Training is almost over... what now?

I just hit the wrong button on this irritating French keyboard (which isnt that bad anymore) and deleted almost an entire post. To start over...

Things are going MUCH better than my last post, youll be happy to know. Last week I hit a crippling low, but things are looking up now. As far as PC-related stuff is concerned, our training wraps up this week, with the notable dates being Thursday -- our language proficiency interview -- and Saturday, which marks our last day of class and the party for our duar (pronounced doo-ar), or neighborhood. Then its time to pack up and head out of the province for swear-in and to travel to our final sites! Its amazing how quickly the time is already flying.

In lifestyle news, the bugs have subsided! A big thank you goes out to my two best friends, cortizone creme and the collosal mosquito net which PC kindly provided me. I will never forget you.

Alright, for final site news: Im headed to the province of Tiznit, which is known for being the most conservative in the country (many men leave to find work elsewhere, leaving behind a bunch of women, who want nothing to do with your miniskirts and tube tops!). My village is 1200m -- almost 4000ft -- up in the Anti-Atlas Mountains, though being from Michigan, I have no idea what that means. The summers are arid and brutal, with water being a major issue in my community. The winters provide bitter cold according to the volunteer that Im replacing, though being from the Virgin Islands, Im hoping that her idea of bitter cold is really only 50 or 60 degrees.

While my carte de sejour will read health educator, the area of main concern in my village is waste removal (both solid and liquid). I know nothing about this topic just yet, but well see where the polluted road takes me. I love the idea of spreading the environmental love, so Im all for promoting non-littering campaigns, and working on things like waste-water treatment and disposal. Right now, however, my focus is on passing my language exam, swearing in, getting to my site and schmoozing as many Moroccans as possible until my language is up to snuff.

In an unrelated note, the mosque next to our school is small enough that anyone (any man... hmph) can do The Call (to prayer)... and this afternoon, my LCF did it! Very cool indeed; tbarkallah!