Getting Dirty

So this is it -- it's my last 19 day stretch at site. Hard to believe that I won't be back here anytime soon, if ever. The "this is my last (insert something here)" seems to be happening more often than not! I have to admit, it is really bitter-sweet. I am LOVING Bambey.

After I left Dakar, I went to Thies to meet the newbies. It took us over 3 hours to get there in a Peace Corps car because of so much flooding. You should check out my pictures in Baol Baol and Beyond - I have added some to show you just what rainy season looks like. I caught enough rain water last night in buckets to do my laundry!!

I presented to the new stage my work with Matar on accounting. Daniel and I tried our best to spark interest in artisan work since about 1/4 of everyone in there will be working with artisans, they just don't know it yet! They should find out their sites Sept 10. And I get to meet my replacement Sept 12!

I got back to site loaded with painting supplies and contacted a teacher in the primary school. I am no artist, that is for sure! But I am trying to get the message across even if my pictures don't look like the example. It is really fun to do and I have a great sense of accomplishment: I painted 2 murals this morning, what did you do? Today I finished a wash your hands and a brush your teeth mural. This afternoon I will start one on AIDS on the outside of the school wall. Can't wait to see how much attention I get!

I have been really enjoying Ramadan this year. Maybe it's because I eat lunch with a Catholic family, and then break the fast with Muslims, and then eat dinner at home. How can you go wrong? Everything is going to change when I move back to my old neighborhood in September, but I think I may still come and eat with my Catholic family, even though it will be a long walk. It will be great to leave my mark here in Wakhal Diam with paintings on the walls and trees planted in my apartment from my compost project, but even better to go back to the neighborhood that felt betrayed when I left them. It's nice knowing I will be leaving on a good note.

So my hands are full of paint, I get to splash in puddles everywhere I go, and eat at least 4 times a day! I think these last few days in Bambey are going to be good ones!