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It has been a great week of technical health information here at the training center in Theis, Senegal.  I wanted to pass some information along to y’ll before I head out to The Gambia and have limited internet access.  But first I wanted to make a couple comments on the recent pictures I have posted.

That was my home stay family from Bayahk.  I had 3 brothers, one older sister and a single mother.  The father had passed away some years ago from unknown causes.  I was there first Peace Corps home stay and it was most defiantly a learning process for us all.  Despite the challenge of language, they accepted me as their own.  I was told on one occasion to put my pants up by my mom and I received several worried phone calls when I was out past dark.

The morning of my departure I had to wake the family up to say good bye at 7 AM. Frazzled from me barging in to say good bye, they all jump to action and grabbed my belongings, not allowing me to carry anything to the bus.  As I approached the PC bus, full volunteers, I had an entourage following me with all my bags and everyone on the bus was either laughing or ooo-ing and aww-ing.  Once we got all my stuff on board, it was time for final good byes but hugging is not a common place thing here in Africa.  Even though I know hugs were not big here, I still gave each one of them a big bear hug so they couldn’t escape the awkward moment.  We finely pulled away and little Omar dragged his feet, looking back 3 times as we drove away in a cloud of dust.  It’s going to be harder and harder to say good bye to the people I meet along the way but can always leave knowing that I have been changed by them and hope that I have made an impact on their lives. You always wish you have more time but I am starting to realize how important it is to make use of the time you already have.

On much much happier news…I just found out WHERE I will be living for the next 2 years!!! I am in the North Bank region in The Gambia YAY!  I will be starting a new village that has had some contact with PCV and is very excited for my arrival.  I have been told that the village is super motivated to do projects and get things started.  My focus will be based in nutrition, pre/post natal care and rehydration.  I cannot give y’ll much information about it yet but don’t you worry…there will be 2 whole years of info to come!

On news of other small achievements, I gave myself my first hair cut and yes I literally did it all myself (accept squaring off the back and cutting off the neck hair Nicole hates so much)!  These small achievements are what I like to think of as the small pieces of the big puzzle that will shape my service as a PC member and my life as a whole.

Jama Rek 

The Family

From Left to Right:  Amed              Omar                  Pap                 Gundo                       Ndey Jobe

Let it Begin

The first post in Africa! I have been here for about a month and if this month is any indication of what the rest of the 26 months will be like – it will be an amazing journey!

I have to first apologize for taking so long to write this first post.  You can say part of my process is full immersion; I found it difficult to pull myself away from culture and relationship building to write a post. I also felt like there was not much to tell, other than my struggle with language and that it is damn hot.  But now . . . my language skills are growing, I have been living at a home stay for 2 weeks and I have been laughed at more than I would like to say.  

The arrival to Africa started with 65 Americans stumbling off a plane at the break of dawn.  After 8 hours we were all well acquainted and very tired.  With no departure tunnel, we stepped off onto a misty tarmac with a strong odder of fish.  With a big smile on my face I headed towards customs, already sweating, I thought to myself ‘Welcome to Fucking Africa! (Sorry for the profanity but I did say this was going to be the raw story [I will try not to do it again but it was just too good to leave out])

We were then stationed in Theis (~70 Km east of Dakar) for the next 2 weeks at a Peace Corps training center.  At the center we hit the ground running with about 6 hours of technical training, cultural training and language every day.   I was reminded each session how humbling it was to be selected to work with some of the most energetic knowledgeable and open minded staff and volunteers alike.  I sit in the classroom, garden, disco hut or wherever we may have a class and just try to absorb the energy in the room (…hut or whichever location). I am truly honored and lucky to have this opportunity.

I now understand what everyone meant when they said this will be one of the most challenging things I will ever do.  Try learning a new language in foreign culture in 90 degree weather.  At the same time, start a new diet and take away all common comforts you are used to.  And to top it all off you are dyslexic!  At that point you will understand about 5% what I am going through.  Here is the kicker, I love it.   It’s miserable, hard and uncomfortable but I couldn’t feel more alive at this moment then Right Now!

One story that sticks out is about my little Senegalese brother, Omar.  I had a particularly rough day with language and I was on the verge of having my first real break down.  I was sitting on my bed and he came in my room like he always does with no understanding of my personal space (in the American sense).   He just started cleaning but let me help understand, there are very defined gender lines and cleaning is not a male job, let alone a little boy.  Omar has been the one who has really taken care of me.  He has the hand gestures for eat, sleep and shower down.  At that moment, when I was at a low point, he did it again – he took care of me.

While a lot is growing/changing around me and inside me, my thoughts and prayers are with all of you on a daily bases. I hope you are all health and happy.

Jaama Rek – Peace only