She's Senegalese Now

So my week of training a “newbie” is finished. She arrived on Friday morning and left this evening. Her name is Ellen and she will soon be my closest neighbor, about 20k down the road. We got along very well and I think she will be a great volunteer. She is learning French right now since she hasn’t had any classes since high school but is doing so well for only being here 3 weeks! I wasn’t that confident with my language after just a few weeks, that’s for sure. Like I said, she will be great. I am very excited for her to move to Diourbel in November.

It was rather interesting being responsible to answer all the questions of a trainee. I brought in reinforcement! My best friend in Peace Corps came to spend the weekend with us. We made soup for dinner sent from America and talked about PC and gossiped about everything else. It was rather refreshing to be able to answer all the questions she asked, that I was asking last September. I even got to scold her for handing someone money with her left hand! I showed her how casual my work meetings are and a bit about public transport (like waiting over 2 hours at noon…). I was more exhausted than her in the heat as I introduced her to some past and many current work partners. We went to Diourbel for the day and I showed her the stores that sell ice cream, ate at the best restaurant in town and even introduced her to a future work partner. We biked to Ndem and she seems interested in working with artisans. She bought fabric in the market and my tailor made her look real good in 2 different Senegalese boubous.

I spent quite a bit of the time translating for her and telling the Senegalese that even though I speak Wolof, French is just as important to learn, since they just assume all whites speak it. (It was good practice for my translating duties when my parents arrive!) The Senegalese tend to compare us to each other quite often which is rather stressful at times. They told Ellen that I am now Senegalese and she soon will need to be as well. Me? Senegalese? I guess it’s a compliment. I have officially been told I am an integrated member of this culture. It’s a good feeling.

As for the next few weeks? I am going to be very busy. This weekend, I am getting part of my roof repaired (much needed since the tin has separated from the cement wall). I need to fence off my compost site and build a small compost area here in my family’s house protected from our goats. I need to go to all 3 middle schools to invite all my girls to a Soirée to celebrate my winners. All of this needs to get done before going to training for a few days, and before my parents get here on the 25th! I’m only kinda excited… NOT! Their 9 (daddy) and 15 (mom) days are going to go by too fast but I just can’t wait to be there at the airport to introduce them to their Senegalese daughter!