SeneGAD is a great organization within Peace Corps Senegal, striving to bridge the gender inequality gap. Gender inequality here is grave and I personally committed to doing what I can to help. It has become my main interest as I see such a great need for the improvement of education and quality of life for girls here. Read on about Senegad and please feel free to donate in the fundraising section. We do not have a lot of money and a lot of girls to help out. Money goes a really long way here, too. Thanks:)
http://www.senegad.org/
Friday, March 28, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
It is a small world, afterall
New picsss--- http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2098747&l=2fa4c&id=39100438
Some of you may be aware of my issue with the phrase “it is a small world”, because in most cases it is unnecessary. And simply not true, an exaggeration of a coincidental meeting. I finally said it this Easter weekend.
I went back to Thies for Easter because my family and friends there are Catholic. Educated Catholics with a habit of fun. Nice thing about the biggest cities here. University educated people. I went back Friday and stayed with the family of a friend I met when I was there 6 months ago. He came in the next day. His family is great. Oh, yea I hardly know you but I am gonna come stay with you which they were cool with of course. I was fed and given a room with fresh sheets. Senegal and its hospitality at it again. So Saturday, Easter Eve, I went to the shop (literally a small boutique with some chairs) I spent most evenings at during training. Everyone was dressed to the 9s for the holiday. A girl named Sarah who was a Peace Corps volunteer ten years ago was there. She said she had the opportunity to come do some a couple weeks’ work for her medical school there and snatched it up. She actually was a volunteer in Guinea but they used to do training in Thies, Senegal. She is still more nostalgic for Thies more than Guniea even though she did two years there. So she was there and really nice. She had a host family in the same neighborhood ten years ago. My current pals there. She lived with a friend, Claude. So she’s now my cousin. Blood and all.
And so then up comes Vieux (Senegalese friend) with some white man. He immediately identifies himself as American with a firm handshake and a “hey” or some simliar greeting. Which is funny because I never know what to say to a white person-bonjour, hello, etc. And it turns out he and Sarah were both volunteers in Guinea together at the same time. They trained a year apart but knew like all of these people in common. And that was 10 years ago. Pretty random.
He had a host family in the same neighborhood. And actually has been dating a girl from his host family since a few years after he lived there. He has been living around Africa and scored a short term job with World Food Bank in Dakar and snatched it up to be near his lady. And worth noting, he totally did it. He took a host sister of his from Guinea, brought her here to Senegal and gives her education and a better chance in life. It is a ridiculously tempting thing and he is doing it.
And so we’re talking, being Americans living in Africa, cheersing beers, and then seemingly out of nowhere Aaron blurts out “Yea I am from Akron Ohio”. I was so caught off guard.
I have spent probably 50 plus nights at this boutique and there has never been a peace corps volunteer I don’t know, let alone two, and one from Akron. I was like “did someone tell you???? Someone told you where I’m from!!” He was like “nope, I went to North high school, grew up on Dan Street.” So crazy. We reminisced about the Bucket Shop! Can you believe it? We cheersed a beer to the place. Wow. Akron, Ohio!!!!!! I haven’t talked to someone in person from Akron Ohio in 6 months. Hometown people meet up at Out Figgy Boutique in Thies, Senegal on Easter eve.
So, there it is- my official “it is a small world” occurrence. It was a great night, leading to dancing the night away. And eating pork. ☺
In other news—I ran for the position of Regional SeneGAD (gender and development) representative and won! What exactly that entails is not completely clear but it means I will be more hands on with a cause I have found to be very important. And I will be a go-to person for the people in the Dakar region for info, etc.
So Easter weekend was so great. It was perfect timing, needing a serious break from Louga. I ate the best I have eaten since I have been here. Easter was so seriously patron. Yummy appetizers and snacks, such as toothpicks with sausage, cheese and pickles, a platter of vegetables (including fancily carved tomatoes topped with a cream sauce and green beans), shrimp, egg roll things, eggs, and so forth. And then two differently seasoned chicken dishes, and fries. They kept giving us snacks and wine and beer throughout the whole day. And cookies. And more snacks. And then a chicken dinner. So ridiculously not normal here. I was now accustomed to Mulim fetes where rice and meat and fanta is worth waiting around hourrrrs for. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely dig on some ceb u yapp. So anyways, it was so amazingly delicious. And we spontaneously stood up from our chairs and danced to youssou ndour which reminded me I was in Senegal. Oh, and all of the conversation I didn’t understand was also a good indicator of geographical location. So, all in all, it rocked.
I came back this morning at 8 to Louga. And here I am. Today I will eat ceb u gen. (rice/fish). Tomorrow I will go to the colleges and get started on this scholarship thing. Happy Easter to all. I saw I missed mother and fathers phone calls on Easter. I was mid day napping. Hope all is well.
Cheers!
Some of you may be aware of my issue with the phrase “it is a small world”, because in most cases it is unnecessary. And simply not true, an exaggeration of a coincidental meeting. I finally said it this Easter weekend.
I went back to Thies for Easter because my family and friends there are Catholic. Educated Catholics with a habit of fun. Nice thing about the biggest cities here. University educated people. I went back Friday and stayed with the family of a friend I met when I was there 6 months ago. He came in the next day. His family is great. Oh, yea I hardly know you but I am gonna come stay with you which they were cool with of course. I was fed and given a room with fresh sheets. Senegal and its hospitality at it again. So Saturday, Easter Eve, I went to the shop (literally a small boutique with some chairs) I spent most evenings at during training. Everyone was dressed to the 9s for the holiday. A girl named Sarah who was a Peace Corps volunteer ten years ago was there. She said she had the opportunity to come do some a couple weeks’ work for her medical school there and snatched it up. She actually was a volunteer in Guinea but they used to do training in Thies, Senegal. She is still more nostalgic for Thies more than Guniea even though she did two years there. So she was there and really nice. She had a host family in the same neighborhood ten years ago. My current pals there. She lived with a friend, Claude. So she’s now my cousin. Blood and all.
And so then up comes Vieux (Senegalese friend) with some white man. He immediately identifies himself as American with a firm handshake and a “hey” or some simliar greeting. Which is funny because I never know what to say to a white person-bonjour, hello, etc. And it turns out he and Sarah were both volunteers in Guinea together at the same time. They trained a year apart but knew like all of these people in common. And that was 10 years ago. Pretty random.
He had a host family in the same neighborhood. And actually has been dating a girl from his host family since a few years after he lived there. He has been living around Africa and scored a short term job with World Food Bank in Dakar and snatched it up to be near his lady. And worth noting, he totally did it. He took a host sister of his from Guinea, brought her here to Senegal and gives her education and a better chance in life. It is a ridiculously tempting thing and he is doing it.
And so we’re talking, being Americans living in Africa, cheersing beers, and then seemingly out of nowhere Aaron blurts out “Yea I am from Akron Ohio”. I was so caught off guard.
I have spent probably 50 plus nights at this boutique and there has never been a peace corps volunteer I don’t know, let alone two, and one from Akron. I was like “did someone tell you???? Someone told you where I’m from!!” He was like “nope, I went to North high school, grew up on Dan Street.” So crazy. We reminisced about the Bucket Shop! Can you believe it? We cheersed a beer to the place. Wow. Akron, Ohio!!!!!! I haven’t talked to someone in person from Akron Ohio in 6 months. Hometown people meet up at Out Figgy Boutique in Thies, Senegal on Easter eve.
So, there it is- my official “it is a small world” occurrence. It was a great night, leading to dancing the night away. And eating pork. ☺
In other news—I ran for the position of Regional SeneGAD (gender and development) representative and won! What exactly that entails is not completely clear but it means I will be more hands on with a cause I have found to be very important. And I will be a go-to person for the people in the Dakar region for info, etc.
So Easter weekend was so great. It was perfect timing, needing a serious break from Louga. I ate the best I have eaten since I have been here. Easter was so seriously patron. Yummy appetizers and snacks, such as toothpicks with sausage, cheese and pickles, a platter of vegetables (including fancily carved tomatoes topped with a cream sauce and green beans), shrimp, egg roll things, eggs, and so forth. And then two differently seasoned chicken dishes, and fries. They kept giving us snacks and wine and beer throughout the whole day. And cookies. And more snacks. And then a chicken dinner. So ridiculously not normal here. I was now accustomed to Mulim fetes where rice and meat and fanta is worth waiting around hourrrrs for. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely dig on some ceb u yapp. So anyways, it was so amazingly delicious. And we spontaneously stood up from our chairs and danced to youssou ndour which reminded me I was in Senegal. Oh, and all of the conversation I didn’t understand was also a good indicator of geographical location. So, all in all, it rocked.
I came back this morning at 8 to Louga. And here I am. Today I will eat ceb u gen. (rice/fish). Tomorrow I will go to the colleges and get started on this scholarship thing. Happy Easter to all. I saw I missed mother and fathers phone calls on Easter. I was mid day napping. Hope all is well.
Cheers!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
living life
Am I writing too many blogs these days? If so, let me know. Blog writing seems so self-righteous.
Gosh, how do I say self-righteous is French?
Anyways, yea I am these days working a bit more on my French than my Wolof. That is because I think I like French more (flows more smoothly-is that correct English?) and because my French is already a lot better than my wolof so I just want to have one language I can actually have a decent conversation in. Like a good one. It is pretty difficult. Sooo… and also in terms of work at the moment, I work with people who speak French. And all of my real friends here speak French too so when my wolof hits a lull, they understand the words in French.
So--- life. I still get plenty of sleep. I am back on a yoga schedule. 1 a.m. when its not too hot and the people generally sleep.
Today I will have my second meeting with, what I guess is, my girl’s group. I am kind of basing it off of my few distinct memories of girl scouts. Remember all of the good times, bonding, and confidence building associated with such after-school programs? So, last time was introductions. There were about 10 of them, ages 11-16 and we sat in a circle and each one said their name, what they like studying in school, what they do for fun, and what they want to do for a career. I will be lucky of one them goes on to do that, but hey if I can have any influence… They really seemed to enjoy it. I had a girl in my neighborhood who had heard about it ask if she could come. So that is cute.
And I realized making an idiot out of myself is appreciated. They love my nose though. People here do. Because it is long and narrow.
Anyways, today’s agenda is this(after much random chatter, as is the case for adults here too): Each one will write 5 things on a piece of paper that each of them thinks they cannot do. And afterwards I will instruct them to tear that up. You guys can do anything you put your mind to! And then I want each of them to draw a self-portrait and write 5 positive adjectives describing themselves and we will each present ours. And essentially that is it. Considering doing the human knot thing, too.
This will take at least an hour or two. I need to keep it short because today is my tutor and friend’s baptism for his newborn girl. So I need to go eat some ceb u yapp. Rice and meat-probably sheep. Its exciting. Seriously. Because people eat well for such occasions. Maybe I will take some pictures.
And next week’s girl’s group plan is to go to Jeremiah’s (urban agriculture volunteer) work and he is going to teach them some gardening. Each one will get to go home with a flower, too. I honestly cannot wait. Another idea is to teach them to ride bikes, do research on the internet, English, arts and crafts, maybe anti mosquito lotion making (and then sell it) and perhaps some basic business skills.
So, last weekend me and 3 other volunteers (1 was in town visiting Jeremiah) went to a highschool english club meeting and played Pictionary with them. And it was a lot of fun. I made up the words to use so I did not play (because it would be an easy guess for me) but the students (about 30 of them) were having a riot. The other volunteers who don’t normally do things like this, really enjoyed it too and were glad I set it up.
I am meeting with the President of said English club tomorrow to help plan for some big event they are having where they are hosting an English club from St. Louis to come into Louga and form networks. They of course are having problems having the money to pay for the event. So tomorrow I will try to discuss fundraising ideas with them tomorrow. They are good kids who just looooooove English. And hey, so do I.
I like being a volunteer with such a broad scope of work. I can help anyone out essentially. And it is free for them. And our taxes pay for this. It is a great thing. Speaking of which, I am having a hard time deciding what to do with my tax return….. I think use it to travel to Mali, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, and Guinea. Like in 6 months or so. That is probably what I will do. At least a few of those countries. Gambia is an easy one, seeing as its in the middle of Senegal. Mali sounds cool though. I don’t know, why not? It is enough for a plane ticket to Europe or even maybe America, too. Eeeeeek. But only for the ticket. I def think traveling here makes most sense. So cheap. Yea, that’s the answer. Someone come visit me and lets travel together.
I have turned down one person for English tutoring because well, he was just an arse about it. And so many people want English tutoring so I might as well go with the respectful ones.
And next week I am going to head to the schools and begin searching for scholarship candidates for the scholarship I previously mentioned.
Oh, also starting next Monday team louga will have a 15 min slot on the radio for whatever we want. Since I work with businesses here, I will try to compile a list of local events for each week and local services (such as HIV testing) and classes (such as computer training) available to people here in Louga.
So, other than that, I still have plenty of down time to just hang out with my family and neighbors and some friends I have met out and about. Plenty of free time. But this is part of the Peace Corps- cultural exchange and also building my language skills. And I do try to help the kids here with homework, too. And I am a master spinner of kids in circles.
Who knew I loved kids so much? “ndaye touty loves kids”, they say. I usually have a kid on the hip and one holding the other hand. It is what I do. But tonight I think I am going to drink a beer after the baptism. Shiiiiit, I deserve it.
Oh, tacos are a serious problem. The lack of them. My dreams will not give em up. I wake up sad.
In other news: I have been texting today with Anthony, who is in Iraq, and also my bestest friend. Just 100 cfa per text and he is doing alright. Goood, good.
I am starvingggggg. Bye.
Worth noting: If I make it out of this thing alive, I will be able to do anything and take about any insult. Struggles day in and day out. If you are considering peace corps and aren’t a tough cookie in one way or another (all volunteers are different and draw from different strengths) id reconsider maybe. Um because being a in a conservative collectivist culture where everyone is kind of the same, is kinda ridiculous at times. And the people here anyways, can seem really mean at times. And its just the way they are. This last paragraph was just added on at the cyber café because of yet another incident.
Also worth noting: I think I kind of experienced racism Saturday. They wouldn’t let us in an establishment without a good reason at all. BOOOOO.
Gosh, how do I say self-righteous is French?
Anyways, yea I am these days working a bit more on my French than my Wolof. That is because I think I like French more (flows more smoothly-is that correct English?) and because my French is already a lot better than my wolof so I just want to have one language I can actually have a decent conversation in. Like a good one. It is pretty difficult. Sooo… and also in terms of work at the moment, I work with people who speak French. And all of my real friends here speak French too so when my wolof hits a lull, they understand the words in French.
So--- life. I still get plenty of sleep. I am back on a yoga schedule. 1 a.m. when its not too hot and the people generally sleep.
Today I will have my second meeting with, what I guess is, my girl’s group. I am kind of basing it off of my few distinct memories of girl scouts. Remember all of the good times, bonding, and confidence building associated with such after-school programs? So, last time was introductions. There were about 10 of them, ages 11-16 and we sat in a circle and each one said their name, what they like studying in school, what they do for fun, and what they want to do for a career. I will be lucky of one them goes on to do that, but hey if I can have any influence… They really seemed to enjoy it. I had a girl in my neighborhood who had heard about it ask if she could come. So that is cute.
And I realized making an idiot out of myself is appreciated. They love my nose though. People here do. Because it is long and narrow.
Anyways, today’s agenda is this(after much random chatter, as is the case for adults here too): Each one will write 5 things on a piece of paper that each of them thinks they cannot do. And afterwards I will instruct them to tear that up. You guys can do anything you put your mind to! And then I want each of them to draw a self-portrait and write 5 positive adjectives describing themselves and we will each present ours. And essentially that is it. Considering doing the human knot thing, too.
This will take at least an hour or two. I need to keep it short because today is my tutor and friend’s baptism for his newborn girl. So I need to go eat some ceb u yapp. Rice and meat-probably sheep. Its exciting. Seriously. Because people eat well for such occasions. Maybe I will take some pictures.
And next week’s girl’s group plan is to go to Jeremiah’s (urban agriculture volunteer) work and he is going to teach them some gardening. Each one will get to go home with a flower, too. I honestly cannot wait. Another idea is to teach them to ride bikes, do research on the internet, English, arts and crafts, maybe anti mosquito lotion making (and then sell it) and perhaps some basic business skills.
So, last weekend me and 3 other volunteers (1 was in town visiting Jeremiah) went to a highschool english club meeting and played Pictionary with them. And it was a lot of fun. I made up the words to use so I did not play (because it would be an easy guess for me) but the students (about 30 of them) were having a riot. The other volunteers who don’t normally do things like this, really enjoyed it too and were glad I set it up.
I am meeting with the President of said English club tomorrow to help plan for some big event they are having where they are hosting an English club from St. Louis to come into Louga and form networks. They of course are having problems having the money to pay for the event. So tomorrow I will try to discuss fundraising ideas with them tomorrow. They are good kids who just looooooove English. And hey, so do I.
I like being a volunteer with such a broad scope of work. I can help anyone out essentially. And it is free for them. And our taxes pay for this. It is a great thing. Speaking of which, I am having a hard time deciding what to do with my tax return….. I think use it to travel to Mali, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, and Guinea. Like in 6 months or so. That is probably what I will do. At least a few of those countries. Gambia is an easy one, seeing as its in the middle of Senegal. Mali sounds cool though. I don’t know, why not? It is enough for a plane ticket to Europe or even maybe America, too. Eeeeeek. But only for the ticket. I def think traveling here makes most sense. So cheap. Yea, that’s the answer. Someone come visit me and lets travel together.
I have turned down one person for English tutoring because well, he was just an arse about it. And so many people want English tutoring so I might as well go with the respectful ones.
And next week I am going to head to the schools and begin searching for scholarship candidates for the scholarship I previously mentioned.
Oh, also starting next Monday team louga will have a 15 min slot on the radio for whatever we want. Since I work with businesses here, I will try to compile a list of local events for each week and local services (such as HIV testing) and classes (such as computer training) available to people here in Louga.
So, other than that, I still have plenty of down time to just hang out with my family and neighbors and some friends I have met out and about. Plenty of free time. But this is part of the Peace Corps- cultural exchange and also building my language skills. And I do try to help the kids here with homework, too. And I am a master spinner of kids in circles.
Who knew I loved kids so much? “ndaye touty loves kids”, they say. I usually have a kid on the hip and one holding the other hand. It is what I do. But tonight I think I am going to drink a beer after the baptism. Shiiiiit, I deserve it.
Oh, tacos are a serious problem. The lack of them. My dreams will not give em up. I wake up sad.
In other news: I have been texting today with Anthony, who is in Iraq, and also my bestest friend. Just 100 cfa per text and he is doing alright. Goood, good.
I am starvingggggg. Bye.
Worth noting: If I make it out of this thing alive, I will be able to do anything and take about any insult. Struggles day in and day out. If you are considering peace corps and aren’t a tough cookie in one way or another (all volunteers are different and draw from different strengths) id reconsider maybe. Um because being a in a conservative collectivist culture where everyone is kind of the same, is kinda ridiculous at times. And the people here anyways, can seem really mean at times. And its just the way they are. This last paragraph was just added on at the cyber café because of yet another incident.
Also worth noting: I think I kind of experienced racism Saturday. They wouldn’t let us in an establishment without a good reason at all. BOOOOO.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
im a kid again!!!!!
Thought being a kid was so easy didn’t you? Well I am here to tell you as an adult who essentially feels like a child again—kids seem pretty stupid.
I live with a family. The boys I would date do too. My “mother” gives me disappointed looks when I don’t go to religious functions, my language skills are of that of no more than a ten year old, people tell me what I “really should be doing” all of the time(like sitting at the millionth lame baptism rather than working), and like a spoiled only child I get all of this crazy attention. It is a ridiculous life I lead!
And the problem is I am not at all a child. I am living away from everything comfortable and familiar (or once familiar) out of choice. Because I am educated and because I want to work hard and for something I believe in. So that in itself is not childish. If only I could say all of this in French or (the great language of) Wolof.
Dating here is realllllly cool too. Tonight I went with my friend over to his friend’s house. We drank some tropical Fanta. And while it actually was fun because these were some of the only ‘cool’ Senegalese girls I have met, it sure wasn’t drinking beer with my peeps. And then I walk home to my house/compound , which has a bolt lock so I have to wake up dear brother to let me in.
………..Errrrrrrrrrrrshhh…(stop time)
Didn’t I totally just live alone in a cool apartment in a city with things to do at night?
Didn’t I use to sound somewhat intelligent?
But alas, this was my decision. And I adjust to it. I am pretty adjusted to it. I guess. I mean I certainly feel like if I were to return to America I would feel like a freak there, too. So it is indeed a predicament I am in. But this is what life is made of- sorting out the ridiculous stuff to find a deeper something or another. And I do indeed find joy and happiness in things I never have before.
Like rice for example. Now when dinner comes around I hope for rice with a few beans. It is freaking delicious dude. I might have a heart attack if someone gave me sushi and a taco. Which brings me to the fact that the anti malaria drugs we take give you ridiculously vivid dreams. As the Doc put it- some people pay for this kind of stuff illegally. And well, it has taken me through the taco bell drive through twice this week. And I still remember my order very clearly and remember talking with dude over speaker. Damn it. Taccooooos.
Oh man, the sheep just broke loose. They are now rummaging around the back area. Bahhhhh. The way they pen up these sheep really should be changed-they always get out if the whole group of em work together.
Africa is totally ghetto. Hahahahahaha. Glad to be here in L’Afrique.
-----
current work projects:
Developing a marketing campaign for free HIV testing at CDEPS. I am thinking flyers and radio spots for starters.
Which brings me to the next thing:
Monday myself and team Louga have a meeting with RTS Radio to pitch doing a radio show. Topics will include news, local and international, health information, local events, music, explanation of american lyrics that they listen to, business and agricultural info and just a lot of stuff. Sounds really fun and radio reaches a really wide audience in developing countries because almost everyone has a radio, whilst not all have tvs. or electricity to have a tv, etc. but radios people do have.
And I had my first girl scouts type of meeting last week. We talked about school and work after school. It was really cute. They are ages 11-16. And they want to meet every week.
Oh, and thinking of starting teaching english classes. Everyone wants them afterall.
And me and the guys are going to one of the english highschool classes to facilitate a gender discussion/game with them. They each take a card with like a word on it that we will pass out. One example will be "work" or "sports" or "cooking" and then each student puts it up on the board under the category of male or female or in the middle. Then they will tell why they put that there and it goes from there. Im looking forward to it. So many topics are just never introduced here.
Cheers!
I live with a family. The boys I would date do too. My “mother” gives me disappointed looks when I don’t go to religious functions, my language skills are of that of no more than a ten year old, people tell me what I “really should be doing” all of the time(like sitting at the millionth lame baptism rather than working), and like a spoiled only child I get all of this crazy attention. It is a ridiculous life I lead!
And the problem is I am not at all a child. I am living away from everything comfortable and familiar (or once familiar) out of choice. Because I am educated and because I want to work hard and for something I believe in. So that in itself is not childish. If only I could say all of this in French or (the great language of) Wolof.
Dating here is realllllly cool too. Tonight I went with my friend over to his friend’s house. We drank some tropical Fanta. And while it actually was fun because these were some of the only ‘cool’ Senegalese girls I have met, it sure wasn’t drinking beer with my peeps. And then I walk home to my house/compound , which has a bolt lock so I have to wake up dear brother to let me in.
………..Errrrrrrrrrrrshhh…(stop time)
Didn’t I totally just live alone in a cool apartment in a city with things to do at night?
Didn’t I use to sound somewhat intelligent?
But alas, this was my decision. And I adjust to it. I am pretty adjusted to it. I guess. I mean I certainly feel like if I were to return to America I would feel like a freak there, too. So it is indeed a predicament I am in. But this is what life is made of- sorting out the ridiculous stuff to find a deeper something or another. And I do indeed find joy and happiness in things I never have before.
Like rice for example. Now when dinner comes around I hope for rice with a few beans. It is freaking delicious dude. I might have a heart attack if someone gave me sushi and a taco. Which brings me to the fact that the anti malaria drugs we take give you ridiculously vivid dreams. As the Doc put it- some people pay for this kind of stuff illegally. And well, it has taken me through the taco bell drive through twice this week. And I still remember my order very clearly and remember talking with dude over speaker. Damn it. Taccooooos.
Oh man, the sheep just broke loose. They are now rummaging around the back area. Bahhhhh. The way they pen up these sheep really should be changed-they always get out if the whole group of em work together.
Africa is totally ghetto. Hahahahahaha. Glad to be here in L’Afrique.
-----
current work projects:
Developing a marketing campaign for free HIV testing at CDEPS. I am thinking flyers and radio spots for starters.
Which brings me to the next thing:
Monday myself and team Louga have a meeting with RTS Radio to pitch doing a radio show. Topics will include news, local and international, health information, local events, music, explanation of american lyrics that they listen to, business and agricultural info and just a lot of stuff. Sounds really fun and radio reaches a really wide audience in developing countries because almost everyone has a radio, whilst not all have tvs. or electricity to have a tv, etc. but radios people do have.
And I had my first girl scouts type of meeting last week. We talked about school and work after school. It was really cute. They are ages 11-16. And they want to meet every week.
Oh, and thinking of starting teaching english classes. Everyone wants them afterall.
And me and the guys are going to one of the english highschool classes to facilitate a gender discussion/game with them. They each take a card with like a word on it that we will pass out. One example will be "work" or "sports" or "cooking" and then each student puts it up on the board under the category of male or female or in the middle. Then they will tell why they put that there and it goes from there. Im looking forward to it. So many topics are just never introduced here.
Cheers!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
what im up to...
Hellloooo---
Well I have written so many themed blogs over the last months that I never get around to posting. Now today I SWEAR I am going to the cyber and putting this blog up. In challah. (if God wills it- the phrase you end about 50% of sentences with here). Anyways, today I will give you a little overview of current life here.
I have gotten so comfortable here that I do not even think about really reporting about it. Because it is just my life, quoi.
Let’s see—I am finally done with all training and it is now time for me to start my work. The first 3 months here at site in Louga were spent on community integration and language skills. And that was fully a success. My language skills need to come further. But considering I came in not speaking French nor wolof and now I can not only get by, but have conversations with a mesh of both, it is pretty crazy.
So plans for work coming up: Michelle Sylvester scholarship interviews and selection. This involves going to the local middle schools and asking the principal to give me the names and grades of the top twelve girls. Then teachers have to write their recommendations for these girls as well as the girls write essays about what they want to do with their life and why they want to stay in school. Because right around age 11ish girls here tend to drop out of school to do work around the house.
So then I will meet them each individually and talk to them about plans for life and observe their financial situation in their homes.
I choose the top 4 candidates and then a committee within peace corps Senegal will choose the top one or two candidates now for having a year scholarship. Do you want to know how much that costs in American money? 60 bucks, but that is far too much for many here. Especially when women are seen as destined to marry and cook and clean.
So I am thinking about taking the top twelve girls afterwards and do a girls club, a sort of girl scouts. We can meet once a week and talk about life skills, such as decision making, life after school, developing individual personalities. Kids here are not often asked who they are as people, or what they want to be when they grow up. It is foreign, but I ask most kids I spend any amount of time with. Which is about most of my time.
So there is that. And then working with the highschool English clubs. We are putting together a culture night with the centre culturelle here. I am going to teach how to play pictionary. This is good for English practice, a view of American culture, and fun. And they are going to do a play and other things. We start work on that next Monday, in challah. I am doing that in partnership with Adrian, a health volunteer in a nearby village, and Anne Marie, the woman in charge of the “American corner” here at the cultural center in louga. (not to mention she is also my cousin via Thies).
Which reminds me, I need to go visit this one English class again on Saturday that seemed to have promising students.
Then, Jeremiah (urban agriculture volunteer actually in the city with me), Adrian, and I have a meeting with the big radio station here to try to figure out a way to work together and have a radio show run by us. Volunteers in other regions do it and it is a great way to promote important issues and events, ranging from business, health, agriculture, culture,
etc. And also play some music and whatnot. So hopefully that should work out well.
So these are the main current projects I am most excited about here. I really forsee myself working with youth a lot- they have less preconceived notions and are more open to change and formation. And a serious shift in attitude about gender and education is needed. Adults are already kind of stuck in their ways, quoi.
I am becoming more Senegalese every day, it is kind of bizarre. My clothes, my eating habits- they are starting to shift. Well, I mean obviously. But it is kind of interesting that I seem to be one of the few volunteers who kind of prefers being with Senegalese people at this point. Huge toubab events are quite bizarre and we are quite awkward socializers, really. Doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy toubab things too, it is just im instead becoming functional without the things I once required and was once used to.
It is very strange to think about certain things. Last night was an interesting mix of culture moment- me and my two closest peace corps neighbors made dinner together. It was sick- we had fried chicken, salad and mashed potatoes. Insane, right? Well for us. We hadn’t done anything like it since thanksgiving. And haha so we made it all and then made plates out of tin foil (plates- toubab, out of tin foil- not), plopped on the floor (senegalese) and ate it all with our hands, even though there were forks. (not toubab). Using your hand to eat, especially chicken and salad, is so much easier and just better. It is always funny and kind of scary to imagine the reactions of Americans if we were to do some of the African things we now do regularly around them.
The comfort of being here for almost 6 months now is evident. I do things to people in the street, like fake punch people when they don’t know I am not a tourist. And then laugh it off in wolof. And a lot of times when I do stuff and say things in wolof people will know I am American and often guess if I am from the peace corps. We have a good repuation in the country. You don’t see French people speaking wolof. Ok, there is one drunk French guy who does. But I don’t know, tis weird. All I know is living here rocks. I could not imagine dropping by St Louis and Dakar and calling it a day and saying I have seen Senegal. Senegal is awesome. Too awesome for that.
For example, I was just in St Louis a couple of days ago after josh and Liam came to visit me here in Louga. Liam and I went to st louis becase its only an hour from here and my personal fave city in Senegal. So, I meet this security guard when im at the ATM and he says something in wolof and I reply and then he is like woah- come eat. So Liam and I went and ate some lunch with these two guards, no problem. And they actually spoke Mandinka too, which is the language Liam uses. Surprising people with your local language skills is almost always fun, especially is a psychotically touristy city like st. louis. And I can ALWAYS eat at any house, even if I do not know the people. And I get tea all of the time too. From total strangers. This is Senegal. But you woul not know this if you came here and went only to restaurants.
Do I miss good food? Yes. Does the food seem really tasty here now? Yep. Is it even comparable? Nope. Does is matter? Nope. Will I move to another country next? Yes. So I better work on getting turkey sandwiches on wheat bread with cheddar cheese and honey mustard out of my head. Oh and ceasar salad, too. And oreo icecream. Byeeeeeeeeee. Time to eat some rice! And ya know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Well I have written so many themed blogs over the last months that I never get around to posting. Now today I SWEAR I am going to the cyber and putting this blog up. In challah. (if God wills it- the phrase you end about 50% of sentences with here). Anyways, today I will give you a little overview of current life here.
I have gotten so comfortable here that I do not even think about really reporting about it. Because it is just my life, quoi.
Let’s see—I am finally done with all training and it is now time for me to start my work. The first 3 months here at site in Louga were spent on community integration and language skills. And that was fully a success. My language skills need to come further. But considering I came in not speaking French nor wolof and now I can not only get by, but have conversations with a mesh of both, it is pretty crazy.
So plans for work coming up: Michelle Sylvester scholarship interviews and selection. This involves going to the local middle schools and asking the principal to give me the names and grades of the top twelve girls. Then teachers have to write their recommendations for these girls as well as the girls write essays about what they want to do with their life and why they want to stay in school. Because right around age 11ish girls here tend to drop out of school to do work around the house.
So then I will meet them each individually and talk to them about plans for life and observe their financial situation in their homes.
I choose the top 4 candidates and then a committee within peace corps Senegal will choose the top one or two candidates now for having a year scholarship. Do you want to know how much that costs in American money? 60 bucks, but that is far too much for many here. Especially when women are seen as destined to marry and cook and clean.
So I am thinking about taking the top twelve girls afterwards and do a girls club, a sort of girl scouts. We can meet once a week and talk about life skills, such as decision making, life after school, developing individual personalities. Kids here are not often asked who they are as people, or what they want to be when they grow up. It is foreign, but I ask most kids I spend any amount of time with. Which is about most of my time.
So there is that. And then working with the highschool English clubs. We are putting together a culture night with the centre culturelle here. I am going to teach how to play pictionary. This is good for English practice, a view of American culture, and fun. And they are going to do a play and other things. We start work on that next Monday, in challah. I am doing that in partnership with Adrian, a health volunteer in a nearby village, and Anne Marie, the woman in charge of the “American corner” here at the cultural center in louga. (not to mention she is also my cousin via Thies).
Which reminds me, I need to go visit this one English class again on Saturday that seemed to have promising students.
Then, Jeremiah (urban agriculture volunteer actually in the city with me), Adrian, and I have a meeting with the big radio station here to try to figure out a way to work together and have a radio show run by us. Volunteers in other regions do it and it is a great way to promote important issues and events, ranging from business, health, agriculture, culture,
etc. And also play some music and whatnot. So hopefully that should work out well.
So these are the main current projects I am most excited about here. I really forsee myself working with youth a lot- they have less preconceived notions and are more open to change and formation. And a serious shift in attitude about gender and education is needed. Adults are already kind of stuck in their ways, quoi.
I am becoming more Senegalese every day, it is kind of bizarre. My clothes, my eating habits- they are starting to shift. Well, I mean obviously. But it is kind of interesting that I seem to be one of the few volunteers who kind of prefers being with Senegalese people at this point. Huge toubab events are quite bizarre and we are quite awkward socializers, really. Doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy toubab things too, it is just im instead becoming functional without the things I once required and was once used to.
It is very strange to think about certain things. Last night was an interesting mix of culture moment- me and my two closest peace corps neighbors made dinner together. It was sick- we had fried chicken, salad and mashed potatoes. Insane, right? Well for us. We hadn’t done anything like it since thanksgiving. And haha so we made it all and then made plates out of tin foil (plates- toubab, out of tin foil- not), plopped on the floor (senegalese) and ate it all with our hands, even though there were forks. (not toubab). Using your hand to eat, especially chicken and salad, is so much easier and just better. It is always funny and kind of scary to imagine the reactions of Americans if we were to do some of the African things we now do regularly around them.
The comfort of being here for almost 6 months now is evident. I do things to people in the street, like fake punch people when they don’t know I am not a tourist. And then laugh it off in wolof. And a lot of times when I do stuff and say things in wolof people will know I am American and often guess if I am from the peace corps. We have a good repuation in the country. You don’t see French people speaking wolof. Ok, there is one drunk French guy who does. But I don’t know, tis weird. All I know is living here rocks. I could not imagine dropping by St Louis and Dakar and calling it a day and saying I have seen Senegal. Senegal is awesome. Too awesome for that.
For example, I was just in St Louis a couple of days ago after josh and Liam came to visit me here in Louga. Liam and I went to st louis becase its only an hour from here and my personal fave city in Senegal. So, I meet this security guard when im at the ATM and he says something in wolof and I reply and then he is like woah- come eat. So Liam and I went and ate some lunch with these two guards, no problem. And they actually spoke Mandinka too, which is the language Liam uses. Surprising people with your local language skills is almost always fun, especially is a psychotically touristy city like st. louis. And I can ALWAYS eat at any house, even if I do not know the people. And I get tea all of the time too. From total strangers. This is Senegal. But you woul not know this if you came here and went only to restaurants.
Do I miss good food? Yes. Does the food seem really tasty here now? Yep. Is it even comparable? Nope. Does is matter? Nope. Will I move to another country next? Yes. So I better work on getting turkey sandwiches on wheat bread with cheddar cheese and honey mustard out of my head. Oh and ceasar salad, too. And oreo icecream. Byeeeeeeeeee. Time to eat some rice! And ya know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Dafa tang. Il fait chaud. It’s bloody hot.
So finally I start to get a grip on French. I need to learn a lottttttt (most of it) of vocabulary and as every evaluation at the training center told me, I need to study those irregular verbs. One day…. So, anyways, I was just starting to pass as a sort of, kind of French speaker. Well well well, enter: Louga. People do not love speaking French here. Certainly not. In Thies, one does not need to learn wolof to be an effective volunteer. In Louga, yeeeeeeea. To buy just about anything, I need to speak Wolof. So I started Wolof tutoring yesterday. I have another class in an hour. Another thing to note: a lot of people here do not even speak French. Which means they did not go to much school, if any. Wolof is supposedly so much easier than French so that is good…because Francais is not easy.
So…Louga. I live with twenty-five people and about fifteen goats. Wolof is the language of the house…a few speak French…but don’t like to, really. My host mother and I get by on gestures. I should mention there are 3 wives here and no husband. He passed away. The noises outside of my window are ones of many clinking pans, sheep of all ages (babies are higher-pitched sounding) and crying babies. Oh, the crying babies. Oh the sheep! There is like 15 children under the age of 15 here. They are quite adorable, though I know hardly any of their names. Oh yea, and me? I am Ndaye Touti Sekk. “Ndaye Touti, Ndaye Touti”. Already I am a celebrity in town. I will work my way up to Demba’s status soon. I mean, we are the only white people in this city of about two hundred thousand people. “team toubab!”
Demba is Jeremiah, the other Peace Corps volunteer in Louga. He has been here for 6 months as an urban agriculture volunteer. Fortunately we get along mighty well. And the 3rd musketeer of Team Louga hails from a village about 45 minutes west, Adrian AKA Adama.
I lucked the heck out with these guys being my neighbors. Not all Peace Corps volunteers are totally sweet, like I dreamingly envisioned. Nonetheless, these guys are my “paht-nahs”. We are having a family Thanksgiving together tomorrow. And, as you should know, Thanksgiving Eve is the second biggest bar night of the year in America, so of course we are hitting up the town discotheque “club millionaire” for some late night dancing tonight. Jeremiah and I did all of the Thanksgiving shopping today because a night in Senegal does not end until 5 am at the earliest. And the market pickings are best at 9 am. So here is what we will “mange”(eat): fried chicken (And honey mustard dipping sauce!…this was key for the guys), mac and cheese, garlic mashed potatoes, cheesy garlic bread, salad with tomato and green pepper, and a box of wine each. These aren’t franzia sized boxes. Yea turkey is just too expensive and yea, you buy them alive, too. J and I saw two turkeys tied together today on the side of the road and agreed that was sweet to SEE two turkeys the day BEFORE thanksgiving..because turkeys are rare here. You know what else you don’t eat in Louga? Pork. I’m rolling deep in Muslims here. Deeeeep.
I would also like to note there is fruit soaking in a party punch for tonight. We decided to be idealists for our Thanksgiving fete. Big ballers or “petron”, if you will.
Apparantly this club is just like on you find in New Orleans, says Adrian, so I am quite excited. And one fact of Senegalese bars is I am guaranteed an approximate 3:10 ratio of women : men. Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!! So what I say is, “am nah jeker”—I have a husband. No problem, I really do enjoy Senegalese dancing, so should be great. And how much did I luck out that team Louga enjoys dancing? I did luck out.
A note on dancing here. Its great!!!!!!!!!!!! It is really fun. Our stage (the people I trained with in thies) were big on the dancing. And about 4 of the guy volunteers told me on different occasions that they never loved dancing until they came to Senegal, where they feel so free! So freeeeeeeeeeeeee….. to dance! Like seriously though. So I thought that was cute. Yea, they do look ridiculous, but im just happy they are letting go of inhibitions. ☺
So: about Louga. Right, I am here to work, not celebrate thanksgiving every day! But yea, it is going well. Why not, ya know? I am in a city, alhumdilliyah. (thanks be to god).
So, I have been trying to meet people, which really takes no effort because everyone notices you. Everyone. Did I mention I am the only white woman in Louga? Cool. I said to jeremiah yesterday, “I do not feel sorry for minorities in America” and maaaan I stick by that. People are not used to diversity here. And they test you. They are not kind, but supposedly it happens to everyone here and it is all in good nature. So I am waiting for my wolof to improve before I do a lot of heavy networking. However, I have some good people to start chatting with about ideas of work.
The first 3 months are for community integration so I have time. A young man already approached me about coming to English club meetings and talking with them/and or supervising at the centre culturelle. And as more people began to ask about me teaching them English, and the same thing happening to J, we decided yesterday we would like to start an English club in town together for the young folk. He does not speak any French and I essentially do not speak any wolof, so together we are a dynamite team.
My counterparts are slow to getting back to my texts and calls and taking me around to meeting people at certain institutions, but I am going to roll Senegalese style and take my time. I really have no agenda here…ever. I am happy so long as a read some of the Peace Corps business material they gave us, Speak/study some wolof and French, and walk around the city a little bit. And let’s see …today at lunch, which was fish balls, rich and vegetables( I told myself I was eating meatballs and for the one bite I actually believed it—it was great)…so at lunch I actually got some wolof correct when an older man at the bowl said some things to me. And I am going for tea at my tutor’s house today to practice more.
I lucked out to live right down the street from a great man, Pap Samb. He has been a teacher here for twenty-five plus years and has tutored countless Peace Corps volunteers. He is blind so he writes words out in the sand and is just so awesome, I love it. He is one of those natural teacher types, who just likes to see you learn. We meet three times a week for an hour each time. Two sessions a week for wolof, one for French. He thinks I do not need more French, but he is fooling himself. I want to be fluent in French by the time I leave, as well as Wolof.
Soo, Louga is hot. It is sandy. It is a big city by Senegalese standards and there are two paved roads. Walking in dirty sand everywhere is a lot more work than roads. “when you get on the road, you are like ‘man, im flying!’”, said Adrian.
Soooo… I can buy just about everything I need here, too. I get my bananas, my spaghetti sandwiches ( oooo yeaaaa), my café touba, and my biskrems. What else could a girl need? Well….FIXED PRICES. They need to work on that here. Not only do I always feel like im getting screwed, but also its better for the economy. Taxes and stuff, right?
So more of those surreal moments I wondered about have come along. Just one or two, when I was like well, this is mighty surreal. I don’t really miss America or take myself to that mindset where I picture certain things there for more than 10 seconds because it is just too bizarre. So it is more surreal now because I am finally not in Thies, where I saw loads of Americans every day and had a schedule set for me. I am in a city where I am going to be working for two years, doing whatever the hell I feel like( keeping the people here in mind, naturally). And im not gonna be speaking English, yo. Oh no. It is a weird feeling. J has a sweet place and has this whole roof to himself. And I was looking off it the other day, looking at good ol Senegal lit up by a western union sign and I was like “soo…hmmm…ok. I live here. Right.” I have not lived anywhere for two years straight since high school. And now its in Louga. Senegal. West Africa. Dave asked me online yesterday if I feel like I am in Africa. The answer is Yes. Yes, Yes, Yes.
Come visit me if you dare.
So…Louga. I live with twenty-five people and about fifteen goats. Wolof is the language of the house…a few speak French…but don’t like to, really. My host mother and I get by on gestures. I should mention there are 3 wives here and no husband. He passed away. The noises outside of my window are ones of many clinking pans, sheep of all ages (babies are higher-pitched sounding) and crying babies. Oh, the crying babies. Oh the sheep! There is like 15 children under the age of 15 here. They are quite adorable, though I know hardly any of their names. Oh yea, and me? I am Ndaye Touti Sekk. “Ndaye Touti, Ndaye Touti”. Already I am a celebrity in town. I will work my way up to Demba’s status soon. I mean, we are the only white people in this city of about two hundred thousand people. “team toubab!”
Demba is Jeremiah, the other Peace Corps volunteer in Louga. He has been here for 6 months as an urban agriculture volunteer. Fortunately we get along mighty well. And the 3rd musketeer of Team Louga hails from a village about 45 minutes west, Adrian AKA Adama.
I lucked the heck out with these guys being my neighbors. Not all Peace Corps volunteers are totally sweet, like I dreamingly envisioned. Nonetheless, these guys are my “paht-nahs”. We are having a family Thanksgiving together tomorrow. And, as you should know, Thanksgiving Eve is the second biggest bar night of the year in America, so of course we are hitting up the town discotheque “club millionaire” for some late night dancing tonight. Jeremiah and I did all of the Thanksgiving shopping today because a night in Senegal does not end until 5 am at the earliest. And the market pickings are best at 9 am. So here is what we will “mange”(eat): fried chicken (And honey mustard dipping sauce!…this was key for the guys), mac and cheese, garlic mashed potatoes, cheesy garlic bread, salad with tomato and green pepper, and a box of wine each. These aren’t franzia sized boxes. Yea turkey is just too expensive and yea, you buy them alive, too. J and I saw two turkeys tied together today on the side of the road and agreed that was sweet to SEE two turkeys the day BEFORE thanksgiving..because turkeys are rare here. You know what else you don’t eat in Louga? Pork. I’m rolling deep in Muslims here. Deeeeep.
I would also like to note there is fruit soaking in a party punch for tonight. We decided to be idealists for our Thanksgiving fete. Big ballers or “petron”, if you will.
Apparantly this club is just like on you find in New Orleans, says Adrian, so I am quite excited. And one fact of Senegalese bars is I am guaranteed an approximate 3:10 ratio of women : men. Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!! So what I say is, “am nah jeker”—I have a husband. No problem, I really do enjoy Senegalese dancing, so should be great. And how much did I luck out that team Louga enjoys dancing? I did luck out.
A note on dancing here. Its great!!!!!!!!!!!! It is really fun. Our stage (the people I trained with in thies) were big on the dancing. And about 4 of the guy volunteers told me on different occasions that they never loved dancing until they came to Senegal, where they feel so free! So freeeeeeeeeeeeee….. to dance! Like seriously though. So I thought that was cute. Yea, they do look ridiculous, but im just happy they are letting go of inhibitions. ☺
So: about Louga. Right, I am here to work, not celebrate thanksgiving every day! But yea, it is going well. Why not, ya know? I am in a city, alhumdilliyah. (thanks be to god).
So, I have been trying to meet people, which really takes no effort because everyone notices you. Everyone. Did I mention I am the only white woman in Louga? Cool. I said to jeremiah yesterday, “I do not feel sorry for minorities in America” and maaaan I stick by that. People are not used to diversity here. And they test you. They are not kind, but supposedly it happens to everyone here and it is all in good nature. So I am waiting for my wolof to improve before I do a lot of heavy networking. However, I have some good people to start chatting with about ideas of work.
The first 3 months are for community integration so I have time. A young man already approached me about coming to English club meetings and talking with them/and or supervising at the centre culturelle. And as more people began to ask about me teaching them English, and the same thing happening to J, we decided yesterday we would like to start an English club in town together for the young folk. He does not speak any French and I essentially do not speak any wolof, so together we are a dynamite team.
My counterparts are slow to getting back to my texts and calls and taking me around to meeting people at certain institutions, but I am going to roll Senegalese style and take my time. I really have no agenda here…ever. I am happy so long as a read some of the Peace Corps business material they gave us, Speak/study some wolof and French, and walk around the city a little bit. And let’s see …today at lunch, which was fish balls, rich and vegetables( I told myself I was eating meatballs and for the one bite I actually believed it—it was great)…so at lunch I actually got some wolof correct when an older man at the bowl said some things to me. And I am going for tea at my tutor’s house today to practice more.
I lucked out to live right down the street from a great man, Pap Samb. He has been a teacher here for twenty-five plus years and has tutored countless Peace Corps volunteers. He is blind so he writes words out in the sand and is just so awesome, I love it. He is one of those natural teacher types, who just likes to see you learn. We meet three times a week for an hour each time. Two sessions a week for wolof, one for French. He thinks I do not need more French, but he is fooling himself. I want to be fluent in French by the time I leave, as well as Wolof.
Soo, Louga is hot. It is sandy. It is a big city by Senegalese standards and there are two paved roads. Walking in dirty sand everywhere is a lot more work than roads. “when you get on the road, you are like ‘man, im flying!’”, said Adrian.
Soooo… I can buy just about everything I need here, too. I get my bananas, my spaghetti sandwiches ( oooo yeaaaa), my café touba, and my biskrems. What else could a girl need? Well….FIXED PRICES. They need to work on that here. Not only do I always feel like im getting screwed, but also its better for the economy. Taxes and stuff, right?
So more of those surreal moments I wondered about have come along. Just one or two, when I was like well, this is mighty surreal. I don’t really miss America or take myself to that mindset where I picture certain things there for more than 10 seconds because it is just too bizarre. So it is more surreal now because I am finally not in Thies, where I saw loads of Americans every day and had a schedule set for me. I am in a city where I am going to be working for two years, doing whatever the hell I feel like( keeping the people here in mind, naturally). And im not gonna be speaking English, yo. Oh no. It is a weird feeling. J has a sweet place and has this whole roof to himself. And I was looking off it the other day, looking at good ol Senegal lit up by a western union sign and I was like “soo…hmmm…ok. I live here. Right.” I have not lived anywhere for two years straight since high school. And now its in Louga. Senegal. West Africa. Dave asked me online yesterday if I feel like I am in Africa. The answer is Yes. Yes, Yes, Yes.
Come visit me if you dare.
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