Alright, so I am having trouble going back and forth between the French keyboard any my own. In the “cyber” as we call it, I spend an hour or so getting used to the keyboard where the A and the Q and the Z have all traded places, not to mention many others. So getting used to my laptop again is a challenge. It is easiest for me to write my blog and save it to a disk rather than type at the cyber….
Anyways, I just wanted to fill you in a bit more on my family life. It’s great! At the center, we all talk about each other’s experiences and I have heard horror stories about cockroach infestations and cruel, backstabbing uncles, but besides a ‘terrible two’ year old, life is good. And if you know me at all, I love Cher Oumar too much already to complain about his crying every so often. He is actually throwing crayons around in my room right now and I only have the vocab to say déedéet – which means no. He just kinda looks at me and smiles. I just got him to pick up about half of the crayons. Little victories… little victories. (I do miss my Fischer kids!) Now, my goal is to answer a single question he asks me before I leave – unlikely, but hey, it’s a goal. The language barrier is very evident with the kids. The girls that are 17, 19 and 21 speak French beautifully and help me daily with my Wolof. My yaye – or mom is also very good at French but encourages me daily to use my Wolof. My papa is working in St. Louis, a city about 5 hours away. He is only home every other weekend. But the kids are a challenge! I try so hard to listen to their conversations but they are very quick! I’ll get it though; it’s only been a week!
Last night, when I was lying in bed reading comfortably under my mosquito net, one of my sisters came down from the roof and asked me if I wanted to come up. So our house is all cement pretty much, and the roof is flat. They call it the terrace because there are stairs up to it and a railing and everything. Its like a second story without a roof, because it is one! Haha! At first I said no cuz I was tired, but I changed my mind since I don’t have school today, since it’s Sunday. They had blankets and pillows and some kids that sleep here sleep under the stars. It was beautiful. And I sat and listened to them. I’d get excited when I understood and would chime in a bit (little victories). Then they taught me all the names of body parts. There is a song a lot like head, shoulders knees and toes. I am no good and they kept teasing me! The kids think it is just hilarious when a toubab – aka white foreigner speaks their language! One of my sisters is going to have me write down and memorize all the parts today. I am back to the status of a 4 year old!
And this weeks training went well. It is tough to concentrate for the 8 hour long day. We get there before 8 so we can have breakfast and then start usually with language. On average, I’d say it’s been about 4 hours a day, but I guess that’s going to pick up! We do get a nice 2 hour break for lunch when sometimes we go to the cyber or market. When we do, we always pass my house and see my family and then we pass my mom’s shop and say hello to everyone there. My mom is a tailor! Which makes most people jealous! I haven’t had anything made just yet, besides a simple skirt when I was in Richard Toll. But I brought in some business for her. My friend is getting a whole outfit made so he can be dressed like the Senegalese. The fabric and they style they wear here is beautiful. I will get something made in a few weeks. Right now, my yaye is very busy with a holiday coming up. After our lunch break, we are at the center until 6pm. At around 7 we break the fast (it’s the month of Ramadan and Muslims don’t eat between sunrise and sunset). Lately dinner has been after 9 sometime. For me, by that time, I’m exhausted and head to bed. Yesterday afternoon when I was getting my hair braided, my sisters were saying that I am pretty much a loser because I don’t watch the African basketball tournament on TV and hang out with them. I never really liked TV in the states (besides Greys and Friends) and basketball? Come on! It’s women’s and they only score like 60 or 70 points in a game… Sleep is higher on my priority list!
Alright, I like Oumar again. He just gave me cookies! I’ll try to get pictures up of my family soon! I haven’t taken any just yet but I’ll get there! Love you all!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Left Brained – not Handed!
Life is still wonderful in Senegal. I spent four days in Richard Toll to demystify the Peace Corps experience. Richard Toll is a large city of about 70,000 people and is on the Mauritania boarder up north. It was wonderful getting out of Thies and the center for a mini vacation, if you will. Mandi and I stayed with Bryn and she showed us around. Everywhere we went, kids would yell out “Bonjour toubab!!” which means hello foreigner!! It was really funny, but I know eventually I will like to be called by my name! We also got together with 2 other current volunteers with 3 demysters and played at a local hotel pool. It was wonderful!
So I have started my family stay. I am no longer Binta… I am Diama Gueye. (Di = J so Ja-ma… ) Yea, I can hardly pronounce it either! I was named after my host mother’s big sister. So my family in Thies is huge, and honestly I am having quite a hard time learning all of their names. Here’s why: My mom is Astou, but I call her maman or yaye in wolof. My dad is Daouda, or Papa. I have 3 sisters around my age – Nogaye, Khadi, and Astou. And I have four very young siblings: Ahmadou, Cher Dianjan, Maman Ami, and Cher Omar (who just turned 2). There are also other children who possibly live here as well, like Madi and one other. I also have an uncle Cheikh Ndiaye and an older brother whose name I don’t know. There are a few of us here! But I have my own room with 2 windows and a fan (and a few bugs that I kill and pretend are now extinct)! I have a twin bed, 2 chairs and a table that makes many other trainees jealous. Everyone has very different living situations. I live on the same street as two other volunteers and we are less than a 5-minute walk to the center. As for a bathroom, I do have a western style toilet (excellent!) that I share with my parents and all the kids use a Turkish toilet. Honestly, I would have no problem using that because I used it in France for 4 months, but I won’t tell them that!! Instead of a shower, I take bucket baths, which are better than you think. It’s not weird to take like 5 showers a day to stay cool, which is nice. Last night I actually slept underneath a sheet because I was chilly in the middle of the night! Crazy right? It was a first since arriving!
Food is still delicious. We eat a lot of rice and fish. Last night was the first time that I got to eat with my hands! It is quite common here, which is crazy with rice, but that’s not what we had last night. It was lettuce, something like French fries (just not potatoes) onion sauce with fish. It was very with bread. Oh, and about being left handed…so much for that in the next 2 years! That hand is considered dirty and only used in the bathroom, if you know what I mean. I am now a righty, which tends to be challenging at times! It is an insult and frowned upon to reach for something or give something with your left, not to mention eat! After 2 years of this, will I ever be normal again? Haha! But I can’t complain about the food really. I like the spice and haven’t been sick yet (knock on wood!!) Some people in the group have had some problems with the mefloquine prophylaxis that we take for malaria but I must have a tough stomach! It’s a good thing to have here!!
I have a cell phone now! 221 713 3897.... 6 hours ahead? We don’t do fall back.. so i think we will be 7 hours ahead soon... but hey! feel free to text me and then buy a calling card with international minutes!
Training at the center has started and it will be a lot of intensive learning. We start the day at 8, after breakfast, and go from 8-6 with a nice 2-hour lunch break from 12:30-2:30. It is mostly all language right now, and since I passed out of French, I am learning Wolof. This is also what my family speaks. I am able to use French with everyone except the young kids but I am trying to use as much Wolof as possible. Maybe I will be tri-lingual when I leave!
I will try to make sure you all can see photos on my facebook account. It is the fastest way to download them!
Send letters to me! I just bought stamps and should send some stuff out soon! For you, you can buy 90cent stamps at the post office. It is a bit more for me, but you are worth it if you write to me!
So I have started my family stay. I am no longer Binta… I am Diama Gueye. (Di = J so Ja-ma… ) Yea, I can hardly pronounce it either! I was named after my host mother’s big sister. So my family in Thies is huge, and honestly I am having quite a hard time learning all of their names. Here’s why: My mom is Astou, but I call her maman or yaye in wolof. My dad is Daouda, or Papa. I have 3 sisters around my age – Nogaye, Khadi, and Astou. And I have four very young siblings: Ahmadou, Cher Dianjan, Maman Ami, and Cher Omar (who just turned 2). There are also other children who possibly live here as well, like Madi and one other. I also have an uncle Cheikh Ndiaye and an older brother whose name I don’t know. There are a few of us here! But I have my own room with 2 windows and a fan (and a few bugs that I kill and pretend are now extinct)! I have a twin bed, 2 chairs and a table that makes many other trainees jealous. Everyone has very different living situations. I live on the same street as two other volunteers and we are less than a 5-minute walk to the center. As for a bathroom, I do have a western style toilet (excellent!) that I share with my parents and all the kids use a Turkish toilet. Honestly, I would have no problem using that because I used it in France for 4 months, but I won’t tell them that!! Instead of a shower, I take bucket baths, which are better than you think. It’s not weird to take like 5 showers a day to stay cool, which is nice. Last night I actually slept underneath a sheet because I was chilly in the middle of the night! Crazy right? It was a first since arriving!
Food is still delicious. We eat a lot of rice and fish. Last night was the first time that I got to eat with my hands! It is quite common here, which is crazy with rice, but that’s not what we had last night. It was lettuce, something like French fries (just not potatoes) onion sauce with fish. It was very with bread. Oh, and about being left handed…so much for that in the next 2 years! That hand is considered dirty and only used in the bathroom, if you know what I mean. I am now a righty, which tends to be challenging at times! It is an insult and frowned upon to reach for something or give something with your left, not to mention eat! After 2 years of this, will I ever be normal again? Haha! But I can’t complain about the food really. I like the spice and haven’t been sick yet (knock on wood!!) Some people in the group have had some problems with the mefloquine prophylaxis that we take for malaria but I must have a tough stomach! It’s a good thing to have here!!
I have a cell phone now! 221 713 3897.... 6 hours ahead? We don’t do fall back.. so i think we will be 7 hours ahead soon... but hey! feel free to text me and then buy a calling card with international minutes!
Training at the center has started and it will be a lot of intensive learning. We start the day at 8, after breakfast, and go from 8-6 with a nice 2-hour lunch break from 12:30-2:30. It is mostly all language right now, and since I passed out of French, I am learning Wolof. This is also what my family speaks. I am able to use French with everyone except the young kids but I am trying to use as much Wolof as possible. Maybe I will be tri-lingual when I leave!
I will try to make sure you all can see photos on my facebook account. It is the fastest way to download them!
Send letters to me! I just bought stamps and should send some stuff out soon! For you, you can buy 90cent stamps at the post office. It is a bit more for me, but you are worth it if you write to me!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
flat lizards
Hey hey!!
so before i forget, my title is PCT Kira Keuhn.. so completely ignore my last post! im sure mail will still get here if you sent it to pst, but just for the future! im an idiot i guess!!
so you want to know how africa is? i like it! should i start from the beginning?
so training in atlanta was great. they put us up in a sweet hotel and besides the 10 hour days of training stuff, it was simply amazing meeting people who know just as much, and little, as i do about senegal!! the peace corps likes to keep us uninfomed/misinformed/oblivious from time to time. its all good! all part of the adventure right?
the first day we got to thies - pronounced Chess - was exhausting. it wasnt the flight really, just the fact that we were in a federal building from before it opened until 4 hours later-ish sucked! i got 2 of the 3 possible shots (and had 2 the otherday and will get like 10 more) and then once we got to senegal, the sun wasnt yet up and we had to wait a while to get through customs and ride a bus for 2 hours. all in all a long day but sooo worth it! everyone is aamazing!!
so they have been feeding us very well (only bugs) and im learning wolof! weve had interviews on our language and business skills and we should know where we will be placed in like 3 weeks! ooo and im not eating bugs! there is baguettes and tea in the morn, rice and fish/chicken/beef for lunch and dinner. fresh fruit is everywhere and although i havent had a mango yet, i will tonight! it is all very tasty and moving to africa will not cause me to lose weight. (all my hopes and dreams down the drain. ha) so last night was pretty much the first night that we we not that tired that we all stayed up pretty late and talked. its kinda like summer camp! but thats changing right now!
today, 9 of us got in a peace corps van and drove north. every hour of so we would drop people off at a current volunteers site. they call this demystification. so me and one other girl are staying so far north we can see the Mauritania border from our volunteers bedroom window! its just across the river and its wonderful! we went outside today for bread and i got my first senegalese name! they dont bother to ask what your american name is, but mom and dad, so much for kira, im Binta until i get back to Thies!
oo and your probably wondering --flat lizard? i saw one on our walk to use the internet. rather unfortunate because we were on a side walk, so it must have been a bike that took it out? sad, i know.
thats all i will write for now!
send me letters and i will love you forrever! when i get stamps ill send you mail and the cell phone should be within the week!
love you
ps dad - call grandma and read this to her! love you!
so before i forget, my title is PCT Kira Keuhn.. so completely ignore my last post! im sure mail will still get here if you sent it to pst, but just for the future! im an idiot i guess!!
so you want to know how africa is? i like it! should i start from the beginning?
so training in atlanta was great. they put us up in a sweet hotel and besides the 10 hour days of training stuff, it was simply amazing meeting people who know just as much, and little, as i do about senegal!! the peace corps likes to keep us uninfomed/misinformed/oblivious from time to time. its all good! all part of the adventure right?
the first day we got to thies - pronounced Chess - was exhausting. it wasnt the flight really, just the fact that we were in a federal building from before it opened until 4 hours later-ish sucked! i got 2 of the 3 possible shots (and had 2 the otherday and will get like 10 more) and then once we got to senegal, the sun wasnt yet up and we had to wait a while to get through customs and ride a bus for 2 hours. all in all a long day but sooo worth it! everyone is aamazing!!
so they have been feeding us very well (only bugs) and im learning wolof! weve had interviews on our language and business skills and we should know where we will be placed in like 3 weeks! ooo and im not eating bugs! there is baguettes and tea in the morn, rice and fish/chicken/beef for lunch and dinner. fresh fruit is everywhere and although i havent had a mango yet, i will tonight! it is all very tasty and moving to africa will not cause me to lose weight. (all my hopes and dreams down the drain. ha) so last night was pretty much the first night that we we not that tired that we all stayed up pretty late and talked. its kinda like summer camp! but thats changing right now!
today, 9 of us got in a peace corps van and drove north. every hour of so we would drop people off at a current volunteers site. they call this demystification. so me and one other girl are staying so far north we can see the Mauritania border from our volunteers bedroom window! its just across the river and its wonderful! we went outside today for bread and i got my first senegalese name! they dont bother to ask what your american name is, but mom and dad, so much for kira, im Binta until i get back to Thies!
oo and your probably wondering --flat lizard? i saw one on our walk to use the internet. rather unfortunate because we were on a side walk, so it must have been a bike that took it out? sad, i know.
thats all i will write for now!
send me letters and i will love you forrever! when i get stamps ill send you mail and the cell phone should be within the week!
love you
ps dad - call grandma and read this to her! love you!
Friday, September 7, 2007
minor error in address...
Hey - so my title needs to be changed: I am in Pre-Service Training in Thies -- so here's what my address really looks like:
PST Kira Keuhn
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 299
Thies, Senegal
West Africa
Sorry about that! :-/
PST Kira Keuhn
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 299
Thies, Senegal
West Africa
Sorry about that! :-/
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
How to pack for 27 months.....?
Hey - so about 99 of you asked me how I am supposed to pack for 27 months. I tried to pacl this afternoon and the answer for you is coming soon. I have no idea today. I'll let you know!
I'm still extremely excited -- and a hint nervous.
5 days.
Much love :-)
Kira
I'm still extremely excited -- and a hint nervous.
5 days.
Much love :-)
Kira
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