Niger’s Charm: Goats, Culture, and Everyday Wonders
This is our first overseas assignment with my husband’s new job and I have no idea what to expect. When most people think of Africa, certain images come to mind, and I can’t deny that, with two little ones in tow, I am nervous. Our older one, C, is two and a half at the start of this 2-year assignment and baby D is just barely 3 months old.
What were we thinking?!
That’s fair!
It’s now mid-August and we’re about 7 months into the assignment. While I can say I did worry about some things more than necessary, I do have to give myself grace for fearing the unknown as well as a major pat on the back for doing something most people would never dream of.
Our experience here has been so incredibly beautiful and positive. I mean sure, the heat is stifling and the mosquitos descend on C and I like something out of a horror film. But the kindness and generosity of the people and the slower pace of life make it all worthwhile.
Moving here has pushed us out our comfort zones like never before. We are having to work and parent in French, which we didn’t know a word of before getting here. C is attending daycare fully in French and thriving there.
We’ve had the opportunity to experience a part of the world that the West generally writes off. And I can confidently say our lives are richer for it.
We’ve seen donkeys and camels walking on the main street right past the US Embassy. We’ve had cows and goats grazing on the Embassy lawn. It’s refreshing seeing these animals working with their owners to make their lives better through industry and not used as a gimmick for tourists.
We’ve been invited to participate in local customs like Muslim holidays and while the celebration was very different from anything I’m used to, I appreciated the generosity of being extended an invitation.
We’ve experienced a dust storm typical of the Sahel, and wow was it amazing to see the skies turn a darker and darker red until everything was pitch black before clearing back up just a few minutes later.
I’ve also noticed that it’s incredibly common to have your clothes tailor-made for you, rather than going to the market for new clothes. I appreciate that they value slow fashion, especially since the cheap prices of fast fashion can be so enticing.
We’ve seen herds of sheep and goats with their kids walking down our street right through the middle of a group of young children playing soccer in the red sand.
We’re even temporarily fostering a local grassland tortoise! Their species is endangered but Hamish is now living the good life in our yard.
Next year, we’ll explore even more of this incredible continent. But for now, we’re soaking in everything that Niamey has to offer.
So what does all of this have to do with crochet?!
During our months in Niger, I’ve particularly loved watching the goats on my way to and from C’s school. They stroll down the middle of the street like they own the place!
Our next-door neighbors have several, and I adore hearing their bleating conversations from our yard. Inspired by these charming creatures, I’ve decided that the first addition to the Travel Collection will be a goat snuggler.
This goat snuggler with its soft, cuddly texture and gentle expression, is more than just a crochet stuffy. It’s also a memory of the vibrant life here in Niamey. Every stitch reflects the warmth we’ve experienced here and I hope it brings you that same comfort and joy.
If you love the collection but don’t need any crochet items, I’m going to have something special for you too! Each crochet piece in the collection (in Niger’s case, for example, my goat snuggler) will also be available as adorable illustrations. Based on your feedback, these designs will come along as stickers, digital clipart, stationery, or other charming items. I want to make sure that anyone that wants to support the Travel Collection can do so.
If you’d like to learn more about about this segment of my shop, which is dedicated to both curated and unique designs inspired by our global adventures, click here to visit my main advocacy page. And remember, 15% of all sales from this collection go towards supporting global communities, so your purchase makes a difference in more ways than one.
If you’d like to bring this little guy home and help support the global community to boot, you can purchase your very own Georgie goat snuggler.
Thank you for joining me on this journey and for supporting Cozy Daisy Stitchery. Your involvement not only brings a touch of global inspiration to your home but also contributes to meaningful change. I can’t wait to share more from our travels and the creative sparks they ignite. Stay tuned for more stories and designs as we continue exploring the world, one stitch at a time.
Whisked away in whimsy,
Stephanie