To do List:

1. Visit compost site tomorrow. (we were supposed to start collection today but had to pick up a wheelbarrow, pitch forks, and a rake - to no surprise, that took 2 hours)
2. Critique the work of my charretier, Djebaye (donkey cart driver) since he doesn't yet completely understand the project
3. Pick up boots, gloves and a mask from the health center on Wednesday
4. Go around with a woman door-to-door to all the same 35 houses to fully explain the project. Djebaye explained horribly the project to the "manager/men of the house"... they aren't the ones who sweep and clean - "managers of the compost". For some reason, when I say compost, he translates it to sheep/goat poop. Hmmm
5. Bring Djebaye to Joal, where this project originated with PCVs 2 years ago and has grown to be quite a success. He will then hopefully understand what we are trying to do and be able to ask questions of the compost employees there.
6. Convince the women of the neighborhood and the women's group to put money in. This will have to wait until after Tabaski, but we need funds and I am not white and made of money!
7. Build our site - make a fence, build a shade structure and buy a barrel to store water.
8. Find other people to help out Djebaye, other charreties, and people to manage the site. I need to meet people already employeed by the Mayor's Office since that's the direction I want to go, the government needs to pay for this!
9. Form a budget to ask for some money from a Peace Corps Partnership. But honestly, I am fully willing to write this, but it will need to be finished and turned in before my last 6 months of service. That is rapidly approaching. So I may just leave it for my replacement to do with whatever he/she wants.
10. Improvise... there is going to be a lot else to do as this moves along

And that's it! I think I have my work cut out for me...

I was so stressed out yesterday, thinking about this list and wondering what today would be like. I was anxious since the last 2 nights I went to meet Djebaye, he wasn't available to meet with me and Astou Kan, the women's group pres was out of town for 4 days. But this is going to be good work so let's hope this goes well! Keep your fingers crossed.

Oh, and a funny picture to think about: me wandering around with Djebaye, pulling a donkey with a cart of garbage all around town, between houses, in sandy "streets" all the way to the Mayor's Office and even through part of the market on MARKET DAY. Needless to say I attracted a bit of attention.