i need your help/some photos

All that food right before bed during Ramadan has prompted my dormant insomnia to come raging back full force. Fortunately, as a result of all that extra time laying around in bed I've come up with a pretty cool (i think) project. What's cool about it is that it involves you guys, my dear readers- my most beloved friends and family-and everyone else in America that reads this. I know you guys are all so proud of me and so impressed and blah blah blah so here is a cheap and fun way to help me out plus you get something in return:

You send me a postcard from wherever you live in the good ole US of A and (on the same day i recieve it!) I will send you one from Senegal.

The whole point of this is to promote the second and third goals of the Peace Corps which involve cultural exchange. I plan on getting all the postcards together and showing them to the school kids in my neighboorhood while matching up the locations on a map. Cool right? You get a postcard from Africa and my young friends here get to see America. As my work here progesses I can use the postcards as a learning tool in classrooms once school starts again, in girl's and boy's clubs, in the english club at the high school, etc. I'm really excited about this and I hope you are able to help me out! Postcards cost $0.98 to send and they usually cost about a dollar at most. The kids here don't usually get to see images of America except through TV maybe. Schoolbooks here are scarce and so are magazines and other reading material. Part of the reason I'm here is to teach people about America and how great it is there so I'm hoping you'll give me the oppurtunity to do exactly that! Thanks!

My address:
Jessica Goza
BP 325
Kaolack, Senegal
West Africa

And here are some photos b/c a blog without photos sucks:




They got me to wear orange. This was at a TB event. All the volunteer health workers (relais) wore matching fabric. I look silly.


well i guess one photo since i haven't figured out picasa yet.

gratitude

before i write another post about what's going on over here i'd like to take some time/space to very publicly thank all the lovely people in america that have sent me things through the mail. i appreciate each and everything thing so incredibly much in ways that i don't think my dear readers can comprehend. i love coming into town and picking up a little piece of america, a reminder that people still care about me and that i haven't been forgotten. that sounds melodramatic, i know, but it's true. so THANK YOU SO MUCH. getting mail, email, phone calls brings me more joy and comfort than anything else.

MOM and DAD- thank you so much for the THREE packages i've received so far. i know they cost a fortune but i was so happy to opem them up! the banana costume has been a huge hit and of course, there are always so many things i NEED packed in there. you two know what i like and you send it over and i don't even have to ask. you're the best.

SISSY- TWO PACKAGES from my broke ass new college grad sister. full of food! materials to make spam masubi!, things to put on my wall, and sweet notes. i love you so much! and i got your postcard too!

ARMAND- you know how much i loved that enormous 20 pound monstrosity! i've been wearing the watch everyday, carry the water bottle with me everywhere and i'm slowly working through the drink packets and granola bars. the gumballs were a huge hit with the kids and the candy was a huge hit with me.

KAMMIE- you send the classiest package of all. i've never seen so much expensive candy all in one box. i'm breaking out the ferraro rochers for a special occasion. everything else i've ravaged in middle of the night hunger attacks. and like i've told you, i read that damn US weekly you sent about 6 times and had it memorized before another volunteer asked me for it!

RAINA- you really outdid yourself this last time. not only was that box filled to the bring with delicious snacks that i didn't even know that i wanted, you threw in a great selection of magazines, a santa cruz weekly, and best of ALL LETTERS AND NOTES FROM YOU AND FAMILY MEMBERS!!!! i will be rereading them over and over again during the rest of my service. very encouraging!

MICHAEL FARLEY- i LOVE the raiders banner. seriously. i'm going to miss the games this season and all the highs and lows of being a raider's fan. i also love things i can put on my wall to decorate my room. this is great!

BRIAN R. and ELAINE S.- got your post cards and they are beautiful. i'm putting them up in a special place for postcards and things from around the world. thank you for thinking of me and while you're on your own adventures!


So here is a small picture of me with one of my favorite children. she is a perfect angel and i'd bring her with me everywhere i went if i could. see how nicely she fits on my back?

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

i really love you guys and wish i could send you gifts of equal value in return but this what you're getting for now. i swear there has to be a special place in heaven for those who send things to peace corps volunteers. i know it's expensive and it's a pain in the ass to put everything together and get the the post office but it is appreciated and it makes me feel loved. thanks, again.