Ina Wuli Tigi Tigi

Ok, this is great! I get to use the Internets twice in one week!! This will not be the norm though. Last Monday, I had written a huge entry and the computer crashed. I didn’t feel like re-typing the whole thing.

I leave tomorrow to go up North on the “demyst” portion of my training. I really don’t like the term “demystification” because, frankly, I have already been demystified. I live in a village that has no electricity, no running water, cockroaches galore in the bathroom, and a million small children running around with runny noses. It’s real. I guess it will be good to go to the North to experience how hot it will be. I’m going to Kanel, near Matam for ten days. May is supposed to be the hottest month so I’m not looking forward to it.

As I mentioned before, I will be placed in Gudude Diopbe, a small rural village. There are about 800 people there and my closest Peace Corps neighbor is only 3km away, which is great. She has already been in-country for a year. The village said they were really excited to be getting a volunteer because they have wanted one since 2006. So, they are (hopefully) building my hut and latrine.

In other news, my host family is great. I live in Taten Toucouleur which is a little village of about 50 people. They gave me the name Fatu Sy because they can’t pronounce Marisa. The first night I was with them it was a little scary because I was on my own, lost in a language I don’t reaaaaaally speak, and I couldn’t find my headlamp. So, I spent most of the evening in darkness. But, I like my family. The kids in the village think it’s hilarious when I try to speak Pulaar, so when I get home, I entertain them with what I learned that day in class. Then I take my bucket bath, which may be my favorite part of the day, and eat dinner from a communal bowl. Then, we basically just sit around and listen to the wind rustling through the trees. This was strange at first, because I wasn’t used to silence. But, I am becoming more accustomed to it. Plus, it’s nice because at the Training Center in Thiès, it’s always loud. But, 17 km out, and it’s silent desert as far as the eye can see.

no punctuation

oh my god i just lost everything that i had written suffice to say that im going up north to a village called Gudude Diopbe and I went to the beach last weekend Thanks for all your emails and comments i miss you and will write more later

You Know You're In Africa When....

The other night I wasn't really feeling well and planning to go to bed early. READ: 9:00 PM. The sun goes down here at 7 PM so that's a long time to be sitting in the dark with a kerosene lamp and a flashlight. But, out of the blue, my host sister asks me if I want to watch a film. Thrilled at the prospect of watching a film, I agreed. I hadn't seen a tv and didn't know exactly how it would work becuase my village doesn't have electricity.

She took me to our neighbors back yard and there was a 1980's-style t.v. that was powered by a generator and just about every kid in the village was there waiting in anticipation to watch a movie. I was given a chair because I'm white and a guest still. Then after much ado, Police Crash 3 came on. I think that was the name of it. Anywho, it was a Jack Chan movie and it was dubbed in French, which didn't matter because I couldn't hear it anyway. But, Jack Chan theatrics make for some good laughs.

It was a poignant moment in my Peace Corps expierence because I looked around and saw 30 kids laughing hysterically, in someone's backyard watching a 12' t.v. run by a generator. And I knew I was in Africa.

p.s. My friend Jared says hi!

I'm here!

I have arrived in Thiès! Pronounced “chess.” My Wolof is improving. Marisa laa tudd. Can you guess what that means? Mangi fi rekk. Peace is with me. That was exciting to learn and then to actually use it in the market today. Although it was a little slow, I managed to make friends with a taxi driver who will now help me out if I am ever lost. That’s one of the main things they have been telling us: Make as many friends as possible. That way, if I am ever in trouble or need something, they can help me out!

My computer is gathering dust as I’m writing, so I will only say a few more interesting things. We eat from a communal bowl for lunch. Usually about 4 to 5 people will share. We keep to our section of the bowl. Yesterday, we learned eating etiquette. Now, I know not to reach across the bowl, how to sit at the bowl, etc. We also learned the curative powers of some of the roots and plants in Senegal! I thought that was cool.

I will hopefully be updating more later about my host family when I get there, the food, and just daily life. I am also hoping to post some pictures.

Ba suba!

Last Night

Tomorrow at the crack of dawn I leave for the biggest journey I have ever embarked on. I'm feeling good. It's time. I will be in Philly for the next two days and then I go on a convoluted trip to Senegal.

Thanks for the calls today and for all the well-wishes I have been receiving over the past months. I'll make you all proud!

Less Than A Week!

As time ticks by I am becoming more excited, less nervous, and just plain ready to ship out. I have known about my position since November, so any more waiting and I will go crazy. One of the advantages of knowing since November is I have been getting ready since then. Now, it's just small things I need to get/make arrangements for. I have posted some pictures of me getting ready to go. The link is on the left hand side under "Photos." I have been using our pool table in the basement as a home base for all my supplies, needless to say, no one has been playing pool. Oh well.

I should have mentioned...

I forgot to mention that if you click on the map below, it will bring you to a larger image. You can see Thiès much clearer.