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.

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.

What Do You Want to Hear About?

I've almost been here a year and I'm not sure if my blog is helpful to people who aren't living here because that was my original aim.

I want to write about things that other people want to hear about...so what would you guys like to see/hear? Feedback is necessary to evaluate.

Also, thank you to everyone who has sent me packages and letters, it has meant the world to me!

Clapping for Crystal Light

Last week, I decided to visit some of the houses around my quartier. I went to undoubtably, the poorest family's house on the outskirts of Goudoude. I brought along a Raspberry Lemonade Crystal Light packet to share with the billion kids this family has.

They were ecstatic that I came bearing American goods. They had me make it and of course I had to add sugar to it...All the kids took turns sipping from the ladle. It's amazing how well children here share things without protest when forced to.

One of the five mothers, Houley Ka, came out and was so excited that I had come to visit her and her family AND that I had brought them something. She cried, "Let's clap for Fati Ka! Let's clap, kids!" (Fati Ka is my name in the village.) So, about 15 kids started to fervently clap their hands together and giggle.

By far and away one of the best moments I have ever spent in this country. I felt appreciated, but more importantly I felt like I had become a respected member of the community. A smile spreads across my face just thinking about it. I'm beginning to see why volunteers extend their stay for another year. (DON'T worry, I'm not going to stay here for another year). Everything has been memorable here, but things just began to be consistently enjoyable.

New Year, New Jobs, New Outlook

I went to Ndioum for a Regional Strategy meeting. (That makes me sound very important.) On the way up, I was sitting in the front row of a bus and noticed that the odometer was at 3, 083, 318 km. Now, most of the cars no longer have working odometers, radios, etc, but I thought it was funny because in America, that car would have been retired looooong ago.

But, the meeting was productive. We also handed over the house positions, so I am now in charge of ordering beer and soda for the regional house, the new regional editor for SABAAR, our Peace Corps Senegal newspaper, and the new SeneGAD regional representavie. SeneGAD is our Senegal Gender and Development organization, the same one that sponsors the Girls’ Scholarship each year. I’m really excited and I think it will allow me to get more involved with Peace Corps Senegal administration.

I'm really hopeful that this year will be more productive and that I will be able to get more accomplished in my village and with our regional strategy. I'm actually EXCITED!

It was also freezing this weekend in Ndioum. I had two sheets, the sweatpants Jeff got me (!), 4 shirts, a scarf, and the new socks I got from Kirsten, and I was still freezing at night. Therefore, if you have old sweatshirts, hats, sweatpants, socks, blankets, send them my way for people in my village. They will appreciate it.

Also, if you are looking for an adventure….COME VISIT ME! I would love to host anyone and I promise I won’t make you stay in my village the entire time. It’s the cold season, so it means nice weather during the days. None of this 140 degree stuff. Just an idea…

Hit the Ground Running

I've had sand in my toes, dust blown in my face, been proposed to, inadvertently drank tap water to wash down pills for the parasites I've acquired from drinking tap water to begin with, killed mosquitoes, woken up to the call to prayer at 5 AM, and bargained for the price of a taxi ride.

I AM BACK!

It's realativly cold here at night and hot during the day. I am trying to set up a lot for me to do the first month just to help ease the transition back to the non-amenity lifestyle. The nicest parts of Senegal will never compare with the chic lifestyle of Parisians so I just have to accept that. It's a lot harder than it seems...

But, this week, I'm going to a meeting about a radio project that an NGO is about to launch. They want volunteers on the ground level to encourage people in the village to listen to it on a consistent basis. This weekend we have our Regional Strategy Meeting, which makes it seem like we are actually important...but that should be a good time to voice concerns and make progress on what the volunteers up North can accomplish during our two years in the village. Then at the end of the month, a volunteer in Podor is having a concert to benefit people living with AIDS. So I was going to go help out with that.

Then, next month is our All Volunteer Conference and at the end of February the new volunteers come!! I am going to help out with their training etc.

I can't believe that I have already been here for 10 months!!! Can you?

Thanks to everyone who sent me a Holiday card, they are all hanging up in my room! I miss you guys a lot, but I feel this is the right place for me to be at this stage in my life. Also, I'm not so sure I could land a job with the current economy back in the States...hehe.

Back Home....

I arrived yesterday evening and I am heading back to the desert tomorrow. I had a wonderful trip! I posted all of my pictures on the photo link to the left, so enjoy!