Speaking Peace

I am working again! It is official - as of today, I have completed some real, genuine work in Bambey! I have been working with this compost project, as you know, since... March? (if I had to guess) We were granted a plot of land from the government and received documentation of such in September. As of today, I started my door-to-door trainings in Wakhal Jamm (Speak Peace in Wolof) the neighborhood in Bambey that I am starting this project in. I have 2 wonderful work partners and people seem interested and willing to be part of this project. All very exciting. I have to go back tomorrow to another 10 houses, and again on Tuesday, but honestly, it is much easier than I assumed. My Wolof was terrible the first house but I am picking up the new vocab for this project and hopefully the rest of the families will be understanding to this strange toubab "needing their organic trash on behalf of the government". Haha, that's how I am introduced, "coming all the way from America to do this project". I love how Wolof translates sometimes. I will have plenty of follow up to do. We are going to be doing door-to-door trainings and then starting the collection on the 1st. After that, I'll have to make sure families understand - all 30 of them. Then we will need to make sure the site is protected from wandering animals and build a small shelter to prevent the compost from drying in the sun. Lots to do, but hopefully it will be a success. Ndank ndank... slowly slowly.

Oh, and of course I have been plenty busy with my artisans! I am making 2 versions of a catalogue of our Volunteer-Artisan Network, one in french, one in english. It has contact numbers and pretty pics of artisans from all over Senegal. Even my parents pic with Matar, my tailor, is in there! The expo is this weekend and along with 2 or 3 other volunteers, I am planning the set-up, lunches, reception and training led by our tech trainer. Not to mention, I am bringing 3 different groups of artisans! Lots of work, so I am very anxious for it to go well and be over!

Soon after the expo is holiday season! I am going up north to Ndioum for the first time to kill a few birds for Thanksgiving. Less than 2 weeks later is Tabaski where my family will kill a sheep. Good thing I'm not a vegetarian!

So although it has been tough getting back into the swing of things, I have been crossing things of my to-do list and killing bugs to relieve stress! A billion mosquitos hatched in my bathroom so I sprayed and closed the door for a few hours. I took such pleasure in sweeping all the deceased mosquitoes, crickets, spiders and even one cockroach! Oh it's the small pleasures in life!