Week 8 Update

Just posting some photos for now!
I've just finished a week of our advanced language class in Ndioum. Now it's time to head back to site to put what we've just learned into practice.... and to get cracking on all of those surveys I need to complete before our technical training back in Thiess in just two weeks! It's true what they say. The days can be long, but the months fly by. I'm very exciting for training to see all of my dear friends from pre-service training, but I'm also jazzed to get back to site right now. It's been too long, I miss my friends there, and I'm feeling the motivation to get all of that work done.

The past few weeks have been good. Korite, or Juldi Korka, was certainly a highlight. 3 days after Ramadan ended everyone celebrated by relaxing, eating a lot of food, wearing nice clothes, and dancing in the evenings. I particularly enjoyed one hirde (party) I went to where many of the university students who had returned home from Dakar were. Lots of Akon (he's Senegalese) and Baaba Maal was played, and a few people spoke English, so I got to have some nice conversations about development and the role of the Peace Corps.

Of course there have been ups and downs as in every day in the Peace Corps. I've been frustrated with the language and lonely, but I've also felt the high of feeling like I "belonged" at site, and the excitement of discovering potential work partners and projects. It's coming along seesa seesa, and I still haven't regretted for a moment my decision to be here!

Showing off my new braids for Korite.


Me and the host family breaking fast on the last day of Ramadan.

I had just sat down at this house with a bunch of strangers (people just randomly invite me in everywhere I go), when this sand storm rolled in. The minute they saw it, everybody started grabbing stuff and running inside.  For about 15 minutes it was super windy and there was sand everywhere. You wouldn't want to be stuck outside in it. These come about once I week during the rainy season I believe. I just hung out with them in their living room, and ended up staying another 2 hours after than just talking, and drinking tea.... very common in Senegalese culture.


At my friend Fatimata Diallo's house. She's my benget (fried balls of bread) lady. I'll buy them for about 20 cents every once in a while. She's very kind and smiles a lot.

My host niece Isa (age 14) making lunch.

At a nonprofit rice research project called ISRA. They showed me all of their  fields and the many different types of rice they're growing. 

One of the managers Abu Kelly demonstrates how he uses the wind to separate the good rice from the bad.

At another similar nonprofit called Africa Rice next door to ISRA. My friend Malik Tin is showing me around.



At the regional house for the language class. We made my teacher Alassane (on the left) a real American dinner to thank him. 

Me and my tokara (namesake) Gogo Kan. Have I mentioned that this is my Senegalese name? Gogo means "aunt." Her real name is Mairum, but nobody calls her (or me) that.  




Most women henna their hands and feet for Korite. I did just my hands because it took so long. For Tabaski (a huuuge religious celebration in September, I'll do both.

First night of Korite party


Making tea (they always poor it back and forth over and over again to cool it down before serving)

My good friend Hassan (in the yellowish brown) at the post Ramadan party




Biking to Thiangai (5k away) for a religious ceremony. It's so very flat out here.


Thiangai women dressed up for the religious ceremony


Dinner being made for a few hundred people (very likely rice and fish). In my next post, I'll have to talk about the food of Senegal.

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