My first blog in Senegal

Wow. Pretty crazy. It's very interesting trying to get used to what's going to happen over the next seven months. Frankly, a lot of things seem to be up in the air, but I'll be okay with that as long as the rest of the WV organization is okay with it.

Funny to think how much work gets put into you for an internship. I had 5 weeks in Canada just for orientation, and there's at least 1 week here where I'll do nothing but try to understand what's going on around me. At least, that's my impression.

NEwho, it's 9:30 am here in Senegal. I arrived at the office at 8 am, according to schedule. They've been pretty good about that so far. But, as for what I'm doing for the rest of the day . . . It is in these moments where Carrie's words "it'll be whatever you make it" become very real. Interestingly enough, though, my supervisor here in Senegal just moved to this office himself a few days ago. So, I think he's trying to get a sense of what to do himself.

Basically, I have the rest of the week to move into my own place (where I'll be permanently, I think), do my own research on anything related to the Sahel and natural resource management, and figure out, hopefully with the help of someone, where to buy food, how to go about eating, obtaining water! (that's a big thing - I have a litre on my desk that I know is safe to drink. After that . . . ) So, I'm thankful sincerely to the Lord that I decided to buy the Purina water droplets. Otherwise, I'm not sure what I would do beyond today. Mind you, that's only good for 120 litres. That won't take too long.

I woke up this morning to the call from the equivalent of the miniaret here in Fatick. It reminded me that, yes, I am in a very muslim country. Pretty eerie, but that's mostly because it's unknown. The sound made me reflect on the reality, though, that there are just as many Muslims in our world as there are Christians and that this is their reality. If they were to come to Canada, can you imagine the culture shock they would have? Just as strong as mine has been so far.

I slept under a mosquito net for the first time last night. The first night I was in a hotel in Dakar and decided against it. "I didn't see any mosquito's" and I sprayed shadows in the room. Not sure if that was rightful logic, though. It just seemed freer of the bugs. Last night, on the other hand, I used different judgment, and will so from here on in.

There was also a cutting out of electricity last night. I never thought I had taken electricity for granted, but arriving at that hostel, in the dark, with all of my luggage, and not having eaten yet (it was 6:30 pm), you should read my journal. There is a motif of despair almost that runs inbetween the words. There will be many more moments like that.

And yet, I lay in my bed, praying to God to help me make sense of my world and I realized the self-centred nature of my prayers and of my perspective. There I was, lying in a bed, with a fan going (electricity was on again), a mosquito net, a stomach full of food. Most of the people in the area outside this city, I assume, don't necessarily have a bed, they don't have electricity, they maybe didn't eat dinner, and if they did what was it? If I think Fatick is a shock, I have to wait until I go into the villages. Like I said, there will be many more moments like that which I've had. The path will just go further into the forest.

Anyways, it's time I try to get some work in. I should try to be proactive with my time. I just thought it would be best to set up a blog first while I had internet and could publish something.

More to come, whenever I get the chance.