the title of this post really sums up my feelings about all the languages that are bouncing around in my brain lately. here is how i feel like speaking "mbido yiddi aller au marche para ver mi sehilam kono je ne peut pas sabu es muy dificile without a car." not that that sentence should mean anything but it just gives all of you an appreciation for how perpetually confised i am.
that being said...i have now cried 3 times in language class. still the only one in pulaar du nord to even shed a tear. it makes me feel ridiculous, but the rest of my classmates r super supportive and today we werer even joking about making tshirts: mine would say
"if i cry for 15 minutes in teh middle of language assessments can i still achieve the rquired level of intermediate low?"
our assessments went decently for me except that i just could not understand one of the very first questions whiuch as it turns out was: "are you worried about forgetting your experience as a doula when you get to your site?"
ya. i hope that all of you at home r staring with your mouths open at how ridiculously difficult a question that is to answer let alone understand after 4 weeks of a language!
though last night i had my very first dream in pulaar. at least i was speaking pulaar in some of it. gotta love meflaquine (anti malarial).
so in response to katys post, FGC refers to Female Genital Cutting and you shoudl totally not feel stupid katy. im glad you asked because than others can learn too. i actually have to present on it tomorrow in cross cultural training. im not looking forward to that discussion. it can just be so exhausting to put on those "cultural sensitivity goggles" especially regarding such a controversial and fiery issue. but up in the Fouta where i am going it is common for girls to be married off at 12 or 13, although FGC is still illegal it happens among the Pulaar and Sereer ethnic groups in senegal anyway.
thank you to lisa and wendy for their amazingly thoughtful and surprise packages! everyone was so happy to share the candy lisa and wendy i have been enjoying my blueberry oatmeal every morning! really, letters and hearing about all of your lives at home and what is going on is just so great. sometimes when youre the one to go away you can forget that life goes on without you at home and its nice to be reminded of normalcy.
lately i think ive been caught up in feeling guilty for feeling so overwhelmed with how hard things are getting. the anticipation of community entry and just feeling not as "hardcore" as i thought i was. i guess there has been a feeling that all of us have been trying to project that were fine and we can take it and were tough and can handle all the frustrations. the truth is i think that all of our egos are still very involved and maybe mine is just widdling away faster than others?
today we got our snazzy PC issued bikes and i just was dreading the day while everyone else is talking about riding them 30k to the beach this weekend, i was fantisizing about going in a van with the other volunteers and sipping on a margarita on the beach by the time they all get there sweaty and exhausted! is that wrong?
its crazy how exhausted we all are. and its hard to remember that living your life in another language or 2 or 3 as the case may be is entirely draining and thats okay!
ive decided to have my computer sent to me. that move makes me feel not hardcore at all but i think acceptance of the idea that the pc experience is evolving is going to be my challenge. because im ultimately an urban volunteer i wont have the struggle of dealing with no running water or electricity most of the time, but in some ways my day to day interactions will be more stressful. i will be called a toubab everyday and asked for money and proposed to and have to deal with people haa heewi.
please do keep the emails coming and the letters. its hard to explain how much it brightens my day to hear about everyone at home. and please dont think that im suffering here. in fact sometimes the suffering coles from feeling like im not suffering enough? if that makes sense? really though, i think im feeling comfortable being more realistic about my feelings and writing on my bloggam when im not necessarily feeling 100 percent.
im off to the beach this weekend inshallah.
peace
cait
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Week 5
I can't believe that we are through week five already. Though it feels like on the one hand we've been here forever, I also am realizing that site arrival is so very soon. We have our first official language assessment on Tuesday and I am nervous as all hell. This is where they tell us how we're progressign and if we're going to have to seriously bump it up a notch to make it to the required level of 'Intermediate Low' by week 8.
Fingers crossed.
Though talking to my dad made me feel a lot better. Realizing that this is in fact my 4th language and after only 4 weeks of classes I can already write a full letter about my daily activities in Senegal is pretty damn impressive.
I'm learning to be easier on myself. That is my biggest challenge.
This week has been full of ups and downs. Everyone has been really tired. I had an emotional encounter with a talibe the other morning. I was waiting with Erin for the PC bus to pick us up and take us to the center just like every other morning. We both had headphones on (neither of us are morning people) and I had Mujy's playlist on. Normally I just say no to all the talibes because id rather give them food than money and i dont usually have any on me. but this morning i gave one of them the banana i had been saving for breakfast. all he did was give me a sweet shy sheepish smile and i nearly burst into tears. It was because his reaction was so meek that I was so stricken. It was like he couldn't believe that he was being given such a treasure. Usually they are fed leftover dried scraps of white baguettes from people, or a few spoonfuls of gruel or given some sugar cubes. Almost never does someone bestow fruit upon them. It was just so sickening that something so little could mean so much. I patted him on the head and watched him walk quickly away to go find another temporary food source.
I have been giving lots of massages to people lately. It feels great to be needed, but I'm also realizing how desperately I need to be caring for my own body. It's nearly impossible to get regular exercise and I know that i am craving some regular yoga classes. It is just so exhausting that I have not worked up the routine. Perhaps at site I will bring new meaning to the term 'hot yoga' in the wee wee hours of the morning when it is only 110 degrees.
For those of you that are worried about my hydration status, have no fear. As a health volunteer I am already equipped with the exact formula for making my very own oral rehydration salts (ORS) and I plan on using them regularly/almost daily.
Oh and some SERIOUS congratulations are in order to many people in my life:
To John and Mujy for being accepted into PhD and Master's programs (respectively) at OXFORD in England. Congratulations! I am so thrilled they will both most likely be there next year and closer to me.
AND
to my fabulous cousin KAREN for her acceptance at Hunter College in NYC! Congrats girlie, my mom told me. I KNEW you could do it and I am SO proud of you.
So last night some of us needed a break from language, and families, and culture shock etc. so we went to what we have affectionately termed the KungFu Theater which is perhaps the greatest theater experience ive ever had. 6 of us went and watched an old french movie in black and white on a huge screen outside in pleine air that was set in teh 70s in LA and had kung fu. it was wonderful to sit with friends have a beer and laugh at the ridiculous cinema playing out in front of us. the movie was called Blood Warriors. Highly recommended! except not....
someone commented that it does not seem like i'm experiencing culture shock. I am finally starting too especially as we are delving deeper into issues like how conservative the northern region is where i'm going. specifically, regarding women's issues. like early age of marriage for girls: around 13!! the prevalence of FGC even though it's officially illegal. etc.
Well my internet time is almost out. I hope to post again soon.
love and peace,
cait
Fingers crossed.
Though talking to my dad made me feel a lot better. Realizing that this is in fact my 4th language and after only 4 weeks of classes I can already write a full letter about my daily activities in Senegal is pretty damn impressive.
I'm learning to be easier on myself. That is my biggest challenge.
This week has been full of ups and downs. Everyone has been really tired. I had an emotional encounter with a talibe the other morning. I was waiting with Erin for the PC bus to pick us up and take us to the center just like every other morning. We both had headphones on (neither of us are morning people) and I had Mujy's playlist on. Normally I just say no to all the talibes because id rather give them food than money and i dont usually have any on me. but this morning i gave one of them the banana i had been saving for breakfast. all he did was give me a sweet shy sheepish smile and i nearly burst into tears. It was because his reaction was so meek that I was so stricken. It was like he couldn't believe that he was being given such a treasure. Usually they are fed leftover dried scraps of white baguettes from people, or a few spoonfuls of gruel or given some sugar cubes. Almost never does someone bestow fruit upon them. It was just so sickening that something so little could mean so much. I patted him on the head and watched him walk quickly away to go find another temporary food source.
I have been giving lots of massages to people lately. It feels great to be needed, but I'm also realizing how desperately I need to be caring for my own body. It's nearly impossible to get regular exercise and I know that i am craving some regular yoga classes. It is just so exhausting that I have not worked up the routine. Perhaps at site I will bring new meaning to the term 'hot yoga' in the wee wee hours of the morning when it is only 110 degrees.
For those of you that are worried about my hydration status, have no fear. As a health volunteer I am already equipped with the exact formula for making my very own oral rehydration salts (ORS) and I plan on using them regularly/almost daily.
Oh and some SERIOUS congratulations are in order to many people in my life:
To John and Mujy for being accepted into PhD and Master's programs (respectively) at OXFORD in England. Congratulations! I am so thrilled they will both most likely be there next year and closer to me.
AND
to my fabulous cousin KAREN for her acceptance at Hunter College in NYC! Congrats girlie, my mom told me. I KNEW you could do it and I am SO proud of you.
So last night some of us needed a break from language, and families, and culture shock etc. so we went to what we have affectionately termed the KungFu Theater which is perhaps the greatest theater experience ive ever had. 6 of us went and watched an old french movie in black and white on a huge screen outside in pleine air that was set in teh 70s in LA and had kung fu. it was wonderful to sit with friends have a beer and laugh at the ridiculous cinema playing out in front of us. the movie was called Blood Warriors. Highly recommended! except not....
someone commented that it does not seem like i'm experiencing culture shock. I am finally starting too especially as we are delving deeper into issues like how conservative the northern region is where i'm going. specifically, regarding women's issues. like early age of marriage for girls: around 13!! the prevalence of FGC even though it's officially illegal. etc.
Well my internet time is almost out. I hope to post again soon.
love and peace,
cait
Friday, April 13, 2007
Site Placement!!!!
Finally!!
We received our sites today and I could not be happier!! Well, maybe if i was on the coast like a few other volunteers, but here is the rundown...
I cannot tell u online exactly the name of my town because of PC policy but i can certainly tell you in an email. That being said, get ready for this...
Starting mid May at the very beginning of the dry and hot season I will be going up NorthEast just outside of Matam which is on the border of where mali, mauritania and senegal meet.
Things I know about my site...
I will be in a town of 10,000 people
I will have electricty!!!! OMG!!!
My family compound has running water!!! again..so exciting and unexpected.
AND I WILL HAVE CELL PHONE RECEPTION!!! Yes, its true so to all of you that have been shuffling your feet and not gotten skype, do it now and youll be able to talk to me for 2 years no problem.
i feel amazingly fortunate. all that time and energy spent on solar power was totally unnecessary. good call dad...that was his prediction.
I will be replacing a volunteer who finished her 2 years and has opted to stay a 3 year in dakar. she has been leading my health training here in thies and now i can pick her brain about her site, her host family, the people she works with etc.
here are a few of the inconveniences/reasons why im still hardcore even with newfound amenities...
Be prepared:
when i arrive in midmay the high during the hottest part of the day for roughly the first 3 months im there will be.....
140 degrees farenheit
no, no, that is not a typo. i am kidding you all not. at night it will get DOWN to roughly 100. Matam for 2 months out of the year consistently breaks the record for the hottest place IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD. LITERALLY.
Am i terrified? 100 percent yes.
Luckily, the rest of the year it is mostly manageable. in fact during the cool season it can get down into the 70s...at which point i am told i will feel like i need a parka b/C ill be used to such absurd temperatures.
I am told that the heat is pretty much the biggest challenge.
but for the moment i am trying to focus on the perks, like the fact that i can sleep with a fan because i will have electricity (see muj i will never be cured of my addiction, even in africa).
as for work that i will be doing, because im in a big town i will be likely working at the local district health center/clinic and be more involved in leading things like causeries in coordination with actual healthcare facilities. i will have access to schools to work with, and birth attendants, plenty of resources. ultimately, because i am coming in after another volunteer a lot of the hardest part has been done for me. everyone is already aware of the PC and she has paved teh way for me with many local heads etc.
id love to give you all better descriptions, but i was only able to briefly corner her today and talk to her about the nitty gritty.
i will still have an outdoor latrine (which i love), my hut is in the family compound but separate. it is cement with a tin roof...as my dad so rightly put it, that is an oven, not a home. u pretty much just dont do anything during the hottest hours of the day.
i have 2 stick beds. one is outdoors and i anticipate sleeping in that one only. the one inside is mainly for the "cold" season.
there is minimal internet access. the nearest internet cafe is 25 km away, but i am not concerned about that because of the super cell phone reception!
the travel time time to dakar is roughly 13 hours on a good day. but there is a tiny tiny airport in matam that u can take small seater planes to from dakar. this makes me feel more comfortable because if there is ever a medical emergency i can be in dakar faster than many other volunteers, and those of you coming to visit wont have to tak a 13 hour bus ride to see my town!
the diet up north is fairly well balanced and the other volunteer has told me that she ate really well with her family and that one fo the sisters is a great cook. a lot of my siblings there have children so there are lots of kids running around. one of them is 2 months pregnant right now. that will be so exciting to be a part of.
finally knowing where i am going is making me put all of my efforts into mastering pulaar. i am so eagerly looking forward to my site and kicking serious butt at this post. (though perhaps not between the hours of 11-7 from may to september....hhhhmmmm).
i promise to update more as i find out about my life for the next 2 years.
so think of me in a month or so when i cant even move because of the stifling heat. at least its not humid???? hhhmmm, maybe i can just give my uncrushable optimism a rest this time?
im off to the beach for a night tomorrow with the other volunteers for a much needed break.
thank you all for reading and sticking with me during all of this wondering and anticipation.
Onwards!
We received our sites today and I could not be happier!! Well, maybe if i was on the coast like a few other volunteers, but here is the rundown...
I cannot tell u online exactly the name of my town because of PC policy but i can certainly tell you in an email. That being said, get ready for this...
Starting mid May at the very beginning of the dry and hot season I will be going up NorthEast just outside of Matam which is on the border of where mali, mauritania and senegal meet.
Things I know about my site...
I will be in a town of 10,000 people
I will have electricty!!!! OMG!!!
My family compound has running water!!! again..so exciting and unexpected.
AND I WILL HAVE CELL PHONE RECEPTION!!! Yes, its true so to all of you that have been shuffling your feet and not gotten skype, do it now and youll be able to talk to me for 2 years no problem.
i feel amazingly fortunate. all that time and energy spent on solar power was totally unnecessary. good call dad...that was his prediction.
I will be replacing a volunteer who finished her 2 years and has opted to stay a 3 year in dakar. she has been leading my health training here in thies and now i can pick her brain about her site, her host family, the people she works with etc.
here are a few of the inconveniences/reasons why im still hardcore even with newfound amenities...
Be prepared:
when i arrive in midmay the high during the hottest part of the day for roughly the first 3 months im there will be.....
140 degrees farenheit
no, no, that is not a typo. i am kidding you all not. at night it will get DOWN to roughly 100. Matam for 2 months out of the year consistently breaks the record for the hottest place IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD. LITERALLY.
Am i terrified? 100 percent yes.
Luckily, the rest of the year it is mostly manageable. in fact during the cool season it can get down into the 70s...at which point i am told i will feel like i need a parka b/C ill be used to such absurd temperatures.
I am told that the heat is pretty much the biggest challenge.
but for the moment i am trying to focus on the perks, like the fact that i can sleep with a fan because i will have electricity (see muj i will never be cured of my addiction, even in africa).
as for work that i will be doing, because im in a big town i will be likely working at the local district health center/clinic and be more involved in leading things like causeries in coordination with actual healthcare facilities. i will have access to schools to work with, and birth attendants, plenty of resources. ultimately, because i am coming in after another volunteer a lot of the hardest part has been done for me. everyone is already aware of the PC and she has paved teh way for me with many local heads etc.
id love to give you all better descriptions, but i was only able to briefly corner her today and talk to her about the nitty gritty.
i will still have an outdoor latrine (which i love), my hut is in the family compound but separate. it is cement with a tin roof...as my dad so rightly put it, that is an oven, not a home. u pretty much just dont do anything during the hottest hours of the day.
i have 2 stick beds. one is outdoors and i anticipate sleeping in that one only. the one inside is mainly for the "cold" season.
there is minimal internet access. the nearest internet cafe is 25 km away, but i am not concerned about that because of the super cell phone reception!
the travel time time to dakar is roughly 13 hours on a good day. but there is a tiny tiny airport in matam that u can take small seater planes to from dakar. this makes me feel more comfortable because if there is ever a medical emergency i can be in dakar faster than many other volunteers, and those of you coming to visit wont have to tak a 13 hour bus ride to see my town!
the diet up north is fairly well balanced and the other volunteer has told me that she ate really well with her family and that one fo the sisters is a great cook. a lot of my siblings there have children so there are lots of kids running around. one of them is 2 months pregnant right now. that will be so exciting to be a part of.
finally knowing where i am going is making me put all of my efforts into mastering pulaar. i am so eagerly looking forward to my site and kicking serious butt at this post. (though perhaps not between the hours of 11-7 from may to september....hhhhmmmm).
i promise to update more as i find out about my life for the next 2 years.
so think of me in a month or so when i cant even move because of the stifling heat. at least its not humid???? hhhmmm, maybe i can just give my uncrushable optimism a rest this time?
im off to the beach for a night tomorrow with the other volunteers for a much needed break.
thank you all for reading and sticking with me during all of this wondering and anticipation.
Onwards!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Talibes
Talibes.
They are young school age boys usually running from ages 8-13 who have been sent by their parents to Koranic schools throughout Senegal. Typically, the maribou of the school has too many boys to take care of and its basically accepted that these little boys will have to roam the streets everyday and beg for all of their food. And they do. And they are all barefoot, skinny, tired, hungry, and make you want to cry.
I'd say on a daily basis, on average, I get asked for food or money by 40 or so of them during my walk home.
It is endless and frustrating and infuriating knowing that even if you do give them any food you might have on you, there is nothing being productively done on the macro level to stop it. Knowing that parents send their children to these schools makes it so much harder. I find that I try to give them the benefit of the doubt...
maybe they are so poor and can't feed their son,
maybe they had no education and can't get a job so they can't feed their children, and they dont' have access to family planning, or the desire to limit family size,
maybe they do have the desire but dont have the access,
maybe they think that having their children spend 2-3 years hungry but learn the Koran is worth stunting they're growth and making them beg for food and live in squalor.
The point is, it never gets any easier to see them.
I haven't wanted to write too much in this vein because I think that it can be exhausting for you all at home. You have seen the CNN reports, the Christian Children advertisements on TV, and the articles in the papers and it's always heartbreaking and emotionally draining. It just feels so much worse to actually be here and be powerless to stop it despite the work I'm here to do.
I've resigned myself to just being as polite as possible to them and give them a smile. Something they probably dont' get all the time. I know that it is part of the culture to give to the Talibes. A lot of them have regular homes they go to for scraps after meals, and that makes me feel a bit better, but maybe that is part of the problem? That it has not reached epidemic enough proportions of child neglect to warrant sever action from the top down? But does it really even matter how I feel? That is not the point.
I don't know. There are just some situations that you can't "grad school analyze" your way out of. And all of those little faces just break my heart a little bit everyday...
They are young school age boys usually running from ages 8-13 who have been sent by their parents to Koranic schools throughout Senegal. Typically, the maribou of the school has too many boys to take care of and its basically accepted that these little boys will have to roam the streets everyday and beg for all of their food. And they do. And they are all barefoot, skinny, tired, hungry, and make you want to cry.
I'd say on a daily basis, on average, I get asked for food or money by 40 or so of them during my walk home.
It is endless and frustrating and infuriating knowing that even if you do give them any food you might have on you, there is nothing being productively done on the macro level to stop it. Knowing that parents send their children to these schools makes it so much harder. I find that I try to give them the benefit of the doubt...
maybe they are so poor and can't feed their son,
maybe they had no education and can't get a job so they can't feed their children, and they dont' have access to family planning, or the desire to limit family size,
maybe they do have the desire but dont have the access,
maybe they think that having their children spend 2-3 years hungry but learn the Koran is worth stunting they're growth and making them beg for food and live in squalor.
The point is, it never gets any easier to see them.
I haven't wanted to write too much in this vein because I think that it can be exhausting for you all at home. You have seen the CNN reports, the Christian Children advertisements on TV, and the articles in the papers and it's always heartbreaking and emotionally draining. It just feels so much worse to actually be here and be powerless to stop it despite the work I'm here to do.
I've resigned myself to just being as polite as possible to them and give them a smile. Something they probably dont' get all the time. I know that it is part of the culture to give to the Talibes. A lot of them have regular homes they go to for scraps after meals, and that makes me feel a bit better, but maybe that is part of the problem? That it has not reached epidemic enough proportions of child neglect to warrant sever action from the top down? But does it really even matter how I feel? That is not the point.
I don't know. There are just some situations that you can't "grad school analyze" your way out of. And all of those little faces just break my heart a little bit everyday...
Demyst??
REalizing that I never talked about my demyst experience, but feeling like it was so far away, about 3 weeks ago nowI'm just goign to briefly summarize so that when I eventually upload those photos, you can all see them. and understand the reference.
Rebecca and I stayed with Soo in a small village of roughly 700 people. The road there was so bumpy and potholed but the 11 of us PCTs crammed into the landrover kept ourselves entertained by telling horrible jokes and crazy stories. We spent a night on each end at the regional PCV house and that was great to see that part of PC life. Namely, that there is a shared apartment in each region that volunteers can meet at to plan projects, work on reports, or to just get away and see some friendly faces for a day or two.
The village was dry, hot, dusty and challenging, but we had an amazing experience. Soo was a great hostess and so patient with us asking zillions of questions about every detail of her life. We got to see her health club (composed of elementary school age kids) present a skit on Oral Rehydration Salts and the importance of hand washing for diarrhea prevention to the rest of the schoool. It was such great timing to see a volunteer in action.
The women in her village had a blast with us. Teaching us silly words like "bento" and basso meaning bench and mat respectively. it got to the point that they used that combo as a greeting when they saw us during those two days. It got endless giggles from us because you can just imagine someone learning english yelling "BENCH MAT! BENCH MAT" as a salutation.
They also knew the lyrics to "That's the way 'don din' 'don din' I like it" (with mandinka inserted instead of uh huh uh huh.) They constantly commanded us to dance for them which we gladly accepted adn loved to do. (laughing at the dancing toubab is a common pasttime no matter how integrated you are). I think it's great.
I realized on the Demyst trip that being rural really isn't all that bad. Soo was roughly an hour and a half bus ride from a nearby big town, but just off the road. Doable by bike for sure. Realizing how quickly I adapted to the bucket baths and the latrine lifestyle and sleeping outdoors gave me the confidence to start looking forward to my own post.
The lack of dietary variety was certainly a challenge. there were a couple meals where we were given just millet...which tastes like sand. that was hard, but it made the days when we got maffe (peanut sauce) so much better.
I'm sure a 3 day experience cannot compare to how it actually is to live like that long term, but there really is no preparation for that.
Certainly challenging was the noise! the donkey baying every hour or so, the sounds of crying kids. that was something to get used to. i had anticipated quiet in a rural village but it is quite the contrary.
i'm goign to post this just out of fear of the track record with trying to get this experience online. I realize its ridiculously delayed, but at least now it's up!!
Rebecca and I stayed with Soo in a small village of roughly 700 people. The road there was so bumpy and potholed but the 11 of us PCTs crammed into the landrover kept ourselves entertained by telling horrible jokes and crazy stories. We spent a night on each end at the regional PCV house and that was great to see that part of PC life. Namely, that there is a shared apartment in each region that volunteers can meet at to plan projects, work on reports, or to just get away and see some friendly faces for a day or two.
The village was dry, hot, dusty and challenging, but we had an amazing experience. Soo was a great hostess and so patient with us asking zillions of questions about every detail of her life. We got to see her health club (composed of elementary school age kids) present a skit on Oral Rehydration Salts and the importance of hand washing for diarrhea prevention to the rest of the schoool. It was such great timing to see a volunteer in action.
The women in her village had a blast with us. Teaching us silly words like "bento" and basso meaning bench and mat respectively. it got to the point that they used that combo as a greeting when they saw us during those two days. It got endless giggles from us because you can just imagine someone learning english yelling "BENCH MAT! BENCH MAT" as a salutation.
They also knew the lyrics to "That's the way 'don din' 'don din' I like it" (with mandinka inserted instead of uh huh uh huh.) They constantly commanded us to dance for them which we gladly accepted adn loved to do. (laughing at the dancing toubab is a common pasttime no matter how integrated you are). I think it's great.
I realized on the Demyst trip that being rural really isn't all that bad. Soo was roughly an hour and a half bus ride from a nearby big town, but just off the road. Doable by bike for sure. Realizing how quickly I adapted to the bucket baths and the latrine lifestyle and sleeping outdoors gave me the confidence to start looking forward to my own post.
The lack of dietary variety was certainly a challenge. there were a couple meals where we were given just millet...which tastes like sand. that was hard, but it made the days when we got maffe (peanut sauce) so much better.
I'm sure a 3 day experience cannot compare to how it actually is to live like that long term, but there really is no preparation for that.
Certainly challenging was the noise! the donkey baying every hour or so, the sounds of crying kids. that was something to get used to. i had anticipated quiet in a rural village but it is quite the contrary.
i'm goign to post this just out of fear of the track record with trying to get this experience online. I realize its ridiculously delayed, but at least now it's up!!
being culturally integrated..
The Cultural training here in Thies is constantly throwing out key words like "integration" patience, observation, flexibility, etc. We have heard hours of examples of what it means to be integrated, how to integrate, how NOT to integrate, how better to integrate etc. I have never felt like it would be a problem for me because I know that I can laugh easily, be friendly, communicate (in french for the time being) and be open to opposition. But through all this training they have never been able to express how incredibly rewarding it feels when you know you are truly integrate. I have several examples I simply must share:
The other day walking back from the center after a long hard day of training, I was not anticipating my walk home to fuel me....but it did. That 45 minute sweaty, sandy walk that I have come to love and look forward to fueled me. I realized that I finally knew my way home well enough to stop paying attention to my route, the weather was cooling off so I was sweating less profusely than normal, Braiden and I stopped into our favorite "cafe" (a soda/candy/general boutique where the owner lets us sit as long as we want in teh two plastic lawn chairs she keeps in the back as we sip on slightly chilled fantas), we greeted her and she brought her passport to show us. She was trying to go back to the states for her 4th visit and was denied by a grumpy and terribly unfair employee at the US embassy. She was thrilled to see us and clearly surprised that we had remembered her story and purposefully stopped by to see if she was going to go back and try again. It really is true how important greetings are. Braiden and I have officially made a friend in her. AND she is Pulaar to boot so when I get better I will be able to practice with her. Now if only that annoying guy that hangs around her store would stop hanging out there when we come around....
I passed by two women at a road stand selling donuts. They were so nice and talked to me and were impressed with how friendly i was with them. I know I have made a connection there. It feels so good to know people in the neighborhood.
But the biggest triumph of all happened upon coming home. My sister Diarra told me that our other sister, Aminata (the one who lives in dakar...same dad, different wife) wants me to be one of her bridesmaids in her wedding at the end of this month! I was truly honored. Speechless really. In fact, even though she told me in french, it took me a few minutes to respond. Just feeling so included and accepted and comfortable feels tremendous. Needless to say i accepted and the four of us (another sister and a cousin) have a date to the fabric market to buy matching cloth for our grande boo boos (name of the traditional clothing) is scheduled for sometime next week i think.
I cannot wait. Fingers crossed that they choose blue and not pink (those are the choices). While I am honored to throw down the several mille that it will cost to have our outfits made, I am secretly hoping that I will not be clad head to toe in bright pink. But there are certainly worse things in this world...
In any case, I cannot wait for the wedding. It was only just this weekend that her boyfriend came to the house with his uncle and cousin and sat down with my dad and mom and asked for her hand in marriage. What a great night to have been home. The men discussing the importance of fidelity in the living room, while my 4 sisters and i giggled in the dark, outside trying to listen at the windows adn dreaming up the wedding day.
Here I guess engagements do not last very long. Aminata is already 31 (because she went to school adn wanted to be on her own and start her hair salon before marriage) and just wants to have it be very simple and get it done quickly.
This week her fiancee's mother is going to call to set a date adn then the family will bring by a lot of money to pay for the marriage. I am still unclear what the money is for other than the ceremony. I just cannot wait to be a part of it!
In case you all coulnd't tell, I am in a great mood today. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that anticipation of site placements are in teh air, the weather has cooled off significantly today (my bedroom was actually down to 79 degrees last night! i had to use a sheet AND a blanket! thrilling), and all the trainees are planning a trip to the beach this weekend. Inshallah!
Here's to maintaining this optimism as long as possible.
The other day walking back from the center after a long hard day of training, I was not anticipating my walk home to fuel me....but it did. That 45 minute sweaty, sandy walk that I have come to love and look forward to fueled me. I realized that I finally knew my way home well enough to stop paying attention to my route, the weather was cooling off so I was sweating less profusely than normal, Braiden and I stopped into our favorite "cafe" (a soda/candy/general boutique where the owner lets us sit as long as we want in teh two plastic lawn chairs she keeps in the back as we sip on slightly chilled fantas), we greeted her and she brought her passport to show us. She was trying to go back to the states for her 4th visit and was denied by a grumpy and terribly unfair employee at the US embassy. She was thrilled to see us and clearly surprised that we had remembered her story and purposefully stopped by to see if she was going to go back and try again. It really is true how important greetings are. Braiden and I have officially made a friend in her. AND she is Pulaar to boot so when I get better I will be able to practice with her. Now if only that annoying guy that hangs around her store would stop hanging out there when we come around....
I passed by two women at a road stand selling donuts. They were so nice and talked to me and were impressed with how friendly i was with them. I know I have made a connection there. It feels so good to know people in the neighborhood.
But the biggest triumph of all happened upon coming home. My sister Diarra told me that our other sister, Aminata (the one who lives in dakar...same dad, different wife) wants me to be one of her bridesmaids in her wedding at the end of this month! I was truly honored. Speechless really. In fact, even though she told me in french, it took me a few minutes to respond. Just feeling so included and accepted and comfortable feels tremendous. Needless to say i accepted and the four of us (another sister and a cousin) have a date to the fabric market to buy matching cloth for our grande boo boos (name of the traditional clothing) is scheduled for sometime next week i think.
I cannot wait. Fingers crossed that they choose blue and not pink (those are the choices). While I am honored to throw down the several mille that it will cost to have our outfits made, I am secretly hoping that I will not be clad head to toe in bright pink. But there are certainly worse things in this world...
In any case, I cannot wait for the wedding. It was only just this weekend that her boyfriend came to the house with his uncle and cousin and sat down with my dad and mom and asked for her hand in marriage. What a great night to have been home. The men discussing the importance of fidelity in the living room, while my 4 sisters and i giggled in the dark, outside trying to listen at the windows adn dreaming up the wedding day.
Here I guess engagements do not last very long. Aminata is already 31 (because she went to school adn wanted to be on her own and start her hair salon before marriage) and just wants to have it be very simple and get it done quickly.
This week her fiancee's mother is going to call to set a date adn then the family will bring by a lot of money to pay for the marriage. I am still unclear what the money is for other than the ceremony. I just cannot wait to be a part of it!
In case you all coulnd't tell, I am in a great mood today. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that anticipation of site placements are in teh air, the weather has cooled off significantly today (my bedroom was actually down to 79 degrees last night! i had to use a sheet AND a blanket! thrilling), and all the trainees are planning a trip to the beach this weekend. Inshallah!
Here's to maintaining this optimism as long as possible.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Infantile Language Acquisition
Today was the first day that I really felt like I will actually be able to learn Pulaar du Nord. The rumors floating around the center are that Pulaar is the hardest language to learn. Lucky me. Those of you who are not linguists bear with me, but I feel like I have to share how tricky of a language Pulaar really is...
There are 24 different articles. In the English language we have 2: the and a. We will not even be learning them until IST (In Service Training in August).
When a verb is in the Infinitive form for example, Wottaade (to lunch) it is easily identifiable. BUT...what happens when the verbs are conjugated...in the plural persons (we-exclusive and inclusive..there are 2 kinds, you all, and they) then the W changes to NG. yeah. okay, plus the endings are all different in the past tense, and the negative past tense. SO:
to say that "They lunched" the verb goes from looking like Wottaade to Ngottiima.
Yeah, not easy. It's going to take some serious memorization.
But finally, after two solid weeks of language classes and a serious kick in the butt from my host family, I am finally getting it. They have sworn off of French with me and my host dad has forbidden the girls to speak Wolof to eachother around me. At least I have their support. But it has been quite a challenge for us all to go from speaking constantly and giggling endlessly to a largely silent, and slow repetitious relationship of:
how are you
i am fine
my name is....
today i learned pulaar. we studied the past tense. it was hard.
i ate fish and rice for lunch yesterday. it was really spicy.
etc.
Here is what a writte Pulaar introduction of myself looks like:
Mbiyete mi ko Oumou Sall
Njeyaa mi ko california e ameriq.
mbido jogi nogaas e tati
Mbido jogi minirabe dido e mawnirabe goto gorko.
you get the idea. Try practicing out loud. I know you all are. And I bet you sound hilarious.
I'm just glad that I'm feeling optimistic about my abilities at this point. We have a language assessment on Tuesday covering every competency that we've learned: Greetings, Introducing yourself, talking about your family, and the past tense. I'm worried. Needless to say I'll be doing a LOT of studying this weekend. Assuming of course that the electricity holds up. Otherwise I'll be doing it all during the day.
Nalen e jam!
There are 24 different articles. In the English language we have 2: the and a. We will not even be learning them until IST (In Service Training in August).
When a verb is in the Infinitive form for example, Wottaade (to lunch) it is easily identifiable. BUT...what happens when the verbs are conjugated...in the plural persons (we-exclusive and inclusive..there are 2 kinds, you all, and they) then the W changes to NG. yeah. okay, plus the endings are all different in the past tense, and the negative past tense. SO:
to say that "They lunched" the verb goes from looking like Wottaade to Ngottiima.
Yeah, not easy. It's going to take some serious memorization.
But finally, after two solid weeks of language classes and a serious kick in the butt from my host family, I am finally getting it. They have sworn off of French with me and my host dad has forbidden the girls to speak Wolof to eachother around me. At least I have their support. But it has been quite a challenge for us all to go from speaking constantly and giggling endlessly to a largely silent, and slow repetitious relationship of:
how are you
i am fine
my name is....
today i learned pulaar. we studied the past tense. it was hard.
i ate fish and rice for lunch yesterday. it was really spicy.
etc.
Here is what a writte Pulaar introduction of myself looks like:
Mbiyete mi ko Oumou Sall
Njeyaa mi ko california e ameriq.
mbido jogi nogaas e tati
Mbido jogi minirabe dido e mawnirabe goto gorko.
you get the idea. Try practicing out loud. I know you all are. And I bet you sound hilarious.
I'm just glad that I'm feeling optimistic about my abilities at this point. We have a language assessment on Tuesday covering every competency that we've learned: Greetings, Introducing yourself, talking about your family, and the past tense. I'm worried. Needless to say I'll be doing a LOT of studying this weekend. Assuming of course that the electricity holds up. Otherwise I'll be doing it all during the day.
Nalen e jam!
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