Hello everybody, I'm sorry that it took so long for me to contact you guys. We have five computers and 150 volunteers. For those of you who don't watch the news, some recent fighting in the Ivory Coast has forced Peace Corps to temporarily leave the country. You should really watch the news.
So, lets see. Almost everyone (PCVs) are out of Cote d'Ivoire. There were a few that were stuck upcountry because there was no gas left, but the embassy and the French and American troops are working to get them out. News is calling it a coup d'etat but, but there's no one presenting themselves to take power. The rebels are just saying that they don't want Gbagbo to be in power any more. And as they continue around the country, taking power in more cities, they're tring to get civilian backup to say that they need to oust the president. My region is one of the few that has not yet been attacked... I think that it's because they're crazy violent and the current president is of their ethnic group.... so I think they'll give the most of a fight before giving in.
It's hard to get a straight answer on what's going on, and there are so many sides to all of the stories and background histories to all of the struggles... right now we just want to make sure that all of our buddies are safe. We're staying at a beautiful hotel and Accra is a very nice city, but English in Ghana is more difficult to understand than French in my village.
We have not been officially "evacuated" because that word is a special term used only when the country program has been cancelled. Peace Corps is still hoping, at this point, that things will calm down and we can go back in a couple of weeks and finish our services. Time will tell.
I'll try to get on here as often as possible, but until then, take care everyone and hugs to you all.
Love, Erin
