Hello all! Today is Friday, a holy day, and our Peace Corps trainers are looking their best in their traditional clothing. Today we (the trainees) had our cultural fair and it was amazing. We were introduced to everything from proper eating and drinking etiquette to how to clean yourself without toilet paper *ahem*. The trainees were first split into six groups, and we rotated through six different stations. Each station had a theme and the trainees were guided through that theme by current volunteers and natives of Senegal. My favorite stations were the ones about Senegalese food and unique Senegalese cultural items, because at these stations I got to taste, touch, smell, try, and drink a variety of new things. I chewed a cola nut (origionally found in coca cola!) and used a tooth stick. I drank baobab juice and ate baobab fruit, as well as drank ginger juice, Touba cafe, and a traditional tea. One of the great things about this cultural fair is that I can try things in a safe environment where I can communiate effectively if any problems were to arise. If I have a bad reaction to something new, I can communicate immediately in English that I am having a negative reaction that needs addressing. If I have a bad reaction to a food or drink within the context of my future host family, I unfortunately do not have the language skills yet to effectively communicate anything other than I feel sick and need to call the Peace Corps doctor. Don't get me wrong- this is sufficient in most situations and being with a host family is 99% positive, but Culture fair was definitely a perfect opportunity to try and learn plenty of new things.
The trainees will probably learn what language they are learning and what their language group is either tomorrow or the next day. I'm pumped about this. I don't think there are any "bad" languages to learn. They all seem really cool and beautiful and the ability to speak any of them opens up doors to entirely new aspects of Senegalese culture. The groups are pretty small,
3-4 maximum, and should in theory accommodate a variety of learning styles. I will have plenty of opportunities after class to practice new things learned with my host family, in the market, with my neighbors, with children, etc etc. This time around, I feel much more confident. During PST in Kyrgyzstan I felt very insecure about my ability to learn a third language and my progress as a volunteer trainee. Now, I feel much more relaxed about language learning and am more willing to let it come to me informally. It is not a waste of time to sit under a tree and drink tea and chew sticks and listen to the radio- in fact, this will be how the best language learning will happen.
Everyone has started taking their malaria medications, myself included. While in the United States I dreaded the possibility of taking malaria meds and all of their wild sounding side effects, but now that I am in Senegal and see just how many mosquitoes their are around here, I am relieved to have the malaria meds. I couldn't wait to start taking them. I do not want to get
malaria under any circumstances and plan to be a very faithful malaria medication taker. One great thing that I did not realize while I was in the states is that if I have any bad side effects with a malaria medication that I am on, the Peace Corps medical officers can switch me to a different medicine. Before I was in country, I was afraid that I would be stuck with side effects if I had them. Now I am aware that I have options, and a few of them. Peace Corps medical has our backs.
Well, that's all for now. Still no pictures. I will get around to taking them, I promise, but now isn't the right time. In the meantime, happy reading!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
In SENEGAL!
Hey everyone, and welcome to this Senegalese life. I'm your host, Ivy Glass, and today we will be bringing you stories from men and women born in all corners of the United States, and brought here, to Senegal, to live and work in a culture new to them.
One of these stories is mine.
So I've been in Senegal for almost 30 hours now, and it has been wonderful. The flight felt very long, but I got to watch Over the Hedge in French, and finally got to see The King's Speech, which was awesome. The plane was huge- at least 74 rows, and I'm not sure how many more. We flew in to very early morning, and immediately after getting off of the plane, we got on a bus to Thies, where we are training. The bus ride was beautiful and the sun was coming up as we traveled to our training center. The longer we were riding, the more the surrounding areas woke up- we saw people traveling with cart and horse/donkey, chickens pecking around, herds of goats and sheep, people at market, and cars full of baguettes parked on the side of the road. Yep, cars. We arrived exhausted from the trip but the general feel was excitement and satisfaction.
The training center is a small enclosed area with several dorms and offices where volunteers have showers, rooms, beds, and wireless internet (but having the time to use it, and whether or not it is working on your computer, is a different story), so I will have internet at least for the next two or three days. We are only at the center until we get our host families, which will happen soon. The area is generally sandy, with banana, mango, and yet-to-be-identified trees growing everywhere. Pink and purple flowers surround the area and top the clay-colored walls that enclose the center. Nic and I are staying in a room with two beds with wax fabric sheets and mosquito nets. Our walls our yellow, During the day it is quite warm, but at night it cools off, and it's the type of cool where you sleep perfectly with just a sheet. I brought a pillow but don't need it at the training center. I'm sure it will come in handy sooner or later.
The food here at the center is awesome. For breakfast we have baguettes with chocomousse, peanut butter, butter, and jam. Every morning there are just giant bowls of baguette and you spread your spread of choice. Typically breakfast comes with tea or nescafe. I've been going for the nescafe. The tea is a basic black, Nic's drink of choice. Lunch has been a big bowl of rice with some form of meat and sauce. Today it was chicken with a brown onion sauce. Simple yet delicious. 4-5 people sitting on the ground gather around one bowl of food, which is maybe a foot and a half/two feet across, and eat from it at the same time using a spoon- or your hands, if you want, but so far all of us are using spoons. Dinner yesterday was pasta; no idea what it will be tonight. I'm excited though.
There's running water and electricity at the center, which is pretty posh compared to what our sites will be like. Nic and I in theory will be near another married couple, as PC Senegal has discovered in the past that married couples do better placed near each other as there are so few of us in the country, and it is better for us emotionally if we have others near us we can relate to. The Heifer International headquarters for Senegal is located here in Thies, but unfortunately I am not sure we will be living in this area after Peace Corps Training, but we'll see. I am sure that Nic and I will have a good permanent site.
Yesterday afternoon, after our sessions, we had a big dancing circle and we were taught a few Senegalese dances. There were drummers pounding various beats, some were slow and predictable, others fast and fun. Some neighborhood folk and kids came and joined in and showed of their skills. The Senegalese are great drummers and dancers so far! I can't wait to meet my host family and see if they are musically inclined. Speaking of drummers, the sound of a drum indicates lunch and dinner, so when we hear the drum around 12:30 and 7:30, we all come running, as by those times we are hungry and actually have been hungry for a while. Though the baguettes and coffee are great, they sure don't stay with you.
My general impression of the country is very very positive. The Peace Corps staff is friendly and helpful, and I feel very comfortable experimenting with my very very very limited Wolof and somewhat limited French. They are receptive and happy-seeming. Wonderful folk. The country is beautiful and sandy. Lots of tropical looking plants, like bananas, and there are tons of birds. They made so much sound this morning that neither Nic nor I heard the alarm clock go off- just the birds. Tonight I will be sleeping with my alarm clock under my pillow.
We've been issued our cell phones, so family folk and friends, here in a few days I will be sending you my cell phone number.
Alright, that's all for now. I'm still not sure how often I will be able to update this, but nonetheless, tune in occasionally for more stories from This Senegalese life.
Maybe some pics, too.
One of these stories is mine.
So I've been in Senegal for almost 30 hours now, and it has been wonderful. The flight felt very long, but I got to watch Over the Hedge in French, and finally got to see The King's Speech, which was awesome. The plane was huge- at least 74 rows, and I'm not sure how many more. We flew in to very early morning, and immediately after getting off of the plane, we got on a bus to Thies, where we are training. The bus ride was beautiful and the sun was coming up as we traveled to our training center. The longer we were riding, the more the surrounding areas woke up- we saw people traveling with cart and horse/donkey, chickens pecking around, herds of goats and sheep, people at market, and cars full of baguettes parked on the side of the road. Yep, cars. We arrived exhausted from the trip but the general feel was excitement and satisfaction.
The training center is a small enclosed area with several dorms and offices where volunteers have showers, rooms, beds, and wireless internet (but having the time to use it, and whether or not it is working on your computer, is a different story), so I will have internet at least for the next two or three days. We are only at the center until we get our host families, which will happen soon. The area is generally sandy, with banana, mango, and yet-to-be-identified trees growing everywhere. Pink and purple flowers surround the area and top the clay-colored walls that enclose the center. Nic and I are staying in a room with two beds with wax fabric sheets and mosquito nets. Our walls our yellow, During the day it is quite warm, but at night it cools off, and it's the type of cool where you sleep perfectly with just a sheet. I brought a pillow but don't need it at the training center. I'm sure it will come in handy sooner or later.
The food here at the center is awesome. For breakfast we have baguettes with chocomousse, peanut butter, butter, and jam. Every morning there are just giant bowls of baguette and you spread your spread of choice. Typically breakfast comes with tea or nescafe. I've been going for the nescafe. The tea is a basic black, Nic's drink of choice. Lunch has been a big bowl of rice with some form of meat and sauce. Today it was chicken with a brown onion sauce. Simple yet delicious. 4-5 people sitting on the ground gather around one bowl of food, which is maybe a foot and a half/two feet across, and eat from it at the same time using a spoon- or your hands, if you want, but so far all of us are using spoons. Dinner yesterday was pasta; no idea what it will be tonight. I'm excited though.
There's running water and electricity at the center, which is pretty posh compared to what our sites will be like. Nic and I in theory will be near another married couple, as PC Senegal has discovered in the past that married couples do better placed near each other as there are so few of us in the country, and it is better for us emotionally if we have others near us we can relate to. The Heifer International headquarters for Senegal is located here in Thies, but unfortunately I am not sure we will be living in this area after Peace Corps Training, but we'll see. I am sure that Nic and I will have a good permanent site.
Yesterday afternoon, after our sessions, we had a big dancing circle and we were taught a few Senegalese dances. There were drummers pounding various beats, some were slow and predictable, others fast and fun. Some neighborhood folk and kids came and joined in and showed of their skills. The Senegalese are great drummers and dancers so far! I can't wait to meet my host family and see if they are musically inclined. Speaking of drummers, the sound of a drum indicates lunch and dinner, so when we hear the drum around 12:30 and 7:30, we all come running, as by those times we are hungry and actually have been hungry for a while. Though the baguettes and coffee are great, they sure don't stay with you.
My general impression of the country is very very positive. The Peace Corps staff is friendly and helpful, and I feel very comfortable experimenting with my very very very limited Wolof and somewhat limited French. They are receptive and happy-seeming. Wonderful folk. The country is beautiful and sandy. Lots of tropical looking plants, like bananas, and there are tons of birds. They made so much sound this morning that neither Nic nor I heard the alarm clock go off- just the birds. Tonight I will be sleeping with my alarm clock under my pillow.
We've been issued our cell phones, so family folk and friends, here in a few days I will be sending you my cell phone number.
Alright, that's all for now. I'm still not sure how often I will be able to update this, but nonetheless, tune in occasionally for more stories from This Senegalese life.
Maybe some pics, too.
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