I know it seems like just yesterday for some of you, but I have now been in Mauritania for just over a year. Whoever said that time flies when you're having fun was only half right. Time flies not only when you are having good days, but also when you are having some not so good days.
In retrospect, I must say that the past 12 months living and working in one of the poorest and harshest countries in the world has overall been a rather positive experience at least on a personal level. As far as work is concerned, unfortunately, I have been less successful. Too many roadblocks, too much corruption, too little interest, and too few willing to make a commitment to a long-term project. Who can blame them though when trying to feed their families and make it through to the next day are survival skills that matter much more than a project I may envision. Despite the frustrations involved in my work, I am hopeful that my newly-acquired understanding of the disconnect between the needs of local citizens and the concern and/or resources of developing country governments will aid me in my future work once I return to the States. If along the way I can share a bit of my life and culture with friends and family here in Mauritania, all the better. In fact, I am pretty certain that is the only lasting impression I will leave here.
Of course, now that the new group of volunteers has arrived in Kaedi for training, I have many more opportunities to impart my vast expertise and knowledge of Mauritanian culture to fresh faces. Note the sarcasm in that expression! The newbies look to us as seasoned veterans full of information and infinite wisdom. What they don't realize, however, is that after a year, we still don't know much more than they do now. Granted, I make fewer cultural faux pas, but I still have a long way to go before I can begin to have a better understanding of exactly what I am supposed to be doing here and how I can improve the disastrous health system. These are objectives I know will never be met during my service, but then again, I also know that I will gain much more from my experience here than I will ever possibly give back. Here's looking forward to the next 12 months and beyond--may they be fulfilling and exciting!
Until next time,
Janine
