I believe that July 16, 17 might have been a turning point: I'm actually more excited right now about my work than stressed by it.
It helps that I've had positive reinforcement from a number of people.
It helps that I'm being encouraged to re-evaluate how things have gone.
It helps that I've been shown that some of what I've talked about with people alludes to norms and attitudes I didn't so readily identify.
It helps that God called me to pray.
This past week in Thiouthioune was amazing. Not without its complications, setbacks, frustrations etc. Just, I spent more of my time in the village being with people. Living life with them. (I actually quite enjoy that. Except the couscous. But yes, I enjoy living life more than trying to jump into my work - it just seems like I'm using people when I'm requesting information before I've gotten to know them. Sort of like the "Bonjour, donne-moi l'argent" exchange that happens so often here in Fatick. You'd make me start to think my name was "Donnemoilargent". . .)
Monday night: hung out with people in the village. Didn't 'acccomplish' much in terms of work.
Tuesday: had two decent sessions with people. Head was full of ideas. They didn't transfer onto paper very well in the act of practicing 'facilitating', but overall, they were still very decent discussions.
Tuesday night: a short soirée dansante. Coffee touba, some gum. Some dancing. Gave some gifts. Chilled out. It was good.
Wednesday. Worked for 2 hours in the field. Picked weeds. If all else fails, and the only thing I do the entire time I'm in a few of these villages is pick weeds or work in the fields, I'll be the contentest person in the world. At least, I hope so. With the exception of having a very hungry body for lack of food and expended energy. But, how else do you relate?)
Wednesday Night: The storm.
And did it ever storm. Pathways between fields became rivers. Rivers with rapids, literally. 1 foot of water above the surface. Wind blowing, driving rain. Rivers gushing. Every depression became a lake. Every flat area was overrun by water. The sky was angry, and all that bottled up angst came out that night. It was terrific and terrible at the same time . . .
. . .
I could leave the next day; they live there.
. . .
How often does a crazy rain storm knock out the wall of your kitchen? Or perhaps collapse your entire house? Or maybe 'just' a quarter of your house. Sand melts when struck by driving water, and since that's what a lot of these homes are (homes), that's what they do.
. . .
I spent 2 or 3 hours bailing water. Behind the chief's bedroom, where I slept, the back space turned to a pond. I was merely trying to facilitate its departure.
. . .
There is red and white lighting in Senegal. That was neat to see.
. . .
So yes, part way through this storm, I stopped 'enjoying' myself with a naive attitude. I enjoyed the work because I felt like I was trying to help. But, my mind slowly turned to thinking about those living here. They live here. I don't. I leave. They don't.
. . .
You can start praying for them now. If you haven't already, start to now. I'm one small little speck in the field. They make up the majority of it, and their concerns and needs far outweigh my own at the moment. Pray for me, that my attitude might continue to let go and open up. That I might be able to focus, reflect, and facilitate well. That I might learn.
But start to pray for them not so much me.
. . .
At the entrance to the city of Diakhao, a household had lost 5 buildings. I'm sure in other areas, including the village of Thiouthioune and other villages, similar stories could be told.
. . .
Thursday morning:
An elder in a neighbouring village died. I didn't talk to too many people because combined with the weekly market in town and this death, there weren't too many people in the village . . .
Other thoughts:
1) I'm finally beginning to enjoy myself. Work is slowly starting to come around (or, probably more accurately, I'm beginning to come around and work is showing itself for simply being the process through which I've been unnecessarily been stressing.
2) It helps being connected to people in Fatick. I am only how I am now because of who I'm finally beginning to connect to in Fatick.
3) I hate village level couscous. Have I said that before? I think so! Ha ha ha. Causes the gag reflex a little more easily than most other things. Actually, it's the only thing at present I'm still having a hard time with in terms of food. (mind you, I still won't eat other seafood, but fish, well, djé bu gen is finally starting to take me. I really don't mind it . . . wow. There's a transition for you, if you know me at all!)
4) Serer exchange:
Na fyo? Ma ha men. Nambi nambi? Oh waw ma ga. Diem rek? Diem rek ki.
(How are you? I'm fine. How's the family? They're good. In peace? Yes, in peace. - essentially that's what's being said. Oh, and it's not spelt that way . . . whatever)
Ha-a : no. EeOh: yes.
5) Wolof exchange:
Nanga def? Mag ni fi. Ana wa kergi? Diem rek. A hem de li lie.
(how are you? I'm good. How's the family? They're in peace. . . uh, I don't know what the third phrase is, but I say it anyways!)
Ndedette: no / Waw (wow): yes
6) I tend to use 'waw' now instead of 'oui' when responding to people . . .
Other updates:
1) Tomorrow I leave for the Gambia. I'm really looking forward to it.
2) Tonight I'm going to watch "Heroes", a TV series I downloaded onto my computer from the Forsythes.
3) I might try to get my hair cut again too on my way home.
4) I'll be in Dakar all next week. I'll have to call home and some friends every now and again.
. . .
Well, I think that's all for now. I always have tonnes of ideas before I write and then they just seem to leave all the time . . .
Thanks to all who are praying and supporting.
Do the same thing for the people I'm working for. Just add them to the list!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
This is your life; are you who you want to be?
That’s probably the biggest question I’m debating right now. Wondering about my work, about my experience here in Senegal.
I mean, things are just dandy here in the city. I just find the villages another story, because they represent a work that while I want to be good at, I'm still learning, and so it ends up being harder than I want it to be.
I realize that my mind changes a lot when it’s under stress. There was a time when I would have completely denied that that would happen; my mind, it would seem, is beginning to change.
As you might know, I spent this week out of the village. Sort of cracked at the end of the 6 weeks that I had been running through. The problem that I’m only beginning to recognize now is that I’ve been looking at my work as more a time to try to unearth some sort of revelatory new truth than as a time to simply learn about a different way of life, a different people group.
If I went in just desiring to learn, not judging every discussion as failure v.s. success, I’m sure my experience of the past 6 weeks would be significantly more relaxed. As it has been, I’ve been too caught up in trying to learn something big instead of just trying to learn. The experience has not been very fun at all, just a block of frustration, confusion, questioning, and disappointment (at my own inability to let it all go).
I am my worst judge, and most people know it except me.
Thus I left the villages alone this week. Stopped to think, stopped to re-evaluate. Stopped to pray. And the pray some more. Because if I can’t turn it around, I’ll still be thinking ‘success v.s. failure’ thoughts as I go into the villages a second time. And it has nothing to do with that.
. . .
There is a part of me that yearns very strongly for people to be willing to act, to be willing to change. However, if this internship teaches me anything at all, I can at least understand their resistance to change. Resisting is an action I’ve been doing a lot over these past 6 weeks despite myself. Resisting to come along side of them. Resisting to spend time. Wanting to, but finding it incredibly difficult. Because it requires . . . change.
Actually, more accurately, it requires me to spend time getting to know people. But, I’ve been trying to ‘accomplish’ something, trying to ‘convince’ people almost of something that needs changing. And it’s kept me from getting to know them first. It’s an odd problem. Work before relationships “because I don’t have enough time”. Yet, sacrificing relationships inevitably leads to sacrificed work.
I have to figure out whether to try to discuss issues with them these coming weeks or merely spend time with them.
. . .
So what legitimacy do I have before them? How then do I expect them to concern themselves with ‘environment’ and its ‘maintenance’, a concept and practice so elusive than even those of us in the ‘North’ refuse to practice it as we ought. Even us, who by all means have every means available to do something about it. And we give the same excuse as they do: “We don’t have the means”. We just say it differently back home.
I just don’t think any of us care enough about it. But it’s disappointing even more to hear it from people here. Because while we can ignore it back home (unfortunately, only for so much more longer – the lie is ours to believe), here, they truly can’t. The impacts are both immediate and severe.
. . .
I think too much.
. . .
One of these days I’m gonna make myself think less and act more.
. . .
It’s been a good break out of the villages at any rate. I’m not sure where I’m taking these next 4 village visits. There are so many thoughts in my head.
I think all I’m gonna do is try to hang out with them, spend time with them. Try to learn about what they do. If I can let myself.
And encourage them, when and where I can, to consider the preservation of the environment as a concern that needs to take a higher priority in their lives.
We’ll see. After these village visits, there are workshops. And in the end, it might simply be these workshops that give the clues we’re looking for.
I mean, things are just dandy here in the city. I just find the villages another story, because they represent a work that while I want to be good at, I'm still learning, and so it ends up being harder than I want it to be.
I realize that my mind changes a lot when it’s under stress. There was a time when I would have completely denied that that would happen; my mind, it would seem, is beginning to change.
As you might know, I spent this week out of the village. Sort of cracked at the end of the 6 weeks that I had been running through. The problem that I’m only beginning to recognize now is that I’ve been looking at my work as more a time to try to unearth some sort of revelatory new truth than as a time to simply learn about a different way of life, a different people group.
If I went in just desiring to learn, not judging every discussion as failure v.s. success, I’m sure my experience of the past 6 weeks would be significantly more relaxed. As it has been, I’ve been too caught up in trying to learn something big instead of just trying to learn. The experience has not been very fun at all, just a block of frustration, confusion, questioning, and disappointment (at my own inability to let it all go).
I am my worst judge, and most people know it except me.
Thus I left the villages alone this week. Stopped to think, stopped to re-evaluate. Stopped to pray. And the pray some more. Because if I can’t turn it around, I’ll still be thinking ‘success v.s. failure’ thoughts as I go into the villages a second time. And it has nothing to do with that.
. . .
There is a part of me that yearns very strongly for people to be willing to act, to be willing to change. However, if this internship teaches me anything at all, I can at least understand their resistance to change. Resisting is an action I’ve been doing a lot over these past 6 weeks despite myself. Resisting to come along side of them. Resisting to spend time. Wanting to, but finding it incredibly difficult. Because it requires . . . change.
Actually, more accurately, it requires me to spend time getting to know people. But, I’ve been trying to ‘accomplish’ something, trying to ‘convince’ people almost of something that needs changing. And it’s kept me from getting to know them first. It’s an odd problem. Work before relationships “because I don’t have enough time”. Yet, sacrificing relationships inevitably leads to sacrificed work.
I have to figure out whether to try to discuss issues with them these coming weeks or merely spend time with them.
. . .
So what legitimacy do I have before them? How then do I expect them to concern themselves with ‘environment’ and its ‘maintenance’, a concept and practice so elusive than even those of us in the ‘North’ refuse to practice it as we ought. Even us, who by all means have every means available to do something about it. And we give the same excuse as they do: “We don’t have the means”. We just say it differently back home.
I just don’t think any of us care enough about it. But it’s disappointing even more to hear it from people here. Because while we can ignore it back home (unfortunately, only for so much more longer – the lie is ours to believe), here, they truly can’t. The impacts are both immediate and severe.
. . .
I think too much.
. . .
One of these days I’m gonna make myself think less and act more.
. . .
It’s been a good break out of the villages at any rate. I’m not sure where I’m taking these next 4 village visits. There are so many thoughts in my head.
I think all I’m gonna do is try to hang out with them, spend time with them. Try to learn about what they do. If I can let myself.
And encourage them, when and where I can, to consider the preservation of the environment as a concern that needs to take a higher priority in their lives.
We’ll see. After these village visits, there are workshops. And in the end, it might simply be these workshops that give the clues we’re looking for.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Resources, research, and realizations
Today was a bombardment of research and resources.
Finally.
I'm realizing that it's a question of lacking time. And not taking the time. I jumped into the villages without entirely knowing what I was doing. Which, really, was fine. For probably the first 2 or 3 weeks. By weeks four and 5, though, I should have stepped out a bit perhaps. Taken a bit of a break. Sought after resources from staff and direction from supervisors.
This week has (finally) been a time for that, and I feel like it's been an especially fruitful day.
I worked from about 9 till 7, mostly just reading resources that I requested and were sent to me from WV staff and a few other people back home.
I would have really have liked to have found a lot of these on my own (perhaps I should have), but frankly, the vast majority of them are science journals the University of Guelph does not allow me to access via online portals even though I'm alumni, and the rest are internal World Vision documents that I never got to asking for. Never knew what to ask for.
But, and the thought occurred to me earlier today, I realize that I only had the 1st week back to figure out the schedule of village visits, and then the past 4 weeks have basically been in the villages. So, when have I really had the time to look into a lot of this stuff? Sure, it would have been nice to have worked on a bunch of this stuff during the first 4 1/2 weeks of work here the first time round. But you know, I looked at my journal the other day that explained those first four weeks, and I was all over the place, between Dakar, Fatick, a number of the ADPs, take a look at this project here, that one there. And then weeks were broken up, a few weeks to transition, then pratically Christmas holidays. And then 1 1/2 weeks back. And then I got sick... It really seems like things were hampered down at the start.
So, while it sounds like I'm giving excuses, really, I'm just trying to come to terms with where I currently stand, and then, knowing that, where to go. Certainly, this week will be a week of reading, research, and discussion with a few helpful staff. I also have to think about the workshops I'm doing at the end of September, and also whether I can, and to what extent and how I might need to change some of my approach to my work. Juggling time in the villages and time out is proving to be a bit tricky. The research, I feel, affects my awareness of what to search for in the villages. The village visits shed light on local perceptions and behaviours. So, I'd like to do the research before the villages. Except, what village do I cut out if I need more time than the 5 days I have slotted for the start of August? How useful is research I do after the village visits?
Put it this way, you're probably not at all interested in my own thought process, so I'll stop that for the moment. But, while it's confusing and all over the place, I'm very thankful to at least have a few things to think about and work towards.
. . .
I finally decided to stop and talk with a few of the guys in the city on my way home from work today. I finally had time in the evening on a week day to do that. (it's been my first full week back in the city since I started going to the villages. I always forget that). It was interesting hearing a bit about their lives; I was glad for the discussion.
. . .
I've finally been able to hang out with my housemates. Usually, I'm gone when they're there, and they're gone when I'm there. I've only realized now how much that sucks, because I really lose out on being able to get to know them. And these people know their culture. So I also miss out on getting to know their culture (because they can speak French, unlike those in the villages who can't . . . ).
Language has proven to be a really large barrier to the free flow of my research. In Thiouthioune, I had the best experience, if only for the most pratical reason that the village chief there (El Hadj Michel Dieng) speaks French. Pure and simple. And so the evenings, and the casual talk, aren't lost. I don't have to fight to understand just the barest of information.
. . .
Anyways, as an answer to prayer, I'm still alive. And I'm starting to refocus. God knew I needed the break, and I'm glad I followed my thought to bow out of the village this week. Now I'm off to home to hang out with an American friend. I'm going to drink wine and watch a movie, and then wake up and look forward (with actually a whole lot of interest) to the work I must do and the piles of information that I now have to read through!
. . .
Thanks for your prayers.
I want July 16 and 17 to be a turning point for me in the internship. It is my prayer that this be so.
Finally.
I'm realizing that it's a question of lacking time. And not taking the time. I jumped into the villages without entirely knowing what I was doing. Which, really, was fine. For probably the first 2 or 3 weeks. By weeks four and 5, though, I should have stepped out a bit perhaps. Taken a bit of a break. Sought after resources from staff and direction from supervisors.
This week has (finally) been a time for that, and I feel like it's been an especially fruitful day.
I worked from about 9 till 7, mostly just reading resources that I requested and were sent to me from WV staff and a few other people back home.
I would have really have liked to have found a lot of these on my own (perhaps I should have), but frankly, the vast majority of them are science journals the University of Guelph does not allow me to access via online portals even though I'm alumni, and the rest are internal World Vision documents that I never got to asking for. Never knew what to ask for.
But, and the thought occurred to me earlier today, I realize that I only had the 1st week back to figure out the schedule of village visits, and then the past 4 weeks have basically been in the villages. So, when have I really had the time to look into a lot of this stuff? Sure, it would have been nice to have worked on a bunch of this stuff during the first 4 1/2 weeks of work here the first time round. But you know, I looked at my journal the other day that explained those first four weeks, and I was all over the place, between Dakar, Fatick, a number of the ADPs, take a look at this project here, that one there. And then weeks were broken up, a few weeks to transition, then pratically Christmas holidays. And then 1 1/2 weeks back. And then I got sick... It really seems like things were hampered down at the start.
So, while it sounds like I'm giving excuses, really, I'm just trying to come to terms with where I currently stand, and then, knowing that, where to go. Certainly, this week will be a week of reading, research, and discussion with a few helpful staff. I also have to think about the workshops I'm doing at the end of September, and also whether I can, and to what extent and how I might need to change some of my approach to my work. Juggling time in the villages and time out is proving to be a bit tricky. The research, I feel, affects my awareness of what to search for in the villages. The village visits shed light on local perceptions and behaviours. So, I'd like to do the research before the villages. Except, what village do I cut out if I need more time than the 5 days I have slotted for the start of August? How useful is research I do after the village visits?
Put it this way, you're probably not at all interested in my own thought process, so I'll stop that for the moment. But, while it's confusing and all over the place, I'm very thankful to at least have a few things to think about and work towards.
. . .
I finally decided to stop and talk with a few of the guys in the city on my way home from work today. I finally had time in the evening on a week day to do that. (it's been my first full week back in the city since I started going to the villages. I always forget that). It was interesting hearing a bit about their lives; I was glad for the discussion.
. . .
I've finally been able to hang out with my housemates. Usually, I'm gone when they're there, and they're gone when I'm there. I've only realized now how much that sucks, because I really lose out on being able to get to know them. And these people know their culture. So I also miss out on getting to know their culture (because they can speak French, unlike those in the villages who can't . . . ).
Language has proven to be a really large barrier to the free flow of my research. In Thiouthioune, I had the best experience, if only for the most pratical reason that the village chief there (El Hadj Michel Dieng) speaks French. Pure and simple. And so the evenings, and the casual talk, aren't lost. I don't have to fight to understand just the barest of information.
. . .
Anyways, as an answer to prayer, I'm still alive. And I'm starting to refocus. God knew I needed the break, and I'm glad I followed my thought to bow out of the village this week. Now I'm off to home to hang out with an American friend. I'm going to drink wine and watch a movie, and then wake up and look forward (with actually a whole lot of interest) to the work I must do and the piles of information that I now have to read through!
. . .
Thanks for your prayers.
I want July 16 and 17 to be a turning point for me in the internship. It is my prayer that this be so.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Fickle paintings
It seems every time I post, I paint a different picture.
I post at times when my moods are different, so you might be confused by the nature of some of my posts at times.
Currently, I'm about 70% calm and 30% nervous and stressed. Just, I'm tired of being stressed, so that's why it's dropped.
You could say I'm waiting for my mind to catch up with my expectations. Like, I probably know what I can do, but I haven't thought of it yet. I'm very much still trying to figure out what might be useful steps forward in the next round of village visits, but I finally have a few ideas, thanks to the advice of a few helpful staff and some of my own thoughts.
I'm looking forward to this weekend because I'll be able to meet up with a friend of mine in Fatick. I hope we just relax together, hang out and swap stories of how the past few weeks have gone. I'm also looking forward to the end of next week as well because it will finally mean a 1 1/2 week break out of the villages. Hopefully a time to clear my head, refocus my thoughts, and strengthen my resolve.
Basically, though, I currently feel like I'm in 'paper writing season' at university. I have the same constant stress level. Just, at some point in my university career, I mastered my mind, told my body that the stress was useless, that the only way was to pass through the mountain or over it, and to not try to skirt around it. It doesn't go away, and you will enjoy the 'paper writing process' a lot more if you just accept that it is there and focus your attention and your energy on it. I need to pursue my work here in Senegal like I pursued my university marks. All of them mattered, and so does this work.
Speaking of which, I have to start brainstorming. Pray for social rest for me this weekend. That I might be refreshed enough to focus through to the break at the end of next week. And then pray for a fire to light up in my heart . . .
Blessings to you all for your prayers and continued support.
I post at times when my moods are different, so you might be confused by the nature of some of my posts at times.
Currently, I'm about 70% calm and 30% nervous and stressed. Just, I'm tired of being stressed, so that's why it's dropped.
You could say I'm waiting for my mind to catch up with my expectations. Like, I probably know what I can do, but I haven't thought of it yet. I'm very much still trying to figure out what might be useful steps forward in the next round of village visits, but I finally have a few ideas, thanks to the advice of a few helpful staff and some of my own thoughts.
I'm looking forward to this weekend because I'll be able to meet up with a friend of mine in Fatick. I hope we just relax together, hang out and swap stories of how the past few weeks have gone. I'm also looking forward to the end of next week as well because it will finally mean a 1 1/2 week break out of the villages. Hopefully a time to clear my head, refocus my thoughts, and strengthen my resolve.
Basically, though, I currently feel like I'm in 'paper writing season' at university. I have the same constant stress level. Just, at some point in my university career, I mastered my mind, told my body that the stress was useless, that the only way was to pass through the mountain or over it, and to not try to skirt around it. It doesn't go away, and you will enjoy the 'paper writing process' a lot more if you just accept that it is there and focus your attention and your energy on it. I need to pursue my work here in Senegal like I pursued my university marks. All of them mattered, and so does this work.
Speaking of which, I have to start brainstorming. Pray for social rest for me this weekend. That I might be refreshed enough to focus through to the break at the end of next week. And then pray for a fire to light up in my heart . . .
Blessings to you all for your prayers and continued support.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Thoughts
Oh, there are so many thoughts in my head. Were I to have a computer everytime an intriguing thought came into my mind . . .
A few interesting tidbits:
I didn't go to Dakar this weekend; the men from the village never called to 're-invite' me.
I didn't go to Mbour either this weekend or last, although I did end up going to Kaolack the other day. Mbour was too far this weekend, and I really needed to make sure I pulled money from a bank, and I knew where there was one in Kaolack. At any rate, I did all of my shopping on that day, in that city. I don't think I'll be going shopping for a long, long time except for water, fruit, and vegetables for on the weekends when I get out of the villages.
I thoroughly enjoy riding on the back of the motocyclettes here in Fatick. In fact, it was also an interest of mine to drive one. So, today I swung that. Paid a guy to show me how to drive it. There's nothing to it, but I needed to know the exact method to start them up (because they're also partially finicking, being so old and questionable). I paid him 1700 CFA (about $4 CDN) for a 1 hour crash course and 1 1/2 litres worth of gas. In this time, I was also able to learn a few basics of how to take care of the things so that they don't die while you're driving them. All in all, for $4, it really wasn't bad. My parents, though, would kill me. Helmets and other safety instruments don't exist. It's the risk you take.
(and even if you're in a taxi, they're so dilapidated, if you ever were in a crash, man, the whole thing would either blow up or fall to pieces. I just trust God in all these things; there's nothing else to be said).
Actually, returning from Kaolack yesterday, pulling out of the taxi station, we almost got side-swiped. We weren't going fast, having just started to pull out, but it was a close call. Would have been interesting to see what would have happened . . . (sort of).
I'm pretty tired of the villages. I'm hardly in them, but my tiredness stems from two main things: I'm getting sick of couscous (I think I wrote that and this sentiment in the previous post). But, I'm also somewhat frustrated by my lack of movement in my work. Again, I think I'm being too hard on myself. Talk to me at the end of August, after I've revisited all the villages again and have worked to learn how to do specific activities. Perhaps the results will be fruitful; perhaps my frustration will subside.
Still, I'm just rather disinterested in the culture. That comes as a shock even to me, and I'm hoping that on some level that is merely a part of the extended culture shock/stress cycle (a revisited 'shock' loop or something).
Just, I'm usually so tired (or maybe more frustrated/disappointed) at the end of a week in the village that I have so little interest in eating Senegalese food or interacting with Senegalese people. I'm frustrated by their interest in me merely for the things they might get (even while I am beginning to want to give things away - I just want it to be received by grateful people, not just half-expecting/half-hoping recipients). I'm hoping that these issues will eventually just burn away.
I get the same request for 'things' from people in the villages, the very people I've come to work with. But, I'm new, they don't know me, and I don't deserve their respect. What, I spend 4 days among them, and then return to my comfortable life in the city. I can't really blame them, even while I do. Just, I'm having a hard time getting past it.
There's also somewhat of a spiritual void. I'm doing well in terms of reading Scripture. Prayer has been a hard practice (and I think that should say something to me), but there's also not much in the way of refreshment through a church service because so much of it is in a form (Roman Catholic - I switched churches these past two weeks. It's a far larger church, WV staff attend it, and the music is better . . .) that I don't follow or a language I don't understand at all (services are mixed between Serere and French). If it weren't for a number of very good resources I brought from home . . .
So, this post has a pretty negative feel to it, unlike the one two posts ago. Life goes on, however, and I'm very much looking forward to the WV retreat in the Gambie at the end of July, only 1 1/2 village visits away. And the village I'm visiting this week is also my favourite, so I am hoping that that helps.
And then after that, it's August, and both Betty and a number of other friends from the West will be back in Fatick already. On some level, the time has gone by fast; on another, it certainly has not.
I appreciate and am always grateful for responses to the post. I hope you are all well back home. I'm off to eat dinner and hang out with the American family for awhile (a social breather before the village).
Pray that I might find tools or angles in my research that refresh its perspective.
Pray then, that my research would be useful for the sake of the gracious organization that sent me here. I want to do good work for them.
Pray that I might begin, during devotions, to pursue knowing whether this is my life's work or whether God has called me to a more spiritual focus. It's been the item of a lot of thought today. Spirituality as what my work will be or what it will include is a big difference I have to decipher (it's also one of the reasons I came here in the first place . . .)
Bless you all and thanks very much for your support.
A few interesting tidbits:
I didn't go to Dakar this weekend; the men from the village never called to 're-invite' me.
I didn't go to Mbour either this weekend or last, although I did end up going to Kaolack the other day. Mbour was too far this weekend, and I really needed to make sure I pulled money from a bank, and I knew where there was one in Kaolack. At any rate, I did all of my shopping on that day, in that city. I don't think I'll be going shopping for a long, long time except for water, fruit, and vegetables for on the weekends when I get out of the villages.
I thoroughly enjoy riding on the back of the motocyclettes here in Fatick. In fact, it was also an interest of mine to drive one. So, today I swung that. Paid a guy to show me how to drive it. There's nothing to it, but I needed to know the exact method to start them up (because they're also partially finicking, being so old and questionable). I paid him 1700 CFA (about $4 CDN) for a 1 hour crash course and 1 1/2 litres worth of gas. In this time, I was also able to learn a few basics of how to take care of the things so that they don't die while you're driving them. All in all, for $4, it really wasn't bad. My parents, though, would kill me. Helmets and other safety instruments don't exist. It's the risk you take.
(and even if you're in a taxi, they're so dilapidated, if you ever were in a crash, man, the whole thing would either blow up or fall to pieces. I just trust God in all these things; there's nothing else to be said).
Actually, returning from Kaolack yesterday, pulling out of the taxi station, we almost got side-swiped. We weren't going fast, having just started to pull out, but it was a close call. Would have been interesting to see what would have happened . . . (sort of).
I'm pretty tired of the villages. I'm hardly in them, but my tiredness stems from two main things: I'm getting sick of couscous (I think I wrote that and this sentiment in the previous post). But, I'm also somewhat frustrated by my lack of movement in my work. Again, I think I'm being too hard on myself. Talk to me at the end of August, after I've revisited all the villages again and have worked to learn how to do specific activities. Perhaps the results will be fruitful; perhaps my frustration will subside.
Still, I'm just rather disinterested in the culture. That comes as a shock even to me, and I'm hoping that on some level that is merely a part of the extended culture shock/stress cycle (a revisited 'shock' loop or something).
Just, I'm usually so tired (or maybe more frustrated/disappointed) at the end of a week in the village that I have so little interest in eating Senegalese food or interacting with Senegalese people. I'm frustrated by their interest in me merely for the things they might get (even while I am beginning to want to give things away - I just want it to be received by grateful people, not just half-expecting/half-hoping recipients). I'm hoping that these issues will eventually just burn away.
I get the same request for 'things' from people in the villages, the very people I've come to work with. But, I'm new, they don't know me, and I don't deserve their respect. What, I spend 4 days among them, and then return to my comfortable life in the city. I can't really blame them, even while I do. Just, I'm having a hard time getting past it.
There's also somewhat of a spiritual void. I'm doing well in terms of reading Scripture. Prayer has been a hard practice (and I think that should say something to me), but there's also not much in the way of refreshment through a church service because so much of it is in a form (Roman Catholic - I switched churches these past two weeks. It's a far larger church, WV staff attend it, and the music is better . . .) that I don't follow or a language I don't understand at all (services are mixed between Serere and French). If it weren't for a number of very good resources I brought from home . . .
So, this post has a pretty negative feel to it, unlike the one two posts ago. Life goes on, however, and I'm very much looking forward to the WV retreat in the Gambie at the end of July, only 1 1/2 village visits away. And the village I'm visiting this week is also my favourite, so I am hoping that that helps.
And then after that, it's August, and both Betty and a number of other friends from the West will be back in Fatick already. On some level, the time has gone by fast; on another, it certainly has not.
I appreciate and am always grateful for responses to the post. I hope you are all well back home. I'm off to eat dinner and hang out with the American family for awhile (a social breather before the village).
Pray that I might find tools or angles in my research that refresh its perspective.
Pray then, that my research would be useful for the sake of the gracious organization that sent me here. I want to do good work for them.
Pray that I might begin, during devotions, to pursue knowing whether this is my life's work or whether God has called me to a more spiritual focus. It's been the item of a lot of thought today. Spirituality as what my work will be or what it will include is a big difference I have to decipher (it's also one of the reasons I came here in the first place . . .)
Bless you all and thanks very much for your support.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Thoughts on Nguithe revisited
Well, to be honest with you all, I really wasn't planning on posting tonight. I was intending on leaving the office by 6 pm today and now it's 8 pm, I'm on Gmail chat with Micah, waiting for him to get off the phone at his house in Hamilton, and I'm waiting for 6 photo attachments to load on an email I'm hoping to send to my sister (provided it works - otherwise, sorry, no photos)
So, an update on me before I go home, take a long, cold shower, buy some bread, eat it with chocolate spread, drink wine, and watch a movie. Probably James Bond, Casino Royale.
I was supposed to be going to Dakar this weekend. But the guys from the other village didn't call me back this week, and I wasn't going to call them and invite myself. And plus, I want a break, a time to be by myself.
Certainly, though, I will either go to Mbour or Kaolack tomorrow, because I can, because I want to, and because I really need some more money, and there is no bank here in Fatick . . .
The week in a wrap:
Was a mix. I went back to a village I had been to before. Thus starts the re-visits.
You could say I'm getting a bit tired. Odd, perhaps, because I only spend about 4 days total time per week in a village. You could say I'm comfortable in my 'developed' life, that for those who have, it's hard to let go. And for those who have, it's hard not to look non-judgmentally at those that do not. Honestly, I can't even begin to imagine really. If I'm tired, on whatever level, of villages after only 4 days in, 3 days out for the past 5 weeks, what is life like inside the village for all of one's life? Am I really one to stand and make judgments?
People ask me for a lot of things. When I get all serious about it, they say they're joking. I'm not really apt to believe them, that they are genuinely only joking. More, they're 'jokingly hopeful' that I might actually do what they ask.
But, what frustrates me is that I'd actually like to give them things but when they ask me for them all the time, then I no longer want to . . . It's an odd equation.
Besides some of these frustrations, I'm learning that my work will always be about learning. It will be about learning about how to do my work. It will be about how to learn about people. So, the learning won't ever stop, and what I learn has a lot to do with the effort that I put into figuring it out.
What went on in the villages:
Well, lots of personal observation and discovery. Personal evaluation of resources that are at people's disposal. There wasn't, however, too, too much in the way of discussion on the environment, and perhaps I'm slowly learning that there are a lot of other subjects I should be thinking about looking at because they'll shed light on the environment from an indirect viewpoint. Talking with WV Canada staff has been pretty helpful for this, and really, at the end of the day, I'm looking for simple, tangible exercises to do with people that will help them learn, help them evaluate what they do have instead of what they don't.
I'm trying to learn to wait before judging whether my work is going well or not. I need to see it as a learning process, but that, in that, I need to be continually looking for ways to learn and grow, and working to make that happen.
Not a lot of new stuff was discussed in the village. We spent time together, I almost fell ill, I started getting sick of couscous.
But, mostly, I'm just trying to focus on where to go next, how to engage people in interesting discussions on what resources they have at their disposal that will empower them.
Don't be bothered by this post. I'm not dying of frustration. . . yet. Rather, I'm trying to see through it and figure out where to go next.
I already have a few ideas.
But, I'm tired, it's 8:30 pm, I've been here in the office since 12, and it's Friday, and man, I need to go home and chill out!
So, an update on me before I go home, take a long, cold shower, buy some bread, eat it with chocolate spread, drink wine, and watch a movie. Probably James Bond, Casino Royale.
I was supposed to be going to Dakar this weekend. But the guys from the other village didn't call me back this week, and I wasn't going to call them and invite myself. And plus, I want a break, a time to be by myself.
Certainly, though, I will either go to Mbour or Kaolack tomorrow, because I can, because I want to, and because I really need some more money, and there is no bank here in Fatick . . .
The week in a wrap:
Was a mix. I went back to a village I had been to before. Thus starts the re-visits.
You could say I'm getting a bit tired. Odd, perhaps, because I only spend about 4 days total time per week in a village. You could say I'm comfortable in my 'developed' life, that for those who have, it's hard to let go. And for those who have, it's hard not to look non-judgmentally at those that do not. Honestly, I can't even begin to imagine really. If I'm tired, on whatever level, of villages after only 4 days in, 3 days out for the past 5 weeks, what is life like inside the village for all of one's life? Am I really one to stand and make judgments?
People ask me for a lot of things. When I get all serious about it, they say they're joking. I'm not really apt to believe them, that they are genuinely only joking. More, they're 'jokingly hopeful' that I might actually do what they ask.
But, what frustrates me is that I'd actually like to give them things but when they ask me for them all the time, then I no longer want to . . . It's an odd equation.
Besides some of these frustrations, I'm learning that my work will always be about learning. It will be about learning about how to do my work. It will be about how to learn about people. So, the learning won't ever stop, and what I learn has a lot to do with the effort that I put into figuring it out.
What went on in the villages:
Well, lots of personal observation and discovery. Personal evaluation of resources that are at people's disposal. There wasn't, however, too, too much in the way of discussion on the environment, and perhaps I'm slowly learning that there are a lot of other subjects I should be thinking about looking at because they'll shed light on the environment from an indirect viewpoint. Talking with WV Canada staff has been pretty helpful for this, and really, at the end of the day, I'm looking for simple, tangible exercises to do with people that will help them learn, help them evaluate what they do have instead of what they don't.
I'm trying to learn to wait before judging whether my work is going well or not. I need to see it as a learning process, but that, in that, I need to be continually looking for ways to learn and grow, and working to make that happen.
Not a lot of new stuff was discussed in the village. We spent time together, I almost fell ill, I started getting sick of couscous.
But, mostly, I'm just trying to focus on where to go next, how to engage people in interesting discussions on what resources they have at their disposal that will empower them.
Don't be bothered by this post. I'm not dying of frustration. . . yet. Rather, I'm trying to see through it and figure out where to go next.
I already have a few ideas.
But, I'm tired, it's 8:30 pm, I've been here in the office since 12, and it's Friday, and man, I need to go home and chill out!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Social explosion
Well, that might sound too hopeful. And perhaps that also lies about their availability, but at any rate, one of the things I want to remark in this post is that things are really coming along socially . . . finally . . . it's about time I lent myself to it. And that's the reality, I just wasn't closed for quite some time (3 - 4 weeks) until I felt I could trust the intentions of people I was meeting.
But, now that that has happened, things are moving along just fine. I went to the Catholic church this morning too, and that was useful. One of the guys there, a few years younger than me, invited me to hang out with them today. I had met him before, and it felt okay to pursue it (because he called me again on my cell and because I felt better about it for whatever reason).
Regardless, we went to the beach today, I hung out with them, showed them pics of home, Canada, and some of my travels.
Saturday night, I hung out with one of my co-workers. He's a Christian, and it was really neat to hear part of his story about his life. Really, though, it was exciting because we were talking about things that had a bit of depth, and that's something that's been really lacking here up until recently . . .
Friday night, I just hung out on my own, watching a few movies on my computer.
My time was well spent this past weekend, just connecting with people, doing my own thing, taking the time to relax, taking the time to get some other work done.
Today, though, has also been a day of some really great conversations home, to some really key friends and family. Thanks for taking the time (3 hours total duration between 3 phone calls basically). I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Time in the village:
A few highlights:
I changed my format, my style. Tried to simply learn what they do, how they do it, and why. The coming weeks will be more of the same, but with an ear out to hopefully catch newer points, and with a mind working to try to probe deeper. It's really always a battle between figuring out whether what I'm learning is useful enough for WV Canada and WV Senegal. Because, I'm learning lots, trying to do lots, and trying to figure out lots. So, I just hope that my trying continues at a strong rate and that it is sufficient. I'm always appealing to my utility, it would seem . . .
Still, I took the time to try to simply talk with people this week. I didn't write while I was talking. Just tried to talk, listen, ask questions, and then later in the day, sit down and write out what had been talked, what stuck out. This 'format' enables me to simply focus on the conversation. All I have to do is trust I'll remember, take the time to write thorougly, and figure out how to probe deeper - essentially, figure out how to apply what I feel I've learned in school, and what I know about the environment, to the conversations I'm having.
. . .
I had some really cool conversations with a few different groups of people. Felt I was able to move about the village a little more freely, although that still tends to be a bit of challenge. I have to try to get away from the village chief and his family (and the very extended family - everyone seems to be related to everyone else!). I also met up with a few people from Dakar who came to visit the village (had family there), but we had an animated discussion on corrupt government, the struggles of large NGO's to be efficient in their work, the reality that the development system is the way it is, the fact that people in the villages just want people to come and teach them (and, I think, to just give them something that they can administer themselves - there's an element of goodness to that, but it's such a tricky result to get to). We also talked about my role, my reason, and how I was learning something, but what would I be giving to them? That I would be learning and taking, but since my coming into the village is something that happens frequently (many before, many will follow), how are we helping the village? Still, my role is to learn perceptions, so hopefully that provides insights. It's also about this because that acknowledges even my limited training. A BA does things for you, but it is still very, very limited in its real, pratical application. And, furthermore, everyone starts somewhere. Including me. I can only grow from the further point that I've currently reached!
. . .
I tried to do what the people do this past week. Well, actually, not really. That sounds too good. But, I did go to the Tannes (the salt flats) this past week. It's where the women go to harvest salt (which they then try to sell - difficulty of a total fall in prices because of an oversupply and far too many sellers that don't function together in a cooperative). Still, it was interesting to note how they try their best to react to that (protect harvested salts from the rains during the rainy season so they can sell it later when the price is high, past and ongoing attempts to come together in a cooperative or to funnel selling through a single 'voice', a single individual declaring price. But, that's extremely hard to ensure because women are everywhere, there's tonnes of salt, everyone makes their own decisions, and many women struggle from day to day to provide the necessities.
Still, it was interesting learning how they mark out their space, how they do the actual work, how much they can get done in a day, and how much, if prices were really good and really stable, they could sell it for (a day's work could go for 15,000 - 20,000 CFA (40 USD) at the most possible peak reality) Unfortunately, prices can drop to as low as about 1000 CFA (2 USD) for an entire day's labour of salt harvesting and only, truly, if you successfully sold it all (unlikely - what's probable is selling about 1/4 or 1/5 of it during the day, so making about 50 cents). The work might not be hard, but it's bent-over-double-all-day-under-the-hot-sun kind of work, and you walk about 5 km round trip (from the closer of the villages, mind you)
. . .
I experienced my first African sandstorm. Pretty awesome, let me tell you, and it wasn't really anything severe. Just, if you're me, seeing a giant wall of orange coming towards you, with gusting winds, it was pretty cool. And then followed by a short downpour. It was really cool. Took a couple of shots, videos. I hope they turn out; I'd love to show them to you guys some day.
. . .
The village was very welcoming. It was also the wealthiest one I was in. They have benefited from a Classified forest project of the State (planting of about 100/ha of eucalyptus trees/year in an effort to try to stop the advancement of salinization). So, they are able to harvest a lot of deadwood from the forest floor (although they do cut live ones illegally often enough), and they can use the forest for a number of other products. The pépinière (tree nursury) is where most of the plants come from, and as far as I can tell, that at least hires a few people directly and a few others indirectly (receive food for work instead of a salary). But, the actual work of planting the trees, people are mostly paid by the World Food Program through food-for-work. Still, while it's helpful, it's hard to say whether they're really being paid enough.
Still, they are also able to harvest live trees from the forest, in a legal manner, provided they've approached the State service (les Eaux et Forêts) about it first. And somewhere along the way, they've found enough resources to build many granaries to store their harvest millet and have mentioned they don't have much of a lack of land for work purposes. They've also developed a system (mostly in response to declining numbers) of time-sharing the cattle to try to use them across multiple household fields to manure them. So, that was cool to learn to.
The village also has a telecentre and a boutique, so I was even able to buy a few things from them. Including, I might add (and which I failed to mention tonight) a few Senegalese pipes and some tobacco that I plan on bringing home to my friends (for those that are of the inclination).
. . .
I am increasingly enjoying scooting around Fatick on the back of the little motocyclettes that numerous people drive here. One of these days, I might try to rent one, figure out whether it might be sturdy enough to drive to a village? I don't think so! But, I'd love to dream. But ya, for btn 100 - 200 CFA (20 - 40 cents) you can move anywhere you want in the city. It's pretty cool. Although, if my parents saw me, they'd probably kill me . . . (helmets anyone? And I love how when you go over a speed bump, so many of them bottom out . . . shocks anyone?)
. . .
My sister will be coming to visit me in October, about 1 week before I leave the country. It promises to be a really neat time with her, and I hope to show her more 'what I've done' versus 'what didn't happen'. Ha ha ha!
. . .
Lots of social events on the calendar: next weekend, hitting up Dakar with friends from the village who invited me to see their restaurant and crash at their place for the weekend. July 26-30 - a retreat with practically all of the WV staff in the Fatick office at Cap Skiring, a place in the Casamance region of the country. Directly south. Will be passing through Gambia in the process. REALLY looking forward to this time with the office. First week of August: chilling out in Dakar, although, yes, I will certainly be working. Hoping to meet up with a number of the international development organizations in Senegal (I hope they're not all closed . . .) Also hoping to make some serious headway in my country context research and initial report writing during this time. But, it will be a nice break from the villages. August 18-19: I might go to the weekend retreat that the friends I hung out with today are organizing. Costs 3000 CFA and should work out well. Would be a wise way to really connect with people, so I hope it turns out. And the last week of August, I have my own personal vacation. Don't know where I'm going, but since I'll already be going south at the end of July, I might try to go midway, near Mbour, or north, towards St. Louis . . . we shall see. Endless possibilities though.
NEwho, I have now been sitting in this office for 4 1/2 hours. I, unfortunately, did not post as a result of all the phone call time I had (unfortunately, mind you, for you, not for me!)
I hope this keeps you informed enough for the time being. Hopefully I'll post again on Friday or something short tomorrow.
Blessings to you all.
If you pray for two things, one that things keep on rolling socially. I don't want to get unplugged any time soon! and two, that my work finds depth. That I decide where to take my research and push and learn how to push to get to deeper, ever-insightful discoveries of how and why people do what they do, and don't do what they don't do. And what they're afraid of or what concerns them about change.
But, now that that has happened, things are moving along just fine. I went to the Catholic church this morning too, and that was useful. One of the guys there, a few years younger than me, invited me to hang out with them today. I had met him before, and it felt okay to pursue it (because he called me again on my cell and because I felt better about it for whatever reason).
Regardless, we went to the beach today, I hung out with them, showed them pics of home, Canada, and some of my travels.
Saturday night, I hung out with one of my co-workers. He's a Christian, and it was really neat to hear part of his story about his life. Really, though, it was exciting because we were talking about things that had a bit of depth, and that's something that's been really lacking here up until recently . . .
Friday night, I just hung out on my own, watching a few movies on my computer.
My time was well spent this past weekend, just connecting with people, doing my own thing, taking the time to relax, taking the time to get some other work done.
Today, though, has also been a day of some really great conversations home, to some really key friends and family. Thanks for taking the time (3 hours total duration between 3 phone calls basically). I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Time in the village:
A few highlights:
I changed my format, my style. Tried to simply learn what they do, how they do it, and why. The coming weeks will be more of the same, but with an ear out to hopefully catch newer points, and with a mind working to try to probe deeper. It's really always a battle between figuring out whether what I'm learning is useful enough for WV Canada and WV Senegal. Because, I'm learning lots, trying to do lots, and trying to figure out lots. So, I just hope that my trying continues at a strong rate and that it is sufficient. I'm always appealing to my utility, it would seem . . .
Still, I took the time to try to simply talk with people this week. I didn't write while I was talking. Just tried to talk, listen, ask questions, and then later in the day, sit down and write out what had been talked, what stuck out. This 'format' enables me to simply focus on the conversation. All I have to do is trust I'll remember, take the time to write thorougly, and figure out how to probe deeper - essentially, figure out how to apply what I feel I've learned in school, and what I know about the environment, to the conversations I'm having.
. . .
I had some really cool conversations with a few different groups of people. Felt I was able to move about the village a little more freely, although that still tends to be a bit of challenge. I have to try to get away from the village chief and his family (and the very extended family - everyone seems to be related to everyone else!). I also met up with a few people from Dakar who came to visit the village (had family there), but we had an animated discussion on corrupt government, the struggles of large NGO's to be efficient in their work, the reality that the development system is the way it is, the fact that people in the villages just want people to come and teach them (and, I think, to just give them something that they can administer themselves - there's an element of goodness to that, but it's such a tricky result to get to). We also talked about my role, my reason, and how I was learning something, but what would I be giving to them? That I would be learning and taking, but since my coming into the village is something that happens frequently (many before, many will follow), how are we helping the village? Still, my role is to learn perceptions, so hopefully that provides insights. It's also about this because that acknowledges even my limited training. A BA does things for you, but it is still very, very limited in its real, pratical application. And, furthermore, everyone starts somewhere. Including me. I can only grow from the further point that I've currently reached!
. . .
I tried to do what the people do this past week. Well, actually, not really. That sounds too good. But, I did go to the Tannes (the salt flats) this past week. It's where the women go to harvest salt (which they then try to sell - difficulty of a total fall in prices because of an oversupply and far too many sellers that don't function together in a cooperative). Still, it was interesting to note how they try their best to react to that (protect harvested salts from the rains during the rainy season so they can sell it later when the price is high, past and ongoing attempts to come together in a cooperative or to funnel selling through a single 'voice', a single individual declaring price. But, that's extremely hard to ensure because women are everywhere, there's tonnes of salt, everyone makes their own decisions, and many women struggle from day to day to provide the necessities.
Still, it was interesting learning how they mark out their space, how they do the actual work, how much they can get done in a day, and how much, if prices were really good and really stable, they could sell it for (a day's work could go for 15,000 - 20,000 CFA (40 USD) at the most possible peak reality) Unfortunately, prices can drop to as low as about 1000 CFA (2 USD) for an entire day's labour of salt harvesting and only, truly, if you successfully sold it all (unlikely - what's probable is selling about 1/4 or 1/5 of it during the day, so making about 50 cents). The work might not be hard, but it's bent-over-double-all-day-under-the-hot-sun kind of work, and you walk about 5 km round trip (from the closer of the villages, mind you)
. . .
I experienced my first African sandstorm. Pretty awesome, let me tell you, and it wasn't really anything severe. Just, if you're me, seeing a giant wall of orange coming towards you, with gusting winds, it was pretty cool. And then followed by a short downpour. It was really cool. Took a couple of shots, videos. I hope they turn out; I'd love to show them to you guys some day.
. . .
The village was very welcoming. It was also the wealthiest one I was in. They have benefited from a Classified forest project of the State (planting of about 100/ha of eucalyptus trees/year in an effort to try to stop the advancement of salinization). So, they are able to harvest a lot of deadwood from the forest floor (although they do cut live ones illegally often enough), and they can use the forest for a number of other products. The pépinière (tree nursury) is where most of the plants come from, and as far as I can tell, that at least hires a few people directly and a few others indirectly (receive food for work instead of a salary). But, the actual work of planting the trees, people are mostly paid by the World Food Program through food-for-work. Still, while it's helpful, it's hard to say whether they're really being paid enough.
Still, they are also able to harvest live trees from the forest, in a legal manner, provided they've approached the State service (les Eaux et Forêts) about it first. And somewhere along the way, they've found enough resources to build many granaries to store their harvest millet and have mentioned they don't have much of a lack of land for work purposes. They've also developed a system (mostly in response to declining numbers) of time-sharing the cattle to try to use them across multiple household fields to manure them. So, that was cool to learn to.
The village also has a telecentre and a boutique, so I was even able to buy a few things from them. Including, I might add (and which I failed to mention tonight) a few Senegalese pipes and some tobacco that I plan on bringing home to my friends (for those that are of the inclination).
. . .
I am increasingly enjoying scooting around Fatick on the back of the little motocyclettes that numerous people drive here. One of these days, I might try to rent one, figure out whether it might be sturdy enough to drive to a village? I don't think so! But, I'd love to dream. But ya, for btn 100 - 200 CFA (20 - 40 cents) you can move anywhere you want in the city. It's pretty cool. Although, if my parents saw me, they'd probably kill me . . . (helmets anyone? And I love how when you go over a speed bump, so many of them bottom out . . . shocks anyone?)
. . .
My sister will be coming to visit me in October, about 1 week before I leave the country. It promises to be a really neat time with her, and I hope to show her more 'what I've done' versus 'what didn't happen'. Ha ha ha!
. . .
Lots of social events on the calendar: next weekend, hitting up Dakar with friends from the village who invited me to see their restaurant and crash at their place for the weekend. July 26-30 - a retreat with practically all of the WV staff in the Fatick office at Cap Skiring, a place in the Casamance region of the country. Directly south. Will be passing through Gambia in the process. REALLY looking forward to this time with the office. First week of August: chilling out in Dakar, although, yes, I will certainly be working. Hoping to meet up with a number of the international development organizations in Senegal (I hope they're not all closed . . .) Also hoping to make some serious headway in my country context research and initial report writing during this time. But, it will be a nice break from the villages. August 18-19: I might go to the weekend retreat that the friends I hung out with today are organizing. Costs 3000 CFA and should work out well. Would be a wise way to really connect with people, so I hope it turns out. And the last week of August, I have my own personal vacation. Don't know where I'm going, but since I'll already be going south at the end of July, I might try to go midway, near Mbour, or north, towards St. Louis . . . we shall see. Endless possibilities though.
NEwho, I have now been sitting in this office for 4 1/2 hours. I, unfortunately, did not post as a result of all the phone call time I had (unfortunately, mind you, for you, not for me!)
I hope this keeps you informed enough for the time being. Hopefully I'll post again on Friday or something short tomorrow.
Blessings to you all.
If you pray for two things, one that things keep on rolling socially. I don't want to get unplugged any time soon! and two, that my work finds depth. That I decide where to take my research and push and learn how to push to get to deeper, ever-insightful discoveries of how and why people do what they do, and don't do what they don't do. And what they're afraid of or what concerns them about change.
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