I didn't realize exactly how much of a "foodie" I really am until I got here. Its definitely a reoccurring theme in these blog posts. I think its a phase and eventually I won't be missing my previously taken-for-granted access to food. I'd still give up a smaller toe to walk through a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods right now.
So once again I feel like I don't have much to tell you. I'll try, but excuse the lameness. Last week we were in our training "towns" and it went by pretty quickly. We had a lot of language classes. A bird tried to take my head off. That kind of fun stuff. We had 2 days off, one of which was Easter. 90% of the country is Muslim and the other 10% is Christian, which means Catholic to them. If you're Christian, you're Catholic. No other denomination here. But its nice because the Muslims help celebrate Christian holidays and vice versa. There's complete respect for the other's religion. *Take note, rest-of-world* I can't hang with the Senegalese when it comes to celebrating holidays. Saturday night they partied until 4 am for Easter! Then they went to church in the morning and partied all day and night until 4 am again. I attended a neighborhood Easter party for about an hour which basically consisted of the men sitting around, drinking glasses of straight whiskey, waiting for the women to cook them huge meals. Its times like this that it is nice to have the status of a male here. What am I saying, its always nice to have male status here. As Americans, we all have that. I mean, I not going to de-feather and gut chickens, you know.
The last day I was with my training family, they installed an "American" shower. They told me they were going to do this the first week I arrived but since its been 5 weeks I assumed they were just dreaming of doing nice things for me. They followed through, but unfortunately I only have 6 more days with them. But it will be 6 more days that I don't have to bathe out of a bucket.... not that I mind it at this point. I'm glad they'll be able to enjoy the shower though. Man, do I love this family! I'm going to miss them so much. I dread saying goodbye to them next week. I'm going to cry, for sure. I've promised to come back and visit. I want to bring Dad there when he comes, mainly because it will be a nice transition for him between Dakar and my actual village. Also, because they are just amazing and it would mean a lot to them and to me to have them meet Dad. I think Peace Corps has the right idea on having us stay in training villages first to let us gradually get use to Senegalese culture. It would have been intense to go straight from the training center in Thies to my permanent village.
Ok its late here so I'm done racking my brain for stuff right now. I'm here, with internet, for another 2 days so I'll try to write more. Hope everyone is fabulous. xo
No comments:
Post a Comment