Last Leg of Training

They said that the first day of the first week would be the most trying training days. I dont know how so many people agreed to this idea, but I have realized just the opposite. Im counting down the days until hut movein on November 10th! Although I make a fool of myself in perhaps a time released manner throughout the day, I am learning to speak Pulaar to some degree and melting into this corny joke-telling, greet-happy culture.

I dont mean to alarm anyone at home, but I have passed another small milestone that less fortunate volunteers found much earlier. After reminding chants of Toubob, rocks were thrown by little African schoolboy arms over the cement walls of our garden. No, It doesnt get more intense than that. Noone was was hit or retaliated too greatly. There are two things I seem to dislike more with every passing day. 1. Dirty, Sticky handed annoying children. 2. Rice or all food served to me in general.

Our group of ~50 went to Dakar for paperwork and more important things like putting our pictures on the face of Senegal and indulging in president attributed ice cream.

6 weeks in

We walk by this wall everyday on the way to our garden.

I feel like pumba.

and this is my beloved gardening crew at our CBT Site in Mbour

Kids make forts everywhere.

Keeping in Touch

I have heaping piles of new info to share with my small interest group outside of Africa and not enough time to spell it all out. I have received a few magicjack voice messages (254 742 6044) from home that add a little sparkle into my day because there is just something warming about fond and familiar voices.

The heat and sand have not killed me or my electronics yet, but in due time Im sure we will both falter. I havenùt been very reliable with my updates, but I honestly want to focus on the crazy things that Ive gotten myself into here.

Daily Jokes:
1.Do you have a husband (i cant find the question mark on this keyboard!) Well then marry me and take me to America. This comes up on the daily.

2. Take my babies to America.
Wow, I can get a complete set just like that.

3. I dont have money. Youre American, you must be rich...

More training

I just got back from my volunteer visit in my newly assigned region, Kolda. I have to say that they stratigically put this trip at the halfway mark of training not only to tease us with a beaufitul and lush village, but also remind us of how little Pulaar we can speak in the real world.

Im officially stoked about rolling out into the sticks on my bike and getting my hands dirty (and not from the filthy children). I was right to stress about having one well servicing a community of 470 that is inconveiniently located on the other side of the village. Sounds like project numero uno.

Im running out of cyber time, Much love!

Site announcement

Finally the blind folds have been removed and our site assignments have been revealed. Literally. I'm going to Kolda! I'll be in the village of Saare Meta.
How exciting. My electricity-free thatch roof hut without running water is going to be... Life altering. or so I expect.
I'm the first volunteer in this village, which is nerve-racking, but also leaves endless project opportunities. Speaking of projects, I think my first means of business has to include installing another well. I have to walk across several compounds and into the med area to fetch water right now. Water, the single most important commodity in my life, is required for the obvious drinking, bucket bathing, and let's not forget watering my baby plants. My strength and sanity will be tested continuously.

Brutally Honest

It will never get old for me or anyone else to comment 101 times about how hot Senegal is. Uncomfortably hot. Even the wind is a problem when its blowing the sand, which is all that is around.
Its not all bad by far. I had a rather entertaining evening making attaya, which is hot, over-sugared tea that is poured into shot size glasses from 16 inches above to form a foam topping (it looks like childrens work when they make it). I spilled a lot of tea, but it was all taken with good humor. The best part may have been translating random words and having small conversations between English, French, and my local Pulaar. They love to ask if I'm married or if I will give them American wives. Again, all taken in good humor.
I stayed up past my bedtime, but to make it worse, I stayed up drinking tiny cups of cafine. My stuffy cement room was less welcoming than usual. I've almost grown accustom to sleeping in my own sweat, one of my many accomplishments (like typing on this Frençh kèyboàrd). Once I fell asleep, I woke up because of the rain that I'm often praying for. It literally sounded like cats and dogs were hitting my TIN roof. But I cant complain about rain, right?
... A couple of hours later I couldn't put on my "appropriate to be seen in" clothes fast enough. I had to make a dash to the bathroom/hole-in-the-floor-room. I'm happy to say that I'm not yet an official volunteer. I do expect that less glamorous part of the experience, just later rather than sooner.
---the power just went out---

Cyber Cafe Update

Im back to my village in Mbour and we found a cyber cafe!! Although Im pretty happy to be able to email and communicate with home, this French keyboard is complicating my life right now. Fact: Africa is more humid than South Carolina. This feeling may be intinsified by the fact that AC does not exist.
Ill be embarassing myself in Pulaar for 2 more weeks in Mbour, then Ill be tested to see if Im actually learning anything. The language is tough. It comes together slowly, but surely (especially with this extreme learning method).
My family seems to like me. I start my day around 7 with babies crying and women sweeping. My Neene always insists on getting my kettle or bucket for bathing. I found out the hard way that you do NOT talk to anyone before washing in the morning... its bad luck. I have a bean sandwich every morning. mmm. Apparently the stereotype is that Americans love beans! Language class has been pretty great. I feel like Im progressing too slowly sometimes, but I am definately putting the time in.
We have started a garden behind the local school! It now contains jaxatu/bitter tomato, eggplant, peppers, and scallions.
Real life: I feel overwhelmed emotionally and sensorily on a daily basis. I also get to laugh at my 101 language/culture faux pas. The food is good (although im going to need supplements) and the people are hospitable.
Wish list: protein powder, aaaany kind of snacks, sanitizer, nice pens...