Asalaam malikumThe adventure has begun and I am still loving it. Still working on figuring out the keyboard so bear with meSenegal thus far has been nothing but amazing. It is hard to believe that I am actually here and living this life. I am still discovering Thies...the Senegalese lifestyle...the people...th LANGUAGE...and it is hard at times but well worth it. For every frustrating moment there are a MILLION fantastic ones. We arrived at the center and I was AMAZED at where I was to be spending the next two months. The center is like a resort...just beautiful. Like REALLY NICE CAMPING. The most overwhelmingly wonderful thing is that the staff and trainers were sooooo WELCOMING. It was so reassuring to be in this environment.BUT the total African experience cannot be felt at the center. My first outing was during what they call...DEMYSTIFICATION. This is where the trainees go spend five days with a volunteer on site. It is a great opportunity to finf out what you will be doing...how daily life will be for us...be shocked...be amazed...ask questions etc. This was the TOTAL experience for me. It started at six a.m. by piling 11 peace corps trainees into a rather small van. 45 minutes later we depart for Kedougou which is the OTHER SIDE of the country. AKA this is going to be a long trip with eleven people in the African heat...but my motto is...it is all about the adventure. PLUS what a GREAT way to see the country. It was all so exciting and new and there was EVERYTHING to look at. Between the stops and the tire troubles we arrived 14 hours later at our destination. That night we got to stay at a Regional House and we got to hangout with volunteers. So in fact Katie and I did not arrive at the site till the next mooooooorning...Kedougou is the farthest Southeast you can get and it is the most mountanious part of Senegal. It is known for its waterfalls...it is absolutely beautiful. I was excited to be going to this part of the country. It is like all the picutres I have seen. The beauty in simplicity is EVERYWHERE HERE...the women washing clothes in the river...the small village that is just a speck in the vast desert...absolutely everything...To get to the village of Velingara we had to drive to the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE...literally on the EDGE of Senegal on the bumpiest road ever. The infrastructure in Senegal is pretty good...the main roads are fine...but THIS was no main road. I knezw I was in for a treat. Upon arriving at the small village we learned that our host was not there. She had left for Kedougou that morning...she did not know that we were coming. Note that this was all translated through our driver. He reassured us that se would return soon and that he would see us on Wednesday night. So here we are...the two toubab girls that do not speak Pulaar Futa amongst villagers that do not speak French. It was histerical. Thank ALLAH for non verbal communication. We were in a whhhhhhhhole new world and not able to say or understand anything. This was no traning center in Thies...there was no one to help us. So we sat under the shade tree...the mother prepared food for us which we ate. The best part is that he brother came home and informed us that Heather aould not be back till the morning. It was only one in the afternoon...WHAT are we going to do...walk in circles around the village not talking to anyone. It COULD have been a nightmare but we kept our cool and found the Pulaar dictionary. Around three we had tea with her brother who spoke French and THANKFULLY at four Heather came back. She heard that we were here and had to bike an HOUR baaaaaaaack to the village. The entire weekend was...demystifying to say the least. It was such exposure to a TOTALLY new culture...way of life...but it was good to see what MY ROLE will be in it after these two months. This is definitely the hardest thing I have ever done but in a goodimlovingit kind of way. Needless to say I survived the four days and I am still here. No leaving for this girl. The more I am here the more I LOVE it. I am still finding that comfortability here. LANGUAGE is key and is killing me. I am learning Pulaar and have just move in with a family. My next blog will be on that. I am OUT OF TIMEI will write againlove to YOU
posted by Marie @ 11:59 AM
11 Comments:
My dear Marie,
I am so grateful for this newsy post! My greatest concern with your leaving was that you would be so disillusioned and overwhelmed with the reality of it all that you would have misgivings about the choice that you had made. Obviously, my fears have been alleviated. :-) Wherever you have been in life, you have found happiness, friends, and purpose. Looks as if this adventure will prove to be the same. Looking forward to hearing about your "family" and the next steps in your adventurous journey...
As always...follow your bliss.
Mother
oh, and I love you all the way to Aunt Chris's and back.
Ho...Where you be? :)
Yey! I was so sad when your phone cut off. It's good to hear that you're doing well. It sounds like you're splendid and joyful. Speaking with you on the phone, I could hear a wonderful energy in your being. With all those people in the house, I am looking forward to hearing more about the people you're staying with?
How was the village "nightlife"... I am dying to know if you got to go on a Thursday? xoxo SMOOCHES!
Marie,
Grüße aus Leipzig! Great to hear that things are well... Remember our little motto when traveling, well, maybe it's just mine. Being lost, unknown and oblivious is sometimes the best way to travel. That way you see it for real, away from the beaten path, under stressful conditions and in the scuzziest of corners. It may not be what you see that changes you, but what you yourself do with it later.
Get lost in Senegal for me and then say, "Not so bad. I have never been here before."
We will chat later,
Steve-o
Marie!!! It is so great to hear from you! We are glad that you are having such a wonderful experience! Just please remember to come home eventually. Will and I received a new 15 year old girl a few weeks ago, so now there are 5 children in the house. The language barrier with the teenager is not quite as bad as what you are going through, but it is more of a shock than I anticipated. I will finally graduate in May from Akron U, then its the easy life for us here in D-town. Everyone else is doing lovely, and we can't wait for your next blog.
Our prayers are with you,
Courtney & Will
and all the gang
SO excited to hear of all your experiences! And yes, I have a package I'll be sending you in the next couple of days. It will COMPLETLY update you on my American Beauty of a life. LOVE LOVE LOVE you.
miss your face,
gambia
Marie,
That entry is SO you. It's great to hear about your adventure. I envy you, but I know that my idea of an adventure only goes as far as riding the Top Thrill Dragster with my grandson. Anything to do with a foreign language is beyond me. I think this blog site is a GREAT idea and I'm glad that my oldest daughter was kind enough to explain what a blog site is and how to set one up. I may be computer savvy but I'm not a techno wizard and there are holes in my knowledge base. Oh well. I certainly hope that your time in Senegal continues to be exciting (good exciting) and fun for you. I'm sure you'll make the most of it. I'll look forward to hearing more.
All my best,
Joan - KSU
Marie-
I loved reading about your great adventure however I don't think I could ever do what you are doing. I can't wait to read your future entries.
We are all doing well.
Love,
Kim & John
Hey girl, well I am so greatful to hear that all is well. I can not wait to hear for another update! all is well on teh American front, your always in my heart and remeber I am dancing with you in the Village! work it girl!
Let me try again
Mbiete mi ko Moussa Sabaly, cheddo balego, konko namata lalow!
So you're in Velingara? I lived there in 1995. I wonder how much its changed. I started a blog in which I'm going to recount my experiences from 10 years ago- http://kandiasenegal.blogspot.com/.
How's the Pulaar coming?
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