I have discovered a nice little internet cafe here in Farafenni, that should work fine for this. I hope all is well back i the USA. I am doing pretty well right now, I am currently suffering from some sort of stomach aliment. I have been pretty sick the last day or two, but overall everything is good. Some updates on everything, I was pickpocketed at my local market. The two involved in the heist set it up pretty well. A friend and myself were purchasing things in the market, when we got to a point where there was tight fit with everyone crowding one of the booths. I waited for it to break up a bit and went forward upon doing so I am shoved pretty hard by a man in front of me. I apologize to this man, but while he pushed me he knocked over a man behind me and in turn that man came to apologize to me. There was a moment of confusion and just like that my wallet was gone during the apologizes the asshole that pushed me some got my wallet out my pocket, while the other guy that was behind me apologized to me and had my attention. I went to the police the officer was very helpful and deeply ashamed that this happened to me. This same day something else happened. It was getting late at the market and I had about 15k to go to get back to my site. All the gelle gelle's were gone and I could not find a donkey or horse cart to ride back on. Until I found one man in my village that said he knew someone kind of heading that way. Now might I add that I am slowly learning an unwritten language and mistakes can and will be made. I am was sure we agreed on what it would cost and where we were going...Or so I thought. Everything started out fine at first we were on the road we supposed be on I recognized my surroundings and it all seemed good. Then, all of the sudden the horse cart buckles and the seven of us quickly get off. The man forgot tighten the wheel to the axle when replaced the tire earlier that day. At this point is starting to get a little dark and we are in the middle of the Gambian bush "hyena country." We get the tire sort fixed and we split up and 3 of us go to my site and the others get on another horse cart. The 3 of wobble into a village I am not familiar with people talking in a language I do not speak. I was not concerned yet, but when I wasn't even near my village yet and that we were not in my country anymore I grew weary. "I am tired...we stay here for the night." I immediately objected this and stated that I wanted to go to my site. As if things could not get anymore uncomfortable the villagers approach me requesting money, a bike, a broom. I was quite confused and worried. The man that was driving the horse cart decides that he wants me to have dinner with his family and that I should stay the night. Once again, I object and ask to go to my site. Finally, the brother of the guy with the horse cart says he will take me home. So I made it back right at dark after having my wallet stolen, leaving my country, and being completely beat. To top of all of these things that night while I explained the to my host family I completely didn't notice the Panticha "Awning" and walked right into it, fell on my butt and received a pretty nice cut on my head. My father felt so bad that he wanted to make me a nice breakfast. My host father informed me the next morning that one of my host mothers was going to bush for some bush meat. I was excited to see what she would bring back. Later, we seat down for breakfast and I see a plate of Lettuce! I was pumped! Then, I see a cauldron with lizard legs sticking out. I was stunned and I decided to try some I wouldn't turn it down it was a gift. So montar lizard tastes like chicken. I ate a lot. And here I am in Farrafenni with an upset stomach and a story or two to tell. Thats all that has really been happening lately. I will hopefully have pictures up the next time I post.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Back to Site
As of the 8th of this month I became a peace corps volunteer. Tomorrow I will be leaving for my site for my official start of my service. I am really looking forward to learning more Wollof and bettering myself as a person. I have grown so much already I feel. I have made great friends so far and experienced so much in a few months. I am so content about everything happening in my life right now. But, enough of that stuff. I tried to get my pictures up, but I failed to do so because the internet service here is not so hot so I apologize for that. I will try at a later point to do such. It will be difficult from now on to get in touch via email and internet, because of where I will be it will be close to impossible. The closest big town is Farafenni. The city has an internet cafe, but it is never open and electricity is not sufficient in town. I have a new cell phone number for my site we will see if I have service there now. Nothing big has happened lately so I kinda don't have much to say. I will try to keep in touch on this blog every month or two. Otherwise, you can call me at my new number.
Friday, January 1, 2010
My Site.
Happy New Year Everyone,
My site for the next two years is called Kerr Katim. The last three days I was at my site visit. My father is a very cool guy. He is the Alkali of my village or the "mayor." He already has some projects going and has some great ideas for future projects in the village and surrounding area. My family in Kerr Katim consists of my father and my two mothers and maybe 30 kids ranging from all ages. Kerr Katim is located about 30k from Kerewan and 40k from Farafenni. Kerr Katim is a 2k walk from Minteh Kunda, which is located on North Bank road. I do not mean to confuse anyone with these geographic directions. Kerr Katim is a very small village of about 15 to 19 compounds a population of maybe 100 people. My house is at the back of the village separate from my fathers compound. From my backyard one only has to walk maybe 20 feet and you are in Senegal. My house consisted of a one room cement walled-grass thatched roof hut. I have a pit latrine in the backyard and plenty of eucalyptus trees surrounding my hut it is beautiful. My father is also a baker so I get free bread every morning. My food bowl has increased ten fold from my training village. My first lunch at my site consisted of DUCK!!!!! I was stoked and I am getting new fencing around my house and a new roof. Life is too good. I am really content with everything that happening in my life right now and have been thinking lately about how lucky I am to be able to have this opportunity to do this. Right now, I am back in Kombo or the capital region. I will be here for 2 weeks for the last of my training and swear-in and then off to my site for my two years. Too everyone I am going to have to get a new cell phone for my site because Africell does not have service at my site. When I find out what carrier I will use I will let you all know. Well that's all for now.
Bi Ci Kanam.
My site for the next two years is called Kerr Katim. The last three days I was at my site visit. My father is a very cool guy. He is the Alkali of my village or the "mayor." He already has some projects going and has some great ideas for future projects in the village and surrounding area. My family in Kerr Katim consists of my father and my two mothers and maybe 30 kids ranging from all ages. Kerr Katim is located about 30k from Kerewan and 40k from Farafenni. Kerr Katim is a 2k walk from Minteh Kunda, which is located on North Bank road. I do not mean to confuse anyone with these geographic directions. Kerr Katim is a very small village of about 15 to 19 compounds a population of maybe 100 people. My house is at the back of the village separate from my fathers compound. From my backyard one only has to walk maybe 20 feet and you are in Senegal. My house consisted of a one room cement walled-grass thatched roof hut. I have a pit latrine in the backyard and plenty of eucalyptus trees surrounding my hut it is beautiful. My father is also a baker so I get free bread every morning. My food bowl has increased ten fold from my training village. My first lunch at my site consisted of DUCK!!!!! I was stoked and I am getting new fencing around my house and a new roof. Life is too good. I am really content with everything that happening in my life right now and have been thinking lately about how lucky I am to be able to have this opportunity to do this. Right now, I am back in Kombo or the capital region. I will be here for 2 weeks for the last of my training and swear-in and then off to my site for my two years. Too everyone I am going to have to get a new cell phone for my site because Africell does not have service at my site. When I find out what carrier I will use I will let you all know. Well that's all for now.
Bi Ci Kanam.
To Catch Everyone Up.
Hello Everyone,
Sorry it has taken so long to update my blog. Today is the first time I have had a chance to use the internet. So I will catch everyone up. So I just finished my time in training village. I was in Saare Samba for 2 months and I learned a decent amount of my language Wolof. My family was very nice and helpful. My family in my training village consisted of My father Keeba and his two wives Xojde and Mariama and their children. The first day in village I was certainly the most nervous I may have ever been. I could not speak any Wolof...except for my greetings. It was very interesting to say the least. My family was very good to me while I was there. While in training village I had a little brother that I feel you should know about. This boy is maybe 6 or so. He is an odd kid. Some of the things he did include the killing of baby birds and other small animals. Eating his own excrement, groping female trainees, as well as being quite the fighter. That made my time very odd and started quite a lot of jokes among we trainnees and volunteers. My meals during my time consisted of millet, rice, peanuts, and fish all quite bland, but piping hot. I started little phrases in my village randomly such as Baax Haile Dye! or "Watch Out Poop" and Fii Fii Fii:Fale Fale Fale or "here here here:There There There." Everywhere I went in village the air filled with childrens voices repeating these phrases. I enjoyed it at first...only at first. I did not realize at the time that it would not only annoy me, but every other trainee in our village. Overall, Saare Samba was an amazing experience in full. Every night I would lay down with my family outside on a tarp and drink Ataaya and stare at the stars. During my 2 months I was offered a wife and I was kicked out of my friends compound out of confusion. It was the most stressful time and the best time yet. I am going to add some pictures of my time so far. Hopefully they work. Next..............My Site!
Sorry it has taken so long to update my blog. Today is the first time I have had a chance to use the internet. So I will catch everyone up. So I just finished my time in training village. I was in Saare Samba for 2 months and I learned a decent amount of my language Wolof. My family was very nice and helpful. My family in my training village consisted of My father Keeba and his two wives Xojde and Mariama and their children. The first day in village I was certainly the most nervous I may have ever been. I could not speak any Wolof...except for my greetings. It was very interesting to say the least. My family was very good to me while I was there. While in training village I had a little brother that I feel you should know about. This boy is maybe 6 or so. He is an odd kid. Some of the things he did include the killing of baby birds and other small animals. Eating his own excrement, groping female trainees, as well as being quite the fighter. That made my time very odd and started quite a lot of jokes among we trainnees and volunteers. My meals during my time consisted of millet, rice, peanuts, and fish all quite bland, but piping hot. I started little phrases in my village randomly such as Baax Haile Dye! or "Watch Out Poop" and Fii Fii Fii:Fale Fale Fale or "here here here:There There There." Everywhere I went in village the air filled with childrens voices repeating these phrases. I enjoyed it at first...only at first. I did not realize at the time that it would not only annoy me, but every other trainee in our village. Overall, Saare Samba was an amazing experience in full. Every night I would lay down with my family outside on a tarp and drink Ataaya and stare at the stars. During my 2 months I was offered a wife and I was kicked out of my friends compound out of confusion. It was the most stressful time and the best time yet. I am going to add some pictures of my time so far. Hopefully they work. Next..............My Site!
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