You all know the material I am talking about. The "utra lite", "quick dri" stuff that costs a bunch of money? In the desert this material is just annoying and gets dirty fast. The only material that works really well in a climate like this one is cotton--the fabric of our lives. It's true. Really. Your clothes get drenched in sweat here and cotton is the only fabric that dries quick enough and doesn't look like you rolled around in dirt. Thankfully, I didn't spend a forutne on a brand new wardrobe before coming here. However, if you come to visit me, which I encourage many of you to do, bring cotton clothes because it is the only REAL "ultra lite" "quick dri" fabric.
Also, as a side note, I put more pictures up!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Money Matters
Two days ago I offered my host mother-of-sorts 15,000 CFA (about $40) for food for the month of June. To my surprise, she refused my money saying that I was always welcome to eat at her house. I tried to explain that the Peace Corps pays me to pay them, but that didn’t work. Still trying to master the Pulaar language.
Anyway, that same evening she took me aside and spoke in a low voice. I’m not sure exactly what she said except that she seemed to have made a mistake and wanted my money now. Whatever. I was happy to give it to her. Then she secretly passed a 5,000 CFA note to a different mother in my compound (there are 7 total) saying that I said she could have the money and it was no problem. Then, to make things even stranger, as we were leaving to greet families in the village she asked that another mother come outside the gate with us. Then she spoke in an even lower voice explaining what had transpired between her and me and the money. She then gave her another one of the 5,000 CFA notes.
This whole situation was confusing and I’m not sure if I was supposed to give it to her on the sly or what? But, today, we went shopping at the luumo or the weekly market. On the way to the roadside village though, the charet I was on got a flat tire about 1/3 of the way out. So, we walked. And walked. And walked. Finally, another charet came by and took just my host mother. I was kind of insulted, but continued to walk. It’s better to keep walking if you can because it only gets hotter as the day goes on. When I was almost there a charet came and took me the rest of the way. They were all shocked that I had walked so far. It’s about 10 km and I probably walked 7 of them.
Once there, it was, as always, a chore walking through the market that is heavily populated with people yelling “Toubak! Hey! Toubak!” That is what they call me when they don’t know my name, which is Fati in the village. It is fun to see all the onions, dried fish, garlic and mangoes that are for sale though. I have noticed though that the pickings are getting slim for nourishment. I think I may have mentioned this before, but I came here just as last seasons fruit, vegetables and other nourishing alimentation is running out. I can’t wait for the rainy season so I can finally eat well again!
Anyway, that same evening she took me aside and spoke in a low voice. I’m not sure exactly what she said except that she seemed to have made a mistake and wanted my money now. Whatever. I was happy to give it to her. Then she secretly passed a 5,000 CFA note to a different mother in my compound (there are 7 total) saying that I said she could have the money and it was no problem. Then, to make things even stranger, as we were leaving to greet families in the village she asked that another mother come outside the gate with us. Then she spoke in an even lower voice explaining what had transpired between her and me and the money. She then gave her another one of the 5,000 CFA notes.
This whole situation was confusing and I’m not sure if I was supposed to give it to her on the sly or what? But, today, we went shopping at the luumo or the weekly market. On the way to the roadside village though, the charet I was on got a flat tire about 1/3 of the way out. So, we walked. And walked. And walked. Finally, another charet came by and took just my host mother. I was kind of insulted, but continued to walk. It’s better to keep walking if you can because it only gets hotter as the day goes on. When I was almost there a charet came and took me the rest of the way. They were all shocked that I had walked so far. It’s about 10 km and I probably walked 7 of them.
Once there, it was, as always, a chore walking through the market that is heavily populated with people yelling “Toubak! Hey! Toubak!” That is what they call me when they don’t know my name, which is Fati in the village. It is fun to see all the onions, dried fish, garlic and mangoes that are for sale though. I have noticed though that the pickings are getting slim for nourishment. I think I may have mentioned this before, but I came here just as last seasons fruit, vegetables and other nourishing alimentation is running out. I can’t wait for the rainy season so I can finally eat well again!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Charet Wounds
A week ago, when taking the good ole’ charet ride home, I got into an accident. It had just rained so the terrain had gotten wet and re-solidified to a more rocky, bumpy topography. The charet drivers couldn’t have been a day over 12. Also, instead of a horse charet, it was a three-donkey charet. Those were the circumstances.
As we were racing along, unnecessarily fast, we hit a bump and I went flying/leaping off the back of the charet. I fell face first into the dirt. Thankfully, I didn’t fly into a thorn bush or one of the many little lakes that had formed. Nonetheless, I felt like an idiot. The mangoes Ashley and I had bought also fell onto me to make it that much more exciting.
I just lay there for a minute laughing and thinking, “I am in Africa. This stuff happens.” At first, I didn’t think I was hurt. I didn’t appear to be bleeding and no appendage seemed to be broken. So, I got back on and rode home into the sunset.
The next day, was a different story. My left knee was throbbing in pain every time I walked, sat down, bent, or extended my leg. In the Senegalese culture, you do a lot of sitting down on the ground and if you are a woman that means with your legs together in an uncomfortable position due to the skirt/pagne you wear. Rest assured Mom and Dad, I am fine now. It was just bruised badly.
I learned my lesson. From now on, Ashley and I will be biking the 8 km to the roadside village and only taking a charet when necessary
As we were racing along, unnecessarily fast, we hit a bump and I went flying/leaping off the back of the charet. I fell face first into the dirt. Thankfully, I didn’t fly into a thorn bush or one of the many little lakes that had formed. Nonetheless, I felt like an idiot. The mangoes Ashley and I had bought also fell onto me to make it that much more exciting.
I just lay there for a minute laughing and thinking, “I am in Africa. This stuff happens.” At first, I didn’t think I was hurt. I didn’t appear to be bleeding and no appendage seemed to be broken. So, I got back on and rode home into the sunset.
The next day, was a different story. My left knee was throbbing in pain every time I walked, sat down, bent, or extended my leg. In the Senegalese culture, you do a lot of sitting down on the ground and if you are a woman that means with your legs together in an uncomfortable position due to the skirt/pagne you wear. Rest assured Mom and Dad, I am fine now. It was just bruised badly.
I learned my lesson. From now on, Ashley and I will be biking the 8 km to the roadside village and only taking a charet when necessary
Vaccinations
The other week my official counterpart, Saidou Kane, came to town, unannounced of course, to do vaccinations. It seemed like some of the women in the village knew that he was coming before I did, so I guess that is good. It has been problem in the past—he just shows up vaccinating whoever happens to stroll by the disponsaire. I think I will see if he can tell me beforehand so I can go around the village and inform more people that he is coming.
Nonetheless, we vaccinated 23 kids under the age of 7 months. Most of the vaccinations were shots for Rubella, Measels, and Mumps, however, there were a few babies vaccinated for Polio, which is administered orally. That was the easiest vaccination to give. Most of the babies cried when the shots were administered, but some were just squirmish for a minute, then realized that it was over.
Overall, it was a fun afternoon because I got to play with all the babies of the village. Babies are less afraid of me than toddlers who realize that I am different. To a baby, I’m just someone who wants to give them attention.
Nonetheless, we vaccinated 23 kids under the age of 7 months. Most of the vaccinations were shots for Rubella, Measels, and Mumps, however, there were a few babies vaccinated for Polio, which is administered orally. That was the easiest vaccination to give. Most of the babies cried when the shots were administered, but some were just squirmish for a minute, then realized that it was over.
Overall, it was a fun afternoon because I got to play with all the babies of the village. Babies are less afraid of me than toddlers who realize that I am different. To a baby, I’m just someone who wants to give them attention.
Schedule
This is the much anticipated (ok, maybe not that anticipated) entry of what I typically do:
6ish AM I awake.
7 AM I get up and disassemble my bed.
7-8ish AM I eat breakfast which consists of powdered milk and museli. Lately, I have been eating delicious Odwalla granola bars my mom sent me and drinking orange juice.
8-10 AM I take my buckets to the robinet or communal faucet to get in line for water. The water is only turned on for about 4 hours everyday, so I have a small window to get the water I bathe with, drink, wash clothes with etc. While waiting, I usually sit by the robinet with the other women absorbing Pulaar and being laughed at when I don’t understand. Most of the women are there all morning going back and forth from their houses with balancing huge buckets of water on their heads without the aid of their hands. I have not mastered this art, yet. I can walk the short distance to my room with the smaller of my three buckets on my head while holding on with both hands.
10-12 PM I really don’t know what I do during this time. It fluctuates. I learned how to make tea one day called Ataya. I also play with the 14 kids in my compound usually. I sometimes do laundry or read.
12-1 PM I have gotten in the habit of helping Penda make the lunch. I work very slow because I am afraid I will cut myself while skinning the potatoes or cutting the onions. The women in my compound find it hilarious that I try helping. I am glad this makes them laugh.
1:30ish PM I have my first of usually two lunches. The families are split up into two eating groups. I first eat with four mothers. Usually, their food is better, so I try to fill up with the vegetables and fish.
2:15ish-2:40ish PM It depends on how fast Penda cooks and how hungry the other women are. I eat my second of two lunches.
3-5 PM I go in my room to read and relax. Sometimes I sit with the women and drink Ataya. Sometimes I wander out of my room only to find that everyone is napping. It fluctuates.
5-7 PM This is the time when things start moving again. A few times I have gone to the disponsaire to participate in causeries. I have also done some baby weighing and vaccinations. Most days, though, I just go around and greet different families to keep up my good name on the dirt streets of Gudude Diopbe.
7-8PM I take my bucket bath and fix up my bed for the evening. Lately, I have been sleeping in the foyer of my house because it has gotten so windy and I don’t like having to move inside in the middle of the night because of a sandstorm.
8-10 PM During this time, I just chill with the women in my compound. Once I ate dinner at 9:15 and that was the earliest I have ever eaten. Usually it’s not until 10:30-10:45. I usually fall asleep and just eat a few bites and then go back to sleep. Sometimes I refuse to move because I am too tired. My family doesn’t like this, but I don’t like eating at 10:45. I have been trying to eat more during lunch and snack on food from home at night.
11 PM I am out like a light.
6ish AM I awake.
7 AM I get up and disassemble my bed.
7-8ish AM I eat breakfast which consists of powdered milk and museli. Lately, I have been eating delicious Odwalla granola bars my mom sent me and drinking orange juice.
8-10 AM I take my buckets to the robinet or communal faucet to get in line for water. The water is only turned on for about 4 hours everyday, so I have a small window to get the water I bathe with, drink, wash clothes with etc. While waiting, I usually sit by the robinet with the other women absorbing Pulaar and being laughed at when I don’t understand. Most of the women are there all morning going back and forth from their houses with balancing huge buckets of water on their heads without the aid of their hands. I have not mastered this art, yet. I can walk the short distance to my room with the smaller of my three buckets on my head while holding on with both hands.
10-12 PM I really don’t know what I do during this time. It fluctuates. I learned how to make tea one day called Ataya. I also play with the 14 kids in my compound usually. I sometimes do laundry or read.
12-1 PM I have gotten in the habit of helping Penda make the lunch. I work very slow because I am afraid I will cut myself while skinning the potatoes or cutting the onions. The women in my compound find it hilarious that I try helping. I am glad this makes them laugh.
1:30ish PM I have my first of usually two lunches. The families are split up into two eating groups. I first eat with four mothers. Usually, their food is better, so I try to fill up with the vegetables and fish.
2:15ish-2:40ish PM It depends on how fast Penda cooks and how hungry the other women are. I eat my second of two lunches.
3-5 PM I go in my room to read and relax. Sometimes I sit with the women and drink Ataya. Sometimes I wander out of my room only to find that everyone is napping. It fluctuates.
5-7 PM This is the time when things start moving again. A few times I have gone to the disponsaire to participate in causeries. I have also done some baby weighing and vaccinations. Most days, though, I just go around and greet different families to keep up my good name on the dirt streets of Gudude Diopbe.
7-8PM I take my bucket bath and fix up my bed for the evening. Lately, I have been sleeping in the foyer of my house because it has gotten so windy and I don’t like having to move inside in the middle of the night because of a sandstorm.
8-10 PM During this time, I just chill with the women in my compound. Once I ate dinner at 9:15 and that was the earliest I have ever eaten. Usually it’s not until 10:30-10:45. I usually fall asleep and just eat a few bites and then go back to sleep. Sometimes I refuse to move because I am too tired. My family doesn’t like this, but I don’t like eating at 10:45. I have been trying to eat more during lunch and snack on food from home at night.
11 PM I am out like a light.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Not Much of Anything
Many of you have been writing to me asking about my village life. I will write an update over this week and post it next week when I come back to the Internet. I am also trying to take video of my village on my camera and then post that. So, you guys can take the virtual tour of Gudude Diopbe from the comfort of your air-conditioned homes.
Until then, like I had mentioned earlier in a different post, most food products here come in bags. One delicious concotion is yogurt and millet, called Chakary, that tastes like it has lemon flavoring. When you close your eyes, if it is frozen, it is like you are eating ice cream. Of course, you can only get it in Ourossougui, so once a week, I go to a little vendor and buy a bag of it for less than a dollar. It sometimes helps me through the rough times, like the sandstorms, to know that if I can hold on for a few more days, I can have some Chakary.
So, until next week, Peace and Love.
Until then, like I had mentioned earlier in a different post, most food products here come in bags. One delicious concotion is yogurt and millet, called Chakary, that tastes like it has lemon flavoring. When you close your eyes, if it is frozen, it is like you are eating ice cream. Of course, you can only get it in Ourossougui, so once a week, I go to a little vendor and buy a bag of it for less than a dollar. It sometimes helps me through the rough times, like the sandstorms, to know that if I can hold on for a few more days, I can have some Chakary.
So, until next week, Peace and Love.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Pictures!
I just posted some new pictures. Just so everyone understands, the link that says "Click Me!" under the heading Photos brings you to a page with different albums. You have to click on March 2008, April 2008, May 2008 etc to open them and see the many pictures I have posted.
Retreat
This last weekend we had our Regional Retreat in Ndioum. It was a nice break from the excessive heat, the constant Pulaar, and frustration of village life. Don’t get me wrong. I really like my village and, for the most part, they seem to be excited that I am there. But, it’s challenging to live, if that makes any sense.
Anyway, all the new volunteers came up and most of the old ones. It was a great weekend of watching movies (3:10 to Yuma is fabulous!), cooking good food like pizza, and just chatting with other volunteers about what has worked and what hasn’t in their perspective villages. We have a new Country Director who is really motivated and excited to re-vamp the program here in Senegal, so there are a lot of good ideas floating amongst the volunteers. Also, Friday night was so cool outside I actually needed a sheet! I regularly sleep outdoors on the roof when I stay in Ndioum and outside my house in the village. It’s simply too hot to sleep indoors. At least for now.
Things here become hot to the touch simply from existing in the heat. Things like metal, plastic, FABRIC—even in the shade. My glasses will burn my fingers when I push them back on my face.
ALSO! I lived through my first sandstorm! It was about 12:45 AM and it started getting REALLY windy. Then, all of a sudden, I heard a whirring whoosh and the sand hit me like a thousand tiny needles. It was horrible, but made me that much tougher. I had to disassemble my bed and mosquito net and take it into the foyer. It was so hot, but I was afraid to sleep without a sheet over me because of the sand and bugs. Needless to say, that was a bad night. But, now I can say that I lived through a dust storm. How many people can say THAT! Am I crazy?
Anyway, all the new volunteers came up and most of the old ones. It was a great weekend of watching movies (3:10 to Yuma is fabulous!), cooking good food like pizza, and just chatting with other volunteers about what has worked and what hasn’t in their perspective villages. We have a new Country Director who is really motivated and excited to re-vamp the program here in Senegal, so there are a lot of good ideas floating amongst the volunteers. Also, Friday night was so cool outside I actually needed a sheet! I regularly sleep outdoors on the roof when I stay in Ndioum and outside my house in the village. It’s simply too hot to sleep indoors. At least for now.
Things here become hot to the touch simply from existing in the heat. Things like metal, plastic, FABRIC—even in the shade. My glasses will burn my fingers when I push them back on my face.
ALSO! I lived through my first sandstorm! It was about 12:45 AM and it started getting REALLY windy. Then, all of a sudden, I heard a whirring whoosh and the sand hit me like a thousand tiny needles. It was horrible, but made me that much tougher. I had to disassemble my bed and mosquito net and take it into the foyer. It was so hot, but I was afraid to sleep without a sheet over me because of the sand and bugs. Needless to say, that was a bad night. But, now I can say that I lived through a dust storm. How many people can say THAT! Am I crazy?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)