Daily Life

Before I came to Niger, I kept hearing that the Nigerien people are some of the kindest, warmest, and most beautiful people in the world. And it is definitely true. They have a saying here in Hausa, “your guest is your God,” and they take that to heart. Most people are willing to help if you are lost, especially in Hamdallaye where the people are used to having Americans around because Peace Corps training has been held here for years. The people are so eager to talk to us in the national languages (Hausa and Zarma) and they are so supportive when you succeed. A sense of humor is also needed when talking to Nigeriens. They love to joke, so it’s important to not take things personally and laugh with them, often at you too.
We also have a small following of kids in the village. They yell “fofo” (hello in Zarma) and run after us screaming it until we respond and wave back. Some of them have even memorized my Nigerien name so they yell that too. The best are the vendors who sell us breakfast in the morning. They are super friendly and like talking to us in the morning; this usually consists of all the typical greetings about your health, family, work, etc. Another fun thing is market day. Every Tuesday, hundreds of people come to Hamdallaye to sell and buy specific goods—like mats, fabrics, buckets, soap, and food. It can sometimes be overwhelming with all the people but it is quite the experience with all the people, colors, sounds, and smells. They do try to rip you off through since you’re an American and therefore have to have a lot of money. No worries though because we learned how to bargain in the different languages so we can get by.