Finally an official volunteer!!!

Well I would first like to start by apologizing for my long absence but I have been quite busy. I officially became a Peace Corps volunteer on Friday, Oct. 15th, before then I was only known as a trainee. We had a great swear-in ceremony at the American ambassador’s house. After speeches from the country director, the ambassador, four new volunteers who did speeches in four different local languages, and then a final word from our training coordinator, we were treated to a delicious reception in the ambassador’s garden when we had pizza, sliders, and sandwiches (which are an awesome treat after eating village food for two months). After the ambassador’s house we went to the American Club for some swimming and beers. After we returned to Thies we treated ourselves to a celebratory dinner at the best restaurant in town, I had escargots and a croque monsieur (the French version of a ham and cheese sandwich). We also split a couple bottles of wine before deciding to go out and kick up our heels. We ended up coming home at 3am, it was a great time!!!

The next day I had to pack up all my stuff in preparation for the long trip to Kedougou on Sunday. We took three sept-places (station wagons from the 70’s that probably haven’t been fixed since then either) down. Luckily, we didn’t have any major mechanical problems except for once where our car started making a funny sound so our driver pulled over, took out a handful of wires from his glove compartment and proceeded to attach them to something in hopes that the car would start again and the problem would be fixed. Alhumduillah (thank God) it worked!!! The other car coming down wasn’t so lucky, they got stranded for a hour on the side of the road with a flat tire that couldn’t be changed because the lugnut was sheared off and a driver who was suffering from dehydration because he decided not to drink any water during an 11 hour car ride in 100 degree weather and no A/C. Once getting to the regional house we had a wonderful reception and dinner prepared by the current volunteers. After getting to know each other for a while, all of us (the new volunteers) decided that it was a long enough day and went to bed. The next day we woke up to go shopping for essentials!!! I proceeded to buy a mattress (they’re not too expensive because they’re just foam), a fan, and a bucket – that’s all my money allowed me to get. After helping others shop it was time for me to install at my home. I packed up a Peace Corps vehicle and went the whole half a mile down the road to my new house.

When I arrived I was introduced to my family, which is not nearly as big as my previous family, I have 3 brothers, a little sister, and a mother. I was given a new Senegalese name, Ania, which is Ann in Polish, so I thought it was quite apropos, it also happens to be my little sister’s name. I found out that one of my brothers is an English teacher so hopefully that will help me learning Pulaar quicker. After introductions I was shown to my room which ended up having its own bathroom!!!(even though it wasn’t done at the time). I then proceeded to settle in and unpack and try to remember what the heck I packed.

The next day my brother informed me that the plumber would come by to finish the bathroom, this would be told to me every day for the next week and a half. While trying to get my bathroom in order I was privileged to witness Senegalese work ethic, which translates to the plumber coming and telling my brothers what needed to be done, him watching them do it, and then after an hour of watching them saying that he was tired and had to go home. One day he just moved my toilet from the hallway into the bathroom, but never hooked it up!! Every time he would leave I would ask my brother if he was coming back later that day to finish and he would say, “He said he would, but we’ll see.” Let’s just say that he never returned after his “exhausting” hour of work. After a week and a half of this though I can proudly say I have a bathroom, that is tiled, has running water (some of the time) and a western toilet!!!

Other than trying to deal with the plumber and the tiler, because that was also a pain, I haven’t done much because one week after installing into the family (this Monday) my host father died (he was a sick, old man) and my family went to the village he is from and has stayed there for the week. They should return this Sunday, but I’m not sure. Luckily I live close enough to the regional house so I go there to cook my meals and talk to people. I have also kept myself busy by buying odds and ends for my place. I am hoping that maybe next month I will have enough money to get some furniture and some paint so I can paint my room and bathroom.

Kedougou is a nice town that is biker friendly so I can get some great exercise while running my daily errands. It’s big enough so that most of my needs are met but small enough where it’s not intimidating. As far as work goes I have been approached by other volunteers with projects they want me to help with, but I was told by the Peace Corps, and I understand why, to take the first 2 months and focus and just getting to know your community and work on practicing the local language. So I am just going to take the first two months to get my bearings and see what opportunities there are in the city.

So the pretty much sums up the past couple of weeks, I will post pictures soon or try to get a Flicker or Picasso account and link it to my page so that I can post more than 5 pictures at a time. Hope all is well with you!!!