Sunday October 19
If interesting and unfamiliar and amazing things are
happening all around you but there is no way to send words or pictures to
anyone are they really happening? Of course they are. But I am really jonesing
to tell people about Senegal-- all the little things that happen daily, like having
tater tot sandwiches for breakfast. Or the way they will serve any crazy thing
they can get their hands with Mbouro (bread) for breakfast, like mayonnaise,
fish paste, margarine, onion sauce, spam--but never peanut butter, not in my
house. Some families serve a Nutella
kind of thing but not mine.
When we first got here a few kids came to the garden and they
were interested in what we were doing and happy to help. More and more kids
kept arriving. Someone started paying them off in candy. Today, they were there
making mischief and said they wouldn’t leave unless we paid them. I tried to
call our host national language instructor, but while I was on the phone I told
the kids I was calling the gendarmes and they scattered.
I think the weather really is cooling down a bit. Today
there was a strong breeze and turned it into the kind of day in which you
didn’t sweat just standing still. I had a tough language day in which he asked
each of us open-ended questions such as "Kan mooy Warren?" Who is Warren? Or what
will you do in Theis? But being on the spot as I tried to figure them out seemed
very helpful. That, I think, is what the exam format will be like.
Oh, I found the mysterious Internet café up at the market
place. I just went snooping around until I found a storefront with a number of
computer workstations on table, and a price list on the wall. The owner came out
and we talked in English, French and Wolof. He was very helpful. Said he would
welcome me anytime. That I should consider it my home. He loves to talk to
Americans, but unfortunately the power was out at the time. I will check it
again tomorrow.
The content of this
blog do not reflect the thoughts, philosophy or beliefs of the U.S. Peace
Corps. The opinions are those of the author alone.
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