Mom and Dad have come and gone. (Still waiting on mom’s interpretation: coming soon) I am so happy they came to visit me but it had its challenges. A few stories to entertain you:
After picking up mom and dad from the airport, I thought I had this great cabby. He was so talkative at 4 in the morning. He gave me his card and all was great… right? Not so much, he demanded twice the money agreed and wouldn’t let up. So mom and dad’s first impression of their now Senegalese daughter was quite the argument before sunrise. I didn’t translate all my words for them but they could tell I was upset! I was most upset that I gave in! He got his money which made me mad for the rest of the day!
I brought mom and dad home to my Thies-training-host family first thing Sunday. I explained how to eat cebbu jen (fish and rice) out of a huge bowl with 6 adults and only had to coach a few times through the meal. Afternoon, we parted for Bambey. We had a big “party” the next day where I invited all my work partners and friends to come for lunch. We had a pretty good turn out and dad only accepted his Fanta with his left hand once! Don’t worry dad, I didn’t make a big deal about it since that would have just attracted more attention! Since I have been back home, people are giving me such a hard time about not bringing my parents back to Bambey. Why in the world would we stay on the beach when we could be in Bambey?! I have trouble explaining this so I just say that mom was scared to come back since she was “so sick I thought I’d die”, words from her mouth! Sorry mom. Don’t mean to tease. You all in America will have to pity her since she didn’t get much sympathy from me or my friends!
By far the worst thing that happened all trip (and I’ll live so just listen to me whine for a minute) was when mom started handing out candy and pretty much the entire neighborhood came demanding candy. Kids who got candy were coming back with their friends and I bet over 30 kids came. This sounds like nothing but mom and dad can tell you how stressed I got. I may have taken it out on them saying they get to leave soon and I have to live here for the next year. So I apologize. I have only heard a few kids in town asking for more and I bet they will for the rest of my service. Mom brought over a gallon ziplock bag full (guilty: I told her to bring candy) so over half was left and we gave it to my host mom to sell from her small boutique. Hope she made some money.
After the real African life, we did a 360. Popenguine was paradise. But I am too used to my life here that even when we went walking down the beach at sunset, I put on my gauchos since I am not used to not covering my knees! I didn’t realize this until mom pointed it out. After living in a Muslim society, I am no longer as confident to walk around in just a suit, as I did for over 10 years of my life!
After dropping dad off at the airport, the stress of the Wolofs at its height, we didn’t even get a hug goodbye. For some reason the Senegalese think they need to control the door to check-in. Daddy gets my first hug when I am back in WI.
Mom and I braved the Dakar garage to get in a car to Mbour – another beach city. She laughed and had trouble turning people away who are quite enthusiastic to sell junk and candy to whites. After leaving, we had quite the comfortable seat in the back of the station wagon! Well, actually, it was not really a padded seat and made for a long, hot ride. But again, this is normal for me and not for her, constantly surprised with how many kilometers were left before Mbour.
We had reservations for 2 nights at a nice beach hotel. I wasn’t surprised one bit when I went to take a shower in the afternoon and the water was out. Mom was outraged, convinced that if we went next door to the other hotel everything would be fine. What she didn’t realize was that when the water goes out, it’s out all over. Turns out this was just one of the things that bothered her about this hotel. Get her to drink her second glass of wine and she opens right up! We found a different beach city the next day, with the greatest house overlooking the beach and all was good again.
It was crazy being able to afford the transportation and the ritzy life. Mom asked at one point how I could afford living on just 200 american dollars a month. The way – I take buses and never taxis between cities! I like being a rich toubab in Senegal! There are some great beaches and hotels and was so happy to get the chance to see them.
Not every volunteer is as lucky as me; to have both my parents come and visit. They stressed me out, and helped me realize just how used to my way of life I am (and how different it really is), but spoiled me like crazy. (I kill all the bugs without flinching and if mom saw them from across the room she’d freak out) So mom and dad, thanks so much for coming, suffering through my life, complaining about the heat and testing the abilities of your gastro-intestinal tracks! I appreciate it so much, and will for the rest of my life. You two are amazing parents. Thank you. I love you.
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