads and a good part of our arms though. I also have been learning a few Arabic words and have been getting used to African French. I have also rode on a clandeau and rickshaw (taxis!!, motorcycles and motorized buggys).

The next two weeks are the Chad WEC Conference here in Abeche. The second week is business talk and so Mirjam and I will be leading the Children's Program for that week as we are only short termers.

I am looking forward to teaching but it's nice to relax and get to know people as well. I would love to hear from everyone. Please use my gmail account!!! I can not open my hotmail account. I also have a phone and you can get that number from my mom or Andrea (if that's your better option). I'm also hoping to get a cell phone soon (everyone has them here).