Assala Malekum!
So two days ago i spent about 45 minutes writing a really long blog entry, and right as i was about to click to submit the new entry the stupid electricity went out! So I was originally planning on this first entry in Africa to be long and detailed....but i don't know that it will be. Anyway, where to start....
Thank you to everyone who has emailed/commented on my blog/written on my facebook wall/sent me letters....it makes me so happy and i really appreciate it! Keep it coming!
The group of people i'm training with (my "stage") is the biggest senegal has had to date...there's 50 of us! It's been really fun getting to know people, and it's a great group....everyone is really interesting and very talented. About half the group is Small Enterprise Development, (SED), and the rest are either Sustainable Agriculture or Agro Forestry. We have technical training with our specific sectors, but our language classes are mixed up among the sectors. For example, I'm the only SED person in my 6 person language class, there's 4 sustainable ag people, and one agfo person. We're learning a local language called "pulaar du nord," and we're the only 6 people learning pulaar du nord. You'd think that would mean that after training i'll be going to the northern part of the country, but that's not necessarily the case. Apparently there's a region in the middle of senegal where the people mostly speak pulaar du nord, so i could be going there. We won't find out where our sites are for another couple of weeks. And it doesn't really matter anyway b/c we have about 8 more weeks of training.
My host family is pretty cool....they speak pulaar and wolof (another local language), and they gave me a new pulaar name. I am now Rougie. "mbiyete mi ko Rougie." Ha, that's about all the pulaar i know right now! I guess i should go study some. I also need to go break the fast with my family. It's Ramadan right now, which means they don't eat or drink during the day. As soon as the sun sets though they "break the fast" with dates, coffee, baguettes wtih meat surprise on it, and then dinner around 10 pm. Ok i'll write more later. Peace out!
So two days ago i spent about 45 minutes writing a really long blog entry, and right as i was about to click to submit the new entry the stupid electricity went out! So I was originally planning on this first entry in Africa to be long and detailed....but i don't know that it will be. Anyway, where to start....
Thank you to everyone who has emailed/commented on my blog/written on my facebook wall/sent me letters....it makes me so happy and i really appreciate it! Keep it coming!
The group of people i'm training with (my "stage") is the biggest senegal has had to date...there's 50 of us! It's been really fun getting to know people, and it's a great group....everyone is really interesting and very talented. About half the group is Small Enterprise Development, (SED), and the rest are either Sustainable Agriculture or Agro Forestry. We have technical training with our specific sectors, but our language classes are mixed up among the sectors. For example, I'm the only SED person in my 6 person language class, there's 4 sustainable ag people, and one agfo person. We're learning a local language called "pulaar du nord," and we're the only 6 people learning pulaar du nord. You'd think that would mean that after training i'll be going to the northern part of the country, but that's not necessarily the case. Apparently there's a region in the middle of senegal where the people mostly speak pulaar du nord, so i could be going there. We won't find out where our sites are for another couple of weeks. And it doesn't really matter anyway b/c we have about 8 more weeks of training.
My host family is pretty cool....they speak pulaar and wolof (another local language), and they gave me a new pulaar name. I am now Rougie. "mbiyete mi ko Rougie." Ha, that's about all the pulaar i know right now! I guess i should go study some. I also need to go break the fast with my family. It's Ramadan right now, which means they don't eat or drink during the day. As soon as the sun sets though they "break the fast" with dates, coffee, baguettes wtih meat surprise on it, and then dinner around 10 pm. Ok i'll write more later. Peace out!
posted by Sandy at
11:31 AM
5 Comments:
hello sandy! i have been cking this site every few days since you left waiting to hear how things are - i gather you have electricity! thats great - i will ck again soon on you.
love,
Jenny
how do you make it till the sun goes down to eat?
By
Anonymous, at 4:01 PM
hey sandy!! its so awesome to hear about how you're doing!! i'm so pumped that you're in africa, changing the world, one unique language barrier at a time!! what's the weather like? what is one of your new favorite foods? i hope that you continue loving it and have a good one!! love, katherine :)
By
Anonymous, at 7:15 AM
Dear Mali High,
Awesome!!!!!!!! Thanks for opening up your soul to all of us who have unfullfilled dreams of world travel and adventure! Keep the news flowing! Hey, weren't you in middle school when I first started switching to teaching? Seems like we exchanged emails then about odds and ends. Anyway, I still am in middle school and with your permission would like to show my classes any photos. etc. that you post. Take care. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Peace.
Tim
By
Anonymous, at 2:14 PM
SANDY!!! It's so good to hear that you are doing well and learning the language. We all knew that you would adjust quickly. I'm glad to hear that there are so many people in your training group...I bet you are meeting some really amazing people! I went back to Oxford for HC, too and it just wasn't the same! I saw a bunch of people who asked about you though, so know that you are missed and loved! Have you emailed Samori yet? He said he'd love to see you sometime...you African peeps gotta stick together! I love and miss you dude!
~Schaffner
By
Anonymous, at 4:03 PM
It's great to read about your time in Africa...it makes it feel like you're not so far away...thank goodness for technology! The pictures are great. I look forward to reading your future blogs. I will wish for you fewer wads of fat in the meat surprise....keep safe. Love, Mrs. Rascoe
By
Anonymous, at 7:45 AM
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