I know I promised you new blogs back in April, when I had high hopes and access to internet, but I failed you all. Since that point, I've been meaning to write a series of blogs, but the more I procrastinated, the more daunting the task became. I have hopes of catching you up on all my comings and goings, however, life keeps happening. SO, I'm writing a cliff notes version of the noteworthy events in my life since April and including pictures! Forgive me and enjoy =)
We left off with me getting funding for the well, so lets start from there.
The well commenced. I purchased 20 sacks of cement and lots of rebar thanks to Appropriate Projects and Six Senses Resort & Spas (who funded my project). There was singing and dancing when we began. It was completed before I left for America.
Baby Amadou turns 1!!! I can't believe I've been involved in almost every step of his life this year. I've never watched a child grow up (in an everyday capacity). I was there when he learned to sit, when he learned to crawl, when he learned to stand, and when he took his first steps. I don't know what's going to happen when I come home and don't have him as a constant companion (maybe I'll just take him home with me....).
Kolda Foire. The three volunteers in Kolda organized a fair in Kolda to bring together people from various sectors in the region of Kolda. It went really well and our country director Chris Hedrick came down for it.
Demyst. I had the pleasure of demysting one of Kolda's newest volunteers, Sharon. It seemed like yesterday that I was visiting my village for the first time. I didn't feel remotely qualified to talk to a new volunteer about life as a volunteer, but as time went on, I realized how much I've learned in this past year and what progress I've made.
Dakar. After Demyst, I went up to Dakar for my mid service medical examination and to catch my flight back home. It was a bittersweet time in Dakar because a lot of the older volunteers were COSing (Close of Service) and leaving Senegal. These were my mentors, the people who taught us about building mud stoves, wells, and latrines. It was at this point that I felt that I was an "older" volunteer.
HOME! Home was amazing! I'm just going to repeat my facebook status...778 hours, 2 weddings, 3 birthdays, a graduation, the glee concert, a baseball game, tons of great friends, a bunch of delicious drinks, lots of good food, and 7 pounds. So good!
I'm BACK. I return to the land of peanuts and mangoes at the end of May. I went to Malaria Boot Camp for a day to support my Amanda Wybolt in the first of many trainings. She is working on the new Stomping Out Malaria initiative which is working to eraticate Malaria in 25 countries in Africa. It was really inspiring to see volunteers from other countries involved and working towards the same goal.
Well #2. I returned to Senegal a millionaire. I wish this was actually true, but I did have a million CFA in my bank account due to the fact that my grant money came in for my garden project. I return to my village and frantically coordinate the beginning of my garden well. The well needed to be dug before the rains commenced, while the rest of the project didn't need to be completed urgently. The first week I was back, I held multiple meetings and bought all the supplies, and was a flurry of activity.
Wedding Season. It's wedding season in Senegal! One of my really good friends in village married another one of my friends in village in the middle of June. This was the first time that I was a part of the entire three day celebration. Usually, I see one day of it- either when the bride leaves the village or when the bride arrives in village. This was the best wedding I've been to in Senegal. There have been two other weddings in my village, including the wedding of my best friend. It's upsetting because my friends keep leaving me.
INDEPENDENCE! July 4th involves a trip to Kedougou. I wrote a post about this last year. This year, I went and saw a waterfall and had a fabulous outfit (I know...I look like wonder woman).
Sick. This past week in village has been miserable. I've had work to do, so I needed to stay in village, but I was sick with a 102 fever at one point. That day, I was laying in bed in the middle of the afternoon and my family would periodically check up on me. When I told them I had a fever, they told me I had Malaria. I didn't think I had Malaria until the third person said so, and then I became slightly worried. I consulted our "Staying Healthy in Senegal" Manual and it said that when on Prophylaxis, flu like symptoms could be a early sign of Malaria. I also had the symptomatic chills, fever, and sweating. That night, I seriously considered calling med claiming that I had Malaria, but thank goodness I waited because the next morning I realized that I had convinced myself that I had Malaria and that I probably didn't have the disease (I did send off a frantic text message to a friend though).
I've been doing a lot of neem lotion and malaria talks and will be helping out with a Malaria tournee next week. That's the extent of things in my life- Cliff Notes style.
Till next time (which hopefully won't be 3 months from now).
Peace & Health
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