Edible cow parts and other interesting things

Hey everyone,

I'm finally just taking the time to write up another blog. I've realized that the reason why my postings have been limited (as well as the transfering of photos onto a web site) is because I work during the day . . . meaning I don't have nearly as much free time as I did when I was in Paris. So, bear with me because it'll take some time before I can finally start snapping some decent photos and then posting them online.

I have a few, and a free evening, so I might be able to try to post some. But, I'd also like to try to get to know the 'city' of Fatick a bit this evening. Even now, I know very little about where to find things, and I'd like to become more aware of my surroundings in general.

So, a lot has gone on over the past while since my last blog. And it's about time I give you something that makes reference to a more upbeat attitude and perspective towards my time here.

Probably the most beneficial time was the weekend spent in Dakar. Although at the time of last writing, it had the potential to flop one way or the next, it actually turned out quite all right.

Friday I went out with a few of the guys. We grabbed a few beers, and then went out and 'danced' / listened to a band. This band, however, didn't start until midnight, and we didn't leave until 2:30. Now, I love to hang out and do things during the evening, but it has been quite some time since I've stayed out until 2:30 am. So, I was rather tired (and after waiting until midnight to get started, I wasn't entirely in the mood even). Still, I was content to be there, in the presence of others, experiencing Senegalese nightlife.

On Saturday (finally) I went shopping. I ended up buying a small bar fridge (a wonderful piece of technology), a little desk/armoire, a fan, and a bunch of small supplies (pots, pans, scrubbies, toilet bowl brush etc. Ended up spending about 400 USD, but it was well worth it.

Now, I can actually have cold water, juice, milk, and I can store things I cook. The fridge opened up so many possibilities. Now all I have to do is figure out where to buy a wide range of foods in Fatick.

Saturday night, after a day of shopping with Espèrance (one of the guys that I also went out with the night previous) and a bit of being shown around the city (where the main markets are, what prices to expect to get there by taxi, how to get to the port where the boat leaves to go to the Ile de Gorée etc), we had a small break. He then he picked me up to go to a gathering of Beninois people who meet once a month.

Edible cow parts. There are many I'm sure, and I've only tasted a few of them. But, I'm sure if I wanted to, I will be able to find dishes here in Senegal that explore every part of the animal being consumed. I had cow foot, tongue, and skin. And meat. The meat and tongue were good. The skin I could deal with. The foot, ah, not too good. Still, I'll eat edible cow parts before I eat fish.

Unfortunately, there will be a lot of fish . . . you can be starving to death if you're me, but at the taste of fishy fish, all of a sudden you can wait. It's a hurdle I'll have to overcome in order to survive in the villages . . .

So, I'm now well moved into my room. I actually re-arranged it last night. I only have two outlets in my room, and I've dedicated one entirely to my fridge. It's that special. The other one needs to accommodate my computer whenever I bring it home with me, my fan, and my MP3 player. Provided I can find an outlet extension block that is open faced instead of with little impressions and grounds. Those type prevent me from being able to plug in most of the outlet adapters I have.

I also finally ran across the American woman who lives on the rez de chaussée (spg? - I just can't be bothered to check). She's a 71 yr old woman from the southern States, Betty Reno, and she has been a wonderful resource person (she has a washing machine I discovered just the other day - all of a sudden I'm thinking Yaaa, clean clothes finally!)

Plus, I've spent a few nights at her house just spending time, eating dinner together, talking in English etc. It's been a nice break.

There's also an American family just across the street. Betty teaches their kids. I'll have to make sure to use their home as a resource at times, but I've already told myself to be careful not to run away from the culture I'm in. There is a lot I want to learn from my housemates. So, I hope to work on developing relationships with them more so than the Americans.

So, along with getting settled in on my side of things, I've also made easy contacts with people who come from a culture I'm mostly familiar with.

What else, what else? Work has been going fairly well. I don't feel entirely productive yet. Things take a long time to happen here, and I'll have already spent a month and a bit here by the new year, but at least a 3rd of that will have been spent on vacation. And all the the non-vac time will have been spent on understanding my environment. There's very little yet in the way of very concrete interaction at the village level.

I don't necessarily mind this; it's just taking some getting used it. And I think it's for the better because going into this context without an awareness of the big picture wouldn't be helpful.

Perhaps tonight I will be able to spend some time with my housemates. We'll see when or if they come home tonight. They're in Dakar fairly often.

Oh, and plans are to go to Mali over the Christmas break. The other intern with World Vision is based in Bamako, and so I'm hoping to be able to figure out how to take a bus from here to there. It should be a wonderful change as well as provide me with a comfortable context to spend the holiday season while I'm away from home.

Lastly, to everyone who has written to me, thank you. For all who are praying, thank you as well. I apologize for not being able to reply to your emails, but again, I'm rather constrained for time since there is limited to no internet hook up at my house away from the office. I should check out the internet café that isn't supposed to be too far from where I live.

Again, half my problem is that I don't know where things are in Fatick. No one ever bothered to show me around when I first arrived. Now that I finally feel mostly settled, I can start to tackle that part of my being here.

I hope this blog finds everyone well. I'm finally (I think) coming over the effects of a small cold or adjustment phase to the new environment. The constant flux of hot to cold during the night is probably part of the problem.

Take care everyone. Till next time.