Noo tudd?

So life in Senegal is going. Man is it ever tough sometimes. Ive been here almost 3 months and the language is coming along slowly. Confusion is a constant state of being and I am really trying to learn to fit in here. Give me a few months!! Im glad the PC gives us the 3 months of integration cuz I need it!

About my names! I get one every where I go! It took me a while to get used to Diama Gueye pronounces Ja-ma Gay. But here in Bambey Im Yaay Ouria Mara, yaay rhymes with eye and the Rs are like spanish; but this causes a great deal of trouble. People in my town who know my host mom get it.. but the name is actually Guinean and not senegalese so people get real confused. And since I was named after my host moms late mother; i technically replace her so my host mom calls me yaay, aka mom and she is my daughter! funny right? completely normal though..

But today I jsut got back from Ndem! I do really love that village, just 11k down the road. They have beautiful stuff since its an artisanal village and they are already exporting abroad. They are the ultimate success story and i get to work with them!! Well anyways; they werent happy with my guinean name so I will be Rokhaya Dieye. Yea; I cant pronounce it either, you prolly do it better than me! Besides all of the work that we were doing; my work being struggling to understand normal conversation, my favorite parts were enjoying all the stars at night (it doesnt get better than that) and when we were eating lunch, someone went to go pick limes off the tree to squeeze on our rice. soo good!! youre missing out!

all and all; life is good but a constant struggle. im to the point where i can mostly understand if conversations are considerate of toubab ears. im just having trouble responding. i want to do a lot here.. ive just gotta figure out how. im lucky because there is lots of opportunity here, not every pcv is as lucky. i hope i can figure out how to pronounce my names and start to respond correctly to questions; and it will be an accomplishment!

thats all!! and anyone reading this needs to get on the phone and call my dad -- his number is 920 851 0641. he has yet to hang christmas lights.... scrudge! get on his case ;)