New Year?

While in Niger, I didn't get the chance to post as much as I would have liked to, but fear not, I'll try catching us up over the next few days. But for now I'll bring you to my present state of being...

Tomorrow I will begin participation in a workshop called Designing Behavior Change. About ten other volunteers and accompaning Beninese work partners will be attending the conference. While I'm excited about the practical techniques that I'll pick-up at the workshop, I'm apprehensive about what tomorrow signifies. Tomorrow is like the first day of school for my work life in Benin... What do I mean by that? The day before schools starts you're excited about seeing your school buddies again, eating cafeteria food, learning new things, but you're also nervous about the new teacher, who exactly will be in your class, if you can handle the work load, and if the cafeteria will still serve diced chicken. In the land of Benin for a Natural Resource Advisor October is the month in which work bursts forth like algae blooms. October is the month when school tends to start, thus school environmental clubs become part of our schedule and we start hanging out with some amazing young people. The rains begin to cease their falling, and in their place people begin dropping seeds into their gardening terrain; people gardening means you start advising and forming gardening groups, which likely means meeting new people. In short, tomorrow will be the beginning of a busy work season. I'll go to the conference get back to post and throw myself into the start of work load October brings,whilst continuing my waste management activities. October marks the beginning of a new work year, and just like the night before the first day of school, brings shivers of excitement and fears about one's possible social or task related failing. God willing, this work year will be a-OK, as it has been each school year.

Niamey, Niger

I've been in Niger a couple of days so far. I've found the people to be extraordinarily nice, and not so agressive about saying hello and selling things, as in Benin; and I've found the transportation to be tiring and time-consuming for non-distance related issues. But really it's a cool place to be visiting.
The architecture has an obvious Islamic influence - with curves and grandeur that comes from the minds of people who think things like the Taj Mahal into existence. This is notable even through the landscaping efforts made, there's something garden-esque about how they go about arranging plants and pathes - it's quite wonderful.
Since I've been here I've seen the Grand Mosque, Grand and Petite Marche (Markets), visit a diversity filled market in Ballayera (I hear people come from Algeria even!), I've riden a horse at the racetrack and a camel in Balleyera, and have chilled with some Toureg artisans in Niamey. I'm quite happy about it all, and definitely enjoying the company of my friend Diane too!
I'll keep you posted! Love and care until... Joc

Ramadan

Right now, Beninese Muslims are in the midst of the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the month in which it is believed that Mohammed started recieving the Qu'ran. During this month Muslims fast (of both drink and food) each day from sunrise until sunset. They can eat inbetween these times. There is a meal after about seven pm and one before morning prayer around five am.
It is interesting and challenging to see the fidelity of many Muslims during this month. A dear friend of mine invited me to join in the fast for a day and I decide that I'd do it for the period of time I'm at post before going on vacation - It'll be about five days. I'm doing it with Christian intentions in mind, but I do enjoy the communal nature of the month.
This month is supposed to be a month of charity and acts of kindness. The meals at dawn and daybreak include many, and as my friend says, we eat in community. My grandmother in village told me to give her lait sucre - sugary concentrated milk. I didn't get why she chose to ask for that, but then it was explained that people were gifting one another with it for the tea that many take during eating hours. People also mentioned giving money to the poor and alms in general as a necessary part of this period. Ramadan is a period in which a whole community is sort of positively affected by one another's kind intentions, and acts of togetherness.
I don't think I understood that Ramadan was meant to be so communal originally though. People in explaining what the month is about tell me that it gets them into paradise. And now after having formally looked up Ramadan, I find it's true. The kind acts, fasting and asking for forgiveness are supposed to clear all of one's sins and open up the gates of paradise for a person. But I too have seen that Ramadan shows that love is what gets one into heaven. While I might not believe this in a cut and dry way myself, I must admit that I think this is a good sort of morality. I can't frown heavily upon a people who make holy a month committed to acts of kindnesses, self-control, remembering and renewing their relationship with their god, and practicing patience. And so today, I refocus my own fast with my new knowledge of Ramadan. I had considered it important to remember God more at this time, and practice self control and sacrifice, but I want to act out my faith in a more disciplined, yet loving way through intentional acts of kindness, increased prayer, patience (something I've been trying to increase in general) and communion with others our God has created.
Please pray for me in this endeavor. For more information on Ramadan and its significance, feel free to Wiki it as I did! :)