Stepping off the plane

In training, our trainer said something like “Get off the jumbo jet, and take the train”. He was comparing the work ethic, style and way of doing things in America compared to Senegal. I have this quote written on my wall and think about it often. The problem is, though, that I am American, and some things never change.

Today was my second town meeting about the compost project in Bambey. The last one followed my vacation in Kedougou so I wasn’t around to invite anyone so this time I tried my best to go to people’s houses, talk with them about the meeting and the plans that I have for the future, and fully convince them to show up. 5/8 success. The one man that didn’t show up was there like 2 minutes after the meeting was scheduled and left since no one was there (expected, since no one in Senegal comes for the first hour of a scheduled meeting). Another showed up as we were all leaving. Whatever. I’ll take it.

Instead of planning a powerpoint or something technical, I put an outline of topics to discuss on flip chart paper for everyone to read. I mentioned how I only have a year left of service but will dedicate half of my work to the compost project. I told them we have been given a plot of 30 square meters of land. Then I began talking about how we should go about training and who the important people should be, who will monitor the compost and who will help write a budget. I was then cut off. They don’t care who runs the compost facility nor who will help set up the fence around it. They need to only concentrate on how to get the door-to-door trainings accomplished. I agree! Honestly I agree it is the most important part but all I can think about is November of 2009 when I am on a plane outta here and I don’t know if by that time anything will be accomplished. Shouldn’t we at least mention how we want things to turn out in the next 3, 6, 12 months? Why do they leave everything else up to God? Yes, things can change, but then we can change out plan; alter it to fit the new situation. This is just not the case.

So I am slowing myself down, again. It’s ok. I really wanted to get the application completed for the PC partnership for money but since that isn’t on the priority right now; I have to wait until after my vacation. All the women are meeting on the 12th to discuss funding they received from another organization so they can travel to Mauritania and Mali to buy from markets there and sell them here for a profit. That’s great and all, even though it has nothing to do with the project, but it means that all the women are actually going to show up for the meeting, unlike my meetings since I have no money to offer. I still haven’t met them all yet. And I fly out the morning of the 12 so I can’t meet them.

Who knows if the men who were at my meeting tonight will show up to this women’s group meeting on the 12th. I can encourage them to show but there isn’t a whole lot I can do besides that. All I know is that whether anything gets done while I am traveling or not, I will have work to do when I get back. Although none of my questions were answered at my meeting, it was still a good meeting. And now all I can think about is stepping of the plane in Rome and catching a few trains to see some unfamiliar Mediterranean Sea!