Marie's Adventures

Since I can't TRULY sum up the past 4 months events in a single blog...let me hit the highlights...
Top "Excitement" Since I Last Wrote

Ramadan-Shortly after I got back from Thies, the month long fast of Ramadan came and went. For 30 days Muslims everywhere were refraining from eating, drinking, swearning, sex, etc from sun up to sundown. This was the first big, Islamic holiday that I have celebrated. I, myself, didn't actually fast. Tooooooo hot...gotta have that H2O intake...plus, I'm not Muslim. So part of Sept till October was movin at a snails pace. It was hard to accomplish most things due to the fact that people were tired, cranky, hungry, thirsty, etc...Ramadan was ended with Korite, a celebration. Goats were killed and eaten...people visited friends and family to wish them well.

Brazilians-There are 5 Brazilian missionaries that are in Medina. One girl I had known and the others have been here a month. They are FABULOUS people...they are FUNNY, supportive, and motivated. All things that I need in my life, especially if I want to accomplish anything while here. It is nice to have more people that I relate to and also have the same interests and ideas as myself. Pllllus, their house is a house...we're talkin kitchen and a toilet! ;)

Garden-I started the garden at the dispensaire, by suggestion of a member of the health committee and the nurse. We have an organization in Medina, Counterpart Intnl., that does monthly baby weighings and focuses on nutrition for babies. I thought that the garden would be a good way to ALSO promote nutrition and to maybe generate some (small) income for the Health Post to have funds to do some other activities. This lil project of mine has become all consuming. The first mistake I made was thinking that because I thought it was a good idea, they ALL thought it was a good idea and would want to help. Needless to say, it's become my baby with the help of the Brazilians. At this point, it has its...potential, but we shall see what fruits I reap of this labor.

Cold-whhhhhhhhhhew, break out the SWEATERS! The COLD has arrived. I mean, snow is on the BRINK! :) ok, so it's not THAT cold (although some Senegalese would try to convince you it really is that cold) BUT, it is CONSIDERABLY colder, and it's FABULOUS! It is amazing how the climate can change an entire attitude. Everyone seemed to be in a happier mood-no joke. I can FUNCTION. I can work. It has been a nice couple of months...some days I would even compare it to a fall day...those overcast days are hard to come by here, but I DO love them. It also gave me a freedom of being INSIDE. When it is hot, I can't bear to be in my room, so I am constantly outdoors with people. This "cold" gave me the ability to be inside. Reading. Writing letters. Doing WHATEVER I wanted. OOOOOOH it has been nice...("been" because I hear once this month ends, BISMILAH the hot.)

Veggies-with the cold has come lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc...yum. Nice break from the rice and grease!

World AIDS Day-We had a big World AIDS Day event in my town on Dec. 1st. We had doctors in from the hospital to do a causerie, a discussion, on HIV/AIDS. That night, we had a video, in Pulaar!, that revolved around how to handle different situation on HIV/AIDS. The local radio station even came! It was pretty exciting, and there was a pretty large turn out!

Holidays-Thanksgiving was celebrated with volunteers from all over Senegal. They all came up north to the Fouta. It was as traditional as you can get--turkey and all the dressings, no joke. It was PRETTY authentic. And it was nice to be surrounded by those that have become my family and friends here. The month of December was a lil more difficult. I went into a nostaligic, sentimental mode that became all consuming. Decmeber just isn't December without scertain things, I have found out--snow, family, certain smells, music, the cheesiness of it all, and the excitement of it all were lacking...in fact, non existant in this Muslim country. BUT, I will say that it too was handled and recreated as best as possible. Cards were made and sent. The stocking was hung. The tree trimmed. (thanks, ma!) And on the eve I was, again, with my friends and family-ones that understood the difficulty of being away and the necessity of making a gingerbread house, wathcing Miricle on 34th St. and drinking hot coco while listening to Bing Crosby. And Santa DID find me...good thing I had been extra nice this year...because the speakers, camera, orbit gum, and peanut butter (among other things) were ALSO some highlights since I last wrote!

Letters and Love-I have received lots of letter (unexpectedly) that were little treasures of goodness! I can't say thank you enough because I LOVE to get word from anyone. Whether they were hailing from Taiwan, IN, Ohio...they all were filled with kind, encouraging words...some with some "news" (babies, marriages, etc.) Some with tokens of love. Some with photos. All are much appreciated (and welcomed) and will be receiving a reply!

Tabaski-The second all holiday, which was to be bigger and better than before! (And I thought it wasn't possible!) Everyone was rushing to get the biggest ram they could find and afford in order to "sacrifice" it on the 31st of Jan. MEAT FOR ALL! FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK! It was much like Korite. We ate, we drank, we wore our best grand boubous. Yes, this girl had a MULTI colored boubou made (pics to come), henna-ed her feet and hands, went from house to house to greet everyone...it was quuuuuuuite the celebration. I had doubts that I SHOULD be ringing in 2007, but when I saw how excited my family and everyone was that I was "Foutaanke" now, it was well worth it.

2007-New year! I have made it in Senegal till 2007! That's a definite highlight, right?!

Projects-I have started to help in the English classes. I am thinking of starting an English class for people around 23-30. They all are dying to learn some English, in hopes of going to the US, but never the less, I'm here and I have time. I am also hoping, as I have been hoping, to start a woman's health class at the dispensaire. I have kinks to work out, and I have nerves to get over, but it's time...I also just took a position with SENEGAD, a part of the PEace Corps that works with gender equality. I will help to organize/plan things that they do: ex: a scholarship for young girls, funds for girls/boys groups, a silent auction, etc.
Other things to look forward to in 2007...becoming an aunt VERY shortly. New volunteers come in March! May marks a YEAR of service! Coming home to visit in the summer. Visits from people???? (wink, wink) A vacation? Perhaps Europe, India, Egypt, Turkey, Croatia...I'm open to suggestions. Thinking Oct-ish(who's interested?!) Amongst many, many other surprises I am sure!

So that is a quick update...quick quick quick. I apologize for the lack of details, the lack of communication and access to the internet. I will say that for a GOOD blog read, go to kierstin.typepad.com. She is my friend and she is WONDERFUL in her writing, her realism, and it parallels things that I experience. Trust me, it's worth a look! Hope that you are allllll doing well all the way over there! Hope that they holidays were "happy" and that 2007 is another wonderful year! Love and miss you all!