Last 10 days

Okay Guys,


I have nothing in particular I just want to give an update on what has been going on these past two days. Just so you know, THESE HAS BEEN THE HARDEST 10 days of PST. Just because I saw my site, I LOVED IT, I’ve seen soo many possibilities on how I could help my city, so I just want to move down there and start working.


The food situation I think got worst. I liked Ramadan better because at least the dinner was OKAY since they had not eaten all day and it was there only meal. However, now for lunch there is a OKAY meal, which off course I’m not fond OFF SOOO, I don’t get to eat much. Then dinner is leftover lunch (double trouble). Or plain white rice and dreaded palm oil (tentulu). So needless t say, I’ve not been eating much so I’ve just been hungry making me week and less able to do other stuff… I don’t know if I’m loosing weight or not since hwen I do eat it’s JUST RICE.. and my clothes are getting all big and loose due to how laundry is done here sooo IDK


BUT on another note.. my permanent families food is much worsr than my current family soo the food sucks more and it’s a smaller town SOOO I’ve decided to do ALL my cooking when I get to my permanent site. That may be a big thing for the family to comprehend because they love sharing food and they may just think I’m rude.. O Well.. and my Predecessor ate like ALL his meals with them. SO I see them saying “Amhed is better than you he ate with us.” The food was the last thing I thought I would have problems with, since I’ve been around West Africa and I love the food.. BUT Senegal is bottom on my list when it comes to food.


And I’ve being, feeling under the weather, having a cold. Maybe from not eating. OH and I had some insect in my right eye. The sucker was walking in my eye. I had it in there for at least 5days. So that was full of headaches and all. My dad did not believe my eye was hurting since it was not red and my mom said it’s because I’m not eating, lol… So the eye doctor had to cut the bug out it was living in my upper eye lid, and he gave me some eye antibiotics. SOO I’m okay now.. just some headaches.


So I got to go Dakar as result of this.. SHOUT out to the Peace Corps medical staff (PCMO’S). The best medical care I’ll probably ever have in my life. I called them and told them what was wrong they sent a car to pick me up, spent two nights in Dakar. The med hut is AWESOME, which had hot running water AC and you know the whole 9yards, Mini US. Dakar is beautiful, at least downtown. Sorry no pics ( I just got a ride since I was going to the doctor). Looks like a mini island a beach all along the coast.


SOOO now it’s crunch time, 2weeks before I become a actual volunteer..October 16, when I pass this language test. I got Novice-High on my latest result, so I’m two steps away from the needed result. People keep saying you speak the language really well and I’m like TELL THAT TO SAMBE KANDE (the guys doing and grading the tests). So I know I would do it. I asked him do you think I’ll get this language in the next two weeks he says yes if you keep trying it depends on you.


This week we get to do counterpart (our work partners) and supervisor workshops, 6 more days in the villages, our last language test and tech tests. AND BECOMING a P.C.V (Peace Corps Volunteer)

Yes I'm American

So as a black person doing the Peace Corps the toughest battle I've faced so far is proving to Senegalese people that I'm truly American. That I'm not Senegalese and I DONT SPEAK WOLOF. I keep having to argue with people, telling them I am from America. Some just don't believe me and say I'm not telling the truth and I really don't work for Peace Corps. Some even asked how come I'm black if I'm from America. Yea I don't think they catch much TV in the villages.

So the kids and even some adults call the  White people (sorry for being political incorrect.. BUT you know me) Toubabs and run up to shake their hands. I mean for them it can get annoying with billions of kids just chanting TOUBABS.. BUT for me they just don't say anything if I'm alone because they do think I'm Senegalese.

However when, I'm with the other volunteers and I try to shake their hands, They are just like NOOO we want to shake the TOUBABS hands..  You are one of us..

SO I just hope this does not pose a problem for me with my work for the next two years. People thinking I'm not a real Volunteer I just want to spend their money or whatever. Soooo we shall see how that goes..

Not Making it is not an option

Okay. We took our first language test and I got my result back... BOOMMER I scored novice Mid which is one up above from the lowest and three from what is needed to get to swearing. Okay. So I did not think that was such a bad result for only learning and speaking the language for about two weeks. Soo I was okay with my Score.. HOWEVER..
Some people already achieved the level needed and the Peace Corps staff was expecting me to do  better since, I'm from Africa and have an African experience.. BUT excuse me, I'm learning the hardest language and i trying my best. Needless to say I was very BOOMED I've been crying about it. But I spoke to some people and im Good now..One blonder on the road to many, so I thought i might share.


In my defense those questions asked during the test are crazy, question I could not even answer in English. Questions such as, Why did you join the Peace Corps and What are your plans after Peace Corps.. As its a oral exam I had to make stuff up on the spot to get the talking going and just saying "I don't know" which is the truth means you don't know the language.


My family keeps telling to talk more.. BUT  I JUST DONT HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY..... yea I think I have to just be "fake" and pretend, to get the talking going...


SOOO after two days of been boomed and crying I'm good now.. I shall make it to Swearing Inshalla.. Si Allah Jabi

It's Korite

So I don't know what's the English word for Korite, or if it  is the English  or at least the universal word this Muslim holiday..BUT it's the day used to celebrate the end of Ramadan, the fasting month, and this is determined based on when the moons goes down.

It has also created a problem with scheduling and confusing because no when is the actual day of the holiday till the moon goes down.. One minute we are the training center next we are with our families sooo it has been quite confusing..

Anyways its a big deal here since its 95% muslim. The people are soo excited, I guess this is because they having been fasting for a whole month straight and they have been the holiest... So they are ready to get back to life..

Everyone is getting ready.. People kill chickens, they just dont eat fish that day.. YAYAYAY...Women, young girls are getting their hair did. Men are getting hair cuts. Outfits are been made for everyone in the family.. So this is every exciting.

My family is making me a outfit too.. My dad asked me one night, so do you have a outfit for Korite and I said so he said, I just said I did not have the time which was true... So he said we shall get you one..

Then the next day him and my  mom called me and said here is the material, and when your uncle comes home tonight he would take your measurement. And that night..he did.. I did not get to pick the style or anything SOOO we shall see...

That was sooo nice of them..

Culture Faux Pas

okay so this is has happened  a couple of times....

People keep telling me how to sit an watch the way im sitting..
Since been here and its sooo hut Pange, has been a vital part of my wardrobe.. So what's a pange you ask.. It like a skirt just wrapped around you held together by just tucking it in with strings.. I guess your are not suppose to put your foot u while sitting with that, just sit flat. I've been yelled at a couple of times for this. One day my LCF yelled at me.. Well pulled me to the side and was watch how you are sitting, someone just said its not the proper way to sit.. and when i was getting my hair braided a guys driving buy was look at watch how you are sitting so I guys im doing something wrong...

In Senegal knees apparently turn u on.. ITS forbidden to show your knees but women can work around showing their boobs all day. Yea women just walk around in the street, in the house, near fathers, husbands, kids and all that..but if they show their knees everyone just goes crazy...SO friends, like this was not bad enough.. Ill just come back showing you more boobs but noOOO knees.. there my have been some few changes to them sinceI was gone that you need to see..