FALL! AUTUMN! My favorite season of the year. It certainly doesn't feel like October has come due to the 85 degree weather currently in Kolda. When it hit me that October was here, I was struck with an extreme case of homesickness. Obviously, since I've been here, I've missed my family and friends in America (and feeling clean & pretty), but this time it was different. Last week, I woke up with the sun and felt the crispness in the air. Thirty minutes later, I was sweating...Oh Senegal. spending a couple of days in my mini- America (aka the Kolda house), I've come up with a list of things I miss about fall in America at this point (not including people)...
1) Pumpkin items: You know fall has arrived in America when you can go to your local 'Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf' or 'Starbucks' and see the Pumpkin Spice Latte chalked onto the specials blackboard in addition to the appearance of Pumpkin scones in the pastry case. Then, you head to your favorite ice cream parlor and get a scoop (or two) of freshly churned pumpkin ice cream. As the season progresses you can bake pumpkin pie (or seven if you mistakenly quadruple a recipe- then fill the pie crusts to the brim) and then chill a pumpkin cheesecake in the fridge. After you wake up from a pumpkin induced coma, you can recover with pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins (and another pumpkin spice latte...duh).
2) Birthday week (end): I love my birthday- it's my favorite holiday. For the past two years, I've celebrated my birthday in epic fashion aka triple threat birthday weekend. Two of my good friends' birthdays fall on the 29th and November 1, with Halloween completing the four day span, it was a great times. This year, I will be spending my birthday in Tambacounda with friends in preparation of the Halloween party, hoping that USC beats Oregon (so that I don't lose a bet and my pride).
3) Halloween: As a girl who loves theme parties and dressing up, Halloween is the holiday made for me. All the dressing up and free candy makes it the best follow up to my birthday. In the past, I've been creative with my costume making: pageant girl, firefighter (created with duct tape), and disco chic. This year, not being able to drive to the store for costume props and supplies, I planned ahead and worked with a tailor. I won't reveal my costume (hint: It's inspired by the Katy Perry "California Girls" music video), but pictures will be posted.
4) College Football: I'm still obsessed with my USC Trojans, even though we aren't bowl eligible this year. I think I may be driving everyone in my region crazy with my exclamations as I gamecast the games on Saturday nights. I have friendly wagers with fellow PAC-10 volunteers and continue to talk up my team. This year combines two great events: homecoming and my birthday- too bad I won't be there =(.
5) Baseball Playoffs: My Giants are in the playoffs and I'm not there to witness it. My really good friend in country is from Philadelphia, but doesn't really follow baseball. Thanks to my enthusiasm, she stands behind her home time and engages in smack talk. This is going to be a fun series...
6) College Basketball: October is when college basketball teams are able to begin practicing. I miss the days of 6am workouts, where I could walk across campus and not encounter anyone else. I miss the routine of practices and making Gatorade. Spending so much time with the staff and players makes you a family and it made my college experience. It was definitely a part of my identity and one of the best jobs ever!
7) Wine tastings: What is there to say....it's wine!
8) Fall Fashion: In addition to the creative new lines and trends that debut in the Fall, I miss the comfortable, bundled up feeling without freezing. Sweaters and boots with leggings and scarves are things I love. Even though going to school in Los Angeles prevented me from dressing in that fashion until well into Winter, it's a fashion trend I embrace.
9) Oktoberfest: Beer! mmmm....seasonal ales.
10) Puddles and crunchy leaves: Junior year of college, I purchased a pair of blue rainboots with white polka dots and was judged for it due to the fact that I was in LA (where it only rains for 20 days out of the year). But, when the first rains hit, I had my boots on and was jumping in and out of the puddles. Then, there are the crunchy leaves that you go out of your way to step on. It's such a disappointing feeling when you step on a leaf that you expect to be super crunchy, but there's no crunch. Oh! and the colors. When leaves change and the warm, rich, inviting colors of fall explode.
There are probably 15 other things that I miss about Fall, but I won't bore you with the details. If you are so inclined to send me a letter or a package, feel free to include a leaf or something that reminds me of fall.
Miss you!
--Peace Out
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sophomore Year
Sorry it's taken so long to update this...I was distracted by traveling and lack of internet. Knowing that you can't update is a great deterrent- that and I had writers block. I did manage to write an article for the Sabaar (PC Senegal's Newsletter) in the month I haven't posted. I wrote an entertaining article (in my opinion) that was deemed front page worthy! I haven't had a front page article since....ever (in my defense, I wrote for the sports section in high school, which meant back page). I have to admit, my quality of writing has probably regressed to that of my high school self (you be the judge). Now onto what I've been doing since Ramadan...
New volunteers
After Ramadan, I was in Kolda to meet the newbies. The 8 of them came down for demyst, which is surreal because it wasn't that long ago that I was in their position. Last post, I mentioned that I've been in country for seven months, so that means that I've been in Kolda for five. Throughout demyst, I hoped that the newbies wouldn't ask me any questions pertaining to anything regarding Kolda because I probably wouldn't be able to answer them. It was really cool to meet them and to chat with them. I was occupied with cooking for 30 people for most of the day, so I'll have to wait to really chat with them, but I'm excited to welcome them to Kolda. So...cooking for 30 people is a difficult task. I had a team of sous chefs helping me chop veggies and mince garlic, but I was exhausted by the end of the day (although I managed to rally for the dance party). I made spring rolls and fried rice again, which isn't difficult, but the combination of 30 people and cooking in Senegal is. Anyways, I can't wait for them to install in a month!
Neem lotion takes over Kolda
I was back in village for exactly two days before the Kolda neem lotion tourney began. Organized by Geoff, a volunteer in Kounkane, the tourney would travel from lummo to lummo singing the praises of neem lotion. What is neem lotion? It is one part water & neem leaves, one part soap, and a smidgen of oil. The chemicals found in neem leaves wards off mosquitoes, which means less people being bitten and lower incidence of malaria (theoretically). I personally don't do neem lotion causeries in my own village because the cost is too high for people- they don't even buy oil to cook with.
I went to three of the lummos and taught people about neem lotion. The sachets of lotion sold faster than we could make them. I think that people bought them because we were toubabs, selling something at lummo. Neem lotion is a great product in theory, but not sustainable. After making neem lotion at my lummo, people in my village and the surrounding villages wanted me to come teach them how to make it- Yay! I told them that they needed to buy the supplies and I would come. Alas, I haven't gone to anyone's village to teach them how to make neem lotion.
The Little Things
I admire PCVs who work on large scale projects and I have one planned for the future, but I realize that it's the little things that work in my village. I like the idea of neem lotion and bigger causeries, but in a village of 150, the personal connection gets the point across better. I've talked to numerous pregnant women about prenatal care, nursing women about proper weening techniques, and everyone about wound care. When I see people in my village practicing techniques that I've taught them, a part of me jumps up and down with joy. This is what will last in the long run- ideally, the information will be passed on from wife to wife, from mother to daughter, and maybe spread from village to village.
Story... Before I left for IST, my neighbor came to me with a swollen hand, clearly infected. When I asked him where the cut was, he claimed that there was none and that his hand happened to swell overnight. I told him that he should go to the health post to get it treated or he could loose his hand (knowing that he wasn't going to go). So, I taught him to soak his hand in warm water and to slowly remove the pus. Then to keep it clean with a makeshift band-aid made of moringa leaves and cloth. I did it for him the first time, just to show him how to do it, then the next day, he shows up to my hut asking for moringa leaves. I proceeded to leave for IST and left him to fend for his own hand. Upon returning to village, I asked him how his hand was and if he went to the heath post. He responded with "no, I didn't go to the health post, but I did what you taught me and look, my hand is all better!". Even though I would've preferred that he had gone to the health post, it was awesome to hear that he used what I taught him. In the end, he now knows how to handle swollen appendages and he will be able to teach his children how to care for such injuries. Small victories.
Girlfriend!
I mentioned before how I had difficultly making a girlfriend in village because they marry young and have two kids by the time they're 22 (my age). It's hard for me to relate to the women my age because I'm not married and not a mother. As a result, my girlfriend in village is 16 (and recently engaged). We chat and hang out and gossip about various people in our village and the surrounding villages. I know that she is a true friend when she noticed that I had trimmed my hair! It's so nice to have someone to hang out with and to be girly with. I forget the age difference because she has a similar mindset as me, despite the fact that she is now engaged.
Adventures in Joal
At the beginning of the month, we had our Health/Environmental Education (EE) summit in Joal. I went up early to Dakar to eat a variety of cuisines and to see my friends. We then took a mini vacation to Popengine to recharge by the beach. Then, it was off to summit. The day before summit began, I was dreading it because I was expecting a format similar to PST and IST. It turned out to be more discussion based and talking with the second year volunteers. I received a lot of information and am now prepared to tackle issues in ville. Yay!
Hopefully I will post again sooner rather than later, but as you know, internet isn't always reliable! Thanks for reading!!
--Peace Out!
New volunteers
After Ramadan, I was in Kolda to meet the newbies. The 8 of them came down for demyst, which is surreal because it wasn't that long ago that I was in their position. Last post, I mentioned that I've been in country for seven months, so that means that I've been in Kolda for five. Throughout demyst, I hoped that the newbies wouldn't ask me any questions pertaining to anything regarding Kolda because I probably wouldn't be able to answer them. It was really cool to meet them and to chat with them. I was occupied with cooking for 30 people for most of the day, so I'll have to wait to really chat with them, but I'm excited to welcome them to Kolda. So...cooking for 30 people is a difficult task. I had a team of sous chefs helping me chop veggies and mince garlic, but I was exhausted by the end of the day (although I managed to rally for the dance party). I made spring rolls and fried rice again, which isn't difficult, but the combination of 30 people and cooking in Senegal is. Anyways, I can't wait for them to install in a month!
Neem lotion takes over Kolda
I was back in village for exactly two days before the Kolda neem lotion tourney began. Organized by Geoff, a volunteer in Kounkane, the tourney would travel from lummo to lummo singing the praises of neem lotion. What is neem lotion? It is one part water & neem leaves, one part soap, and a smidgen of oil. The chemicals found in neem leaves wards off mosquitoes, which means less people being bitten and lower incidence of malaria (theoretically). I personally don't do neem lotion causeries in my own village because the cost is too high for people- they don't even buy oil to cook with.
I went to three of the lummos and taught people about neem lotion. The sachets of lotion sold faster than we could make them. I think that people bought them because we were toubabs, selling something at lummo. Neem lotion is a great product in theory, but not sustainable. After making neem lotion at my lummo, people in my village and the surrounding villages wanted me to come teach them how to make it- Yay! I told them that they needed to buy the supplies and I would come. Alas, I haven't gone to anyone's village to teach them how to make neem lotion.
The Little Things
I admire PCVs who work on large scale projects and I have one planned for the future, but I realize that it's the little things that work in my village. I like the idea of neem lotion and bigger causeries, but in a village of 150, the personal connection gets the point across better. I've talked to numerous pregnant women about prenatal care, nursing women about proper weening techniques, and everyone about wound care. When I see people in my village practicing techniques that I've taught them, a part of me jumps up and down with joy. This is what will last in the long run- ideally, the information will be passed on from wife to wife, from mother to daughter, and maybe spread from village to village.
Story... Before I left for IST, my neighbor came to me with a swollen hand, clearly infected. When I asked him where the cut was, he claimed that there was none and that his hand happened to swell overnight. I told him that he should go to the health post to get it treated or he could loose his hand (knowing that he wasn't going to go). So, I taught him to soak his hand in warm water and to slowly remove the pus. Then to keep it clean with a makeshift band-aid made of moringa leaves and cloth. I did it for him the first time, just to show him how to do it, then the next day, he shows up to my hut asking for moringa leaves. I proceeded to leave for IST and left him to fend for his own hand. Upon returning to village, I asked him how his hand was and if he went to the heath post. He responded with "no, I didn't go to the health post, but I did what you taught me and look, my hand is all better!". Even though I would've preferred that he had gone to the health post, it was awesome to hear that he used what I taught him. In the end, he now knows how to handle swollen appendages and he will be able to teach his children how to care for such injuries. Small victories.
Girlfriend!
I mentioned before how I had difficultly making a girlfriend in village because they marry young and have two kids by the time they're 22 (my age). It's hard for me to relate to the women my age because I'm not married and not a mother. As a result, my girlfriend in village is 16 (and recently engaged). We chat and hang out and gossip about various people in our village and the surrounding villages. I know that she is a true friend when she noticed that I had trimmed my hair! It's so nice to have someone to hang out with and to be girly with. I forget the age difference because she has a similar mindset as me, despite the fact that she is now engaged.
Adventures in Joal
At the beginning of the month, we had our Health/Environmental Education (EE) summit in Joal. I went up early to Dakar to eat a variety of cuisines and to see my friends. We then took a mini vacation to Popengine to recharge by the beach. Then, it was off to summit. The day before summit began, I was dreading it because I was expecting a format similar to PST and IST. It turned out to be more discussion based and talking with the second year volunteers. I received a lot of information and am now prepared to tackle issues in ville. Yay!
Hopefully I will post again sooner rather than later, but as you know, internet isn't always reliable! Thanks for reading!!
--Peace Out!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Pictures, pictures, pictures!
Hey everyone,
I've been promising pictures for months now, and a little late, but here they are! Enjoy =) Real post coming soon!
My nephew, Amadou. I want to take him to America with me
Little dancing boy, AKA, my best friend
Samba: I taught him this face!
Palm trees en route to village
Isn't it gorgeous?
My Hut!!
My douche...it's that hole on the left
My bookshelf
Home Sweet Home!
Productivity happens here...
Boys will be boys. Posing after clearing excess weeds-
yay malaria control!
Fresh baked bread for Ramadan
Seriously....isn't he cute!? And he's wearing a Winnie the Pooh outfit!
Binta- Momma of the beautiful baby above
Gorgeous Day for a futbol game
My dad & nephew- Love!
25 Toubabs on an Alhum after Health/EE summit
I've been promising pictures for months now, and a little late, but here they are! Enjoy =) Real post coming soon!
My nephew, Amadou. I want to take him to America with me
Little dancing boy, AKA, my best friend
Samba: I taught him this face!
Palm trees en route to village
Isn't it gorgeous? 
My Hut!!
My douche...it's that hole on the left
My bookshelf
Home Sweet Home!
Productivity happens here...
Boys will be boys. Posing after clearing excess weeds-yay malaria control!
Fresh baked bread for Ramadan
Seriously....isn't he cute!? And he's wearing a Winnie the Pooh outfit!
Binta- Momma of the beautiful baby above
Gorgeous Day for a futbol game
My dad & nephew- Love!
25 Toubabs on an Alhum after Health/EE summit7 months after stepping foot in country, I'm still loving it. There are ups & downs and bouts of homesickness, but time is flying by. Before you know it, I'll be home for my sister's wedding! Crazy.
Remember, I love letters, comments, and hearing from you! If you comment, maybe I'll post more often =D. That's it for now.
--Peace Out!
Remember, I love letters, comments, and hearing from you! If you comment, maybe I'll post more often =D. That's it for now.
--Peace Out!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Confessions of a Hungry PCV
Ramadan has ended, ALHUMDULILLAIH! I can now eat and drink while the sun is out. My attempt to stay in village throughout Ramadan was fairly successful with only one night spent in Kolda. It was an interesting project to undertake and I'm glad that I did it. I had a conversation with my host Dad about it and he said that he really appreciated that I was open to embracing this part of their culture. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I am horrible at keeping diaries and journals. My "Peace Corps Journal" had 10 entries in it before Ramadan started. As a Ramadan project, I decided that I would do my best to keep a journal and I did a pretty good job. So, here is a look into my thoughts and my Ramadan Diary, with commentary in parentheses...
Day 1: The beginning of Ramadan and the nerves of returning to village after a month was absolutely terrifying. But, I reached my dad's boutique and had kids yelling my name and my dad came over and gave me a hug (half handshake/ hug combo- Senegalese people don't really hug).... 19:30 roles around and its time to break fast with Tapilapa (village bread, delicious!) and "cafe"- a tea made with mango leave, powdered milk, and sugar. We then had candied dates!
Day 2: I am woken up at 5am by my mom for breakfast. I eat with my dad and uncle (I usually eat with my brother, but he's working in the Gambia and my other brother is in Dakar), but I don't have much of an appetite. My dad says to stop fasting, but I'm determined to try this. I attempt to go back to bed, but I lie there listening to the call to prayer. I get out of bed at 8:30 (much later than usual) and greet my family. I then week my forest of a backyard with help from Binta (my sister-in-law) and Mama (a neighbor).
Day 4: We broke fast in the usual manner, but my mom gave me extra bread- they don't think I'm eating enough. She has also started to call me bobo (baby in Pulaar) which is really sweet.
Day 5: I woke up this morning slightly panicked from a dream, darn Mefloquin (malaria prophylaxis). In my dream, I'm back at the Galen Center and am working for the basketball team again. It's the first game of the season and we're playing Oregon because I see Kai and welcome her back to the Galen Center. I'm apparently the only one working and am rushing to get everything done. I yell at the men's team to vacate the court (typical) and I go to fill water bottles, only to find that they haven't been made yet (aka numbers and names written on them). I go to Sandy (our athletic trainer) to get the water bottles and she's gives me a "I'm disappointed, you know better than this" look. I begin to make the bottles, only to realize I don't know who is on the team and what numbers to use. Then I wake up. Strange (According to a lot of volunteers, it isn't unusual to experience very vivid dreams- still, I'm not used to them).
I literally saw a storm roll into my village. It was so cool to see and hear the rain coming in from the distance.
Day 9: The kids were running around tonight, pumped full of sugar, when Jubiru (my uncle)organized a game that resembled "Steal the Bacon". It was great! Some of the boys came over to chat while we were watching the kids play. They thought it was hilarious when I told them that we played a version of that game in America. It was so nice to chat with them in the evening again. This hasn't happened since I got back from IST. The kids then played a version of Duck Duck Goose. So much fun!
Day 10: I walked Dave to the road this morning (he's a volunteer in Kolda and came to visit my village for 2 days) and then talked to Spence (a volunteer in Tamba)- I love free calling (Peace Corps has made it possible to call other volunteers without having to buy phone credit)! I'm hanging out with some of the kids outside my hut when I get a call from Dave- Kelly got her phone stolen at lummo (a market that occurs once a week) and wanted to know if she could spend the night in my village before heading to Kolda- Of Course!
It was so nice to have Kelly in my village. We had girl talk and updated each other on the last 9 days, even though it felt like it's been much longer. It's so nice to have girl talk; it's the one thing I really miss in village, having a close girlfriend.
Day 11: My brother started to bake bread today in village. I was coming home from a neighbors house when I passed the large brick oven and saw that he was baking bread. I sat there watching them bake bread and it looked so delicious coming out of the oven; too bad we can't eat it fresh.
There was a funeral in my village today. I was really uncomfortable because I don't know how to act. In America, there are certain rituals and mannerisms surrounding a funeral, and unfortunately we weren't taught the Senegalese way in our cross cultural sessions. I don't want to accidentally break a social norm and act inappropriately. Someone here for the funeral called me Toubab-in MY village, NOT OK! I kept walking and pretended not to hear him. The boys told him that it wasn't ok and to not call me Toubab. He then came to greet me and called me volontaire and asked my name, much better.
Day 14: I made a list of places I wanted to eat when I go home. UGH, I miss variety in my food.... I hung out with Adele today, she's currently the closest thing I have to a girlfriend in village (oh, and she's only 15). All the other young, unmarried girls are elsewhere: Swadu is in Dakar, Ustu is in Kolda, and Kadja is in Zig.
Mamadou came back from the Gambia today! It's good to have him back
Day 15: I had cucumbers today and was ecstatic! I miss veggies. I hung out for a bit and watched the full moon move across the sky. Veggies and a full moon, what a great night.
Day 16: Meg (a Kolda volunteer) came today!! It was fun, she chatted with everyone in Pulaar and everyone was saying how much Pulaar she knew. One day, I will be at that level. I'm determined!
Day 20: Today was an adventure. We [Meg and I] went to St. John Cortiba (a new site) and Fascahone (a potential new site). The 20K bike ride on bush trail and car path wasn't so bad despite patches on deep sand and a swamp. It was really cool to see a new site and to talk to a potential village about getting a volunteer. The meeting was in Pulaar and I understood the majority of what was being said-Yay! I didn't have much to contribute, but it was good to see the process of setting up a new site. We had lunch (first day of not fasting) and then it started to rain, so we set off for Meg's site. The bike ride back was so difficult! It rained the whole time and the road was ridiculously muddy. We basically biked through a river for 20K. I have scars and bruises from this ride. I then caught a ride with Peace Corps into Kolda, yay comfy transportation!
Day 22: I woke up sore from the bike ride to Fascahone and the bike ride back to village from Kolda. Boo. Despite just returning from Kolda, I had to fight the desire to go right back to get score updates from the USC- Hawaii game. Good thing people have access to internet and can send me the score tomorrow morning. This is going to be a long football season. I can't believe I can't watch my Trojans.
Day 23: I need to keep my back door closed at night. When I was sweeping my room today, I shooed about 10 frogs from my room-gross. I then finished my Ramadan project book- Atlas Shrugged! Sweet- gotta tell Kate.
There was drama at home today. My brother didn't leave any bread to break fast. I was kinda sad not having bread, but my dad came home from a prayer circle and apologized for the lack of bread. He asked if I wanted him to get bread and we could break fast over again, and obviously I told him no. Then Mamadou (not the bread baking brother) gives me bread with beans that he had gotten and made me vitalait (powdered milk with sugar). My mom then gives me rice from the prayer circle. Then they expected me to eat dinner too! Ugh- so full, too much food.
Day 24: Today I had a headache while hanging out with Adele, so I went home to lay down. On the way home, passing the oven, my brother decides to play the name game and they said something I didn't understand. When I said I didn't understand, they started laughing and didn't explain. I already had a headache and it's difficult enough speaking Pulaar when I'm feeling well that I became really upset and had tears in my eyes. I quickly said that I needed to go and went to my room to cry. I'm trying so hard, don't they get it? I just want someone in village to understand me.
Tonight after dinner, I found a chicken hiding out in my room. So that brings types of animals in the past month to a chicken, frogs, a bat, and the various insects.
Day 26: I am so bored of the rain. I can't believe its raining AGAIN. So, you know how two days ago, I was really upset and felt like no one understood me in village? Well, I think that Tidiane does. Tonight he came over to see how I was doing. We talked about why I was upset and I explained that I wasn't feeling well and that it takes a lot for me to understand and speak Pulaar. He told me that they were just kidding around and then said that if he were in my shoes in a foreign country, he would feel the same way. I don't know if he really gets it, but at least he's trying. Yay friends!
Apparently on the 26th night of Ramadan, they don't sleep and stay up all night for a prayer circle. So, Mamadou baked bread tonight. I attempt to go to bed, but the sound of singing keeps me up. Also, Sarah texted me tonight saying that the weather report for Kolda said it was 80 degrees. At the time, I was wearing pants and a long sleeve shirt because I was cold. I guess my body is adjusted to the temperature.
Day 27: Last night, I was woken up at 3:45am to eat. I guess when they don't sleep they eat when hungry. This time it was rice, follere, and chicken with pasta!!! Would you like some carbs with your carbs? Anyways, this is the first time I've had meat in village!! (I've had fish a couple of times, but never meat)
Day 28: All the females in the village are getting their hair braided in preparation of Korite! I love watching them get their hair braided, it's so much fun to watch. I told Binta that she can braid my hair too because I know she likes to play with my hair and it makes her happy.
I went over to see the newborn baby today! He is so small and light skinned. They said that his body and my body looked alike. I love babies!
Day 29: I dreamt that I was in Costco. Thank goodness Ramadan is almost over!
They saw the moon tonight!! Ramadan has officially ended! Let Korite begin.
Village wide prayer time
Ramadan Stats:
Days:29
Days I fasted: 27
Nights in the regional house: 1
Books read: 3
Loaves of Tapilapa eaten: 13
Visitors: 3
Days it rained:22
Money spent: 4 mille (8 dollars)
Mefloquin Dreams: 14
Braids in my hair:12
That's it for Ramadan!
--Peace Out!
p.s. I've been in country for 6 months! Time flies...
As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I am horrible at keeping diaries and journals. My "Peace Corps Journal" had 10 entries in it before Ramadan started. As a Ramadan project, I decided that I would do my best to keep a journal and I did a pretty good job. So, here is a look into my thoughts and my Ramadan Diary, with commentary in parentheses...
Day 1: The beginning of Ramadan and the nerves of returning to village after a month was absolutely terrifying. But, I reached my dad's boutique and had kids yelling my name and my dad came over and gave me a hug (half handshake/ hug combo- Senegalese people don't really hug).... 19:30 roles around and its time to break fast with Tapilapa (village bread, delicious!) and "cafe"- a tea made with mango leave, powdered milk, and sugar. We then had candied dates!
Day 2: I am woken up at 5am by my mom for breakfast. I eat with my dad and uncle (I usually eat with my brother, but he's working in the Gambia and my other brother is in Dakar), but I don't have much of an appetite. My dad says to stop fasting, but I'm determined to try this. I attempt to go back to bed, but I lie there listening to the call to prayer. I get out of bed at 8:30 (much later than usual) and greet my family. I then week my forest of a backyard with help from Binta (my sister-in-law) and Mama (a neighbor).
Day 4: We broke fast in the usual manner, but my mom gave me extra bread- they don't think I'm eating enough. She has also started to call me bobo (baby in Pulaar) which is really sweet.
Day 5: I woke up this morning slightly panicked from a dream, darn Mefloquin (malaria prophylaxis). In my dream, I'm back at the Galen Center and am working for the basketball team again. It's the first game of the season and we're playing Oregon because I see Kai and welcome her back to the Galen Center. I'm apparently the only one working and am rushing to get everything done. I yell at the men's team to vacate the court (typical) and I go to fill water bottles, only to find that they haven't been made yet (aka numbers and names written on them). I go to Sandy (our athletic trainer) to get the water bottles and she's gives me a "I'm disappointed, you know better than this" look. I begin to make the bottles, only to realize I don't know who is on the team and what numbers to use. Then I wake up. Strange (According to a lot of volunteers, it isn't unusual to experience very vivid dreams- still, I'm not used to them).
I literally saw a storm roll into my village. It was so cool to see and hear the rain coming in from the distance.
Day 9: The kids were running around tonight, pumped full of sugar, when Jubiru (my uncle)organized a game that resembled "Steal the Bacon". It was great! Some of the boys came over to chat while we were watching the kids play. They thought it was hilarious when I told them that we played a version of that game in America. It was so nice to chat with them in the evening again. This hasn't happened since I got back from IST. The kids then played a version of Duck Duck Goose. So much fun!
Day 10: I walked Dave to the road this morning (he's a volunteer in Kolda and came to visit my village for 2 days) and then talked to Spence (a volunteer in Tamba)- I love free calling (Peace Corps has made it possible to call other volunteers without having to buy phone credit)! I'm hanging out with some of the kids outside my hut when I get a call from Dave- Kelly got her phone stolen at lummo (a market that occurs once a week) and wanted to know if she could spend the night in my village before heading to Kolda- Of Course!
It was so nice to have Kelly in my village. We had girl talk and updated each other on the last 9 days, even though it felt like it's been much longer. It's so nice to have girl talk; it's the one thing I really miss in village, having a close girlfriend.
Day 11: My brother started to bake bread today in village. I was coming home from a neighbors house when I passed the large brick oven and saw that he was baking bread. I sat there watching them bake bread and it looked so delicious coming out of the oven; too bad we can't eat it fresh.
There was a funeral in my village today. I was really uncomfortable because I don't know how to act. In America, there are certain rituals and mannerisms surrounding a funeral, and unfortunately we weren't taught the Senegalese way in our cross cultural sessions. I don't want to accidentally break a social norm and act inappropriately. Someone here for the funeral called me Toubab-in MY village, NOT OK! I kept walking and pretended not to hear him. The boys told him that it wasn't ok and to not call me Toubab. He then came to greet me and called me volontaire and asked my name, much better.
Day 14: I made a list of places I wanted to eat when I go home. UGH, I miss variety in my food.... I hung out with Adele today, she's currently the closest thing I have to a girlfriend in village (oh, and she's only 15). All the other young, unmarried girls are elsewhere: Swadu is in Dakar, Ustu is in Kolda, and Kadja is in Zig.
Mamadou came back from the Gambia today! It's good to have him back
Day 15: I had cucumbers today and was ecstatic! I miss veggies. I hung out for a bit and watched the full moon move across the sky. Veggies and a full moon, what a great night.
Day 16: Meg (a Kolda volunteer) came today!! It was fun, she chatted with everyone in Pulaar and everyone was saying how much Pulaar she knew. One day, I will be at that level. I'm determined!
Day 20: Today was an adventure. We [Meg and I] went to St. John Cortiba (a new site) and Fascahone (a potential new site). The 20K bike ride on bush trail and car path wasn't so bad despite patches on deep sand and a swamp. It was really cool to see a new site and to talk to a potential village about getting a volunteer. The meeting was in Pulaar and I understood the majority of what was being said-Yay! I didn't have much to contribute, but it was good to see the process of setting up a new site. We had lunch (first day of not fasting) and then it started to rain, so we set off for Meg's site. The bike ride back was so difficult! It rained the whole time and the road was ridiculously muddy. We basically biked through a river for 20K. I have scars and bruises from this ride. I then caught a ride with Peace Corps into Kolda, yay comfy transportation!
Day 22: I woke up sore from the bike ride to Fascahone and the bike ride back to village from Kolda. Boo. Despite just returning from Kolda, I had to fight the desire to go right back to get score updates from the USC- Hawaii game. Good thing people have access to internet and can send me the score tomorrow morning. This is going to be a long football season. I can't believe I can't watch my Trojans.
Day 23: I need to keep my back door closed at night. When I was sweeping my room today, I shooed about 10 frogs from my room-gross. I then finished my Ramadan project book- Atlas Shrugged! Sweet- gotta tell Kate.
There was drama at home today. My brother didn't leave any bread to break fast. I was kinda sad not having bread, but my dad came home from a prayer circle and apologized for the lack of bread. He asked if I wanted him to get bread and we could break fast over again, and obviously I told him no. Then Mamadou (not the bread baking brother) gives me bread with beans that he had gotten and made me vitalait (powdered milk with sugar). My mom then gives me rice from the prayer circle. Then they expected me to eat dinner too! Ugh- so full, too much food.
Day 24: Today I had a headache while hanging out with Adele, so I went home to lay down. On the way home, passing the oven, my brother decides to play the name game and they said something I didn't understand. When I said I didn't understand, they started laughing and didn't explain. I already had a headache and it's difficult enough speaking Pulaar when I'm feeling well that I became really upset and had tears in my eyes. I quickly said that I needed to go and went to my room to cry. I'm trying so hard, don't they get it? I just want someone in village to understand me.
Tonight after dinner, I found a chicken hiding out in my room. So that brings types of animals in the past month to a chicken, frogs, a bat, and the various insects.
Day 26: I am so bored of the rain. I can't believe its raining AGAIN. So, you know how two days ago, I was really upset and felt like no one understood me in village? Well, I think that Tidiane does. Tonight he came over to see how I was doing. We talked about why I was upset and I explained that I wasn't feeling well and that it takes a lot for me to understand and speak Pulaar. He told me that they were just kidding around and then said that if he were in my shoes in a foreign country, he would feel the same way. I don't know if he really gets it, but at least he's trying. Yay friends!
Apparently on the 26th night of Ramadan, they don't sleep and stay up all night for a prayer circle. So, Mamadou baked bread tonight. I attempt to go to bed, but the sound of singing keeps me up. Also, Sarah texted me tonight saying that the weather report for Kolda said it was 80 degrees. At the time, I was wearing pants and a long sleeve shirt because I was cold. I guess my body is adjusted to the temperature.
Day 27: Last night, I was woken up at 3:45am to eat. I guess when they don't sleep they eat when hungry. This time it was rice, follere, and chicken with pasta!!! Would you like some carbs with your carbs? Anyways, this is the first time I've had meat in village!! (I've had fish a couple of times, but never meat)
Day 28: All the females in the village are getting their hair braided in preparation of Korite! I love watching them get their hair braided, it's so much fun to watch. I told Binta that she can braid my hair too because I know she likes to play with my hair and it makes her happy.
I went over to see the newborn baby today! He is so small and light skinned. They said that his body and my body looked alike. I love babies!
Day 29: I dreamt that I was in Costco. Thank goodness Ramadan is almost over!
They saw the moon tonight!! Ramadan has officially ended! Let Korite begin.
Korite: We had breakfast when the sun was out! We had bread and coffee, then an hour later, a second breakfast of Cheeb (rice with oil) and macaroni. Off to pray! I have now prayed with three different religions: Buddhism, Christianity, and now Islam. After prayer time, it was off to greet people in every compound and the children go around asking for change. It reminds me of Chinese New Year. Then we had lunch with beef and off to the soccer pitch! It unfortunately started to pour, so we all went home. Korite is so much fun!
Village wide prayer timeRamadan Stats:
Days:29
Days I fasted: 27
Nights in the regional house: 1
Books read: 3
Loaves of Tapilapa eaten: 13
Visitors: 3
Days it rained:22
Money spent: 4 mille (8 dollars)
Mefloquin Dreams: 14
Braids in my hair:12
That's it for Ramadan!
--Peace Out!
p.s. I've been in country for 6 months! Time flies...
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