one month in.

My mother tells me that I need to post more.

She's probably right - but sometimes, it's still difficult to find the words to capture what it is like to live and work here. It's been just over a month since I arrived - some days it feels like I've been here forever, and some days it feels like I just stepped off the plane yesterday.

Here are a few of the things I've discovered over the last several weeks:

• Bean sandwiches can actually be good. My sister (who traveled to Gabon with me last year) doesn't believe me - but I think it's all about where you get them. Never get them with mayo, though - since it's been sitting outside all day.
• I no longer feel the need to shower the second I sweat even a little. Because otherwise, I would be showering all the time.
• I can understand far more French than I would have thought I could, and I can sometimes even speak enough French get my point across to others. This is probably due more to their patience than any ability on my part.
• It is actually possible to be cold when living on the equator. Honest.
• The lack of personal space doesn't (usually) bother me much anymore. So when I come back to the U.S., if I'm standing too close while we're talking, don't take it personally, ok?
• I can manage to swallow (and sometimes choke down) lots of foods that I really don't like. I still can not choke down fish.

Help me out with ideas of more things to write about - what do you want to know?