As of several days ago, I am now officially the PC trainee selected to inhabit the small village of Paymar Hamady. And my small village I mean about the size of Meadow Grove. haha. My village is in the Kaolack region of Senegal which is about central and is located just north of the Gambia. Guess where I'm heading on vacation? Kaolack is supposably home to more small wildlife than other regions. Pumbaa and Timon anyone? It's also known as the Peanut Basin. My village is a new site for Peace Corps so the townsfolk are constructing me a brand new hut for me to spend my next 2 years. The village has about 200 people with an overwhelming majority (all of them) speaking Pulaar du Nord. This comes in handy because, well, that's the language I'm learning.
P.S. Ramadan is over. Woohoo. No more fasting (for those who actually fasted, me not included). Korite was quite the event. Full of splendor and the spreading of kaalis (money) and good cheer. So basically, everyone gets all gussied up in their bestest Senegalese outfits and parades around eating good food. About like thanksgiving. And in the evening, the children go from house to house where they are given money. Kinda like Halloween only its small change instead of candy. The food was great. I love me some chicken, potatoes, and beef smothered in onion sauce and eaten with bread. A little too much caffeine was consumed though between the tea and the Coke and Fanta and such I was offered. Apparently that should be the all-nighter special. I will have to remember that if I go back to school. I gotta say though, Methloquin sure makes sleep more fun. Sleep is so much more entertaining when under the control of malaria meds.
Well thats all for now, tomorrow we are off to visit the regions where we will be spending the bulk of our two years and getting to know the volunteers near us hopefully. Catch ya on the flip flop.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
5 Reasons Why The Nebraska Farmer (A.K.A. my Dad) would be a success in Senegal
I've been in a Senegal for a month today and I've picked up a few facts here and there. It's come to mind that Senegal could use a Nebraska farmer and the Nebraska farmer might fare well with the traditions Senegalese keep. So, now for the count down.
5. Rain, rain here to stay. So right now it is rainy season and although many in America dislike the rain, here it is a blessing in more ways than one. First, no hauling water because one little rain cloud and there's enough water for Paul Bunyan's ox Babe. And because the ground is all sand, (Sub-sahara for ya folks that don't know), give it an afternoon and !BAM! dry ground. And what's a little humidity. A little post shower shower never hurt anyone. But the part that the I know Dad would love is that when the rain starts, everyone stays home and all businesses close.
4. Corn, Corn, Corn. So I showed my family pictures of Nebraska and here's the shocker, they included pictures of corn. My Senegalese family got all excited because they grow corn here too but not to quite such a large scale. We have about 6 stalks growing in my compound. One night it was considered a great treat to have corn roasted on the fire (not sweet corn or popcorn, field corn)
3. You GAINED weight in Africa? So this can go one of two ways. If you end up eating fish and rice everyday, you may very well lose weight. I gotta say though, my homestay family feeds me about 8 times a day it seems like. The sugar cravings of the Nebraska farmer would be well satisfied by any Senegalese cook. Lets just say that while we think 2-3 lumps of sugar per cup of coffee, I think they might add about 15 per glass of cafe touba. Same with the tea.
2. Omaha Steaks. Quick what do you think of when you think of Nebraska. Apparently most Americans think Omaha steak. Well lets just say the meat over here ain't no home grown angus beef. These cows don't know what cows are supposed to be like. I'm thinking we need to introduce some real beef to the Senegalese and see if these things they call cows change names.
1. ZZZZZZZZZ. So the Nebraska farmer, or at least the one I know best, likes his rest. Well the Senegalese have it down pat. They have nap time from about noon until 3 or 4 o'clock so as to bypass the hot part of the day. P.S. I'm pretty sure that it gets about as hot in Nebraska as it does in Senegal, the Senegalese just have yet to experience air conditioning.
Well thats the 5 reasons. Now all that's left to take care of is the importation of Dr. Pepper and peach pies. I think Dad could manage without the running water or electricity but ya gotta have them peach pies when the rice and fish isn't cutting it.
5. Rain, rain here to stay. So right now it is rainy season and although many in America dislike the rain, here it is a blessing in more ways than one. First, no hauling water because one little rain cloud and there's enough water for Paul Bunyan's ox Babe. And because the ground is all sand, (Sub-sahara for ya folks that don't know), give it an afternoon and !BAM! dry ground. And what's a little humidity. A little post shower shower never hurt anyone. But the part that the I know Dad would love is that when the rain starts, everyone stays home and all businesses close.
4. Corn, Corn, Corn. So I showed my family pictures of Nebraska and here's the shocker, they included pictures of corn. My Senegalese family got all excited because they grow corn here too but not to quite such a large scale. We have about 6 stalks growing in my compound. One night it was considered a great treat to have corn roasted on the fire (not sweet corn or popcorn, field corn)
3. You GAINED weight in Africa? So this can go one of two ways. If you end up eating fish and rice everyday, you may very well lose weight. I gotta say though, my homestay family feeds me about 8 times a day it seems like. The sugar cravings of the Nebraska farmer would be well satisfied by any Senegalese cook. Lets just say that while we think 2-3 lumps of sugar per cup of coffee, I think they might add about 15 per glass of cafe touba. Same with the tea.
2. Omaha Steaks. Quick what do you think of when you think of Nebraska. Apparently most Americans think Omaha steak. Well lets just say the meat over here ain't no home grown angus beef. These cows don't know what cows are supposed to be like. I'm thinking we need to introduce some real beef to the Senegalese and see if these things they call cows change names.
1. ZZZZZZZZZ. So the Nebraska farmer, or at least the one I know best, likes his rest. Well the Senegalese have it down pat. They have nap time from about noon until 3 or 4 o'clock so as to bypass the hot part of the day. P.S. I'm pretty sure that it gets about as hot in Nebraska as it does in Senegal, the Senegalese just have yet to experience air conditioning.
Well thats the 5 reasons. Now all that's left to take care of is the importation of Dr. Pepper and peach pies. I think Dad could manage without the running water or electricity but ya gotta have them peach pies when the rice and fish isn't cutting it.
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