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.
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