The first week of IST is over! Since only the SED volunteers were at the center this week, all lessons were devoted to actual SED related material. We spent Monday through Friday learning about teaching business seminars, working with artisans, and working with farmers on marketing. In the evenings, we've been commuting back and forth from Tassette, where the Diop family was happy to see me, and also quite impressed with my Wolof. The only issue is that going back and forth from the village is absolutely exhausting, and that several of us have gotten pretty sick during this period. Despite that, being regrouped with all my friends has been great fun, and we've had a good time thus far. We've also learned quite a bit and have come up with a few project ideas for when we return to site.
We took a field trip this morning to see a farily well known monastary that makes goat cheese and bissap wine. After touring the facilities, getting free samples of fruit at the orchard, and discussing the technical processes involved, we were able to buy some cheese and wine. We have the rest of the day off, as well as tomorrow. Tomorrow night we'll be convening in the same hotel we saw the election, but this time to enjoy the Super Bowl. As for this coming week, it will probably be just as exhausting since the AG/AGFO volunteers will be coming and and we'll be starting language classes as well. I'm off to enjoy some wine and cheese, but hope everyone back home is doing well and still currently employed! A plus tard!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
The return of Galass Diop
Well, IST (In Service Training) is right around the corner. I have orders to report to the Thies Training Center by Sunday. After Sunday night, we will all be commuting back and forth from our original homestay villages. For those able to add two and two, that means I will be returning to the Diop family for a few weeks. I'm actually very excited to start IST, not only because I get to see my stage friends, but also because I want to show off my improved Wolof to the Diops. It will surely be an exhausting period, but it should be fun and interesting nonetheless. I will also be bringing a bunch of sample products (shoes and belts) from the local shoemakers to sell to my fellow volunteers (a traveling shoe salesman well versed in the business of basket weaving...that's me...).
Otherwise, it's been a fairly slow period. I essentially got strong armed into continuing my Wolof classes, which were excruciating. In 3 additional lessons, I learned incredibly useful Wolof words to describe "digging dirt out of your fingernails", "a deadly blow to the ear", and my favorite "A special way to tie up donkeys during the dry season". At least these sessions are over and I never have to deal with "Useless Gypsy" (His name in my phone book) again. I told him that if I pass my language test during IST, the Peace Corps will no longer pay for tutoring. Obviously, I will pass. In terms of work, the shoemakers and I did some more accounting, and I'm currently helping them apply for a grant. In a sense, the timing of IST is a bit unfortunate, as I'm really starting to connect with my host family. The household toddler, Ahmet, even showed his affection for me by peeing on me the other day. But in all seriousness, they are a great host family, and I'm happy to have their company here. I'm off to pack my things up, but I'll give updates from the Diop family in Tassette next time I get on the internet. Mangi dem Thies pur gis samay xaarit!
Otherwise, it's been a fairly slow period. I essentially got strong armed into continuing my Wolof classes, which were excruciating. In 3 additional lessons, I learned incredibly useful Wolof words to describe "digging dirt out of your fingernails", "a deadly blow to the ear", and my favorite "A special way to tie up donkeys during the dry season". At least these sessions are over and I never have to deal with "Useless Gypsy" (His name in my phone book) again. I told him that if I pass my language test during IST, the Peace Corps will no longer pay for tutoring. Obviously, I will pass. In terms of work, the shoemakers and I did some more accounting, and I'm currently helping them apply for a grant. In a sense, the timing of IST is a bit unfortunate, as I'm really starting to connect with my host family. The household toddler, Ahmet, even showed his affection for me by peeing on me the other day. But in all seriousness, they are a great host family, and I'm happy to have their company here. I'm off to pack my things up, but I'll give updates from the Diop family in Tassette next time I get on the internet. Mangi dem Thies pur gis samay xaarit!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Dude looks like a lady...
Well, I can officially eliminate cross-dressing from the "things I need to do before I die" list. Tamkhar
it rolled around today, and overall it was a very subdued celebration, except for the evening. The day came and went like any other, and the only real difference was what we ate for dinner. The local missionary, Roy, came over for dinner (he doesn't have a host family and thus often comes over for local celebrations), and we all ate "Ceere", which is millet based couscous. Once dinner was done, things got interesting. Tradition has it that once dinner is done, the children cross dress and go around to the different households asking for candy and money (kind of like Halloween, but with only one costume...). The women in my family had asked me if I wanted to partake in the event. Severely disappointing the men of the family, I accepted the challenge. With most of us gathered in the living room, my host sister, Kine (she is on my left in the group picture), brought the clothing out. All of a sudden, I was a full fledged Senegalese woman in heels. My appearance caused such riotous bouts of laughter that taking pictures was only an option after about 2o minutes or so. Time and time again, "GALASS BU JIGEEN" (Galass the woman) was shouted out, each time garnering a fresh round of laughter. The pictures were taken solely for the amusement of my western family
and friends, and even my host family admitted that. So I hope everyone enjoys the pictures, because I'm not really sure when I'll get to play the part of a Senegalese woman again.
As for New Years, it was a wild time. About 40 of us went to the touristy city of St. Louis. Little did we know, about 100 Peace Corps volunteers from Mauritania had the same idea. The end result was that Peace Corps took over the town. In our little section of the city, no street corner was devoid of a volunteer. In fact, the night of the 31st felt much like any other wild Friday night in the U.S, since I was surrounded by westerners the entire time. Despite the fact that I got a high fever the next day, it was a great time and I would not be opposed to returning there for New Years 2010. In other news, I'm still working with local shoemakers. I'm trying to get them to improve their accounting practices so that they stand a better chance at securing loans to increase their workspace and manpower. I'm having to come to terms with the fact that things really do take quite a bit long
er out here. For instance, it took me 3 days to make 4 photocopies because the machines were broken for several days. But my work partners are great and eager to get work going, so that's very refreshing. When I'm not working with the shoemakers, I'll usually go to the Maire's office and study Wolof or talk to the employees for an hour or two. Other than that, I'll be at site for the next week and a half and then head off to Dakar where I'll once again flex my muscles (or lack thereof) on the softball field. Then, on the 26th, I'll go back to Thies for 3 weeks to complete my training with IST (Inter-Service Training). During that period, I'm fairly sure that my friends and I will be commuting from our homestay villages, which means that I will make a glorious return to Tassette. That about sums it up for now, so I hope everyone back home had a good New Year and enjoys my feminine side. A plus tard!
P.S The one picture of the water is in St.Louis.
it rolled around today, and overall it was a very subdued celebration, except for the evening. The day came and went like any other, and the only real difference was what we ate for dinner. The local missionary, Roy, came over for dinner (he doesn't have a host family and thus often comes over for local celebrations), and we all ate "Ceere", which is millet based couscous. Once dinner was done, things got interesting. Tradition has it that once dinner is done, the children cross dress and go around to the different households asking for candy and money (kind of like Halloween, but with only one costume...). The women in my family had asked me if I wanted to partake in the event. Severely disappointing the men of the family, I accepted the challenge. With most of us gathered in the living room, my host sister, Kine (she is on my left in the group picture), brought the clothing out. All of a sudden, I was a full fledged Senegalese woman in heels. My appearance caused such riotous bouts of laughter that taking pictures was only an option after about 2o minutes or so. Time and time again, "GALASS BU JIGEEN" (Galass the woman) was shouted out, each time garnering a fresh round of laughter. The pictures were taken solely for the amusement of my western family
and friends, and even my host family admitted that. So I hope everyone enjoys the pictures, because I'm not really sure when I'll get to play the part of a Senegalese woman again.As for New Years, it was a wild time. About 40 of us went to the touristy city of St. Louis. Little did we know, about 100 Peace Corps volunteers from Mauritania had the same idea. The end result was that Peace Corps took over the town. In our little section of the city, no street corner was devoid of a volunteer. In fact, the night of the 31st felt much like any other wild Friday night in the U.S, since I was surrounded by westerners the entire time. Despite the fact that I got a high fever the next day, it was a great time and I would not be opposed to returning there for New Years 2010. In other news, I'm still working with local shoemakers. I'm trying to get them to improve their accounting practices so that they stand a better chance at securing loans to increase their workspace and manpower. I'm having to come to terms with the fact that things really do take quite a bit long
er out here. For instance, it took me 3 days to make 4 photocopies because the machines were broken for several days. But my work partners are great and eager to get work going, so that's very refreshing. When I'm not working with the shoemakers, I'll usually go to the Maire's office and study Wolof or talk to the employees for an hour or two. Other than that, I'll be at site for the next week and a half and then head off to Dakar where I'll once again flex my muscles (or lack thereof) on the softball field. Then, on the 26th, I'll go back to Thies for 3 weeks to complete my training with IST (Inter-Service Training). During that period, I'm fairly sure that my friends and I will be commuting from our homestay villages, which means that I will make a glorious return to Tassette. That about sums it up for now, so I hope everyone back home had a good New Year and enjoys my feminine side. A plus tard!P.S The one picture of the water is in St.Louis.
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