Book: Josh “A Farewell to Arms” Ernest Hemingway, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” Mark Twain
Katie “The Agony and the Ecstasy”
Quote: Josh “The coward dies a thousand deaths, the hero just one” Ernest Hemingway
Katie “If you want to be a citizen of the world, you must speak English.” “America is the most powerful country in the world, so English is the most powerful language.” Dagana’s high school English Club
5 new things that have happened to me this week that has never happened before
5: My host mom left 3 weeks ago and hasn’t come back.
4: The baby in my house drank the juice out of a tuna can.
3: I’ve watched 3 movies within this week.
2: Went to speak with and English teacher about helping his class, but he didn’t greet me or talk to me. After about five minuets talking to Katie he asked what she did in Dagana and she told him that she was just visiting and I was the volunteer. There was a short silence.
1: Woke up at 2am with a stray cat inside my mosquito net. Luckily for us we didn’t freak out and get rabies.
So any who, Katie’s visit has been going good. We have spent most of our time in Dagana, but we have made a trip or two to Richard Toll, and Ndioum (my regional house in the desert). We also have spent a little time in St. Louis and Dakar. In two weeks we will also be going back to St. Louis for the Jazz festival and the Conference that I have put together. Before Katie leaves we are also planning a little trip down south near the Gambian border, which will be a very different setting then what we are used to. That is a travel update.
It has started to get really hot in Senegal. I don’t have a way to get the exact temperature, but I know that St. Louis is 90 degrees and Podor is 111 degrees, so that puts Dagana at about 105 degrees. Boy I can’t wait for the hot season to really get started. At least the humidity hasn’t started yet. The nights are also cold so we are able to sleep on the roof and enjoy that. The big problem is that all the houses are concrete and hold the heat in. So at 10 at night it is still close to a ninety in the rooms and you have to be outside just so you don’t die of heat stroke.
Even though it sounds like a lot of fire and brimstone, the season has brought many good things along with it. For instance for 250 CFA I can get 4 mangos. Also for 100 CFA I can get these potato things(4 of them), called Potat in French and Potase in Wolof. They are a mix of regular potato, with sweet potato. They are the greatest vegetable in the world. Tomatoes, 15 for 100CFA. I decided that I can take the heat, as long as the good produce keeps on coming. In other news we rescued a small kitten that was starving and in bad shape. Unfortunately Katie has gotten really attached and the cat has really gotten attached to her as well. It will be a hard separation, and I’m not quite sure what I will do with the cat. Her name is Salte (Dirty in Wolof). Other than that life is good and Katie has adapted well and has become part of the family. Her name is Awa Fall, which is funny because my mom’s name is Awa, and I have a sister who lives in the house, named Awa. I guess the third time is a charm. Any who Till next time. Look at my pics.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Katie came to Senegal
Book: Exodus
Album: The Cool Lupe Fiasco
So after my adventurous car ride I reached the Peace Corps house and relaxed for a few days. I took care of some business at the office and then headed over to Ngor Village to Chez Dou Dou (Doo Doo). Dou Dou is a good guy so I didn’t bust his chops too much. Can any one name that movie. Any who I got to the house and walked around the village for a while and ate some dinner at a sandwich stand. By the way mom and dad, the sandwich lady decided we are now boyfriend and girlfriend. I don’t remember her name, but she is very nice and makes a good beef pasta sandwich. Anyone who comes and visits will eat a sandwich there. On another note I went to bed at 8:30 so I could get to the airport by 5:30 to pick Katie up. Dou Dou was real cool and gave me a ride to pick up Katie. For any one who doesn’t know much about Senegal, As soon as she stepped outside a brawl started over her bags because people saw dollar signs. It was really nice to see Katie, after six months you really start to forget the little things about a person and it was really refreshing to be reminded of those things.
We had a good time in Dakar. We walked around the Village ate at some nice restaurants, swam at the dirty beach, went downtown and ate. By the way there is a beer called the Maximator, which is an 11.6 percent alcohol. Living the dream.
After a brief stint in Dakar we went over to St. Louie for two days. Our car broke down twice on the way. I think that Katie might be bad luck when it comes to travel. We stayed on the Lang de Barbrie where our hotel was on the beach looking out to the Ocean. We spent some time on the island and main land as well. It was a big food day for Katie also because she tried Yassa and fish, Thiou, and Wild Boar. From Sst. Louie we went to Richard Toll and hung out with Bryn for the night. Nothing like watching European Football and rice to make a night.
We now have just gotten back to Dagana and have been hanging out with the family. A few of the people are a little upset that she isn’t fluent in Wolof but she will eventually get it. I give her two weeks to get it down. Since being in Dagana we have been having some fun. We went to a parade for the Senegalese Independence day. April 4th, 48 years of freedom. We some how wondered up onto the stage with the mayor of the surrounding towns and a few of the president’s advisors. Either way we had a good seat and Bryn even came into watch the parade. After the parade we relaxed for a fe hours until it was time for the dinner party. And what a party it was, juices, donuts, just for an appetizer. Ohh and for the main course, I have never see seen a look like the one on Katie’s face when they brought it out. For every six people, a leg of goat with some ribs. Yes just a large platter in the middle of the table. As soon as they set it down everyone’s hands went straight to it and started ripping it apart. Katie had said earlier she wanted to eat with her hands. She got her wish and we tore a goat apart. It was yummy but Katie didn’t eat to much. It was hard for her to cut the meat using only her right hand. There is a technique to it actually. Have your neighbor hold the base of the leg while you pinch and pull at the meat. Any who we had a nice meal waiting for her when we got back to the house.
It has been nice to have Katie around and I am looking forward to the next few weeks and to see what adventures we have in front of us. This wed we will be on the radio. (Actually the radio thing didnt work out.)
Until next time.
Album: The Cool Lupe Fiasco
So after my adventurous car ride I reached the Peace Corps house and relaxed for a few days. I took care of some business at the office and then headed over to Ngor Village to Chez Dou Dou (Doo Doo). Dou Dou is a good guy so I didn’t bust his chops too much. Can any one name that movie. Any who I got to the house and walked around the village for a while and ate some dinner at a sandwich stand. By the way mom and dad, the sandwich lady decided we are now boyfriend and girlfriend. I don’t remember her name, but she is very nice and makes a good beef pasta sandwich. Anyone who comes and visits will eat a sandwich there. On another note I went to bed at 8:30 so I could get to the airport by 5:30 to pick Katie up. Dou Dou was real cool and gave me a ride to pick up Katie. For any one who doesn’t know much about Senegal, As soon as she stepped outside a brawl started over her bags because people saw dollar signs. It was really nice to see Katie, after six months you really start to forget the little things about a person and it was really refreshing to be reminded of those things.
We had a good time in Dakar. We walked around the Village ate at some nice restaurants, swam at the dirty beach, went downtown and ate. By the way there is a beer called the Maximator, which is an 11.6 percent alcohol. Living the dream.
After a brief stint in Dakar we went over to St. Louie for two days. Our car broke down twice on the way. I think that Katie might be bad luck when it comes to travel. We stayed on the Lang de Barbrie where our hotel was on the beach looking out to the Ocean. We spent some time on the island and main land as well. It was a big food day for Katie also because she tried Yassa and fish, Thiou, and Wild Boar. From Sst. Louie we went to Richard Toll and hung out with Bryn for the night. Nothing like watching European Football and rice to make a night.
We now have just gotten back to Dagana and have been hanging out with the family. A few of the people are a little upset that she isn’t fluent in Wolof but she will eventually get it. I give her two weeks to get it down. Since being in Dagana we have been having some fun. We went to a parade for the Senegalese Independence day. April 4th, 48 years of freedom. We some how wondered up onto the stage with the mayor of the surrounding towns and a few of the president’s advisors. Either way we had a good seat and Bryn even came into watch the parade. After the parade we relaxed for a fe hours until it was time for the dinner party. And what a party it was, juices, donuts, just for an appetizer. Ohh and for the main course, I have never see seen a look like the one on Katie’s face when they brought it out. For every six people, a leg of goat with some ribs. Yes just a large platter in the middle of the table. As soon as they set it down everyone’s hands went straight to it and started ripping it apart. Katie had said earlier she wanted to eat with her hands. She got her wish and we tore a goat apart. It was yummy but Katie didn’t eat to much. It was hard for her to cut the meat using only her right hand. There is a technique to it actually. Have your neighbor hold the base of the leg while you pinch and pull at the meat. Any who we had a nice meal waiting for her when we got back to the house.
It has been nice to have Katie around and I am looking forward to the next few weeks and to see what adventures we have in front of us. This wed we will be on the radio. (Actually the radio thing didnt work out.)
Until next time.
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