I helped out with a concert in Podor at the end of January that supported the fight against HIV/AIDS. There were about 10 of us altogether helping ensure the smoothness of the concert.
We had the Red Cross come and do AIDS testing, two bands, a comedy troupe, and general information about HIV. It was great. There were 61 people that were tested and of those, NO ONE tested positive! Of course, it was probably a self-selected group of individuals that already knew they didn't have the virus, but it was still one of the highest turnouts that the Red Cross had ever seen at an event. It would be great to have a more random sample size, but it is impossible to force people to be tested. I was happy anyways.
The bands were pretty cool and the comedy troupe was well-received by the crowd. Although, I couldn't understand what was being said because it was all in Wolof, it was still pretty cool. It's so true that in order to talk about serious subjects like AIDS, you need to do it with humor here. It makes it less awkward, I think.
I also got a sweet, free t-shirt from the event. It was great and I felt like I had helped people.
Right now, is the West African Invitational Softball Tournament (WAIST) so it's been mayhem. I will update about it when I have more than 10 min to myself! Missssss everyone!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Picture Update!
Look at the pictures!!! Some are from our AIDS concert that was held on Jan. 31. I will update about that soon, promise.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Frustrating Day (to be followed by a GREAT DAY update soon)
A marabout is the equivalent to a priest or a bishop in Catholicism. On Wednesday, when I found out the local marabout for their sect of Islam was coming, I knew it would be a big deal.
He was supposed to arrive around lunch time, eat in our village, and then proceed onto Goudoude Ndouebe, the village 2 km away. However, he was on Senegal-time which means that he showed up when he decided he was ready regardless of prior guarantees. When his entourage pulled up at dusk, honking their horns, with young boys hanging outside the back of trucks, I watched in amazement as the children of the village went wild with excitement. It was a little scary because the men brought out their rifles and fired them intermittently to mark the marabout’s arrival.
It was very important to the kids in my village to meet this marabout, so, I had to veil and wear conservative clothing. I went over to my friend’s house and waited with all the other women and children for his arrival. Then the women my age started questioning my personal religion.
It seems like they don’t want to understand that I am Christian, that I still pray, and that just because I don’t pray like them I’m not a bad person. It was a very frustrating experience. It was explained to me that if I saw the marabout, I would be obligated to pray because he would give something like a benediction.
So, I ended up going home without seeing the marabout, which I was o.k. with. The women could only go to see him after all the men have received their blessing, so it was already dark by the time I could have seen him. I understand the importance of religion in my village and I think I am very respectful of it. Why then, is it impossible for them to respect my beliefs? I don’t buy the line “They are ignorant and not exposed to other religions.” I have been living in this community for the last 8 months and I have had numerous discussions with everyone in my village and host family about Christianity.
If anyone has suggestions, please write me an email.
He was supposed to arrive around lunch time, eat in our village, and then proceed onto Goudoude Ndouebe, the village 2 km away. However, he was on Senegal-time which means that he showed up when he decided he was ready regardless of prior guarantees. When his entourage pulled up at dusk, honking their horns, with young boys hanging outside the back of trucks, I watched in amazement as the children of the village went wild with excitement. It was a little scary because the men brought out their rifles and fired them intermittently to mark the marabout’s arrival.
It was very important to the kids in my village to meet this marabout, so, I had to veil and wear conservative clothing. I went over to my friend’s house and waited with all the other women and children for his arrival. Then the women my age started questioning my personal religion.
It seems like they don’t want to understand that I am Christian, that I still pray, and that just because I don’t pray like them I’m not a bad person. It was a very frustrating experience. It was explained to me that if I saw the marabout, I would be obligated to pray because he would give something like a benediction.
So, I ended up going home without seeing the marabout, which I was o.k. with. The women could only go to see him after all the men have received their blessing, so it was already dark by the time I could have seen him. I understand the importance of religion in my village and I think I am very respectful of it. Why then, is it impossible for them to respect my beliefs? I don’t buy the line “They are ignorant and not exposed to other religions.” I have been living in this community for the last 8 months and I have had numerous discussions with everyone in my village and host family about Christianity.
If anyone has suggestions, please write me an email.
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