First entry

Hello my fellow Blog readers! I sit here at home in good old Mason City, Iowa, awaiting my departure for Staging in Philadelphia. Staging is 3 days and is essentially the period where new Peace Corps Niger volunteers register and receive lots and lots of vaccinations. I'll be leaving for Philly sunday morning. After Staging, we all take a flight from Philadelphia to Charles de Gaulle in Paris. From there, we fly from Paris to Niamey, the capital of Niger. Then, I will have 9 weeks of training in the town of Hamdallaye where the Peace Corps training center is located. Hamdallaye is near Niamey, where I will receive language training in French, Hausa and Zarma. I will also receive cross-cultural training and technical training. After training (assuming I am officially sworn in as a volunteer), I will be sent to my post, which will most likely be in a small village in southern Niger. I am a CHA (Community Health Agent). Some of my duties will include educating the public, particularly women and children, about basic nutrition, maternal health, malaria prevention, and the importance of family planning. Internet access will undoubtedly be sporadic, particularly during my 9 weeks of training. Because I don't know where my assignment will be, I don't know what my address will be, but I will keep you all posted and will update this blog as much as I can. Also, another way to reach me will be via my primary email address at davidbell3@gmail.com. I will check my facebook whenever possible as well. Wish me luck and I will miss you all!!