Thieneba Trip Numbre Deux

Hello All

I'm back in Thies after a ten day stint at my training site in Thieneba. There has been so much that has happened and I'm afraid I will forget some of it, but here it goes...

All the SED and EcoT volunteers went out to the village of Popenguine to visit an EcoT site (pics below) on the beach. It was great to talk with the Park Officials and the Womens Group that created the reserve and to see an actual site where my friend Ankith will be working for the next two years. It was also nice to go for a little hike; I've basically been spending most of my time sitting and you get a little antsy after a while. After the trip to Popenguine and some more info sessions (yeah - malaria, blister beetles, and a million other bugs, parasites, and amoebas that I can't even name), I went back to my training site in Thienaba.

Popenguine
Popenguine
Popenguine

Life in the village can run at a pretty slow pace compared to what we are used to back in the states, especially during Ramadan as nobody has much energy due to the fasting. I have kept myself pretty busy though, as we have language classes all day. My French is getting better every day, and I can't wait to start learning a local language. This past visit I have really started to get closer to the family, the culminating moment coming a week in when I was unanimously considered a real member of the family. It's amazing how far a little patience and a few jokes can go.

My sister, Khyadi Ba
My Sisters Rokhya and Fatau trying to hide from the camera because their hair isn't ready yet... seem familiar to the US?
My Brother, Balla, who helps me out with my French A LOT!

The last day before I left Thienaba was Koritay, the feast at the end of Ramadan. If you'd like to celebrate your own Koritay its quite simple: just eat any animal that had eaten the crumbs from breakfast just four hours before until you can't move, sleep under a tree, drink lots of tea and repeat. It's a great day... Also, the kids run around asking for pocket change or candy, its kinda like Thanksgiving and Halloween all in one glorious day. I really was bummed to be leaving my family for the next 14 days as I go to visit a current volunteer and have a few days at the training center; I was really starting to feel really comfortable there. I love my family very much and I wish I could live with them the entire time I'm here... so it goes.

My Niece, Binta, and my nephew, Cheick
My Sisters partaking in the Korita feast... mmmmmm freshly killed mutton (he was my alarm clock the day before, what a tasty shame) After a couple of weeks with no red meat it is undescribable how good it tastes.

So I found out where my permanent site is going to be today: Velingara, a city of 24,000 in the Kolda region. (In other words I'm south of the Gambia in the more rainforestesque region... Alhumdolilah!) I can't wait to check out my site, training is flying by and the time is quickly approaching. I will miss my family in Thienabe but I'm excited to get to my real site. Once again running out of time, but that's a decent post for now. I still can't believe this is my life right now, it's unbelievable and certainly a heck of a lot more exciting than some cubicle job would have been! Love and miss you all!

My room in Thieneba... more pics coming, its tough to take photos as everyone in the world wants 500 pictures taken of them as soon as they see the camera.

PS: Keep my father in your prayers as he's suffering from liver problems and malaria. He's a strong man and I'm sure he will pull through, but the good thoughts never hurt... ohhh and my brother is doing well.

PPS: Mums, if you want to neaten this up for me a bit that'd be great! Love you, talk to you soon!