New Things

This week was full of new things.  First of all, I taught the kids Monday through Thursday since K had to remain in Dakar.  It was fun getting to teach again and I'm looking forward to the time I'll be able to do more teaching.  Second, I had my first visitors to my home.  My two journeyman friends who live in Dakar came down on Thursday for a short visit.  The visit started out with a Senegalese meal that my language teacher helped me to prepare.  I enjoyed getting to show them around my little town via horse cart.   We did a little shopping while in the market area and practiced our Wolof.  Friday evening was pizza/game night at home of my teammates.  The girls left to return to Dakar around 11:00 Saturday morning.  I didn't have too much time to be lonely because I left at 2:00 to go to the beach to celebrate M's 11th birthday.  I got to experience the Atlantic Ocean from the other side.  It's only about an hour away so I think I may be going there often!  Today had been a very hot day so the cool breeze from the ocean felt really good.  I'll be going to my first Senegal Missionary Ladies' Retreat in less than two weeks so there are many more new experiences ahead.  Life is good!

Weekend

      I went to Dakar for the weekend with lots of activities planned.  It started off with the fall festival at Dakar Academy on Friday.  There were games and activities for all the kids and plenty of good food to eat.  The two journeygirls who came to Senegal with me came for the event so we had a good chance to visit.  I think they are planning on coming to Fatick this weekend to visit me!  Can't wait to have company!
      Our plans got changed somewhat this weekend.  The M's daughter got hit in the face with a softball which required a trip to the emergency room.  She had to have stitches and had two fractures in her nose area so that meant a 48-hour hospital stay.  Between going to the hospital and getting food, I did get a little shopping done.  I'm now the proud owner of a dressy Senegalese outfit.  It consists of a wrap skirt, top, and a head wrap.  Now I'm prepared if I have to go to any special occasions and dress up.

     We went to church on Sunday morning at Dakar Academy.  My world got a little rocked when N told me I would have to drive us to church since his dad was not feeling well.  It was not driving the stick shift that had me worried.  To get to the school you have to drive a round-about.   Usually it is full of traffic so you have to work your way into it.  God was looking out for us!  There was no traffic in the round-about going or coming so I had no trouble getting us to and from church.  It was great to get to worship with a large group.
     After church we loaded the car, headed out to get something to eat, stop by the hospital, and then head back to Fatick.  K is staying with her daughter while she recovers.  Fortunately, she was released from the hospital today and is back at the guesthouse with her mom for recovery.  I will be teaching the other children this week while K is still in Dakar.  Things went pretty smoothly this morning and I enjoyed getting to teach.  I will be having my language study in the afternoons since I'll be teaching in the mornings.

In the Market

This morning I decided that M and I should do my language study in the market.  We started by catching a ride on a horse cart at the end of my road.  Our first stop was to go to the post office so I could buy some stamps for my postcards and check the mail.  With that mission accomplished, we headed to the market.  I love walking around and looking at everything and greeting the people.  When we passed a lady that I had talked with on another occasion, I decided to buy some tomatoes and cucumbers.  From there we passed some ladies cleaning fish.  They offered to have me help them clean the fish.  I thanked them but declined.  From there we went to a stall operated by M's cousin.  She offered us a seat so we sat for a spell.  I was able to talk to her a little bit and greet many people who came to make purchases.  At one point I even became a seller!  The lady sitting next to me who was selling fish had to leave for a few minutes and she put me in charge.  I actually sold a few fish for her!  (Thankfully, I didn't have to touch them!)  After a while we decided it was time to leave.  I purchased some peanuts on the way out before catching another ride on a horse cart to my house.  I actually boiled a few of the peanuts as soon as I got home and they are pretty good.

Visiting

Language study is progressing which means I need to do some practicing.  One way to practice is to visit my neighbors with my language teacher.  I'm able to do the greetings, introductions, and tell a little bit about my family.  They have some trouble saying my name so some time in the future I will get a Senegalese name that will be much easier for them to pronounce.  Yesterday, I was introduced to a grandfather and sat down to visit.  He asked about my husband.  When I told him that my husband was dead, he offered himself to me.  I thanked him but turned him down.  I've been told that this may happen quite often while I'm here.  Don't worry; I have no intentions of coming home with a husband!  After the proposal, the visit went pretty well.  I mostly sat there and listened to the others talk to see if I could figure out any words they were saying.  One young girl handed me a baby boy that was very happy.  I would coo at him and he would laugh and smile.  When the visit concluded, the women called me their friend and said they would visit me sometime.  I've got a long way to go before I can converse with anyone but progress is being made.

Chicken

K found out that one of our sellers in the market had some fresh chicken.  So Friday afternoon M and I headed to the market to see if I could purchase chicken using my very limited language skills.  When we got to the stand I was able to greet the man and tell him that I wanted two gee-narl (chickens).  Now don't think it's like buying chicken in a US grocery store.  It's a whole chicken so it has to be cut up.  Not a problem; I know how to cut up a chicken.  However, it's not really clean and still has some of its guts inside.  Thankfully, M stayed with me and she cleaned and cut up the chickens for me while I watched and learned.  I put the parts in freezer bags and put them in my freezer for cooking at a later date.  I guess I should have gone to the "chicken killing" lesson we had at FPO!  Life is full of new experiences here in Fatick.

Impressions

I have completed a week in my new country of Senegal  Let me share with you some impressions:

• No air conditioning, just fans.  That's fine as long as the electricity is on.  
• Trying to figure out what to cook.  So far, I've boiled potatoes, drained them, and added butter; peeled raw carrots; fried me hamburger patties; and eaten sandwiches with turkey meat I bought in Dakar.  I'm looking forward to my next visit to a supermarket when we go to Mbour.  Now I have a better idea of what to buy.

• Friendly people.  Now that I'm learning the language, they are happy to greet me.  I've got a loooong way to go, though.  
• No car.  That means I walk or ride a horse cart.  Life is definitely slower here in Fatick.
• Sadness.  Several times a day I hear the chanting over the loudspeakers from the mosques.  So many people - very few know Jesus.  Even more motivation to learn the language.  Just hope my brain cooperates!  Also, there is much poverty.  Makes me realize just how blessed I am.

As I'm settling into my new life here, the reality of two years is a little hard to grasp.  It still feels like just being on a mission trip.  I hope and pray that these two years will not only make a difference in my life but will also make a difference in the lives of the people here in Fatick (in a positive way).

Arrived!

I arrived in Senegal on Wednesday morning with all my luggage!  K picked me up and we hit the road.  I went to our office, Dakar Academy, our guest house, and out to eat twice.  I managed to stay awake all day but it sure was hard.  Our night at the guest house was hot (no air conditioning) but I did get a good night's rest.  Thursday was more running around: office, Embassy, and shopping.  Finally we headed for Fatick around 4:30.  Since it is over 3 hours to Fatick it was dark by the time we arrived.  T had cooked our supper, a Senegalese meal, and it was delicious.  Then he took me to my house.  My neighbor helped us unload the car and T showed me around the house.  It's really big!  After he left I started unpacking so I would feel like I was at home.  After a while of that I decided to try out the internet.  The electricity went off so I had to shut it down.  I decided to just go to bed.  Before I got in bed, though, the electricity came back on.  Halleluia!  It would have been a hot night without the electricity.  There is no air conditioning in my home but I have plenty of fans so it's not too bad.  Friday morning I got up and went to the market to buy a few vegetables, eggs, and bread.  T took me and his helper in the car.  However, in the future I will either be walking or catching a horse cart to do my shopping.  Life is definitely going to be interesting!

Packing

Two years.  That's how long I'm going to be gone.  I filled the living room with all the stuff I planned to take with me.  My three suitcases were on the floor ready to be filled.  It didn't take me long to realize that everything was not going to fit.  So I remove a little here and a little there.  Still not fitting.  Fortunately, my M called and she told me some things that I would be able to get over there so I removed a few more items.  The bags are completely packed except for my makeup bag that I will use tomorrow before I head to the airport at 4:30 am.  What I should have done is planned on one of the kids visiting me this Christmas so they could bring me a suitcase full of stuff.  Then my suitcases wouldn't be so heavy!  Oh well, at least they have carts (for free) in Africa.  The big question remains:  Can I pick it up to put it on the cart?  We'll find out the answer to that question on Wednesday morning when I arrive in Senegal.